When we put out the call to find Townsville’s Best Restaurant, dozens of city favourites were nominated.

From steakhouses to pubs with a sea view to Asian, Italian and Chinese cuisines, we have so many to choose from depending on the mood.

>> VOTE in the poll at the bottom of the page

Keith Mack nominated Dynasty Seafood Restaurant for its “wonderful people serving the locals culinary delights with a smile”.

Katie Johns couldn’t choose. “Shorehouse would be hard to beat for groups and mid-range pricing. For fine dining, Bridgewater is our go-to restaurant. Both are exceptional!”

For Tiphanie Clarke, it was the Watermark.

“Hands down the best restaurant in town! Never had a bad meal, or bad service from there. Top quality, super nice servers and they’re always accommodating!”

About the finalists

A Touch of Salt

A family owned, multi-award winning restaurant featuring ever-evolving fine-dining menus with an extensive wine cellar, A Touch of Salt was recently named #64 in the Delicious100, made up of the best of Queensland’s eateries.

Executive Chef Michael Brine said quality ingredients combined with fresh produce was at the heart of plating up a memorable dish.

“Produce is always evolving just like fashion or art but I personally like growing vegetables myself so seeing the process from the soil to plate,” Mr Brine said.

Bridgewater

Located on the banks of Ross Creek, the venue embraces its waterfront location offering stunning views of Castle Hill all the way through to Melton Hill.

Led by well-known chefs Matt Merrin and Tyron Samuel, Bridgewater has a boutique restaurant that offers a welcoming atmosphere and dining experience like no other.

From a sit down occasion with many courses matched perfectly with accompanying wine; to canapés and champagne at a glittering wedding.

Miss Songs

Let Miss Songs Asian Kitchen take you on a journey across the Orient and discover classic Chinese dishes with a modern twist, using fresh, locally sourced produce – this is Asian cuisine at its most satisfying.

The contemporary Chinese restaurant was 70th on last year’s Delicious100 list, which highlighted the top eateries across Queensland.

The Pier Restaurant

Originally built in the 1970s as the Barge Inn, The Pier has been a mainstay on Townsville’s restaurant scene, feeding generations of Townsville locals and tourists alike. Now owned by the Charles family, The Pier is known for its stunning views and succulent seafood.

The modern Australian menu features freshly sourced seafood including local market fish, scallops, prawns, succulent oysters and salmon, plus consistently high quality cuts of beef, chicken, pork and duck.

Wild Rice Laos & Thai Cuisine

Contemporary regional food from our country of origin, Laos, a small country which shares its borders with Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, China and Myanmar.

Tribal people have traded and shared food ideas across this region for many generations. The key factor is the bountiful fresh harvest of herbs, spices, and food grown locally.

“Sourcing our food is our main interest, finding people in our community to provide us with their produce giving us fresh ingredients daily,” they said.

Their menu is a contemporary fusion of regional food honouring our Lao culture.

Ribs and Rumps

The Palmer St restaurant has been a Townsville staple for more than eight years.

From our juicy 220g rump to their legendary chicken parmy, you’re sure to find the meal to satisfy, even catering to herbivores.

Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

Good food and loyal customers are key to the success of Dynasty Chinese Seafood Restaurant in Flinders St, says long-time head waiter Les Chun-Tie.

The 59-year-old has been working at Dynasty since its opening almost 35 years ago.

Read more about him here.

Garden of Eating

Garden of Eating BYO has been a Townsville staple for 26 years, with Wayne and Adele involved in the hospitality industry for over 40 years.

Garden of Eating was born from a dream they shared to open their own restaurant.

Both originally from New Zealand, they moved here in the early 80s. In 1993, Adele came across a closed pizza shop and that’s when inspiration struck with a vision of a relaxed, inviting and quirky restaurant with twinkling fairy lights in a beautiful courtyard.

Satay Mas

Established in early 1991, Satay Mas has grown to become a Townsville favourite. We offer an amazing menu of ever changing specials, a well stocked bar, and of course, our well known all-you-can-eat buffet.

Their flavour is unique and well known in Townsville – authentic Malaysian inspired Chinese.

Shorehouse

Focusing on fresh locally sourced produce with the intention to share.

Sit and watch the world go by on our glorious deck in casual lounge dining, or at the bar in our architecturally designed casual beach house with North Queensland resort highlights.

Shorehouse is on Townsville’s most iconic location, the Strand showcasing panoramic views across Cleveland Bay to Magnetic Island.

Bringing a modern Asian cuisine with the best of our local flavours crafted by our talented experience chef.

Watermark

​Renowned for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, The Watermark is a family friendly local favourite and the venue of choice for international tourists and interstate visitors.

From a big breakfast to afternoon high tea; a prime beef burger to the finest steak and seafood; the best local beers to fine champagne; big screen sports to live music

IMC Steakhouse

The independent Meat Company showcases the excellence of Australian farmers from Cape Grim to Cape York.

The prices of the steaks sold at the I.M.C Steak House are based on the wholesale market price — so prices often go up or down a bit week-to-week.

IMC Steakhouse opened its second Townsville restaurant last year near The Willows.

JAM Corner

JAM is one of Townsville’s favourite dining destinations, situated at the top of the city’s food street, Palmer Street, and overlooking the CBD and Ross River.

Established in 2010, Chef/owner Matt Merrin offers many ways to enjoy eating and drinking at the restaurant, which also includes the LUXE private dining room and the Loft by JAM function room.

The restaurant offers a modern stylish setting with delicious food and warm professional service.

The restaurant has received many Australian Good Food Guide hats, as well as ‘glasses’ for their wine list.

Shop Six Pasta Bar

Born from a shared love for Italian coastal dining, Shop Six Pasta Bar was a welcome addition to The Strand last year.

Shop Six Pasta Bar brings the welcoming Italian lifestyle to Townsville, with a food philosophy to put a modern twist on classic Italian dishes.

Shop Six Pasta Bar owner Calvin Bromham said a visit to the new restaurant would be a new experience for the customer.

“It is not your traditional pasta bar, it has a more modern take on contemporary Italian food,” he said.

“The centrepiece in our kitchen is our pasta maker because we make all our own pasta in-house.”

Donna Bionda

Located in the creative laneway precinct of Townsville’s City Lane, Donna Bionda is “a one-of-a-kind Italian concept restaurant, celebrating the life of Donna — a passionate, life and friendship-loving blonde Italian woman” according to the restaurant.

“When you dine at Donna Bionda, you experience the wonderful highlights of Donna’s life; from the delicious woodfired pizzas fresh out of the pizza oven, flavoursome pastas, tasty Italian desserts and an extensive wine list.”

What would be your pick? Vote in the below poll by 9am Friday.