Somehow a view gives dining another dimension. Not only is it relaxing, but it’s a great way to show off the area to visitors.
Here are six of the best lunch places to remember, whether you want to overlook water, nature or views.
Brookwater Golf & Country Club 1 Tournament Dr, Brookwater Ph: 07 3814 5500
Every golfer is heading for the nineteenth hole. It’s a natural progression. And why not, when the clubhouse has a view as beautiful as this one! With views over the eighteenth hole of this Greg Norman-designed course and natural bush land beyond, Brookwater Golf Club’s dining room enjoys a tranquillity that only a view of green can bring.
Not only a perfect stop before or after your game, with internationally trained Executive Chef Shaun Hunt at the helm it’s a dining destination all its own, suitable for a special family celebration or wedding. Specials include Friday night deals and the delicious 2-course weekday ‘business lunch’ for $29 including a drink.
Moselle’s Restaurant 18 Spingfield Lakes Blvd, Springfield Ph:
From the shade of the veranda, Moselle’s Restaurant looks out across tranquil Spring Lake to unspoiled foliage. Moselle’s offers a range of café and bistro food influenced by both Eastern and Western cuisine. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (as well as anytime in between), it’s an ambient relaxing venue to enjoy a catchup with friends, a place to take time out to rejuvenate. As we dine on lamb kofta, quinoa and kale salad, flatbread and beetroot hummus, model sail boats glide peacefully across the lake and the world seems trouble free.
Breakfast at Stephanie’s Orion Lagoon, 155 Southern Cross Cct, Springfield Central Ph: 07 3470 5884
With a view across a white picket fence to the Orion Lagoon and Robelle Domain, Breakfast at Stephanie’s provides a shady spot for parents to share a family meal after a swim, all day breakfast, pancakes, waffles and burgers with coffee, shakes, beer or wine. When you dine at Stephanie’s you will have lunch with the stars: Grace Kelly’s smashed avo on Turkish, John Wayne’s steak, sausages and bacon with mushrooms and eggs, or even Dr Seuss’ green eggs and ham! We dine on the Sundance Kid’s chicken schnitzel burger with bacon, cheese, tomato and aioli, washed down with a Summer Lager. You can even choose to have your fries loaded! What a perfect spot to relax!
Queens Park Café & Kiosk 10A Merle Finimore Ave, Ipswich Ph: 07 3281 5167
High up on the hill looking out through trees to the park and croquet club, Queens Park Café is a much-loved family-friendly pit stop. There’s easy pram and wheelchair access via a ramp, and lots of dining space both inside as well as outside on the wrap around veranda.
The menu of family favourites has all day breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches and different sized meals, such as Nachos, Salt and pepper calamari, Fisherman’s basket, Fish and chips with salad or the house specialty, Chicken Parmigiana. Choose a cake from the display to enjoy with your coffee or milkshake. The freshly squeezed fruit juices are delicious, adding a healthy touch to our meal.
Our tip: Spend some time with the kids in the park exploring the Environmental Education Centre beside the café or get up close to some of Australia’s native animals nearby in the park. Queens Park is a top family spot.
Dovetails Restaurant 88 Limestone St, Ipswich Ph: 07 3819 0264
Dovetails is part of the 88 Limestone Street complex that houses the Pumpyard Brewery, Dovetails Restaurant and conference centre, Ungermann Bros ice creamery and several other businesses. The site draws inspiration from its former life as a technical college, Dovetails named in honour of the woodworking apprentices who passed through its doors. Maintaining a sense of heritage, the large banquet table in the dining room shows off dovetail joints on its timber top; the skill after which the restaurant was named.
We dine on Hervey Bay scallops, Seafood linguini and curried local Blue-eyed cod as we sit on the expansive deck overlooking the Memorial Gardens. There’s a sense of place and the accumulated history of this venue as we dine, shaded by ancient trees, remembering the lives and times of those who have gone before.
Homage Restaurant 617 Grandchester Mount Mort Rd, Grandchester Ph: 1300 179 340
Homage occupies the crest of a ridge, giving it an eagle’s eye view of the 1200 acre working farm on which it is situated. From this setting, the resort’s Head Chef Ash Martin pays homage to both land and beast as he takes us on a journey through the landscapes of nature. Using hyper-locally sourced, seasonal produce, including vegetables from the onsite garden, their own bees, and animals raised free range and organically, there’s also a smoke house and fermentation room to explore for a truly immersive experience.
We dine beside the hearth looking across the kitchen gardens to Scenic Rim views beyond. Hestonesque, many dishes are not quite what they seem to be at first glance. Diners are asked to take a different view on dining, the chef’s task sometimes completed at the table. In a take on a Caesar salad, estate-grown cos lettuce, picked that morning, is stuffed with Murray cod, served with a ‘dirt’ dipping bowl of caper bush, lemon and soft cheese crumb. The Homage farm lamb served with sheep’s milk and whey is decorated with estate-grown greens and flowers.
