Where to go for dinner in Toowoomba
My family first moved to Toowoomba in 1971 from the UK. In those days, the height of fine dining was the Wimpy Bar that served hamburgers and chips at the servo as you came up the range. It wasn’t until the late 1970s (maybe the early 1980s) that McDonalds came to town. I can remember my whole family dressing up for the night out which turned to disaster when I spilled my strawberry thick shake down my father’s brown vinyl coat that was at the cutting edge of Darling Downs fashion at the time. He sat outside in a mood in our HD Holden (affectionately known as ‘Bertha’) as the rest of the family savoured their cheeseburgers and chips. We would not be hurried; this was haute cuisine. We knew Toowoomba had become a truly cosmopolitan world city when the Golden Dragon opened next to Myer. Never before had our palates savoured anything like the delights of beef in black bean sauce. We had arrived. These were the heady days of 1982.
Thankfully, things have moved on since then. These days, the population has swelled to around 115,000. There are lots of bars, cafes and restaurants to suit even the most jaded palate. ASCILITE Conference goers will have a chance to sample what’s on offer during the Monday night dine around.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, as you’d expect, you can track down a decent steak at a number of pubs and restaurants. If you want to experience a pub with a country feel, you might head to the Downs Hotel. Just across the road is Grumpy’s Tavern Steak House where they serve the biggest ribs I’ve ever seen! We grow ‘em big on the Darling Downs!
Largely because of the university, there is a quite a culturally diverse population in Toowoomba and with that diversity comes a number of excellent and interesting restaurants. Sofra is a very atmospheric Turkish restaurant with a rich décor and delicious food. Some nights you can strike it lucky and catch some belly dancing as well. Just around the corner, El Attar Middle Eastern Grill serves exquisite Egyptian cuisine. Personally, I find it hard to go past a shawarma! There is a good range of Asian cuisine as well. I enjoy eating at Kajoku which serves Japanese and Korean food. It’s hard to believe you’re in Toowoomba as you pick your way through an assortment of kimchi and other delights. Junk is an Asian street food restaurant that has won the hearts and minds of locals. I always seem to succumb to eyes-bigger-than-my-belly-syndrome here. It’s something I’m working on, but progress is slow and the treatment protracted. Chinese deliciousness is the order of the day at the Garden Restaurant. This is still a favourite of my family and to us, Chinese food remains a firm favourite even though the Golden Dragon is long gone. Toowoomba has some excellent Thai restaurants such as the award-winning Thai Royal, the Thai on High Street and the Thai Cottage. A relative newcomer to the scene is Muller Bros which has a range of dining options including a rooftop bar and a Brazilian BBQ. I like to fast for 36 hours before I go.
If your tastes are situated closer to home, there are a number of restaurants serving contemporary Australian cuisine. Check out The Office which is right in the heart of town or Seasons which serves a delicious assortment of seafood yumminess or Potters which is quite new on the scene.
If you are still dubious about Toowoomba’s claims to culinary greatness, then the following should put it to rest for all time. Toowoomba is actually the birthplace of the lamington. This iconic Australian cake was invented at Toowoomba’s Harlaxton House when the Governor of Queensland, Lord Lamington, brought his entourage to Toowoomba to escape the heat, sometime between mid-December 1900 and mid-February, 1901. Better try a lamington while you’re here!
The other iconic dessert that Toowoomba is famous for is the Weis Bar! Summer is not complete without the consumption of a couple of dozen of these tasty treats. I’ve noticed that they serve them now on Qantas flights. A highlight in a generally disappointing culinary experience en route!
As you can tell, I have diligently and selflessly applied myself to the continued testing of Toowoomba’s vast assortment of restaurants to help you find the best we've got to ofer. There are many more than I’ve been able to talk about here.
Don't forget to check out the details for the dine around and start planning where you'd like to eat on Monday night!
Where to go for drinks in Toowoomba
After jam-packed days of listening to world-class keynotes, engaging in innovative sessions and connecting with peers and colleagues, you might think it’s time for a drink. Toowoomba does not disappoint, whatever your tipple. As always, you can find a Google Map embedded in the name of each establishment.
The Moose
Domestic Lane, Walton Stores
12pm-12am
The Moose is the newest player on the Toowoomba drinks scene, but also on the dessert scene. Not only is it a cocktail bar by night, but a chocolate parlour too. As you’re greeted by the large copper moose head above the fireplace, sit back and indulge in chocolate fondue with doughnut bites, or perhaps enjoy the Nutella tap. On the drinks front, try a candy sour that resembles a pink and white strawberry cream lolly with raspberries on top.
