La Beach Restaurant at Cullen Bay Darwin

As is generally the rule when one lives in a particular region, I rarely get out and see the sights that make Darwin a famous holiday destination. Take, for example, these glorious sunsets that tourists flock to see. My apartment has a southerly aspect, and even if I were to bend my head around the balcony in a westward direction I would only see trees and buildings. If I didn’t know better, I could be living in any other city in Australia.

So I thought it time to really appreciate the spectacle of the sun’s descent in the tropics. Where better than La Beach in Cullen Bay? Open and spacious, not to mention immediately on the beach frontage, La Beach brings meaning to alfresco  dining. We were provided with the best seat in the house, and treated to a spectacular sight as the sun dipped below the horizon and its colours playing Monet across the sky. My company and I concurred that the only thing missing was a school of dolphins skipping through the water to top off the majestic nature of the setting.

The emphasis of the service at La Beach seemed to encourage us to take our time, endorsing the relaxed yet courteous nature of the venue. If I remember rightly, I think we’d polished off a couple of glasses of Pinot before we even ordered. And when I say we ordered, I mean we ordered. Oysters were impassable, done a dozen different ways, followed by serves of the Soup Du Jour, then entrees and mains. Had I realized the generous nature of the serves, however, I may have reevaluated… Wow. Simple, rich, no fuss food, with a menu selection that surely boasts one or two dishes that even the most experienced diner would find new and exciting. The French twist is achieved through hints of liqueurs and wines within the made to order sauces, and the exquisite pairing of flavours within a dish. Do not go past the Chilli Bugs, and quite frankly the rack of lamb was the best I’ve tasted since Mum’s.

But do you think we’d finished?? Well into the evening desserts proved too tantalizing to resist – try the trio of home made icecream, again with combination of flavours only limited by imaginations.

With the crowds dwindling towards the end of the evening, and as I was sipping on a glass of Mr. Pickwicks Particular Port, we decided that we should get out to watch the sunset more often…

Check out Darwin’s revered Gold Plate Award Dominating La Beach at Cullen Bay. Click Here for La Beach Menus and Photo Galleries or call 08) 8941 7400 for bookings.