Darwin’s Top 10 restaurants: 10-8

THE NT News has aimed to answer one of Darwin’s most debated topics – which restaurant is the city’s best? Here are numbers 10-8 on our list of the top 10 Darwin dining venues

Magic Wok offers clients a DIY approach to your dinner with a choose-your-own-adventure meal approach which is then cooked fresh by owner and chef Frank Lam. Picture: Justin Kennedy

IT’S always been a great debate among Territorians. Just which is the best restaurant in Darwin.

It’s a bloody tough call as there are so many great places to eat in the Top End.

But the NT News is about to put an end to the speculation.

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A few weeks back we did a Facebook post asking Territorians to name their favourite restaurant.

We got hundreds of responses and — from that — our team of food reviewers secretly hit the streets and reviewed both a main and dessert from the Top 10 voted by the public.

Each restaurant was ranked on food quality, service, price and ambience out of a total of 50 points.

The Top 10 countdown starts today exclusively on ntnews.com.au, counting down from numbers 10-8 today in our first instalment.

Keep an eye on ntnews.com.au over the next three days and we will count down Darwin’s Top 10 restaurants as compiled by the NT News and you, our readers.

10. Tim’s Surf and Turf

THE first challenge on sitting down at Tim’s Surf and Turf is ordering, with the process involving a sort of menu bingo where you mark down the order you want on a card and take it up to the counter instead of just asking the waiter.

With that mastered, it’s up to the bar for drinks where the beer is served cold and so is the red wine, as is the custom in tropical climates.

Tim's Surf and Turf: Wagyu porterhouse with garlic prawns

The trick here is to get both at the same time so you have something to drink while the wine warms up.

Ordering seafood and meat is a must do when eating here.

The garlic prawns — is as described, and the turf — a “world famous wagyu” porterhouse — is fine and well cooked, but at $45 you could likely get as good or better elsewhere at half the price.

Tim’s Surf and Turf had the most votes by the public during the call out with people noting the magic tricks owner Tim does for his guests.

9. Magic Wok

IF you’re looking to spice up your night out with something a little bit different, the Magic Wok might be the place for you.

The build-it-yourself style restaurant is tucked away inside the West Lane Arcade in the city. If you’re confused by the whole concept of the restaurant, don’t worry there are friendly staff who can walk you through it step by step and help you with the choices.

You select your own meats and vegetables, then select the tag denoting the sauce of your choice and hand it to the chefs in the kitchen.

The Magic Wok: Mixed seafood with Hokkien noodles stir-fry

You can then either sit down or see the chefs prepare your personal selection of ingredients in their “turbo woks” in a matter of minutes.

The ingredient selection includes crocodile, buffalo, deer, camel, emu, kangaroo, chicken, turkey, duck, beef, pork and sea food, plus an extensive range of vegetables and sauce.

The minimum charge is $25.90 per 350g serve, which is a hearty portion that will leave you feeling quite satisfied.

During my visit I had the seafood mixed with Hokkien noodles and an array of vegetables, topped off with hoi shin sauce.

For dessert I had the fried ice cream with chocolate topping sauce and cream.

8. Manoli’s Greek Taverna

DARWIN’S Greeks pack out Manoli’s on Smith St five nights a week and it’s easy to see why.

The food is unfailingly beautiful and fresh and the baklava is a thing of beauty.

Your yiayia can’t make it better.

Main meals are massive and perfect for sharing.

Manoli's Greek Taverna: Get the saganaki, you’ll be glad you did

The restaurant itself is deceptively big and decorated with the finest Greek kitsch.

On busy nights expect to be crammed in among dozens of hungry diners.

Unfortunately the service takes a nosedive as patronage increases.

You could be forced to wait a long time between Mythoses unless you’re enthusiastic in getting the attention of the wait staff.

Get the saganaki, you’ll be glad you did.

■ THE NT NEWS’ 120 MOST POWERFUL: WHO MADE THE LIST?

Our Top 10 restaurants’ list is sure to set tongues wagging.

There’ll be shocks and surprises, and no doubt some noses will be put out of joint and big egos will be deflated.

So don’t miss what will be the biggest talking point in the Territory over the next few days.

You’ll have nothing to gossip about around the water cooler if you do!

• Come back Wednesday as numbers 7-5 will be revealed right here on ntnews.com.au