Muller Bros
25-27 Bell St
12pm-9pm
Muller Bros is Toowoomba’s favourite rooftop bar, situated in the city just off Ruthven St. The building dates back to the early 1900s as a hardware store alongside a motorbike workshop and sales department for Royal Enfield. At present day, as a restaurant, café and bar, they have one of the best cocktail menus and wine lists. Try a grapefruit margarita, traditional, yet classic grasshopper (aptly named, Patience my Young Grasshopper) or for something more adventurous, The Fig Honey Collins which has fig liquor, Bombay Gin, lemon juice, lemongrass syrup all mixed with soda. If you’re heading out with a group of your new #ASCILITE17 friends, get a pitcher of spiked ginger beer. All these drinks are of course accompanied by a delectable small plate and platter menu.
Fitzy’s
153 Margaret St
12pm-late
If pubs are more your scene, look no further than Fitzy’s on Church and it`s adjoining bar Tapestry. There are a range of dining areas and bars, indoors and outdoors. There is a huge selection of drinks ranging from craft beer to cocktails, and food ranging from snacks to multi-course meals so you can sit back and settle in for as long as you want. The espresso martinis are especially delightful. Live music is often playing here too.
Now that you're sorted for food and drink in Toowoomba, look forward to some more conference news over the next week. The organising committee still have surprises to be revealed.
Where to go for coffee in Toowoomba
Toowoomba is holding its own as a destination for a superior caffeinated experience. Try some of the cafés below to indulge your tastebuds. As with the post covering breakfast, you'll find a handy Google Map embedded in each address.
Ground Up Espresso Bar
501 Ruthven St, Toowoomba
6.30am - 3.30pm
Ground Up is one of the most popular coffee locations in Toowoomba for very good reason. It consistently rates high on Trip Advisor, Bean Hunter and Facebook and brings a little taste of Melbourne to Toowoomba. With its cool laneway vibe filled with street art, Ground Up offers a range house blends, single origins and cold pressed options. You can also buy handmade ceramic keep cups at the counter – first coffee in it is free.
Deli Delicious
125 Herries Street
6.30am - 6.00pm
Deli Delicious has been providing Toowoomba with exceptional coffee since 2004. As a family run store the hospitality is generous and the atmosphere casual and friendly. There’s a wide selection of drinks to choose from and this can be accompanied with cabinet lunches and desserts. While you’re there, don’t forget to try deli goods, such as local fruit and vegetables, meats and cheeses.
GPO Bar and Café
140 Margaret Street
6.30am - 4.00pm
GPO is housed in the old Toowoomba post office – a stunning sandstone building just off Queens Park. They offer Campos Coffee (with fantastic latte art), including the flagship Superior Blend in addition to various teas, juices and smoothies. For something different, try the citron presse – a mix of lemon juice, mint, syrup de gomme and soda. GPO also offers a full breakfast and lunch menu.
Right now, ASCILITE 2017 has you covered for the conference dinner, breakfast, and that all-important coffee. We've not forgotten other meals, so the next posts will take you onward to dinner (and drinks!).
Dine Around for ASCILITE 2017
Monday night in Toowoomba is usually the quietest night of the week, but that will not be the case this year as this is the chance for all ASCILITE delegates to hit the town and make merry with friends old and new.
We have compiled a list of some of the iconic establishments in the CBD and around the City Golf Club giving you a range of cuisines, prices and timings with an aim of meeting all tastes. Dine Around options will give you the chance to wine and dine with a group of friends/delegates with a common interest (think about the ASCILITE SIGs, or Mentor/Mentee meetings), for first timers to meet the faces behind your favourite paper, or even put some faces to those Tweets.
On the conference website we have provided details of all the restaurants and will have sign up sheets available at the registration desk. Start thinking now about who you would like to dine with, and where you would like to go. Of course, there is no obligation for you to dine at any of these establishments but we do recommend all of these.
However, we understand if there are some difficult choices ahead, given your options and the fantastic location of the conference dinner. You might like to visit other places on the list during the week. Other options for casual dining - particularly over the weekend -are the newly-completed café and restaurant precinct of Grand Central Shopping Centre, and the cafes and eateries at Waltons Stores.
We are looking forward to a chance to chat, reminisce, and make new memories with friends old and new. Start making your plans today because there are less than twenty sleeps until the conference (a thought either exhilarating or terrifying - depending on whether you are on the organising committee, or an attendee).
