Beachside Hotel , cnr the Esplanade and Queens St, Scarness. Great bar with open front for sea views.

Black Dog CafA© , cnr the Esplanade and Denman Camp Rd, Scarness. An odd name for what is actually a small, smart restaurant with heavy Asian leanings - mostly Japanese. Udon soup, sushi, and beef teriyaki, sit strangely alongside Cajun fish and Caesar salad. Good value, with mains at $11-15.

Curried Away , 174 Boat Harbour Drive, Pialba (tel 07/4124 1577). Half-a-dozen tables, 1960s musak, and takeaway ambience, but the food - genuine Sri Lankan curries - will get your mouth watering. Medium portions of rutu chicken, vegetable samosas, dhal , raita and chutney - enough for two - will set you back $22; most mains are around $10. Dine in, take away or have it delivered for free.

Dolly's , 410 Esplanade, Torquay, right next to Koala's (tel 07/4125 5633). Adorned with 1950s iconography, there's a DJ or live music every night and a range of smorgasbord and all-you-can-eat deals.

Gringo's , 449 Esplanade, Torquay. Good Mexican menu of enchiladas, chilli con carne and nachos, spiced to individual tolerances and with bean fillings as an alternative to meat. Main courses $17. Open daily from 5.30pm.

Le CafA© , near cnr of the Esplanade and Queens St, Scarness. Inexpensive, cheerful service, with the best coffee in town, and budget "backpackers' specials" such as shepherds pie for around $6. Open 7.30am-2pm & 5-8.30pm.

O'Reileys , 446 Esplanade, Torquay. Savoury pizza, pasta and crepes, but best for fruit pancakes and cream. From $10.

Sails , cnr Fraser St and the Esplanade, Torquay (tel 07/4125 5170). Moderately upmarket Mediterranean/Asian influenced dishes, and a good place to splash out a little. Good choices are the Singapore noodles, seafood risotto, or seafood marinara, at around $15-18; some decent vegetarian options too, along with good old Aussie steaks. Alternatively, just plump for their tapas platter and a cocktail. Open for lunch Thurs & Fri, and from 6pm Mon-Sat.