Risby Cove

Risby Cove is Strahan’s only waterfront accommodation. It has a fine restaurant open to the public, with a big reputation. Time you run right and you’ll be here in time to watch the sun set over Macquarie Harbour. Take a wander onto the wharf for the best vantage point over the old, rotting jetty that points its boney fingers out to the cray boats coming back to shore.

The restaurant is fronted with large windows, so you can look out over the harbour. Seafood is the star here, with nearly all the signature dishes caught in the waters beyond. If fish is your flavour, there’s trout to start and trevalla for main. The Bass Strait scallops and the five-spice calamari are good for sharing.

If you’re after something more meaty, the slow-cooked lamb shoulder is done to perfection, with the meat falling off the bone. The 300-gram scotch fillet comes from north-west Tassie and is served with Paris mash, steamed greens and a mushroom jus. If you’re vegetarian, this is probably not the place for you.

Like most places in town, Risby Cove is tastefully decorated in a nautical theme, lit by the clever use of bright colours. By the time you finish your meal, the temperature outside will have plummeted. All of this conspires to make it almost mandatory to order dessert.