Where to go for breakfast in Toowoomba
You will be spoilt for choice if you venture outside your hotel and explore some of the breakfast options Toowoomba has to offer. We've done the hard work of whittling the list down for you. If you find a place for the ultimate breakfast experience, be sure to share it via Twitter - don't keep the best spots for yourself! Each location has a Google Map embedded in the address.
Ortem
15 Railway Street
7:00am – 3:30pm
Ortem is situated in an old ball bearing factory and has a cool, industrial vibe. Delicious food and drinks are served indoors and out, with street-side seating overlooking the heritage-listed railway station. Breakfast items include smashed avo, croissant French toast and the brekky bagel made with a Bagel Boys bagel, bacon, soft scrambled egg, guacamole and béarnaise sauce.
Park House Café
92 Margaret Street
6:00am-9:30pm
Park House Café is a staple on the Toowoomba dining scene and has the enviable location of being directly opposite Queens Park. All produce is sourced fresh from local farms on the Darling Downs and in the Lockyer Valley. Breakfast is available all day and includes sweet coconut bread with honeycomb butter, waffles with maple syrup and ice cream and spinach and feta hotcakes. Or, if you’re feeling especially hungry, the Park House Breakfast is one of the biggest in town.
The Finch
Shop 2, 469-473 Ruthven St
6:30am-3:00pm
The Finch provides real food on the fly and are known for their Bahn Mi rolls. Breakfast is served all day with the early bird deal of a ham and cheese croissant with regular coffee a favourite for $10 (available until 9:00am daily). Gluten free and vegetarian options are available, such as roasted Goombungee mushrooms with garlic, thyme, feta and a poached egg on sourdough and 100g Angus beef fillet with bacon, hash brown, pork sausage and poached eggs with house tomato and onion relish. For something different, try the shakshuka – a Moroccan spice infused baked egg.
There you have it; your guide to breakfast in Toowoomba. Many of you though will be asking 'what about coffee?', and we'll address that in the very next post, so stay tuned to stay caffeinated.
My top 5 things to do while you're in Toowoomba
Think Toowoomba's not the most exciting place to visit for a conference? Think again! Over the next few months, we're going to share with you some of the things we love about Toowoomba, to help you with planning your trip.
My early memories of Toowoomba are of a loveable, sleepy country town. But, the “Garden City” has long outgrown this image, boasting a revamped and relaxed CBD, craft beer houses, music, art, modern dining and the hub of a region that has so much to explore and enjoy. If you have 1 or 2 days after the conference, consider exploring the National Parks, historic farms and eateries in the Darling Downs… It’s so difficult to choose but my 5 top things to do while you are in the Toowoomba region are:
1. Eateries and Bars
Melbourne-esq style eateries
Toowoomba city has followed in the footsteps of Melbourne and is embracing the trend of laneway eateries. Locals start their work day in the city with a caffeine hit, or two, from Ground Up Espresso Bar. This little laneway café is all about perfectly brewed coffee, amazing baked treats, a trendy outdoor setting and friendly staff. It’s also a perfect starting place for a lazy weekend spent wandering through the streets of the city discovering the magical wall murals hidden throughout the streets (mentioned in Carmel’s post). When your legs need a rest, and you need a treat, stop in at Hello Harry for a gourmet burger (and some chips, and a shake!) and wash it down with an ice-cream made using liquid nitrogen at Nitrogenie. The ice-cream menu changes weekly so you never know what to expect – except that the ice-cream is always perfectly smooth and creamy.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat that is a little bit healthier, I like to frequent Full of Life Organics for a fresh juice and a salad packed full of the latest super foods. This café is a quiet place to relax with a shaded outdoor seating area, perfectly located in the CBD for a spot of ‘people watching’.
A short distance from the CBD, but still in easy walking distance is Railway Street - aptly named as it runs beside the railway line. It offers numerous café choices – Ortem, Engine Room café, Homegrown Health and Inbound Brasserie. I tend to gravitate towards Ortem for its delicious fresh foods. Its menu is an ever-changing choice of edgy takes on classic dishes. This place is seriously cool, and loved by Toowoomba locals.
