Before beginning, how did it take me this long to finally get to Kangaroo Point? That is, to find a place to eat at and review here after over 900 reviews with the brunt of them being in my hometown of Brisbane. And not to mention that it is right in the middle, not far from Woolloongabba and South Bank either. Well, as they say there is a first time for everything and here is my first time to review at Kangaroo Point. And what a way to kick off a whole lot to possibly come from around here.
In not really comparing it to other firsts, but what a fantastic way to begin penetrating such a suburb. Kangaroo Point in its own right is in such a great position. This is rare point where you are never too far from the river, the views of the city and the river are some of the most spectacular at any point in the city, and the cliffs are among the star attractions of the entire city itself. With a lot of that being said, it is able to be the case with how the restaurant Medley is situated. It was a bit hidden from the main road, and in getting off the bus it took me through a labyrinth to get to the waterfront walk, with it right there clear as day, and the anchor being a landmark to show it.
I was going to see one of my friends on a Friday, but plans had to be deferred (let's just say she is one busy lass) to another time and she finally bulked and proposed the weekend as the time to meet. After a small while, trading a few messages, this one place that she had been to many times and proposed that this would be the place and - with a few maneuvers and getting up a bit earlier than I am accustomed to - it was not to hard to for me to get to. In fact, I arrived a bit early which is not very rare for me to do.
The most striking aspect about this location is how well it is set up. Not only is it situated with such a good view of the river and the inner city skyline, but with all the ergonomics done, on a good day both a great breeze and some sunlight can make for a good al fresco dining experience. It is definitely not far from the beaten track, and if it weren't for all the buildings around the place to tell you that you are smack bang in the middle of the city, it could have you fooled otherwise. This is located in an exclusive enclave hidden from the main road by the Story Bridge. It is two stories tall, and has one of the best decks of any restaurant that I have been to. All-round, there is a casual and relaxed aesthetic, plus the way it is set out with the entrance and everything is a bit out of the ordinary which helps to give it some character.
What also needs to be given the props that it deserves is the level of hospitality that is present here. Now, I have seen much more attentive and memorable service in regards to service and being personable. This is at a level which is almost commonplace from around this nape of the woods. However, that is something to always keep in mind - not everywhere is as friendly as here. They attend to you immediately, and even check if you want something else after clearing the plates. Foods comes pretty efficiently, and there are smiles aplenty. With the turnover rate, I reckon they have struck quite a good balance.
The best way to describe the menu is eclectic. That is the way throughout all three courses of they day, and in each instance they manage to keep the selection modest enough to not overwhelm patrons. At breakfast, they have a few light and basic options which consist of classics before going onto specialty breakfasts which change on a frequent basis (the menu I saw looking this one up beforehand was already outdated - so much for anticipation). For drinks, coffee, smoothies, tea, juices, and iced drinks are the go.
Onto lunch and they introduce share platters before offering up a range of world cuisine. Drinks extend to beers, ciders and wines, along with the normal range of non-alcoholic beverages, and a coffee and cake section. Dinner adds on the price a bit, and it keeps up the idea of world cuisine through both the starters and mains. Looking at it from someone from down south, I definitely am able to observe and understand why this place would be such a hit.
Starting off as usual, it was time for real business - getting the coffees. And it was no surprise about what I ordered - none other than the normal doppio. The type of coffee that they provide here is Cleanskin, which at some point I certainly know that I have tried but could not point out where exactly, or what my consistent consensus about it is overall. I think it is okay, but it definitely does not strike me as one of the ones that I keep an eye out for. Regardless, this coffee was good as it needed to be. It was strong, at the right temperature and smooth. This was good enough for me.
The dish that I ordered was called "Aussie Farmer". Something about getting the big breakfast is enticing to me almost each time I eat out for breakfast, value for money and all that. For this take on the big breakfast, it is a selection of what could be found on the farm. You start out with the choice of eggs, (poached, yolk runny) then add some bacon (which I got crispy), chorizo sausage, charred pineapple, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and a side of rocket with a balsamic and beetroot relish, and toasted sourdough bread which was completed up with a big butter pat (that which was already melting when the dish was put on the table).
Even if obvious, it needs to be said (probably each time) - this was pretty big and a substantial feed. It would suit most stomachs for quite some time, and it was satisfying to say the least. All aspects of it were pretty good, with particular lip service to the chorizo and pineapple. The strongly spiced sausage has always been a favourite of mine, and the pork meat in it was tender. Among all the meat and protein, the pineapple added some sweetness among the freshness that was provided by the cherry tomatoes, mushrooms (which themselves were cooked well) and rocket. The eggs were very well cooked, and good quality plus the bacon was pretty crispy in itself. That relish on the side, the right mix of being sweet but also having the distinct sharpness of balsamic as its flavour. The bread was thickly cut, well toasted and they got some pretty good quality butter to melt into the bread. So, in some other words I was impressed.
While I'll admit that in comparison to my friend, my tastes often tend to be way out there and even daring, but this is definitely one place that I can see the appeal. Most of it might have to do with the location, since that is the main thing about it that stood out - again, what a great view of the river that is practically in the flesh. From what I can gather, while it is nothing outstanding as a whole, they have a notable perfectionism that is a little rare these days. For the quality of the food that is as good as it can be, even if it is unfocused a bit, and the views that are hard to take away, plus cordial service - this 4.0 score does bode pretty well for Medley.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes