Bellissimo

Lovely jubbly it is, them legs and post. That is the breaky special of bacon and eggs, buttered toast and roasted tomato for just under $6. Bargain. Not so the “Summer” breaky, poached eggs and raw spinach fine, but the 3 prawns are half the size of a regular thumb small, and there’s more egg than sweet scallop flesh, all lathered in a thick, creamy hollandaise that makes the plate rather heavy rather than seasonal light. Genorisity would make Bellissimo a little bit more dovely.


2.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? 11 Mooloolaba Esplanade, Mooloolaba QLD
What? Around $15

Hot Pipis

Holidaying in Mooloolaba isn’t exactly conducive to early mornings wake ups. But I’ll give you three reasons that will: the sound of a squeaky bed next door (presumably testing out the quality of the mattress), room service crashing through because the “do not disturb” sign was not on the door and a Hot Pipis breakfast.

The Sunshine Coast heat ain’t the only thing that’s hot on the esplanade, juicy meatballs picked up from the meat market at the local Surf Club the night before is packed with torn basil and oregano covered in a chunky “secret” tomato relish hinted with chilli that really sizzles. A seafood curry is 28 degrees, sunny and fine in a bowl of fresh prawns, mussels, calamari rings, scallops and chunks of snapper gently cooked in a fragrant smooth Thai red coconut curry balancing spices, herbs and chilli-willi.

So the quality of the mattress might not be high next door, but where you will find it on the Sunshine Coast is in a Hot Pipis dish.


3.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? Shop 11-13, River Esplanade, Mooloolaba, QLD
What? Breakfast around $15, Dinner around $30








Left to Right : Hollandaise Eggs, Meatballs and Polenta, Milkshake, Soft Shell Crab and Lobster Pannacotta, Duck, Seafood Curry

Zana’s @ Montville

If the food doesn’t take you away at this quaint restaurant wedged amongst the Mount Dandenongs of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, you could take the quick route back to Mooloolaba… by jumping off the cliff.

That’s an extreme over reaction, but exactly what I wanted to do when I was presented the vegetarian option of ratatouille in an off-the-shelf tart shell. Double lime doesn’t quite work in the acidic dressing glass noodles but fine as a glaze on the duck shanks.

So it’s a bit of hit and miss menu for an intimate wedding reception, but mains of Woman’s Weekly classics such as roasted lamb rack crusted with pulsed almond, herbs and apricot and a beef rib fillet cooked to order wrapped in bacon topped with a tasty mushroom ragout more than makes up for the disappointment. Tasty enough to make a safe, sane and slow decent back to the coast.


3 / 5 yums!
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Where? 171 Main St, Montville, QLD

Karma Waters

Is it the play on words, or the great value prices that make this alfresco café? I wouldn’t want to pay for crap food, so it’s a good thing they don’t disappoint with their standard café classics for 1st and 2nd meal times. For something light, choose a Caesar salad with a dose of crisp iceberg, bacon bits, cubed croutons and chilli garlic de-veined prawns. Fillets of barra do justice to the fish that’s been sacrificed, the exterior nicely seared keeping the flesh moist, served with chips, salad and a homemade tartare. You don’t even have to do something right to deserve this.


3 / 5 yums!
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Where? Shop 5, The Outrigger, 7 Venning Street, Mooloolaba, QLD
What? Around $15