Delicious Dishes

The Wharf Little Indian

In Broome, you’ll discover delicious cuisine every day and night of the week. Dine at some of our favourite spots...

By TORI WILSON

Dragonfly Café Papá Fuego

Johhny Sausage

JOHNNY SAUSAGE

Legend has it Johnny ‘Sausage’ Barbato was known as the gourmet gangster, earning his nickname from his butchery skills and love of food. His passion for authentic Italian cuisine can be felt all throughout this incredible restaurant, a place where beautiful meals are the heart of every occasion.

Situated inside the Mangrove Hotel with sweeping views of the bay at sunset, we recommend arriving early for pre-dinner drinks.

Select a tasty Italian-style cocktail or something from its extensive wine list. It boasts an impressive range of Italian wines, including a delicious Montepulciano with bold fruit flavours and a fine, gentle tannin.

In line with its ethos to bring as much of Italy as possible to the table, while still sourcing fresh local produce where desirable, all the cheeses are oozing with flavour, having been imported directly from Italy, while the seafood is locally sourced from within WA.

Having grown up in Italy surrounded by delicious, local food, restaurant manager Mattia knows all the best true Italian dishes to try. He recommends the scallop and tuna tatare, with tropea salad, mascarpone, garum as an antipasti, which is a very popular summer dish from his home region Liguria. It’s a tender, eye-catching appetizer, capturing the essence of the sea.

For primi he would recommend the goat cheese and rucola tortelloni, basil pesto – another creation originating from his home region. It’s simple, fresh, and flavoursome and a truly authentic handmade pesto.

For secondi, try the Coteletta ‘alla Milanese’ free-range, crumbed pork cutlet. This is a unique twist on a brilliant Italian classic, normally made using beef but has been reinvented in the Johnny Sausage kitchen, replacing it with a tender pork cutlet complemented with a smooth light truffle mash, savoy cabbage, and Barolo jus.

Il Dolce – look no further than the Budino – a dark and white chocolate mousse. Mattia described his Nonna’s home recipe to our head chef who was intrigued and incorporated it into his own version of this popular Italian dessert.

Delizioso! Mangrove Hotel, 47 Carnarvon Street, Broome. Call (08) 9192 1303

THE WHARF

When we think of seafood caught fresh from the ocean on our doorstep, we think of The Wharf. It’s been serving the best local seafood to the tourists and locals of Broome for over 25 years, and it continues to do so in its new location along Sanctuary Drive.

Having relocated to the hub of Cable Beach, The Wharf is just a 10-minute stroll from the beach, so you can smell the ocean air as you dine on the best it can provide. Think classic crispy fish and chips, to wild caught barramundi or threadfin salmon, to a fantastic feast of Kimberley mud crab.

Johhny Sausage

THE WHARF

THE WAY SEAFOOD SHOULD BE FRESH, LOCAL, SIM PLE

MODERN INDOOR AIR-CONDITIONED DINING & BAR. BREEZY VERANDAH & ALFRESCO GARDEN DINING. 1/2 PRICE OYSTERS 2 PM - 5 PM CLASSIC FISH & CHIPS TO FLAVOURSOME KIMBERLEY CHILLI MUD CRAB.

THE WHARF HAS AN EXTENSIVE LOCAL WA SEAFOOD SELECTION.

FULLY LICENSED - ICE COLD BEER, SOPHISTICATED WINE LIST, SPECIALIST SPIRITS & COCKTAILS.

RESTAURANT BOOKINGS & GOURMET TAKEAWAYS: PH 9192 5700

4 SANCTUARY ROAD, CABLE BEACH LUNCH & DINNER 11AM - LATE

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thewharfrestaurantbroome

WHARF

RESTA URA NT

The Wharf

At the new venue you can enjoy the cool, air-conditioned interior seating, surrounded by lush indoor plants. Or take in the fresh air on the outside deck, spacious and shaded with a cool breeze blowing though.

Sit back and peruse the well-thought-out wine list, carefully chosen to pair well with seafood.

The modern bar with specialist spirits and house crafted cocktails add to the ambience and complement their Japanese inspired daily specials – including their delicious sashimi that is fresh and delicate.

Chef Hau Duong has 20 years’ experience in hospitality. Prior to joining The Wharf, where he has been the chef for seven years, he was on the team of the Italian restaurant in The Reverie Hotel, a highly esteemed luxury 5-star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

He recommends you try the grilled barramundi with the chilli sambal soy sauce.

“The dish looks simple but includes everything from the freshness local fish to very famous but unique sambal soy sauce, and all just comes together perfectly,” he says.

