Mimi's Restaurant — Restaurant in Northern Territory

If you're staying at the Cooinda Lodge then this is your only dining option, apart from the alfresco Barra Bar. In saying that this is a great dining option - was not expecting such a refined dining experience in Kakadu. We had dinner there twice, so we got to go through most of the dishes on the menu. We also had our breakfasts there.

In the evening the restaurant is open between 6 and 8:30pm, so at peak times it is worth making a booking (noting that they can't be done online). It is enclosed and air-conditioned so makes for a comfortable dining experience. The a-la carte menu includes full table service by staff who understand proper customer service. The food is top notch, great local produce such as barramundi and buffalo perfectly prepared, creatively incorporating native ingredients (such as native lemon grass, melaleuca or paperbark leaves, bush tomatoes, salt bush, native thyme, native river mint, finger limes, Illawarra plum, and Kakadu plum). I totally recommend trying the Barramundi Crudo, the Prawn and Crab Risotto and the Marinated Rum Jungle Buffalo Fillet, washed down with either an Australian red wine or a refreshing local beer. The creativity and ingenuity of the chefs is to be applauded the use of Australian bush food elevates each of the dishes. I also read that they employ local indigenous chef's apprentices, which definitely reflects in the uniqueness of all their food.

Buffet-style breakfasts are served between 6:30 and 10:00 am - generally no need to book but I would suggest that you time your breakfast to avoid when all the tourists are finishing their Yellow River cruise as it gets very busy. There was a reasonable selection of cereals, toast, fruits, pastries and full hot breakfast with bacon, poached and scrambled eggs, baked beans, and hash browns etc. I loved the juice machines - nothing like freshly squeezed orange juice or if you want coffee, they have a great Nespresso machine for guests to use.

We were both impressed by Mimi's restaurant, it certainly wasn't what we expected and if you want to sample Australian bushfoods in delicious dishes then it is a perfect introduction to the...

This is my first negative comment and hopefully my last one. I tried not to leave negative comments even when I don’t like the food. As I think it’s unfair to judge when everyone has individually different tastes. But I feel I have to put this one here so no more vegan people would have similar experience as I had tonight.

$42 roasted eggplant is not worth it. I was excited about the $42 eggplant would be exceptional but… Mine was too salty and overcooked. Eggplant literally tasted like salt with the burnt eggplant charcoal covered. The sauces around it made the dish looked expensive but it was very difficult to taste anything good when the eggplant was that salty.

I told one of the staff that the eggplant is too salty and burnt. But she said it’s normal colour when it’s grilled. Ok, either her eggplant is always burnt or I misunderstood the $42 doesn’t mean high standards? She should argue with customers after she actually tasted it herself so she was not prejudging my experience, or customer’s’ experience. She said she will let the chef know.

I don’t know if I care or not chef does or doesn’t know the eggplant is overcooked and over-salted. But I came here to spend $42 to learn that maybe I should’ve never attempted to spend $42 for roasted eggplant! Hopefully my sacrifice will save someone else’s money and a peaceful night.

Suggestions: Go to the shop and get Mi goreng instant noodles with a can of chickpeas. Put chickpeas together with the noodles and it tastes alright if you have hungry vegan stomach. It’ve got your proteins as well! 😉

P.S. if you read till this bit and not a vegan, I cannot tell you what their other food is like. Sorry! But definitely any food would be better than the $42 roasted eggplant so just don’t be a fool like me thinks the$42 roasted eggplant...

During the stay at Cooinda resort we ate many times at Mimi Restaurants. I never expected such great and creative food in a resort in the middle of Kakadu Nationalpark. The menu is divided into bar food with classics like burger and pizza and a main dishes. The bar food pizza was good with a broad variety of beer but my highlight was the main dishes. The steak was perfectly grilled with harissa fried aubergine and papaya salad. Also the self made gnocchi twisted with guacamole was an surprise. There was really someone in the kitchen who knows how to cook in a modern way. The service was work-and-travel run but all time professional...