Arthur Hurwitz
25/05/2022
Food
Being just my wife and I, we ordered one starter and two mains. For the starter, we choose the tomato bruschetta flatbread ($14) and for the mains, the lamb chops ($29) and the Moroccan spicy chicken supreme ($25). The tomato bruschetta was a pizza style offering with lashings of fresh tomato, cheese and onion and smothered in a smooth balsamic vinegar. It was a meal. My wife's lamb chops were tasty, well cooked and came with crispy potatoes, beans, a small serve of coleslaw, a little bowl of gravy and a little bowl of mint sauce. My Moroccan spicy chicken was succulent and tender. The cous cous and fig apricot relish were the perfect accompaniment and the whole concoction was covered in a creamy tzatziki sauce. We both enjoyed our meals.
Ambience
We lunched on a busy Sun afternoon in May, and the place was packed, giving it a lively, energetic and fun vibe. We found the inside dining area a tad too hectic for our liking so we decamped to the terrace outside, where tables were decorated with colourful green and white striped tablecloths. That suited us fine and we were quite happy dining there in the warm autumn sunshine. There were a few other occupied tables outside but the acoustics were fine and we were easily able to converse. Even though we were out of the line of sight of the wait staff, there was no compromise on the service.
If you choose to sit inside you'll find a large, airy and comfy space that's been decorated in bright and cheerful colours with high ceilings and large low hanging lamps. There are cute signposts around the place and colourful wall murals just near the toilet and an interesting retro petrol pump. There are carpets throughout the venue, adding that homely and warm touch. It just had a thoroughly happy and cheerful buzz to it with tons of families enjoying a day out.
Cost
Drinks were expensive and we paid 15 pesos for a schooner of ale and a bottle of apple cider. Food costs were a bit more reasonable and it was a nice surprise to discover that long-suffering seniors at least get a 20% discount on menu items. Consequently, we paid 54 for one starter, the aforementioned very generous bruschetta, and two mains, the chicken and the lamb. All up, with three drinks included we paid 75. I guess a year or two ago this would have been 50. So thanks to the idiots who run the Reserve Bank for destroying the purchasing power of our money.
Toilets
There are ample clean and well provisioned toilets just behind the main indoor dining areas, and you can enjoy the interesting murals and retro petrol pump that I mentioned, on your way in and out.
Service
Service was polite and friendly. Wait staff are neatly dressed and professional in their attitude. We had booked directly through the hotel's website and our table was ready for us when we arrived. Of course, there are different ways to order, either directly at the bar, or using the Aust Venue Company app. I used the app then went up to the front bar counter to pay, but it took ages to finalise the transaction. Staff seemed unsure how to handle the seniors discount, rewards points and payments. To my annoyance, they wouldn't accept cash. But apart from that, it all flowed smoothly and after eventually sorting and paying, food came out quickly and in the correct order.
Summary
We had a pleasant lunch here on the terrace outside enjoying the warm and balmy Brisbane autumn weather. Food was nicely prepared, portion sizes were generous and the service was friendly and efficient (apart from aforementioned issues with app ordering and rewards redemption). It had a bright, happy and fun ambience. Add to that easy parking right outside and ample clean and well provisioned toilets and you have all the ingredients for a perfect afternoon or evening out with friends or family.
Memo
Just for the record, the official name of this restaurant is "Roadhouse Grill", even though in it's in the Jindalee Hotel. And to add to the confusion, RHG seems to be a brand name, with six hotels sharing it, I presume, all under the umbrella of the Australian Venue Company.