To Places to Eat On Tamborine Mountain

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Daytime Taste Treats

Eating out is a very popular Mountain activity and food provision has become a major growth industry here. Visitors and local residents find common ground in our many cafes and restaurants. We locals have the far better chance to sample the wares and the presence of residents in any eatery is a fair indicator that it is worthy of your patronage.

Menus vary from supposedly “authentic” Australian (whatever that means!) through to the thoroughly cosmopolitan. Dining style can be anything from thoroughly informal through to elegant. Our superb climate makes al fresco dining extremely popular throughout the year and many of the eateries offer the choice of indoor or outdoor dining.

Morning tea and afternoon tea are served by most of our local galleries and gift shops. Such delectables as Muffins, Devonshire Teas and delicious cakes of European origin are guaranteed to tempt the most figure conscious to sin.

Lane Realty staff have just had a delightful afternoon tea to celebrate some birthdays at Tea & Niceties in Southport Avenue in Eagle Heights. They specialise in traditional Morning and Afternoon Teas in an atmosphere redolent of the grace and elegance of a fine European Tearoom. Homemade delicacies, bone china, a magnificent range of teas served from silver tea pots... This enchanting tearoom can provide a romantic tea for two or a perfect setting for special events such as a Bridal Shower or a Small Wedding. (1/21 Southport Avenue, Eagle Heights. Open 11am - 4pm Thu-Sun, bookings are essential on ph. 5545 3645)

Morning tea at The Pavilion Garden Restaurant, located in Eagle Heights Road near Curtis Falls, is a feast for the senses in more ways than one (they also have an excellent lunch menu - a personal favourite is their seafood crepe). The visual senses can enjoy a special treat in these beautiful old gardens where the birds that call this area home are extremely tame and seem happy to share their habitat with all comers. You never know what bird life you will see while sipping coffee and sampling cakes. It is still the only place I have ever seen an infant scrub turkey - This amazing little fellow had just 1 wisp of a feather for a tail but had already developed the audacity of his elders and was calmly strutting around the feet of the diners as if this was part of his natural heritage. (ph. 5545 1274)

The Rainbow Lorikeets and the stupendous views are two reasons why people return again and again to The Polish Place. Two other good reasons are Anya’s Chocolate Rum Cake and her wonderful Vienna Coffees. But don’t just drop in for a snack, try having lunch at The Polish Place to sample some fine traditional European style food. It is now licensed and you can now stay on for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays! (333 Main Western Road, North Tamborine. ph. 5545 1603)

Cafe Montana in Gallery Walk is another of those spots where locals gather. It is open day time only but does a very interesting, tasty and varied menu for light snacks and lunches. The coffee is superb and Sandy and Norm serve the best iced coffee I’ve found anywhere on the Mountain. You can choose between indoor or verandah dining and service is always excellent. Highly recommended.

Just across the road, D’Luscious on 119 Gallery Walk is a gourmet experience. Chris Manning (formerly of Forests) is the culinary artist in the kitchen with Michael doing his “maitre de” performance front-of-house. Open for breakfast and lunch from 9  a.m. Wednesday to Monday (closed Tuesday).

Morning and afternoon teas as well as lunches are a special treat at Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation in Alpine Terrace. Home made cakes and tasty salads (or hot soups in winter) are complimented by the owners’ home grown and roasted coffee. You will want to buy some fresh roast beans to take home so you can savour the taste of Mountain grown coffee all over again. It’s the only “real” coffee you will get if you should visit us at home!

If your trip takes you via Henri Robert Drive, you might also enjoy a coffee break at Cafe Kandinsky situated on a high point overlooking the spectacular Gold Coast views.

Great fish and chips are available at Tamborine Takeaway (ph: 5545 1077) in Tamborine Plaza on the corner of Tamborine Mountain Road and Beacon Road and from Calypso Seafoods (ph: 5545 1580) at 15 Main Street in North Tamborine.

People seeking an informal lunch or dinner or a meal to take back and eat in their place of accommodation might like to visit Sam’s Chilli Den, a little cafe / takeaway specialising in a combination of Thai and Mexican foods. Now this writer is not fond of chilli, so I can’t vouch for the Mexican side of the menu, but the items I’ve tried from the Thai side (after questioning on the matter of chilli!) have definitely met with my approval. This little place, in the building next to the Shell service station at North Tamborine, is always full of locals. (Please note: Sam’s Chilli Den is not open for business on Tuesdays).

Dining After Dark

Many of the daytime venues also open in the evenings and offer excellent night time menus. The restaurants mentioned here are just a small selection of the dining out options on Tamborine Mountain. They are simply an indication of the range of eating choices available to visitors and residents.

People who love Italian food should most definitely visit Brunelli’s on Main Western Road. This delightful spot is open both day and evenings Thursday to Sunday. The restaurant has a tremendous atmosphere. The views out to the north-west are stunning, particularly at sunset, and the food is “Italian cuisine at its best”. (Bookings essential - Ph: 5545 2187).

The Polish Place on Main Western Road near the showground, is now open during on Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner offering Traditional Polish Cuisine. (Bookings preferred - Ph: 5545 1603).

Jacques Manor Restaurant in Bungunyah Manor Resort at 160 Long Road is a classic French restaurant. Licensed, it is open Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday for lunch (Bookings - Ph: 5545 1044).

Belvedere on Main in Main Street is located in one of the Mountain’s oldest buildings that has been delightfully revamped while retaining its authenticity. A wide ranging European menu with classic steaks and fish included. Try the oysters! Booking recommended at the weekends - Ph: 5545 4063.

Both pubs, St Bernards and Eagle Heights Hotel at either end of the mountain provide cheap meals every night of the week. They also provide bottle shop facilities. The Inglethorpe Bottle Shop is located in the same block as the IGA supermarket on Main Street and is open till 7 p.m. (5 p.m. Sundays). Eagle Heights Cellars in the Eagle Heights Shopping Centre is also open till 7 p.m. Monsday to Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday to Sunday

Pinnacle Pizza on the corner of Main & Kidd Streets in North Tamborine is open every night of the week (5 p.m. - 9 p.m., deliveries after 6 p.m.) except Tuesdays (Phone Freddy on 5545 1056).

Evening Entertainment

If you have dined, or are taking a take-away back to your accommodation, Tamborine Mt Video in Tamborine Plaza (cnr of Beacon Road and Main Western Road) is open until 8.00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 7.30 p.m. on other days, and welcomes visitors to the mountain. They have a large array of both Videos and DVDs ranging from classics to the most recent releases (Ph: 5545 1677).

Some of the restaurants have live music and the Zamia theatre on Main Street, North Tamborine has the occasional Club Zamia show, while the Little Theatre provides a platform for our local thespians and offers a monthly film show. Try and get a recent copy of the Tamborine Times for news on these events.