A Few Of My Favourite Things
Snapper fillets with bone marrow on pencil leeks with red wine sauce at Belle Epoque
It's time I shared a couple of my favourite local eating places. Restaurant reviews are not my thing. I spend too much time talking and once I've had my first glass of wine I lose all concentration. So these are just my impressions of a couple of places I enjoy enough to return to more than once.
I love Belle Epoque from the decor, to the staff, to the food. Well the mussels and frites anyway. Three times I've been and three times I've ordered mussels and frites. It is seriously Parisien (Some one please tell me should that be Parisienne or Parisien or Parisian). Last time we visited Paris we stayed in Montparnesse. Belle Epoque would not look out of place there.
On our first visit we decided to eat at the bar. Although there were tables available it's fun to dine at the bar when it's offered. We were served by a very chatty bar tender who helped us decide on our wine for lunch by giving us small tastings of the wines available by the glass.
As fabulous as Belle Epoque can be other friends were disappointed with their last visit on Easter Saturday. They arrived for a late lunch before a movie and were not well looked after by the staff . A letter of complaint to the restaurant has resulted in the promise of a dining voucher for a further visit.
We dined earlier on Easter Saturday and were happy with our service but disappointed in the 15% surcharge. The fact the restaurant was almost empty on what should be a busy day makes me think this public holiday surcharge is having an affect. The surcharge would not have been so bad if they had offered the total experience. With the seafood display cabinet empty they didn't.
Belle Epoque
Emporium 1000 Ann Street , Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
T: 07 3852 1500
F: 07 3852 1522
E: info@labelleepoque.com.au
Platter which is the main part of the High Tea
My other favourite dining spot is on the road out to Springbrook, Tokonoma Green Tea Cafe and Gallery at Mudgeeraba. Tables are on the deck outside overlooking the trees and stream. Margaret, one of the owners, spent many years in Japan and the food is served on the pieces she collected while there. Every little dish, plate, cup, teapot and vase is exquisite and adds to the pleasure. We prebooked the High Tea which two of our group enjoyed and the other two would have preferred the green curry from the regular menu.
Matcha cake with kiwifrui, rice cake sweets, coffee jelly with cream.
Tokonoma Green Tea Cafe and Gallery
Tokonoma 442 Gallery & Café Open Thur-Sun. 9:30-3:30 (closed Mon, Tue, Wed) venue hire available 7 days
Address: 442 Springbrook Road, Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast, 4213, Australia. (Located 20 minutes from Broadbeach
info@gallerytokonoma.com.au Tel: 07-5530-2378 From overseas: +617-5530-2378
We take all our overseas and out of town friends to both places when they are visiting.
