Great places to eat between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast
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With Stu and Daniel being self-confessed food addicts, and none of the rest of the family being adverse to a meal out, it’s fair to say that we’ve munched our way around plenty of eateries between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. There’s certainly no shortage of places to enjoy a decent plate of food.
Our favourites, which we have described below, however, are extra special in their different ways, and well worth seeking out to try for yourself.
In no particular order, here is our family guide to some great places to eat between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
Eat Street, Northshore
I don’t think you can truly say that you’ve visited Brisbane unless you’ve ventured out to Northshore to experience Eat Street.
Housed in shipping containers, with a roof festooned with twinkling fairy lights, this unique dining experience will transport you around the globe with vendors selling a wide range of international foods. The layout of the venue enables you to move between the different areas, enjoy the live entertainment, watch a movie and soak up the buzzing atmosphere.
Our family favourites are the noodles and Massaman beef from the Asian section and no visit would be complete without a Golden Gaytime ice-cream in a donut cone, although you may need to find a friend to share one with as they’re massive!
Similarly supersized is the fairy floss – think ‘as big as your head’ and then double it. Twice.
Entry to the venue is $3 for adults (children are free) and dogs on leads are also welcome which is always an added bonus for puppy mad Sam who generally spends more time patting pooches than eating!
Eat Street is open for business on Friday, Saturday evenings from 4pm until 10pm amd on Sundays from midday until 8pm.
Besides the food stalls, you will find a hand-full of market stalls selling clothes, jewellery and homewares, with one stall dedicated to canine visitors.
There is plenty of space for smaller visitors to run around, play and dance to the music as well as a cinema screen and bouncy castles to play on (jumping castles for our Aussie followers).
When we’ve visited Eat Street on special occasions, there have been additional attractions such as fireworks during the River Fire and ghouls handing out candy for Halloween, which have made the experience all the more special.
From Brisbane city, take the CityCat ferry to Northshore or take advantage of the plentiful free parking if you are travelling by car.
A firm favourite with us, our children and all of our visitors alike, Eat Street should be on everyone’s ‘must do’ list for Brisbane.
Ricks Garage, Palmwoods
We weren’t even planning to eat out when we first stumbled across Ricks Garage in Palmwoods, but we were lured in by the live music, chilled vibe and the delicious smell.
This is now one of our regular stops when we’re anywhere nearby, or near enough by to call it nearby!
This retro style American themed diner started out life as a mechanical workshop and service station back in the 1920’s, but in 2009, when changes to environmental laws prevented it from continuing to operate as a service station, it was re-branded as a restaurant and has enjoyed growing popularity ever since.
Whilst there remains a mechanical workshop at the back of the venue, the former scrapyard is now an inviting Gin garden and the bar and indoor dining areas are adorned with retro memorabilia, giving the place a great deal of character.
You will be greeted, seated and presented with menus by smiley denim clad waitresses.
Ricks Garage offers a great selection of burgers, ribs and calamari in generous portions, delicious thick-shakes and a selection of cakes which are as beautiful as they are tasty.
If good food, great atmosphere and stacks of personality are your thing, be sure to check this one out!
Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point
As far as Daniel is concerned, eating out doesn’t get much better than sharing the seafood platter at the Sandstone Point Hotel‘s oyster bar which overlooks the Pumicestone Passage and Bribie Island bridge.
The platter itself comprises two tiers of ocean goodness, with cold crab, fresh salmon, prawns and oysters on the top tier and Kilpatrick oysters as the highlight of the hot selection below.
The oyster shed also serves a variety of seafood as individual portions which you can enjoy in the beautifully designed indoor restaurant or whilst enjoying the view from the outdoor seating areas.
The main restaurant serves generous portions of wood fired pizzas, burgers and salads which you can enjoy within the modern dining area or outside on the deck.
There is a wide expanse of grass separating the main restaurant from the oyster bar where you can sometimes catch ‘jazz by the jetty’ (free) and where the Sandstone Point Hotel hosts ticketed events such as music concerts and the annual strawberry and oyster festivals.
Alongside the restaurant, our boys always enjoy the playground and the small petting zoo, as well as the games room inside.
I usually manage a short detour to admire the beautiful home-wares for sale in the restaurant under the guise of visiting the bathroom!
You could easily make a whole afternoon out of a lunchtime visit, something we frequently do, taking in the view whilst the boys burn off their energy running between the sand and the playground.
The Sandstone Point Hotel is the perfect place to enjoy delicious food and completely relax.
In 2019, the Sandstone Point Hotel opened up a camp site as part of the ‘Big 4’ campsite chain. There are powered sites as well as lodges so you can now stay at the hotel as well as eat there.
Guests have exclusive access to the beautiful swimming pool and water park as well as an adventure playground.
Why not make a weekend of it and spend some time exploring Bribie Island, a stones throw over the Bribie bridge. Check out our best family things to do on Bribie Island.
George’s Paragon, Eagle Street Pier Brisbane
Having lived in Brisbane for almost 3 years now, my only disappointment about this superb Mediterranean style seafood restaurant is that we didn’t find it sooner!
