PROFILED BY DEGROOTS MEDIA
Stillwater River Café, Restaurant and Wine Bar is housed in an historic riverside flour mill that has been given a beautiful, multi-faceted makeover. In the restaurant, contemporary blond timbers meld with the patina of the original old beams; their glow infusing the space with a soft, welcoming honey light. Along one side, windows and a lounge bar open onto views of the Tamar River. The entrance is fronted by a terrace for alfresco breakfasts, in-betweens and casual lunches. There’s a walk-in cellar with an excellent floor-to-ceiling selection of Tasmanian, mainland and international wines and a few privileged tete-a-tete tables. Upstairs is one of the state’s best providores, an international treasure trove for those who love eating, cooking and living.
The star of the show is chef Don Cameron’s intricately composed, textured and refined food. His a la carte menus are exciting fusions of traditional and Asian-accented flavours in dishes like seared wild scallops with miso custard and citrus salad, lemon-infused duckling with coriander and ginger crab tortellini and Vietnamese sugar-coated pork belly with roasted ginger, radish and chilli salad. Desserts are just as exemplary – the swirled chocolate parfait and the mandarin semi freddo with honeycomb strawberry salad and rose water jelly make it hard to choose between them. The degustation menus are explosive small-taste progressions of similar compositions. Add in the casual but flawless service and it’s little wonder this is considered by many to be among the very best dining experiences in the state.
Graeme Philips, April 2008
LOCATION
In Launceston, 5 minutes from the CBD on the Tamar River
DETAILS
On a beautiful sunny day sit outside in Stillwater's beautifully paved courtyard overlooking the river or cosy up inside amidst the beautifully restored 1830’s flour mill with warm timbers abounding. The outside seating comfortably accommodates up to eighty people.
Stillwater offers casual cafe style food and service during the day from breakfast and lunch through to afternoon tea. The menu is light and fresh and the daily specials are seasonally focused. At night the menu gets very exciting with 'freestyle' Australian cuisine featuring an abundance of local game and seafood treasures. Also on offer is a full bar and at least twenty wines by the glass taken from an extensive wine cellar with a focus on the fabulous Tasmanian wine industry.With only sixty seats inside, reservations in the evening are necessary.
PRIVATE DINING
Stillwater also offers semi private dining in their authentic bluestone wine cellar for 4 to 18 people, great for business lunches or special celebrations. Upstairs in the old Georgian cottage there is a private room that seats up to 14 people around a large table, perfect for that meeting, presentation or wine tasting.
FUNCTIONS
For larger groups, function menus are available on request and a special degustation menu can be offered for a more adventurous gastronomic experience.
DON CAMERON....chef/owner
was born and raised in North Western Tasmania. Don has a passionable love of his home state and a drive to see it grown and prosper. With over 30 years experience in cooking, running and creating restaurant operations, he is continually striving for perfection. Don describes his food as 'Freestyle' using quality ingredients, flavours and techniques borrowed from the European and Asian cultures. He is a true perfectionist that strives to give each diner a unique and pleasurable experience.