Encores Events & Catering — Restaurant in Toowoomba City

One of if not the longest standing restaurant in Toowoomba and for good reason. This is the closest thing you'll get to fancy in this weird city/country hybrid town. Venue is elegant. Nice view of the lawn outside (let's not undervalue a nice lawn). A grand piano sits in the foyer - how very fancy. I wonder if it gets played much? It must question it's purpose - what good is a piano if not played? Not once have I ever seen this piano played - nor any other foyer-piano for that matter. Weird. Lighting is on point - just bright enough that you can read easily, but just dim enough to be a little moody, like the smooth jazz that plays in the background. As for the food, it's always nice but sometimes it's a bit predictable. They seem to have lifted the bar a bit recently since on my most recent visit I was pleasantly surprised by how refined everything was. Don't get me wrong - it's always of high standard, but this time was particularly nice. The truffle in the lamb entree was conspicuous by its absence but otherwise the lamb delightfully tender and balanced. Soup entree was like a warm fire on a Winter's evening - comforting and wholesome. Too many people don't appreciate a bangin' soup. This particular one was superb. Absolutely superb. The croquet with the steak special was incredible. A pillow of texture and flavour. The steak was rare as requested and as much as I hate cliches, totally melt-in-your-mouth. As for dessert, all the options looked great for people who like sweets but me, I'm a cheeseboard guy. Accompanied by a Cognac that was loving and warm like a hug from your grandma, the cheeseboard was a winner. Staff are some of the most professional you'll come across and always read the table perfectly. I gotta admit, the chairs got uncomfortable after a while, which did no favours for my lower back (mid-20s problems right?) but perhaps I just love to complain. We all do though right, I'm not alone here? It's a societal problem frankly, we all expect a certain unattainable level of comfort from restaurants that is so unrealistic. Anyway overall experience is always 10/10. If you're looking for fine dining in...

Was recommended by a friend and had been there for lunch once before (ordered barramundi) and it was good and delicious. Decided to go back again for dinner (3 courses) and wanted to try the eye fillet – medium rare. I have to say that I am very disappointed. I am no expert when it comes to cooking steak, but an eye fillet is supposed to be one of the tenderest cuts of the meat and should have less connective tissue or veins. However, my eye fillet is full of “tissue/veins” and it is very tough to chew. I was thinking maybe it was just a certain part of the fillet, but it turns out the whole piece was hard to cut and chew.

When I enquired as to whether the eye fillet was supposed to be that tough to chew and have so many veins, the waitress wasn't sure. After asking the chef the response came back as there is nothing the chef can do about it, and that this is just how the eye fillet is. The chef also advises even if he does another piece, it will be the same. The fact I was handed back my plate shows they refuse to redo it or offer me a different dish.

I felt embarrassed – as if I have never eaten steak previously. So disappointed and probably won’t go back for steaks in the future.

I would expect a little more care and willingness to accept criticism in their meals and at least offer to redo it. Nevertheless, the ambiance, décor, and...

What a disappointment! We dined regularly for some years prior to COVID-19 and only once a year ago during a "safe" period. Last night we decided to take some friends for a birthday dinner. It was more like a cafeteria that a fine dining restaurant. There is now fixed price whether you have two entrees or entree and main course. This new cheap set up may get people in the door but not those who appreciate fine dining. Very poor wine list with the majority of wines being red. Gone were the linen table cloths and nice chairs. Instead there was paper on the tables and black placers that were too big for the small table. The chairs were cheap wooden uncomfortable kitchen chairs. One champagne glass was sent back dirty. The food was dreadful. Amuse bouche was awful and big hunks of herb bread served. The prawns were undercooked and inedible and the mess of sauce and "risotto" with it was equally poor. The duck spring rolls were poorly presented in a mess of something and tough as if they came from a packet. My husband and I could not eat them. The other diners had beef which was OK but could have been cooked at home better than that. This WAS Toowoomba's best place to dine and take interstate friends but I would now be embarrassed to take anyone there. As they say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" ! Will not dine...