Post #769345 by Club Nouméa on Mon, Oct 10, 2016 5:23 AM

Farewell to Rarotonga

Tempting though it is, in order to reach the best restaurant and bar in Rarotonga, you have to walk past the island's only 24-hour takeaway joint: Raro Fried Chicken.

Down in the old historic port area is where you will find Trader Jack's:

The building is basically an open-sided tin-roofed structure that was rebuilt when Trader Jack's was hit by a cyclone shortly after it opened in 1987:

The entrance to the restaurant is up the steps at the back of the building, which lead into a long hallway that runs behind the main bar area. The walls are lined with historical photos of the old harbour area:

The restaurant offers the nicest view of the harbour and is generally quite cool in the evening, with a refreshing breeze.

My first order was the Trader Jack's Mai Tai:

It is not to be underestimated, this cocktail. The first one I had was so powerful I thought they had mixed it wrong. Further tests dispelled that misapprehension. It is heavier on the alcohol than the Trader Vic's Mai Tai, but none the worse for that...

There is a local link here; the remains of the wreck of the SS Maitai (specifically its boiler) are still visible on the reef near the entrance to the old harbour, where it ran aground in 1907:

The steamship regularly plied a route between Tahiti and Rarotonga until the fateful day when it ran aground.

My first meal at Trader Jack's was crumbed steak with fried pineapple rings:

They also have local specialities like swordfish wrapped in banana leaf and kumara:

If you order fish, you will soon make the acquaintance of Jack himself (the restaurant cat):

He was so happy to receive some fish that when I next visited the restaurant a couple of days later for lunch, he climbed into my lap and settled in.

The desserts are nice too; for example their custard:

The great food, potent cocktails, and the wonderful setting are what made me keep coming back to Trader Jack's. All this and very friendly staff and a warm relaxed atmosphere make it the best place to drink and dine on the island.

So that closes the Rarotonga tiki tour. I only spent 8 days on the island but had a fantastic time and would recommend it to anyone who wants to try a new South Seas island destination.

To close, a blurred image of the Trader Jack's cheesecake - approximate photography is the price you pay after two or three of their cocktails...