Review Turbarlence - Mackay

We wanted to try somewhere new & were pleasantly surprised by our awesome experience at Turbarlence! Our Server was absolutely lovely & nothing was too hard! It was a Special Occasion for us & we celebrated in style with our gorgeous coctails! I will even go so far as to say that this was the best Espresso Martini that I have ever tasted! It's my favourite drink so Ive had many, this was perfection & a great start to our night. The meals were top notch 100% full of flavour. The quality of the produce was pleasing & quantity was also satisfying. We ordered our meals via QR code scanning & paid via this option. This was convenient for us. However you are welcome to go to the front counter to order. The drive out to the Mackay Airport to visit this beautiful restaurant is definitely worth it. Thanks so much for a wonderful experience.

We ordered breakfast and paid for it at 10.05am. A lady from the kitchen came running out to tell the staff member who took our order that Breakfast finished at 10am. Another team member came over to say he got too busy and didn’t close off the computer for breakfast which had to be done by 10am. He explained if we ordered just after 10am the computer wouldn’t like it and it would “mess everything up”. So we got refunded our breakfast and had to order lunch at 10.10am. Apparently the computer runs the show there 🙄

I come to Mackay frequently and stay at the Ibis once a year, just to remind myself why I choose not to say here regularly. The Turbarlence tavern and Restaurant is always just a little off. The prices are exorbitant, a schooner of draft ginger beer is nearly $15, my local in Brisbane charges $9, just because the hotel is conveniently at the afield they shouldn't be asking these huge prices. Doesn't matter if you order entrees and mains, they always arrive at the same time so the main goes cold while you smash down the entree. My Caprese salad (3 ingredients to a Caprese) didn't have basill, so it was a two ingredient salad. Not bad, just strange, it's not Caprese without 33 1/3% of the base ingredients. The staff sort of float around is a weird daze, never making eye contact in case they are needed to do something outside their job description (or within their job description) my finished meal sat at my table for an hour before I finally asked for it to be cleared. Mackay isn't a metropolis or fine dining hub, I get that, but getting things right shouldn't be that hard. I guess I'll review again in 12 months.

Great bar and restaurant within metres of the Mackay airport terminal. Drinks are reasonably priced and food is great.

Hop, skip and jump from the airport terminal. Has screens up letting you know when your plane is boarding and arrivals etc. Food is delicious and very well presented. Staff are courteous, and polite. Prices are quite reasonable. Bonus: park in the Turbarlence Tavern carpark, show your receipt to reception and your parking is free.

Great meal and a stones throw from the airport. I ordered the calamari $13 as a starter it was served tender and had just the right amount of tasty crunchy coating. For main I ordered the rump special $19 medium rare and it was cooked just right for this cut of meat. The seasoning was just right and the red jus was great. Sorry no photo of the main as I ate it before thinking of taking a photo :)

Not worth the money, $40 for a rib eye with sad small sides. Came on a giant pizza sized plate for an all-round average meal.

Located on the ground floor of the Ibis hotel. Offering a bar with food available, or a seperate dining area with more of a bistro/club atmosphere. The menu is small but adequate with the usual pub food plus a few items that are a bit more restaurant style. Order at the bar with the meal served at the table. Staff are a little under trained but are trying hard. Also open for breakfast and lunch. Meals are good value given the hotel/airport location and are professionally presented.