Sit-down meals
Bojangles
Better known as bo's - has really nice food, somewhere behind all the dancing drunk people. good meals ranging from mango roo salad to steak and salmon.
Casa Nostra
Across the river via the causeway from the todd tavern. excellent fresh pizza and some lovely pasta. more of a romantic atmosphere, old-style italian. byo.
Sporties
Has a long history in alice; it used to be the little casual place owned by and attached to the only 5-star place in town, puccini's. but puccini's closed and transferred some of their menu to sporties, so as rough and tumble as they look, their food is amazing. "iâve never had a bad meal at sporties" is a common saying amongst locals. very good service - surprisingly quick.
The Thai Room
Is down an alley off the todd mall. it has home-style thai food, from paw-paw salad to beef salad to the best tom yum ever and pad thai. excellent food, not too pricey, and if you ask for it spicy they will accommodate you. open for lunch and dinners most days.
Red Ochre Grill
Is attached to the aurora hotel on the todd mall, and serves an ever-changing menu of various local things. tries to use a lot of indigenous ingredients in their menu, and in 2009-2010 did a revamp of the menu to introduce many new dishes. the ribs come highly recommended.
La Casalinga
Across from mbantua gallery,near the diplomat has truly excellent pizza; they have the old-fashioned pizza bar atmosphere, with dark wood paneling and cold beer. good steak and lasagna, too.
Hanuman
In the crowne plaza hotel. indian and thai and it's yummy but expensive. nice place, good wine. service can be spotty. recently lost head chef.
Overlander's Steakhouse
Is the classic outback steak restaurant. excellent beef, but they do nice chicken and barramundi too; home of the "drover's blowout" where you try a little crocodile, kangaroo, emu, camel etc. an amazing wine cellar with some of the best australian wines available in the cellar. they do the "tourist humiliation routine" for tours, where you participate in some traditional australian songs with the wobble boards ala rolf harris and home amongst the gum trees.
Oscar's
Is located near the movie theater, and has an ever-changing fusion cuisine mediterranean menu and a nice wine list.
âââHong Kong Restaurantâââ next to Yeperenye Shopping Centre on Hartley Street, is one of the best Asian restaurants in town. Delicious food, relatively inexpensive food, with a large upstairs restaurant and an exstensive take-away menu. Been in Alice Springs for many years.
Other locations around town:
On the Todd Mall:
The Tea Shrine
Is on 113 todd street - right next to the greyhound station, and serves a large variety of teas both hot and cold, and some excellent light asian-style vegetarian meals. the korean iced tea is really, really good - don't leave without trying it! open 9 am - 4 pm, monday - saturday, closed sunday.
Town and Country
Is a pub on the todd mall. they serve light meals, and it's usually got quite a nice atmosphere about it.
In spite of its small size, Alice has a good and varied restaurant scene.
fast food
There are a fair few options here in Alice Springs for tucker dinner. McDonald's, KFC, Hungry Jacks Burger King, and Red Rooster Australian made KFC are the main take away chains, but there are also your small family take aways, such as Big Al's, East Side Fish and Chips and Scoff.
Additionally, there are some great Pizza Shops in town, La Casalinga is a great feed. It's on Gregory Terrace, and it's got a really nice old school atmosphere about it. Has not changed for 20 years, and won't in the near future!