International cuisine
Personally, when travelling I like to try something a little braver. Kajoku Korean & Japanese Cuisine hits the spot every time with its diverse menu. If you have never been to a Korean restaurant this is a great place to expand your culinary horizons. The wait staff are very polite and helpful and will happily show you how to barbecue the meat on your table. If cooking your own meat isn’t your thing (you have to do that enough at home!), I recommend trying the yakisoba or the hot stone mixed rice. Of course, if you decide to enjoy some sake, then you might want to try out their karaoke room after your meal.
Another favourite haunt of mine is Sofra. This is Turkish cuisine at its best and offers a very charming experience with an intimate atmosphere. Sofra is as much about the lively entertainment and over-the-top decoration as it is about the diverse menu and wine list.
Good ol’ country pubs
Toowoomba’s great food doesn’t stop in the city. The country areas around the city are filled with pubs offering deliciously filling, old-school meals. Take a drive past Highfields checking out the rural scenery and stop at Meringandan Hotel for lunch and a cool beer. This pub has a 41/2 star rating on Trip Advisor and deserves each of these stars for the huge homemade meals and friendly staff. Or there’s the Farmer’s Arms at Cabarlah - famed as the longest continually-licensed pub in Queensland (since 1863 the sign out front proclaims!).
Another pub offering a great meal, with a side of fascinating history is Rudd’s Pub, which was built in 1893 and originally known as the Davenporter Hotel. The name change recognises Steel Rudd– famous for the “Dad & Dave” stories. The pub lets you “eat in a museum” – photographs and memorabilia covering the walls and ceilings telling stories of days gone by. The hardest task is deciding what to eat. With over 50 mouth-watering items on Mabel’s Kitchen menu it’s hard to pick: Dads Mighty Mixed Grill; Dave's Terrific T-Bone; Reef and Beef... and the list goes on.
Bars
A chilled night out in Toowoomba starts at Muller Bros rooftop bar in the Toowoomba CBD. This bar is the epitome of trendy with cocktails, nibble platters and live music all part of its appeal. I mean what could be better than buffalo wings, dips and cheeses with unlimited cocktails/wines/beers?! Muller Bros also offers a Brazilian BBQ restaurant (all you can eat).
2. Boyce Gardens
Toowoomba has many fantastic picnic spots. One of my family’s favourites are the Boyce Gardens – a heritage listed garden established between the 1930-1950s. We often visit the many areas of the gardens– the rainforest, the pine forest, marvelling at the roses, native orchids, proteas, ericas… before spreading the picnic rug under the 150 year old strangler fig.
3. Heritage Homes
No visit to Toowoomba is complete without seeing some of the stately homes that grace the city. These are some of my favourites but why not visit them all and decide for yourself?
My all-time favourite is Ascot House – one of the largest and most elaborate of all the grand Toowoomba residences. Built around the 1870s, Ascot was a single story timber residence set on 32 acres. The grounds now cover just 2 acres but the house also has a tearoom and museum.
The Grange has over 120 years of timeless elegance, so no wonder this home is a favourite for many. The traditional early colonial design includes wide verandahs, pressed metal ceilings, VJ walls, cedar doors and fireplaces.
Bishop's House was designed by the architect Henry Marks. Henry was well known for his inventions– see his pot-bellied ventilation flues and chimney shafts, windows and a walling system in this 1911 residence.
If you love old buildings then the Toowoomba Railway Station is not to be missed. Built in 1874, it was the centre of trade in Toowoomba for many years, welcoming many governors and royalty. Now the station is home to the Inbound Brasserie.
There are so many other majestic buildings to see while you are in town: the Empire Theatre, City Hall, Vacy Hall, St Luke’s Church… the list keeps going!
4. The Bunya Mountains National Park
Need time to unwind away from the distraction of mobile devices? Then consider a picturesque 90 minute drive to the Bunya Mountains. The breathtaking views, native wildlife, and brilliantly coloured parrots make the Bunya Mountains an ideal destination for locals and tourists alike. Be dwarfed by towering bunya pines, stretching 25 metres high and listen to trickling waterfalls. I like nothing better than hiking one of the many walking tracks before relaxing at the Poppies Café with pancakes and bunya nut ice cream. Make sure you have time on your leisurely drive home to visit the historic Jondaryan Woolshed.
5. Jondaryan Woolshed
The Woolshed lets you step back in time to the pioneering days of the 1850s. Take a self-guided tour through the historic woolshed and the original buildings in the museum grounds, watch the Machinery demonstrations and even pat the Clydesdale horses. The 90 metre shearing shed built in 1859 used 5000 sheets of the newly developed corrugated, galvanised iron and was boasted as ‘the finest in the colony’. A visit to the Woolshed is never complete though, without enjoying traditional damper and treacle, or perhaps the Ploughman’s Lunch. Why not immerse yourself in the rural experience by staying the night in one of the cabins – Wyona Cottage, Wainui Cottage or even a room in the Authentic Shearer’s Quarters?
