Our next door neighbours, Jan and David, joined us for lunch recently at 4th Floor restaurant in Mooloolaba. If you’re not from around these parts, it’s muh LOO la ba. I write this because my sister arrived and asked how far we were from moo loo LA ba. Australian pronunciation never met our high school English teacher.
We were late (as usual) and this time because Rob forgot his walking stick and John got down the street and said, “I’ve got the wrong glasses, I’ll never be able to see.” So back we went while he exchanged his computer glasses for his seeing glasses. Jan and David were waiting for us when we got there.
I was the only one in the group who’d been to this restaurant before and I’d really enjoyed the food. I was a bit apprehensive because it’s never fun selecting a restaurant for 5 people if anyone is disappointed.
Thankfully that wasn’t the case and everyone liked the food. The restaurant is as you might guess, on the 4th floor on the Esplanade at Mooloolaba with wall to wall windows facing the beach.
The venue is often used for wedding receptions and banquets (that’s how I’d been there before) so it’s a bit cavernous when you first arrive but we were seated by the window and enjoyed a beautiful view while we perused the menu. My father-in-law Rob announced that I’d brought my camera so everyone had to wait until photographs were done before eating. The life of a food blogger.
Our server was most attentive and knew instantly which wines were unavailable and when Rob questioned how spicy the cous cous was that went with the duck, she was on top of that too. I feel very confident when the server knows the food and isn’t merely an order taker. She was professional, prompt and courteous to every request.
We had their lunch special which is two courses for $35 or three courses for $45. We opted for an appetiser and a main each, figuring that if we were still hungry we could always order dessert.
I started with the smoked ham hock and port onion soup with a rye and seed mustard crouton which was much like French onion soup but with ham. The broth was complex, flavourful and steaming hot. At first I expected it to taste differently, more like French onion soup, but it was delicious.
John had the Coffin Bay oysters with red miso and nori and he was instantly pleased. I don’t know about you but I find the blue colour a bit off putting. He said they were wonderful and he didn’t care about the colour as he wasn’t going to eat the salt.
Both Jan and David had the garlic and chilli prawn hot pot and not a drop was left. It was nice to see it served in traditional metal hot pot dishes. There were five prawns in an aromatic broth served with rice. Without an appetiser I think a person would need dessert in order to leave full.
Rob loves duck of any sort so when he saw duck pate with toasted brioche and tomato and ginger chutney on the menu, that was as far as he looked. I tasted a bit and it was smooth and creamy.
I’m a slow eater and they were kind enough not to remove all the plates until I was finished and as soon as I was, they were ready with the main course. My choice was the braised chicken ballotine with de puy lentils and deep fried kale. It was the first kale that I’ve eaten without complaining so that’s a good thing! It was spelled ballontine on the menu but we’re not going to hold misspelling against them.
David asked our server what the reef fish was in the reef fish meuniere on the menu and it turned out to be not a reef fish at all but a beautiful barrimundi served with quinoa risotto and wilted kale. The fish was firm but tender and partnered well with the kale and risotto.
Guess what Rob had? Yes, duck. He’s quite predictable when duck is on the menu. He had the duck confit with star anise and preserved lemon and spiced cous cous on the side. The cous cous was on the side because Rob doesn’t do spicy very well. It was spicy but not much heat so he was happy.
Both Jan and John had 1/2 kilo of steamed Spring Bay mussels with saffron tomato chilli and basmati rice and they both cleaned their plates. By the time the last fork was placed neatly on the plate, we were stuffed and very happy with the choice of restaurant. We all agreed we’d go back again.
Our only recommendation was that they put some photos downstairs because the only thing down there is the menu and we thought they’d benefit by letting people know what a fantastic view folks would have during lunch or early dinner.
Do you enjoy dining out with your next door neighbours as much as we do ours?
There is a lot of pressure choosing a restaurant for so many people! I have one friend’s husband whom I dread choosing for because he is very vocal when he doesn’t enjoy something. But it sounds like you made the perfect choice Maureen! 😀
I think you picked a great place… all the food looks amazing. 🙂
Lotta good food there! Love the look of the chicken and lentils (though I’m a lentil addict). I’d be put off by the blue salt, too. I always keep a pair of reading glasses in the car in case I leave home without mine. And Mrs K R is kind enough to tote a pair of my reading glasses around in her purse, too. I’m spoiled! Sound like you had a great meal at a truly nice place. Thanks for the review.
