Red Beret Hotel

Being locals, we get to sample just about every fare available in Cairns...and you can't beat a pub for putting on a decent sized nosh. The Red Beret, and other Hedley pubs in Cairns, are no exception. At least once a fortnight I, the missus, and our 8YO head to the beret for a feed in a friendly, lively atmosphere.

Food is always fresh (great salads and/or vegetables) and the servings are generous. Reef & Beef is usually to my taste, and the missus goes for the veal parmesan. No complaints from either of us. Throw in the kids treats like free ice cream..providing she quaffs her dinner, and we're always left replete. A couple of Crown Lagers me/Chardonnay for the boss to wash it all down, tops the night off.

We've never had a concern with the Red Beret, and we've been coming here regularly, fortnightly for over 4 years now. I have no problems recommending the pub for a decent feed in a decent environment.

I travel around Australia a fair bit and a lot in North Queensland.

I am a vegetarian and you might think being a vegetarian is limiting cuisine wise..fish and salads.

Not so ...imaginitive menus occasionaly throw up interesting food. I do mean jusr occasionally and the "best " restraunts frequently disappoint.

I get surprised when I least expect it.

For instance passing though your area today I went into your restaurant area for a quick lunch expecting nothing much at all to be honest. I ordered a "big salad" and my wife had a chicken salad (kebab).

Well the salads were excellent. Flavoursome ( and in my case big enough to be filling...quite a task with a salad.

The salad was interesting and had an overall flavour mixed with a good variety of lettuces, some sun dried tomato and nuts etc.

Anyhow I did take the time to identify and thank the young apprentice for good preparation.

Hope he appreciated that as I rarely thank people for good work I expect they should do as a matter of course.

I thought you should know your staff and at least the food I and my wife had had surprised a sometimes disappointed palate.