Norfolk Island is fast emerging as one of the top culinary destinations in the South Pacific. We believe our food is some of the freshest and tastiest on earth because of our rich, organic soils and seasonal growing cycle.
Dine on mouthwatering barbecued fresh seafood if you feel like splurging. You can also tuck into a flame-grilled Norfolk Blue beef cut served in the atmospheric dining room of a convict-era home.
There are plenty of casual and takeaway options as well, from the best wood-fired pizza in the South Pacific to burgers that can satisfy the most ravenous castaway.
So, on your next visit to Norfolk, we’d love to show you around, but when it comes to dining out, here are our top 5 picks.
- Two Chimneys Winery
This is the place where you can chat over the bar with locals and tourists alike as part of your wine tasting at this exceptional spot. They take pride in working with seasonal produce and the owner Noelene takes immense pride in growing her own fruits and vegetables.
Also featured are rolled chicken stuffed with dried fruit, crostini with shiitake cream, crackers, pickled cucumber, olives, baby gherkins and garnishes with a variety of salad greens and flowers grown in their garden.
Opt for one of their famed lunchtime platters and be sure to pop in more than once since the menu changes every few weeks. No platter is ever presented using the same fresh ingredients and Noelene’s preserves also make an appearance as an accompaniment to her creative dishes.
The winery provides a beautiful place to relax at the bar or outside on the veranda overlooking the Chambourcin vines.
Expect beautiful blends of fresh banana and persimmon, as well as cherry guava, beetroot and avocado. Overall, Two Chimneys is a superb spot to unwind, enjoy local wines and savour the delicacies that make this region one of a kind.
- The Hilli Goat Farm
The Hilli Goat Farm is just up from Anson Bay in the northwest of the island. Emily greats all her guests with a smile and a huge amount of energy for a young Mum with her own fledgling business.
When Emily decided to farm goats and produce organic goat milk products on the island she must have known she was taking on a challenge, until that point, there were no goats on Norfolk and she had no idea how to make cheese. Fast-forward a few years, and she’d gladly teach you the tricks of the trade.
Enjoy an afternoon tea of fresh cheese products on the deck overlooking the fabulous coastal views. On a warm afternoon the homemade ginger, lemon and herb infusion offered is refreshing and readies the palette for the flavours of the spread Emily prepares for her guests.
Here is a teaser: freshly toasted bruschetta as a canvas for flavourful garden tomatoes topped with goat cheese and Parmesan, marinated goat cheese with herbs, a delicious feijoa chutney and roasted beetroot.
- The Bounty Bar & Grill
One of the top dining restaurants on the island is Bounty Bar & Grill. It’s located in a beautiful old Norfolk Island home. The ambience that comes with that and the decorative flair are a big part of the experience here. It’s also within short walking distance of our accommodation, which makes this a favourite for our guests.
The restaurant is managed by Fijian bred chef Eni, and his Pitcairn descendent wife Joanne. Together they deliver the perfect fusion of pacific island flavours and hospitality.
The menu boasts local meat and seafood, share platters, pizzas and mouthwatering desserts.
- Bailey’s Restaurant
The restaurant offers a modern Australian à-la-carte menu in an historic setting. Beautifully restored, this is the centerpiece of Governor’s Lodge Resort. The atmosphere and food at Bailey’s are reminiscent of its historic roots, while the a la carte menu offers modern Australian cuisine.
Sip on a glass of wine or a cool beer while Bailey’s looks after your every need. After enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail in the bar area, head to your table for your selection from the extensive a la carte menu and let your mouth water until the tantalising dishes are brought to your table by your smiling waiter.
- The Homestead Restaurant
Using local ingredients as well as the elemental technique of cooking over a fire, the Homestead Restaurant enhances the contemporary dining experience. The 100-acre farm is a working farm that produces beef and vegetables commercially. The homestead has been in the Menghetti family for over 37 years and is now run by husband and wife, Kurt & Jill Menghetti. The menu is designed around cooking over embers to intensify and develop the depth of flavour of the seasonal local produce, meat and seafood found on Norfolk Island. The cocktail menu is not to be missed!
Over here, we embrace the farm to plate philosophy as well as sourcing line-caught fish from Norfolk’s clean wild waters. Norfolk Island is a culinary adventure for self-catering foodies too. Put together a banquet with local cheeses, bread and fresh produce and preserves gathered from the island’s honesty boxes and have a picnic in our garden or by the crystal clear waters of Emily Bay – just 10 minutes by car from our property.
We look forward to welcoming you to Poinciana Cottages!