Restaurant Focus
The dining scene in FNQ has long been known for its bounty of fresh seafood, but few restaurateurs can lay claim to a more intimate knowledge of the region's fisheries than Megan and Malcolm McKay.
Their restaurant Splash has been serving up delicious locally sourced seafood for almost two decades from its prime location on Cairns' glamorous Esplanade dining strip. However, their roots in the FNQ fishing industry run even deeper.
Malcolm is a third-generation fisherman who helped pioneer the prawn fishery in the Gulf of Carpentaria and has skippered fishing boats across northern Australia for much of his life.
His experience, along with his long-standing relationships with local fishermen, has been essential when it comes to sourcing the finest-quality seafood straight from fishing boats operating out of Cairns and across the region.
Megan honed her hospitality skills as the owner and operator of several cafes in Cairns, her hometown, before combining that knowledge with Malcolm's to open Splash. Since then, the pair have been steadfast in their commitment to serving sustainably sourced Australian seafood in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
While noting that much has changed in Cairns over the last 20 years, Megan says what her customers want has remained consistent.
“At the end of the day, they have always been after the same thing – which is fresh, local product,” she says.
“We buy direct from the fisherman, so we know exactly where the fish come from, and everything we serve here is wild-caught,” she adds.
It's this local knowledge that helps Megan and Malcolm to tweak Splash's menu to suit the seasonal variations and fluctuations inherent in the FNQ fishing industry.
“We support the commercial fishing industry and we always source as local as we can get; a lot of our fish come from the Gulf of Carpentaria. Some of them, like the mahi-mahi and tuna, are caught on long lines off the coast near Cairns,” says Megan.
Succulent fillets from these fish, either grilled or with a crispy tempura batter, form the centrepiece of Splash's Classic Fish and Chips – a perennial customer favourite. Another menu mainstay is the Macadamia and Lemon Myrtle Crusted Fish.
Splash's wine list features a wide selection of predominantly Australian drops to complement the food and staff are happy to help suggest pairings to highlight a dish's flavour and tantalise the palate. This emphasis on showcasing Australian wines goes hand-in-hand with their love of local seafood and Megan says her customers are just as enthusiastic about this approach.
“In the last few years, people have really been voting with their feet, and their wallets, to support local businesses that offer Australian products and Australian wines,” she says.
With almost 30 wines available by the glass, you can easily mix and match to suit your choice of dishes without having to commit to a full bottle. This relaxed and flexible approach to dining is key to Splash's continued success and one of the many reasons why people keep coming back for more. Fostering a friendly, welcoming atmosphere at Splash is a point of pride for Megan, and she puts much of it down to her staff, several of whom have been working there for many years.
“I want to help young people realise that hospitality is a career and long-term proposition for work, not just a fill-in role,” she says.
Since Splash has been operating, Megan estimates that around 15 chefs have completed their apprenticeships at the business and gone on to have careers both in the local hospitality sector and further afield.
This dedication to training and retaining their staff seems to have paid dividends for Megan and Malcolm. Splash's head chef, Crystal, has been with the business for 12 years, and their two other chefs, Jacob and Callum, stayed on after completing their apprenticeships there.
“We're so lucky here, more than half our trade comes from regular customers and they're like family, so that's wonderful,” Megan says. “I say to people when I hire them we've got great food and great customers!”
Next time you're taking a stroll along The Esplanade in Cairns, be sure to drop in to Splash and enjoy the fresh seafood, relaxed atmosphere and friendly service for which they're famous.
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