As you can see you will need to stay a while to enjoy all Toowoomba and the Darling Downs has to offer…
Make a compelling case to your organisation to fund your trip to ASCILITE in Toowoomba this year - get a paper on the program! Check out the call for participation now!
My top five reasons to love Toowoomba
ASCILITE 2017 is coming to my home town, and I couldn’t be more excited. I grew up on the Darling Downs, did my high-schooling in Toowoomba, but never actually lived “in town” until three years ago, when I moved back home with my young family. I moved for the free babysitting really, but I stay for a whole lot more than that. My top five reasons to love Toowoomba - both as a place to live and a place to visit (say, for a conference) are...
1. The foggy mountain top
Toowoomba is perched on the top of the Great Dividing Range. This means you can watch the temperature drop as you drive up that steep, steep highway from Brisbane. It also means that early mornings can be foggy at any time of the year. There is nothing more romantic than waking up to fog rolling past the window, or seeing fog settled on a lake on your morning walk. Sure, it can make driving home on a foggy night a bit of an adventure, but I still love it every time the fog rolls in.
2. The laneways in the CBD
Toowoomba does this really, really well. It’s a gracious old country town, which has always been the hub for a very large agricultural area. As a consequence there are dozens of laneways in the city precinct. These are now adorned with fabulous public art, and populated by great quality cafes, small bars and restaurants. There are more than 80 urban artworks in a 2km radius, and more being added at this year’s First Coat festival (May 19-21). Some of my favourites are
- The Walton Stores area - with several restaurants, a nitrogen ice-creamery, and an organic café and juice bar. On Saturday mornings the Farmers Markets take over the carpark as well
- The Searles Walk laneway (with the famous Ground Up Espresso) and adjacent Duggan Street murals
- The Russell Street murals
- Club Lane - where you’ll find both an Indonesian street food restaurant and a dessert and coffee bar in converted facilities.
3. The parks
Toowoomba is known as the Garden City for a reason. It has red volcanic soil that gardeners just love, and you can see the results everywhere you look. My favourite parks are
- Ju Raku En Japanese Gardens at USQ. They are the largest and most traditionally designed Japanese Gardens in the southern hemisphere. My kids love to explore the “Remote Singing Valley”.
- Laurel Bank Park is a favourite at Carnival of Flowers time, when the garden beds are designed to flower exactly on time, and planted to reflect a theme last year’s was a tribute to Disney musical theatre. All year round, we love the wisteria lined arches, the hedges clipped into a variety of shapes (a train you can sit in! A hungry caterpillar! A giant spider!), the lawns, the playground, and the scented garden designed by the Association for the Blind.
- Picnic Point is the perfect balance of lawns and playgrounds and picnic areas, merging into bushwalking trails that encourage you to explore the hundreds of acres of escarpment bushland on Toowoomba’s doorstep.
- Really, there are so many… Webb Park perched on the side of the mountain with a really long and fast slippery slide built into the slope, Queens Park on the main street into town, where festivals happen, and where practically all visitors stop on their way through town, Newtown Park, with its State Rose Garden and lovely old rotunda, Lake Annand which is connected by walking paths meandering through parks that line East Creek for kilometres… You’ll have to come and stay a while to see them all for yourself.
4. The weather
Toowoomba is practically always cooler than Brisbane - usually by 5 degrees or so, and it rarely gets humid. We also have proper seasons. It gets cold in winter, and is glorious in both autumn and spring. Our summer has just the right balance of hot days (but not too hot) and nights that cool down and give you respite.
5. The Downs
I grew up on the Darling Downs, and I love driving out of Toowoomba through the farmland. There are so many great country drives out of Toowoomba in every direction, and the Darling Downs is a simply beautiful rural setting.
But don’t just take my word for it!
- The Urban List describes Toowoomba as “the place to be” for fresh produce, fresh air, and a refreshing art scene.
- Gardening Australia featured the Japanese Gardens in episode 5 this year - catch it on iView.
- The Global Goddess calls Toowoomba a great city to get lost in, and a mini-Melbourne.
- And on that mini-Melbourne note, check out the great street art around town that came out of the First Coast Festival.
