Perrotta’s at the Gallery
This week I find myself at an old favourite in the cairns CBD. After 25 years Perrotta’s at the Gallery needs little introduction, but if you’re not a regular it may be worth the reminder that nothing changes. The standard of food and service are as impeccable now as they were two and a half decades ago.
This quirky restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The venue itself sits on the gallery corner of one of the busiest intersections for pedestrians in Cairns and is a perfect place to see or be seen. A favoured meeting place for business or pleasure, this is one of the few places I would wager that you won’t get a bad meal. Talking of business, the food, it’s difficult to pick through the well thought out menu, although for those in need of a hearty breakfast, the ‘Truck Stop’ full plate effort is hard to go passed. I found myself there for lunch this week and my personal go to recommendation remains the fish tacos, this dish has found its way onto menus across the region, but Perrotta’s seems to have got the balance just right. Two soft tortillas encapsulate an Italian slaw, Jalapeños, tartare and the most delightfully battered Spanish Mackerel fillets.
There has always been an Italian thread to Perrotta’s menu, likely a lean toward the eponymous owner Ivo Perrotta, who can often been seen deftly waiting tables, and is definitely involved in the day to day running of the venue. As is chef Darren Law, who even after more than two decades still works the kitchen and the pass. These are a testament to attention to detail, and their involvement runs deep in the ethos of the iconic Cairns eatery. It sounds like I can’t recommend this place enough, and indeed I can’t, it’s just very good.
More from Perrotta’s
