Jack's Waterfront

You're standing on Victoria Parade with the bay stretched out in front of you, and Jack's is doing exactly what it should be doing—feeding people well without any pretence. The burgers here are thick, properly seasoned things that come with decent toppings and aren't trying to be something they're not. Service moves at a reasonable pace even when it's rammed, which it often is. The cocktail list is solid, genuinely good drinks rather than Instagram fodder, and the staff know what they're doing behind the bar. It's the sort of place locals actually come back to, not because it's fancy, but because the food's reliable and the setting—right there overlooking the water—genuinely lifts your meal.