Sounds like everyone enjoyed their meals. I would have had a hard time choosing among the fish, duck and mussels though the chicken ballotine was nice as well. Shame I’m an ocean and half a continent away if you look east.
No dessert though … I’ll send a few cannoli your way. 🙂 Fresh made this morning.
Coffin Bay Oysters are so delicious! The blue salt is a little odd… is it to match the blueness of the building?
well actually i prefer some restaurant basically for theit portion, shame on me..
you choose the correct restaurant maureen
they quite generous with the portion…….
You certainly know how to live, Maureen. 🙂
I think you chose well my friend but there is definitely so much pressure though agreeably!
Delicious food here though!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Blue salt! Weird, I suppose they want the ‘fresh out of the deep blue sea’ look but it just doesn’t seem to work. Other than that, the meals look most special 🙂
The oysters sound fantastic!
What a fun and delicious lunch you had Maureen! I think your suggestion for the restaurant made up for the fact that you were a tad late! 🙂
Everything looks great! I also hate choosing restaurants for a group of people :/ Glad everyone enjoyed it.
I love seeing what people eat when they go out to dinner. These dishes looked wholesome and I imagine they would have great flavour. The blue would have put me off too and bad spelling on a menu happens too often. But the food is what matters at the end of the day.
Lovely photos Maureen! The food looks beautiful and I can’t believe how reasonably priced it is!!
I find that blue salt really off-putting, too. It reminds me of blue loo cleaner to be honest. Not the type of thing you want to be thinking of when you’re eating oysters or any type of food!! But your photos are gorgeous, Maureen 🙂
We adore our neighbours and I know how fortunate we are. That restaurant looks amazing and I’m with you regarding the servers, the restaurant definitely goes up a notch if the server knows the food; we went to a heavy meat restaurant in our hood and we had a vegetarian server, not good. I hate it when they take away plates before everyone is done, as you know :)!
mulolaba, right? =P
Your town has a cute name Maureen. haha
I think so I d be happy with the garlic chili prawns, they would make my day.
Looks like you enjoyed the feast.
accent is on the loo 🙂
fantastic view / fantastic food.
Wow, this is the kind of restaurant I would love to visit regularly! Look at those oysters, prawns, and mussels! And don’t even get me started on that duck dish – I love duck and always order it when I see it on the menu!
The food looks wonderful and it has a fabulous view. I love the look of the prawns. GG
I love that this restaurant has such a great view AND has food that is delicious and healthy. 🙂 You picked a good one. 🙂
I love dining with neighbors too! What a great time you had! Beautiful views and delicious sea food. Thank you for sharing!
The place and food looks amazing. The blue salt looks so gorgeous as a bed for oysters, love it.
Stunning photos.. as I sit here cold, and it’s been raining non stop. grrr!! I’d love a big bowl of mussels.
Maureen, the view is spectacular (liked your suggestion to highlight photos of it in the lobby) and so is the feat of satisfying five diners with different tastes. The duck pate’ photo caught my eye (enuf to share it on G+) and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed seeing the rest of your meal(s)!
it was a lovely lunch and I can’t wait to meet them at a different place. They have chosen Indian next time.
Everything looks so amazing, a great choice and at a great price. Lucky you!
It was a lovely lunch!
So beautiful Maureen – I wouldn’t say I’d find the blue colour of the salt off-putting, but it seems very… wasteful, maybe? I know it’s just salt, but it seems like a heck of a lot, just to adorn the plate.
Everything else looks lovely too… the view reminds me of a restaurant on the coast in England where I went with my parents. The dining area is actually built on a platform on legs directly above the sea, so you look down and can just see water.
wow! I want to go there!
Your reviews are always nicely written, and even though I don’t live there, it’s always fun to read. I can imagine and enjoy the scene and food. It’s nice that Rob announced that you have to take pictures of the food. I have a few friends who even pass me the dishes when they arrive at the table. It’s nice to have friends/family who understand what we do!
This place and food look amazing!! I want to go out to eat with YOU next time! LOL!
Oh wouldn’t that be fun??? I wouldn’t want the meal to end. 🙂
I agree – the blue salt is off putting – especially that blue!