Seafood on Cullen

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No, you wouldn’t take your date here but Seafood on Cullen knows their audience and caters to them well. A huge restaurant with unbelievably tacky decor, it’s the kind of place that, come sundown, transforms into one loud, gregarious and undeniably enjoyable party, full of kids wearing birthday hats and family and friends drinking and laughing on the balcony where the view extends endlessly out to the wild Arafura Sea.

At $27.50 per person you only need an average appetite to get your money’s worth so if you’ve come to feast you’ll find Seafood on Cullen brilliant value for money. That’s provided you tuck into the fresh seafood, and there’s plenty to tempt you; oysters, prawns, scampi, Moreton Bay bugs, mussels and marinated baby octopus. There’s a huge choice of hot dishes too and the high turnover means the food stays fresh and warm. Seafood on Cullen’s Asian owners do care about dishing up some reasonable Asian fare, so among the carved meats, roast potatoes, baked fish and lasagne you’ll find decent stir-fries, crispy salted prawns and, bless them, chilli crab. In fact, Seafood on Cullen boasts a colourful spread of treats that’s probably better than your average hotel buffet. It’s a guilty pleasure, but go on, just tell yourself you’re there for the views.