Chop 'n Chill Raby Bay — Restaurant in Greater Brisbane

This week’s restaurant review in the Redland City News:

SITUATED in the scenic Raby Bay Marina – Cleveland’s best kept secret – Chop ‘n Chill offers stunning views of the water, which sets the perfect backdrop for a relaxing dining experience. The ambiance was cozy and vibrant, with tasteful décor that perfectly matched the easy-going yet lively vibe of the restaurant. What really stood out to me during my time at Chop ‘n Chill was the level of service. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted warmly by the staff, and it was evident that they genuinely cared about providing a great dining experience. The owner, Dave, or “Richo,” took the time to sit with me at my table, and it truly elevated the entire experience. He wasn’t just checking in for the sake of it—he genuinely wanted to make sure I was enjoying my meal and to chat about the inspiration behind the restaurant. His enthusiasm for the food and the business was contagious, and it’s clear that he’s passionate about creating a welcoming, high-quality experience for all his guests. It’s rare to find that kind of hands-on ownership these days, and it adds something special to the dining experience. As for the menu, Chop ‘n Chill impresses with its diverse offering that blends the fresh, bold flavours of Southeast Asia with the hearty, smoky tastes of the Americas. There’s truly something for everyone, with excellent options for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diners, so you know you're in good hands if you have dietary restrictions. I decided to try the Seafood Chowder, a dish I had heard great things about. The rich, creamy base was velvety smooth without being overly heavy, and it had just the right amount of seafood to bring everything together without overwhelming the palate. The chowder featured an assortment of fresh seafood—salmon, prawns, scallops, crab and tender barramundi—that were cooked perfectly and complemented by a hearty, flavourful broth. The chowder was served alongside a slice of toasted sourdough, which was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, providing a perfect contrast to the smooth soup. The sourdough was great for dipping, allowing me to soak up every bit of that delicious broth. It was the perfect dish for a cool night by the marina and a wonderful showcase of the restaurant’s ability to blend comfort food with high-quality ingredients. Aside from the chowder, I’m excited to come back and explore more of their unique menu. With options that span from Mexican-inspired dishes to hearty smoked meats, Chop ‘n Chill has something for every palate. All in all, Chop ‘n Chill at Raby Bay is a standout restaurant. The combination of excellent service, a beautiful setting, and creative, mouthwatering dishes makes it a must-visit...

I ordered the Prawn and Scallops. Honestly, not worth the money. It was supposed to be Asian slaw. It was Iceberg Lettuce, with pickled cucumber (why not fresh, is beyond me), cherry tomatoes, a cup of Jamine rice, whole cashews (lots, again, doesn't make sense with the portion of the salad) and 5 prawns and scallops. I ended up ordering a side of chips, because the main I ordered was so disappointing. The $32 I paid for the main.... I could have gone to Hogs Breath and paid a little more for a Reef and Beef.

The look of the restaurant, is appealing and fresh, however, the menu is disjointed from the look. American and Asian, but, nothing that makes sense, it's more "infused" or "inspired". I genuinely could have done a better job at home. It isn't something I'd write home about, that's for sure. And the fact the pickles on my salad, were also on the burger that my friend has, says something. There was no discussion with me from the staff, to give me the option of changing my choice, if it was the case of not having ingredients, this should have been discussed. I couldn't be bothered about asking for a refund or even asking for some compensation.

The atmosphere, was quiet. It was a Tuesday night. It was clean. One thing I did find odd. The staff starting packing up everything at about 7pm. Our sitting was booked at 6.30 - 8.00pm. We didn't order till 7, as we were catching up. And the site had closing at 8.30pm. We left exactly at 8.28pm as we were catching, however, given that as soon as we stood up, the staff were right there. I get people want to go home. This was something I have never experienced from any restaurant I have dined in, close to closing.

I lived, pretty much, all my life in the Redlands. And this is one place I won't be visiting again, nor recommending to anyone. I know, some will say this is a brutal review, I'm not after any freebies or anything like that. I'm just giving my review of an experience that I feel others...

Booked for 7:30 with no problems, get there and they told us kitchen was closing. We felt rushed, if the guy on the phone had of told us they close that early (website says 9pm??? so I assumed 7:30 was a reasonable time) I would have booked earlier but he didn't.. They weren't rude about it or anything but once our food came out they told us kitchen was closed now and then immediately started packing up everything. We just felt like we shouldn't have been there. The food was not for me, if you don't like spice this place won't be for you. We got all the sauces with the chicken wings and every sauce was spicy every sauce so the wings became un eatable, this was our bad for not checking I guess but I assumed surely there would be one non spicy sauce. Oh well. Chips were a soggy mess. The steak was nice. The ribs fell off the bone beautifully but whatever sauce they use (it just tasted like soy, kinda bitter) wasn't for me. The bits without the sauce were fantastic, it was cooked to perfection but it just wasn't for my pallet. I was told the seafood chowder was good. The spring rolls were nice but again sauce is spicy. For me the best meal was the kids chicken pop meal.. They were very accomadating giving us take away containers and the ladies coming to the table were lovely, unfortunately the food just wasn't for us which sucks as I was excited by the reviews.

TLDR If you like spice, great. If you don't, avoid. Bit confused why they let us book when they knew they close early. Ladies serving us...