El Arish Tavern
This amazing Tavern is not 'morbid or drear' as the late Slim Dusty put it, but worth a visit on the road between Innisfail and Tully.
Built in 1927 the Tavern boasts boars, saws, guns, old posters, memoribilia that will start you talking for hours, and the locals will tell you a few tales as well.
Just a couple of hundered yards off the Bruce Highway, and across the road from the historic railway station, it has the best food around and we should know, we love their steaks and the best fish for miles.!!!
On the way to Djarawong Bed and Breakfast this is a great place to stop for lunch, and have a counter meal and talk to Wayne the publican.
He's been there for around 17 years, so knows it all and will share if you have the time.
This is an amazingly interesting pub with a huge array of well maintained collectables, and some interesting photos of boar hunts and crocs on the walls.
After Cyclone Larry came visiting in March 2006, the pub underwent a fix-up and a re-paint. It is back to its former glory and has not lost it's unique appeal.
The tavern does counter meals that are as good as any meal you will get down at The Beaches, and very reasonably priced. Carol is co-owner with Wayne and cooks a mighty beautiful meal.
The evening meals are absolutely scrumptious, from huge steaks that melt on the way to your mouth, homemade sauces, home cooked vegies and the fish ..... yum that is my favourite, with the scallops and white wine sauce. I recon you can still taste the ocean the fish tastes SO fresh.
Wednesday night is a boost to the wallet, as you order your main meal and get all you can eat vegetable buffet and desserts, what a great deal, but US LOCALS love it too, so you would have to book, or eat your meal in the delightful bar.
The Tavern is about 8klm from Djarawong Lodge and off the main highway, so really as you come from the North and come into El Arish, turn right BEFORE the service station drive to the end and the Tavern is on the corner opposite the railway line. Their phone number for bookings is 07 4065104 and in the country you can work on last orders around 7.30pm for a kitchen close time of around 8pm.