THE Port Douglas flag continues to fly high in the restaurant and catering world after two restaurants recently won top awards.

Salsa Bar & Grill, Port Douglas won both the best contemporary restaurant and best restaurant catering awards at the 2016 QLD & NT Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence.

And 2 Fish Restaurant was voted the best seafood restaurant.

More than 550 local restaurants, cafes and catering businesses gathered to celebrate the achievements of their peers who were judged across 38 categories, with the winners announced at the Awards for Excellence ceremony held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The regional finalists will compete at the National Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence to be held at Four Points Sheraton, Darling Harbour in Sydney on Monday 24 October 2016. Finalists will be advised of their status by 26 September.

Tara Bennett, Executive Officer, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, said this is phenomenal recognition at the state level, in such a competitive industry.

“It speaks volumes of the quality offering and the focus on quality local produce and the overall dining experience is in line with Tourism Australia’s highly acclaimed Restaurant Australia initiative.

“With visitors to the Port Douglas region consistently ranking restaurants and dining as the most important driver for visitation after nature-based experiences, it is a fundamental industry for this area to continue to excel.”