local EATERIES

Ballina

Ballina Kam Hing Family Restaurant - 68 Cherry Street Ballina 6686 8191

Ballina Manor Boutique Hotel 25 Norton Street Ballina 6681 5888 Fine dining in a first class establishment. They say it’s ideal for wedding receptions and romantic rendezvous.  Advertising is accurate.

Blue Room Riverside Restaurant - 274 River Street Ballina 6686 7117 Well regarded dining and really good service right on the river.

Bunkers Restaurant – in the Ballina Golf Club Jamieson Avenue East Ballina 6686 6905 Recommend booking ahead.  Obviously the place to go after an afternoon’s pleasant stroll following the white balls.

Fleurs Restaurant - in the Comfort Inn All Seasons, Pacific Highway Ballina 6686 2922 One of the best meals we've had in Ballina

Green Frog - at the Ballina Homestead Motel, Fox and Cherry Streets Ballina 6686 3333

Hoi Shing Restaurant - 283 River Street 6686 4783

Indian Mumtaj Restaurant - 2 Martin Street 6618 1194

Mexican - Del Rio 196 River Street 6686 2775

Nautilus Bar and Restaurant - in the Ballina Beach Resort Compton Drive Ballina 6686 8888

Oriental Pearl Restaurant - 315 River Street 6686 5406

Pelican 181 12 - 24 Fawcett Street 6686 9181 Right on the riverfront in an ideal location for a leisurely lunch and a relaxing latte.  Nice food – prices are affordable.

Ping Sun & Mermaid Chinese Restaurant - 200 River Street 6686 3292

Ploy Thai Restaurant - Ballina West Shopping Centre 6686 5432   If you are staying at any of the motels the Sydney side of Ballina this is one of your best choices for dinner.  West Tower Tavern bottle shop is close by if you need supplies.

Rinks Restaurant - Canal Road 6686 6888

Riverwalk Café - Riverwalk Arcade off River Street 6686 3353 Breakfast all day 7 days a week and enough room for us to have staff meetings without sitting on each other's laps is a good enough reason for us to eat here. It also has a relaxing shaded alfresco dining area where you can enjoy gentle river breezes. Tell Paul we sent you.

Sandbar & Restaurant - 9 Compton Drive East Ballina 6686 6602 Excellent tapas and coffees and a really pleasant Shaws Bay outlook.  If you are staying at the Lakeside Caravan Park or the Ballina Beach Resort this is a very good alternative venue.

Shelly's On The Beach - Shelly Beach Road 6686 9844 Half way between Ballina and Lennox Head overlooking the ocean – there is not a better place to have breakfast, especially if you enjoy whale and dolphin watching – bring your sunnies!

Sirocco Cafe and Gallery - 136 River Street Ballina 6681 6344 Steve, Katie and the crew have just won first prize at the regional dining awards. Drop by the cafe and see why that new plate is up on the wall with the other decorations. We always enjoy our meals there and the lattes are first class. A great location if you're doing business in Ballina, or just cruising the shopping strip.

Thai By Night - 187 River Street 6686 7217 The food’s good, but there are plenty of restaurants with better ambience.  Suggest takeaway.

The Point Ballina - 2 Martin Street 6618 1188

Byron Bay

(coming soon)

Lennox Head

If you're wondering why there are so many entries for Lennox it's because we live here. Although we came here for the surf, there are so many good places to eat and to get a decent coffee it's amazing we're not human cubes! We don't eat out that much, but we've been here 10 years now- we've had plenty of time to sample the fare from most places. The other big advantage is that everything is within walking distance, and most restaurants are BYO.

Cafe Bella Shop 4/63 Ballina Street 6687 6893.  New licensed café between Ricky’s Chinese Restaurant and Elders Real Estate.  Good reviews.

Bream Hole Fish & Chippery - 71 Ballina Street 6687 7034. Traditional fish and chips next door to the surf shop. Popular with the younger set and those just back from a dip.