This ethos complements the restaurant motto, being The Way Seafood Should be ‘Fresh, Local, Simple’.

For something unique to The Wharf, we recommend you also try their famous barramundi wings or a whole crispy reef fish – both delicious.

And you can’t go wrong with the fresh oysters, which are prepared five different ways – natural served with lemon wedges; wakame seaweed with a zesty soy; Kilpatrick with finely chopped crispy bacon; Japanese panko oysters with a delicious wasabi mayo; and unique to The Wharf is their ginger soy shallot sauce. Try them all to find your favourite.

Make sure you’re there in the afternoon to make the most of the daily happy hour from 2pm to 5pm, where oysters are half price. 4 Sanctuary Road, Broome. Call (08) 9192 5700

THE BAY CLUB

The Bay Club experience is exactly as it sounds – lush, bright, and completely relaxed by the bay.

The Bay Club’s talented resident mixologist Cyril Beguin knows how to make a good drink. His knack for crafting cocktails stems from a focus on the fundamentals, ensuring even the smallest details are considered.

When it comes to favourite suggestions, he believes that you can’t ignore a good old classic like a Vieux Carre – it is classified as one of the ‘unforgettables’ and is a slightly sweet, spiced, and warming drink with herbal, citrus, and smoky notes. A Charlie Chaplin made with three simple ingredients (sloe gin, apricot brandy, and fresh lime juice) is also not to be overlooked.

The Wharf

Cnr Hamersley St & Napier Tce

The Bay Club

NOTHING BEATS LOCAL SEAFOOD WHILE IN BROOME

We recommend you try the Secret Garden for something that looks good and tastes delicious. This visually stunning cocktail sums up the name perfectly, with fresh floral undertones complemented with herbal aromatics of Hendrick’s Gin and elderflower liqueur.

Or if you’re after something simple and refreshing, they always have rotational taps of craft beer available.

Tuck into some tasty share plates while you’re there. Nothing beats local seafood while in Broome, and currently the crayfish sliders are a highlight of the menu. They come with Geralton rock lobster, Japanese mayo, spring onions, lettuce, and a buttermilk bun.

Roebuck Bay is one of Broome’s most beautiful natural attractions so it’s easy to get stuck here with such stunning views of this iconic spot. Observe the changing colours of the bay and its ebb and flow caused by the huge tidal variations. At low tide, the milky turquoise waters retreat to expose a horizon of mud flats.

Fridays you’ll be in for a real treat with easy listening acoustic tunes from local and traveling musicians featured from 5pm to 8pm, and on select weekends. And every month it’s the perfect base to watch the Staircase to the Moon – a natural phenomenon where the moon rises over the bay, glittering over the water like a staircase. Mangrove Hotel, 47 Carnarvon Street, Broome. Call (08) 9192 1303

McDONALD’S BROOME

After wrapping up a day of adventuring Broome, wind down with a bite to eat at McDonald’s Broome. Centrally located, just a stone’s throw from the Visitor Centre, it’s equipped with its iconic playground so the kids can continue to burn off steam – even if you’ve got none left to give. Happy Meals and Chicken Caesar Wraps are always popular. Otherwise, a frozen coke or cold dessert is the best way to cool down on a hot day.

Pre-adventure, a drive-thru coffee will kick-start the day without cutting into your activity time. Cnr Hamersley Street &, Napier Terrace, Broome

BREWING ALL YEAR Open 7 DAYS

| (08) 9193 5811

dm@matsosbroome.com.au

MATSO’S BROOME BREWERY

There’s nothing quite like a sip of refreshing ginger beer on a balmy day, and Matso’s Broome Brewery has built a reputation from it.

This relaxed, casual brewhouse is an icon; known for its range of delicious brews that complement the surrounding climate perfectly. Its Ginger Beer and Mango Beer are two must-try classics, while it also produces a larger range of beers that are exclusive to Broome.

Visit the brewery to try its Pearlers Pale Ale, Bishops Best, Chilli Beer and Kimberley Draught, and pair it with some of the delicious Australian-Asian fusion, pub-style meals that will have you hanging out all afternoon for more.

Head chef Chamalou, hailing from the Philippines, has led the charge at Matso’s for four years and has a passion for fusion cuisine. Try the salt and pepper squid, fish of the day, lamb rack and pork belly for a good mix of tasty bites.

This family-friendly venue hosts jam nights each Tuesday with live music, as well as weekly Sunday sessions during the dry season, from 5pm. Look out for its signature annual events too, with Oktoberfest taking place on the 3rd of September, and its major Streetfest party filling the streets on the 25th of September. 60 Hamersley St, Broome. Call (08) 9193 5811

PAPÁ FUEGO

As soon as you step into this little hidden gem, be instantly transported to South America, where spending time and sharing food with family, friends and loved ones are what life is all about.