Located at number 1 Eagle Street Pier in Brisbane city, George’s Paragon flew to the top of our favourites for ‘posh nosh’ on the first visit. Beautiful restaurant? Check! Friendly staff? Check! Great location? Check! Delicious food? Check, check, CHECK!
The menu offers a delicious selection of seafood starters and mains which arrive with ‘work of art’ presentation and taste divine.
For visitors preferring fur to fins in their dining choices, there are plenty of mouth-watering meat options to tempt you.
The mussels paragon and barbecued baby octopus from the hot appetisers menu are worthy of a special mention. Even our pint-sized critics were bowled over and demanding ‘more!’
The service from the friendly staff is impeccable, attentive without being intrusive and every effort made to make you feel special.
Enjoy spectacular river views across to Brisbane’s iconic Storey Bridge from the patio dining area or the inside restaurant, through its fully glazed river facing wall, which maximises the panorama from its lofty first floor heights.
George’s Paragon offers a half price lunch menu and early bird dinner menu for customers seated between 17.30 – 18.30 so you can enjoy something special without needing to sell a kidney.
For a treat eat in the city, food doesn’t get much better than this.
Mayfield Patisserie and Chocolatier, Montville
If you like to combine delicious food with a spectacular view, then be sure to visit Mayfield Patisserie. Whilst Lizzie favours shopping in Montville, Stu can usually be coaxed along with the promise of an award-winning sausage roll overlooking the Sunshine Coast hinterland, stretching into the valley below from the balcony.
The Mayfield Patisserie has been a firm favourite with all of our visiting family and friends.
Far from being your average sausage rolls, these definitely occupy the gourmet end of the spectrum, loaded with meat and available with a choice of pork, beef or lamb.
As well as the savoury offerings, sweet toothed visitors will be delighted with the work of art cakes and handmade chocolates.
The Mayfield Patisserie is our top recommendation for a chew with a view!
Whilst you are in beautiful Montville, be sure to have a wonder along the highstreet to browse the shops; the town is one of our favourites.
The Social Cafe, Bribie Island RSL
Our favourite breakfast treat is Eggs Benedict at the Bribie island RSL social cafe. The cafe is a relatively new addition to Bribie’s RSL club in Bongaree, and a real asset to the venue. With a quirky and fresh interior, retro style games room and dog friendly al fresco dining area, no one in our house ever needs persuading to pay them a visit.
Ben usually heads straight for the games room and Sam isn’t usually too far behind after a brief pat of all of the four-legged customers.
Daniel tends to turn his attention to the enticing contents of the cakes cabinet just in case he has a little room to spare after his breakfast!
The breakfast menu features all of the usual suspects with each dish beautifully presented and with an extra special finish.
Our beloved Eggs Benedict is topped with the best hollondaise sauce either myself or Stu have ever tasted. The pancakes and full English breakfast are both tasty and served in generous portions. The coffee also receives glowing reviews from Stu.
We find the staff friendly, service prompt even during busy periods and prices very reasonable.
Whilst breakfast at the social cafe is our favourite RSL meals, we have also enjoyed dinner in the more sophisticated Botanic restaurant and drinks at the bar. Again, the food is good, surroundings beautifully designed and the staff great.
The Bribie island RSL is the focal point of the islands Anzac Day celebrations; if you’re visiting the island on the day, you may catch the dawn service or the main service and be reminded of the purpose of the tanks displayed outside the building.
On other occasions, these are still interesting to explore and history enthusiasts will enjoy the military display inside the foyer. Be sure to pop across the road to see the helicopter in the Vietnam memorial gardens.
Why not spend the weekend checking out our best family things to do on Bribie Island and fuel up for your first day with breakfast or pop in for lunch with you canine companion if you have one.
Felons Brewing Co, Brisbane City
If you enjoy a great beer with your food, be sure to stop at Felons Brewing Company next time you are in the city.
The craft beers are brewed on site using locally sourced ingredients, with a yeasty aroma greeting you as you venture into the restaurant.
Nestled beneath the city’s famous Storey Bridge, as part of the Howard Smith Wharf re-development, the brewery takes it’s name from the story of four felons who were shipwrecked on Moreton Island and later became the first European settlers to discover the Brisbane river back in 1800’s.
Today, the brewery benefits from sweeping river views from its long water frontage. Patrons can enjoy good food and delicious beers whilst watching life meander by on the river before them.
Watch your delicious pizzas being made in the wood fired ovens of the industrial style restaurant or choose from a selection of burgers, salads and quality ‘pub grub’.
Alternatively, head to the fish and chip kiosk at the far end of the venue, where you will enjoy, in our opinion, the best fish and chips in all of Brisbane!
There is a great astroturfed play area, with a pirate ship to climb on and slide down to keep the kids entertained whilst you relax.
For a real taste of Brisbane right in the heart of the city, it would be criminal not to give Felons a trial!
Well that’s a round up of our favourites; we hope you enjoy them too!