Cafe de Mer - 70 Ballina Street 6687 7132.  A top menu and central location that has recently changed hands.   We’ll get a write up happening as soon as we get a chance to eat there.

Eden’s Takeaway - 68 Ballina Street 6687 7628. Don't tell the cholesterol Gestapo, but this is our favourite haunt after a late morning surf. The chicken burgers with sweet chilli sauce are to die for, but they have many other fast foods available.

Fishy Fishy - 80 Ballina Street 6687 5599. Malcolm and Kylieare somewhat of an institution in dining in Ballina Byron, having established some of the best known restaurants and cafes in the area (the red painted 7 Mile Cafe and Shelley's on the Beach were their brainchildren). They have fresh seafood you can take away and cook, or they can cook for you. Al fresco dining and real coffee are also available.

Indian Restaurant Lennox Head 63 - 65 Ballina Street 6687 6707  Authentic Indian cuisine in a great location for night time al fresco dining in the centre of Lennox.  Enjoy.

In The Pink Ice Creamery - Ballina Street 6687 5552. Owned by the couple who have the same ice creamery in Byron Bay, this outlet maintains the same high quality, home made ice creams and sorbets we were used to at the original store. Always very popular, and for good reason. Some items are even low cal - they taste so good you'll be wondering how they manage it.

Lennox Chinese Restaurant - 65 Ballina Street 6687 7478. Ricky creates some great Chinese dishes and everything is pretty affordable. Our favourite is yum cha, which is available most Saturdays and Sundays from around 11am. Yum cha is a great alternative to the weekend cafe breakfast, combining that and lunch in the one laid back 'smorgasbord'. Probably safest to book to ensure a table – they can get busy.

Lennox Pizza and Pasta - 56 Ballina Street 6687 7080. Al fresco and inside dining is available. Under new management, the restaurant has a good reputation for zesty Italian theme meals, with fresh ingredients.

Lennox Point Bakery (and cafe) - 76 Ballina Street 6687 7109. This is the earliest opener in town if you are suffering from coffee withdrawal. While we are not normally outside drinking our lattes at 6:30am, those that do seem to be pretty happy with the result.

Lennox Thai Garden (and Bangkok Bar) - 49 Ballina Street (adjacent to the backpackers on the southern edge of town) 6687 7257. Owner Bob is married to a Thai lady, so clearly you are going to enjoy authentic Thai cuisine here. The staff and we have had some pretty memorable nights over the years. The bar is a new addition which we've only enjoyed a couple of times, but we were blown away – it was like going to Sydney for a splurge, but without the cost.  Manager John puts on live entertainment some nights, which really gives the place a buzz. 

Opes Restaurant Shop 7 90 – 92 Ballina Street 6687 7388.  Run by the crew who used to have the famous up market seafood restaurant, Fins, in Byron Bay and new to Lennox.  One of two new restaurants in town that you always have to book for. Most of the diners are not locals, so they are being attracted by something – since the place is full most nights since it opened this is a very good sign.  Modern Australian cuisine.  

Mi Thai - 76 Ballina Street (next to In the Pink) 6687 5820. Daniel's French, so there's a different style in store for you here. Probably the al fresco dining centre of Lennox Head and like the establishment next dorr, always very popular.

Ocean View Cafe - Pacific Parade (surf side of the Lennox Surf Club, opposite Lake Ainsworth) 6687 7380. If you want to dine at the most picturesque spot in Lennox Head come here. Sue will feed you some of the nicest meals for breakfast and lunch at a really affordable price. If you have rented one of our cars and can show Sue one of the cards we'll give you, you can have 10% off your food and coffee. If you visit Lennox and don't see Sue's you will regret it. As a venue for whale watching from late May to September it's hard to beat.

Pancho Villa Mexican Restaurant - 62 Ballina Street 6687 6171.Richard is your host at this licensed Tex Mex eatery. It comes alive at night and pretty much dominates the streetscape. Great food, with the advantage of BYO wine. When we feel the need for a trip back to the States, but without the flight this is where we go.

