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The Best Catch Across Cuisines


Australia’s love affair with seafood is as diverse as it is delicious. From smoky Mediterranean octopus to Japanese kingfish carpaccio and Italian-style grilled scallops, seafood dishes have found their way into every corner of our culinary landscape - elevated by global flavours, regional ingredients and creative techniques.

These five venues showcase the very best of seafood across different cuisines, blending fresh catches with vibrant seasonings and inspired cooking styles. Dive in and taste how each cuisine makes seafood its own.

Criniti’s Southbank – Southbank, Vic

On the banks of the Yarra, Criniti’s Southbank serves up Italian hospitality with a side of generosity. This bustling, rustic venue is all about shared moments - whether it’s a long family dinner, date night or a lively group celebration. The warm timber interiors and waterfront buzz set the stage for feasting the Italian way: with food, fun and no rush.

The Best Catch Across Cuisines

Seafood plays a starring role in the expansive menu, from wood-fired pizza to elegant entrées. Grilled scallops arrive nestled with tomato bruschetta and avocado, bringing together smoky, sweet and creamy notes in one bite. For mains, the fettuccine prawn Alfredo is a decadent classic, rich with cream, Parmesan and fresh herbs.

Craving Italian with a splash of the sea? Make your next catch-up one to remember - book a table at Criniti’s.

Yuzu Dining – North Strathfield, NSW

A hidden gem in Sydney’s west, Yuzu Dining delivers traditional Japanese elegance with a subtle Western twist. Step into a serene space adorned with bamboo accents and Japanese murals, where every dish is plated in artful ‘moritsuke’ fashion. The setting is calm and welcoming, yet there’s a quiet intensity in the craftsmanship on each plate.

The Best Catch Across Cuisines

Seafood takes centre stage here with dishes that highlight texture and technique. Begin with the kingfish carpaccio, beautifully sliced and topped with apple for brightness and crunch. Sushi lovers can explore an aburi selection, while heartier mains like pork katsu and ramen balance richness with brothy comfort.

Experience Japanese flavours that linger long after the meal - book your journey at Yuzu.

Wrasse & Roe Seafood Restaurant – Port Douglas, Qld

In tropical Port Douglas, Wrasse & Roe brings an ocean-to-table ethos to life. Located inside the Coconut Grove Building, this breezy, design-forward restaurant blends bold coastal colours with elevated seafood dining. Dine alfresco beneath palm-fringed umbrellas or settle indoors amid statement pendent lighting and dark timber finishes.

The Best Catch Across Cuisines

Start with the crab meat brioche slider - delicately filled with avocado and cos lettuce and finished with a squeeze of lemon. For a more decadent dish, the seared scallops shine, layered over cauliflower and truffle oil purée, with crisp pancetta and a splash of burnt butter. For mains, the baked Moreton Bay bugs in coconut laksa with Asian greens is a showstopper.

Keen for tropical seafood done right? Reserve your table now.

Muli Melbourne – Carlton, Vic

Muli Melbourne is an intimate seafood dining room where the menu is as fresh as the tank it comes from. Set on Rathdowne Street, the space blends warm timber tones, ambient lighting and a peek into the open kitchen - where flames flicker and whole lobsters sizzle. It's refined yet relaxed, ideal for both romantic evenings and relaxed group meals.

The Best Catch Across Cuisines

Begin with oysters shucked to order - served simply to let their natural salinity shine. Next, a buttery lobster roll topped with salmon caviar provides the perfect indulgence. For mains, the grilled whole lobster with XO noodles or caramelised Murray cod capture the restaurant’s dedication to bold, yet balanced seafood.

Fancy your seafood live and local? Secure a seat at Muli and see the difference.

The Prickly Pear Restaurant, Milton – Milton, NSW

The Prickly Pear in Milton blends Mediterranean soul with coastal NSW ingredients to create a menu that’s simple, sustainable and downright delicious. Family-owned and thoughtfully renovated, it’s a light-filled, stylish space with whitewashed walls and polished concrete floors, exuding a sense of relaxed sophistication.

The Best Catch Across Cuisines

Seafood lovers will be drawn to dishes like grilled baby octopus, marinated in sticky-sweet chilli and kissed by the wood grill; or start with scallops served in their half shells, drizzled with pistachio lime butter. The commitment to local produce shines through in every bite, from pasta to sirloin steak.

Make your next coastal road trip count - book your table at The Prickly Pear.

From Japanese precision to Mediterranean warmth, seafood finds new expression across every plate. These five venues show how the ocean’s bounty can be shaped by tradition, transformed by culture and served in settings that make the experience unforgettable.

Featured Locations

Seafood    $$$$$

Wrasse & Roe Seafood Restaurant

Embrace the FNQ tropical lifestyle at Wrasse & Roe Seafood Restaurant on Macrossan Street in Port Douglas. Nestled in the Coconut Grove Building, chill out on aqua banquette seating beneath vibrant...

Italian    $$$$$

Criniti's Southbank

Combining food, fun, family and friends, dining at Criniti’s Southbank on Freshwater Place creates memories with your loved ones. When you visit this rustic restaurant - voted Australia’s favourite...

Mediterranean    $$$$$

The Prickly Pear Restaurant, Milton

Serving fresh local ingredients with a heavy Mediterranean influence, traditional recipes and a love of seafood, discerning Milton foodies head to The Prickly Pear Restaurant on Princes Highway to ...

Seafood    $$$$$

Muli Melbourne

Experience exceptional seafood - fresh from saltwater tank to plate - at Muli Melbourne, an intimate and stylish dining destination tucked away on Rathdowne Street in Carlton. With warm timber acce...

Japanese    $$$$$

Yuzu Dining

Inspired by hundreds of years of Japanese tradition, Yuzu Dining on George Street in North Strathfield infuses a hint of Western influences to deliver a culinary experience like no other. Yuzu’s Ma...

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