This dimly lit, late-night bar and restaurant has a vibrant atmosphere surrounded with eclectic décor. Come sit at the bar before dining and find your perfect drink on their extensive menu, or enlist the expertise of the mixologists and have a South American inspired cocktail made with flare.

Translated as ‘Father Fire’ in reference to the origins of fire, Papá Fuego is known for its flame grill, the feature of their iconic dishes, paying homage to the culinary ethos of slow-cooked barbecue.

Take a journey inspired by South American flavours curated to tantalise your tastebuds. Their menu features the very best of Argentine cuisine and some of the best dishes from South America.

Try their Anticuchos grilled chicken skewers with smoked potato whip and huacatay lemon dressing from their street food menu, followed by the mouth-watering Picanha Beef rump cap perfectly complemented with the Maiz Charred Corn tentacles with chipotle mayo and cilantro from the side’s menu.

From 5pm to late at night, Papá Fuego offers a set shared menu called Feed Me Fuego, bringing people together just like a family asado in Argentina.

Feed me Fuego consists of a wonderful mixture of Papá Fuego’s Street food menu paired with a mixture of their flame grilled dishes, accompanied with their most popular side dishes, and finishes off with two dessert options. The Continental Hotel, Weld Street, Broome. Call 0448 413 737

LITTLE INDIAN

The masters of authentic Indian cuisine, the team at Little Indian can regularly be spotted in the kitchen blending their own spices to make the curry pastes which form the basis for so much of the menu.

You’ll notice the difference this makes when you tuck into their delicious fare; choose the beef vindaloo and you’ll get a real hit of southern Indian cooking.

The succulent beef is slow cooked with potato and the homemade vinegar-rich vindaloo sauce is a real treat.

There’s also the chance to try a Kashmiri goat curry, the meat cooked on the bone with onion, herbs and spices, finished with coriander.

Vegetarians are well-catered for as well – try the paneer matar masala (green pea and cottage cheese cooked in a mild sauce, flavoured with ginger and coriander) or the subj dal (red lentil and veggie curry).

Broome’s proximity to the coastline is reflected in the seafood on offer too: you’ll find a prawn Goan-style curry, cooked with cashew

Matso’s Broome Brewery

Papá Fuego Dragonfly Café

nuts, brown onions and plenty of rich coconut milk, and prawn masala really hits the spot with some garlic naan on the side.

The friendly staff win lots of praise too – just make sure you tell them whether you want your meal mild, medium, or hot. It’s open six days a week (Tuesday to Sunday) and offers a takeaway as well as a dine-in option. 16 Frederick Street, Broome. Call (08) 9192 1697

DRAGONFLY CAFÉ

Settle in on one of the wicker chairs under the shade of the streetside rotunda or escape the heat inside this bright and welcoming café for a fresh and healthy meal to start the day.

It’s all-day breakfast menu is extensive and extremely tempting... Try Dragonfly’s ‘Eat Pray Love’ dish for a fresh and wholesome green bowl packed with grilled snow peas, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, avocado, halloumi, poached eggs and quinoa. The ‘Bit Posh’ mushrooms with wilted spinach, rocket, goat cheese, poached eggs, home-made dukkah and Italian glaze on sourdough is another standout. Or there’s the classic ‘Broome’ big breakfast, ‘Mr. Benedict’ with a choice of bacon, salmon or pulled pork, the ‘Brekkie Burger’ on brioche, ‘Vegan Pancakes’ and more. That’s before we even get to the lunch menu, from 11am.

Whatever your diet or mood, there’ll be something here to satisfy your appetite. 3/6 Carnarvon St, Broome

DIVERS TAVERN

Located just over the road from Cable Beach, Divers Tavern is the goto for a local gastro-pub feed, with an extensive bar and bistro menu.

By day, the beach bar offers an open air tropical vibe, with plenty of ice-cold drinks on offer to quench your thirst, including about 20 variations of Australian and international beers on tap. At night this space transforms into a destination for live music and entertainment, often hosting the some of the country’s top musicians.

Its bistro offers an array of dishes to suit any appetite or dietary requirements. From light bites and fresh salads, to a satisfying burger selection and premium pizzas, to hearty pub classics, and sophisticated mains featuring fresh seafood or slow cooked meats – the choice is yours. 12 Cable Beach Road, Cable Beach, Broome

Divers Tavern Dragonfly Café