Quattros Shop 1 90 – 92 Ballina Street 6687 6950 As the name suggests – classic Italian food which is very good, but too pricey to go back to if you are taking the whole family.  However, well worth the effort and expense if you are taking someone special.  Very attentive staff and owner who lives locally and is friendly, but not in your face.  Good wine list.

Rubys by the Sea - 19 Pacific Parade (inside the Lennox Point Hotel) 6687 5769. This well known, award winning Bangalow restaurant has put down roots in Lennox. An excellent venue, especially if you intend to listen to a band after your meal.

Sands Restaurant - 7 Park Lane (within the Lennox Headland Beach Resort) 6618 0044. European dining - gourmet pizzas and pastas being the speciality. Worth the walk through the Resort. Full bar available, with a variety of local and imported beers.

Seven Mile Restaurant - 41 Pacific Parade 6687 6210. Multi award winning venue with a good view towards the ocean. If you are a wine buff you really should try them out. Ideal pit stop on Sunday market day.

Subway - 84 Ballina Street 6687 5988. Food quality you know at a price you can afford.If the other restaurants are closed on Tuesday night there's nothing better.

The Point Cafe - Raymers Lane (opposite Ross Park) 6687 6500. The venue for many a breakfast staff meeting and very popular with the young Mum's entertaining their kids at the park. Simon and Kylie know how to prepare a fantastic breakfast - we have one chappy who leaves the breakfast choice to Simon - and he's never been disappointed.

Ballina Byron Hinterland

Bangkok Lismore Restaurant - 44 Ballina Street Lismore 6621 3375

Bellowing Bull Restaurant - Bruxner Highway Wollongbar 6628 0715 BBRC staff and friends had a pre Xmas dinner get together – a serious meal, recommended for serious eaters with a healthy appetite. Also recommend you take a taxi or bring along a designated driver!

Blossom's Cafe - Cnr Bruxner Hwy & Convery's Lane Wollongbar 6628 7866

Blue Tongue Café - 43 Bridge Street North Lismore 6622 0750

Cafe 29 - 29a Keen Street Lismore 6622 4022

Cafe Giardino - 178 Keen Street Lismore 6622 4664 Good, authentic Italian cuisine at an affordable price.  With Italian in laws, we’ve had our share of Italian food.  In our opinion this place serves some of the best in the district.

Cafe Giardino - 86 Main Street Alstonville 6628 3333

Green Frog Cafe - Rosebank Road Rosebank 6688 2168

Harvest Café - Newrybar village (just off the old Pacific Highway) 6687 2644 Lots of favourable write ups in regional dining guides for this establishment. Our staff agree with the positive feedback too. Enjoy.

Isadora's Restaurant - 80 Dalley Street East Lismore 6622 4420

Lao Thai Restaurant - 71 Main Street Alstonville 6628 1855

Lismore Workers' Club - 225- 231 Keen Street 6621 7401 Also a good venue for local entertainment.

Mexican Magic - 6 Carrington Street 6621 8206

Nimbin Pizza & Trattoria - 70 Cullen Street Nimbin 6689 1427

Pogel's Wood Cafe & Restaurant - Federal Drive Federal 6688 4121

Retro Cafe - 76 Cullen Street Nimbin 6689 0590

Rous Cafe - 44 Keen Street Lismore 6621 5044

Summerland House - 253 Wardell Road Alstonville 6628 0610Well worth a visit for many reasons. Try to make one of their theme nights.  During those hot summer days their free water park is pretty popular with families.

Thai Satay Hut - 143 Keen Street Lismore 6622 0707

The Left Bank - 133 Molesworth St reet Lismore 6622 2338 A good reputation for good quality food and service.

The Nightcap Cafe Restaurant - Minyon Falls Road Rosebank 6688 2136

The Rainbow Cafe - 64a Cullen Street Nimbin 6689 1997

For any information please feel free to contact us.

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