Picnic Point Toowoomba — Restaurant in Queensland

If picnicking isn't your thing then I guess this is probably your spot. Came here for my dear sweet mother's 58th with friends. It's not fine dining but it's fine. People her age and... yeah, age, like it here. Josh's fish from the kids menu was "kinda warm", which, though I'm happy to be told otherwise, is not the ideal serving temperature for fish. The 'house' pie is curiously vague in its description on the menu. I suppose the pie filling is a closely-guarded secret. Ordered by pie connoisseur Barry, the pie was (quote) "very good - hit the spot". Probably a pun there about a 'pot' pie and a 'hit-the-spot' pie (let the reader understand). Two members of our party ordered the lamb pizza - one from the Over 60's menu (which yes, exists) and one very much not. Both agreed that the base of the pizza was less than great - tasted like a dominoes box not the dominoes pizza. That said, the toppings were all said to be good and the mint yoghurt was beautiful... Allegedly. Mother. We love her. She ordered the kangaroo which was nice and tender, though she thought it overcooked. The jus was unfortunately described as "disgusting" and thickened with (what I hope was) cornflower. Seems harsh but sauces seem to be the downfall. Two of us (myself included) ordered the steak which, appropriately, comes with gravy. Tragically bland and watery. Unfortunate when both steaks were cooked to perfection, perfection! That said, I thought the steak itself needed extra seasoning. A hit of the good old S&P. Not often do I do this but it was OBJECTIVELY better after a slap of the good stuff. My sister whom I also love but not as much as I love my mother (lol burn), got the pork bao. All good reports here. 3 bao(s?) Included and an adequate serving of sweet potato. "Yeah, good" was the official report. Generally, staff could work on personal hygiene. Something was STANK and it's not even summer bro. Venue is busy and very... Public. Lots of open doors which in turn means LOTS of flies. SO MANY FLIES. Just lousey with flies. Absolutely lousey with them. Also let's work on seating us at the right table. A party of 8 need not be lead around the building like we're playing musical chairs. They're sitting on a goldmine here and the potential is high. Quite a few screws need tightening and she'd be an easy 5, but 3 for now. Side note, there's a weird sign that apologises for serving breakfast and lunch. I guess some people...

Picnic Point Parklands in Toowoomba, a State heritage-listed area, has a rich history as a popular recreation and scenic lookout destination, dating back to the late 1800s and still enjoyed by locals and visitors today.

Here's a more detailed look at its history:

Early Development: The site was selected by WH Groom, the first Lord Mayor of Toowoomba, and WC Hume, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, for its beauty, easy access, and commanding views of the Main Range and Lockyer Valley.

Recreation Focus: Picnic Point Parklands have always been a popular spot for picnics, day trips, and recreation, with facilities like lookout platforms and picnic areas developed to support these activities.

Quarrying and Army Use: The area has also been used for grazing, quarrying, and even by the Australian Army during the war.

Waterfall Feature: In 1965, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers Association sponsored the opening of the Lion's Park waterfall feature at the site of the old quarry on the northern face of the escarpment at Picnic Point.

Ongoing Development: The parkland has been the subject of a master plan, approved in 2019, to guide its future development, upgrade, and management, ensuring it remains a valuable asset for the community and visitors.

Tobruk Memorial Drive Lookout: Inspired by the area's Indigenous heritage, this lookout and the surrounding landscaped area and accessible pathways provide spectacular views of Table Top Mountain and the Lockyer Valley.

Location: Perched high on the crest of the Great Dividing Range, the parklands offer breathtaking panoramic views eastward to Table Top Mountain and the Lockyer Valley.

Current Features: Today, Picnic Point Parklands features mature Hoop Pines and South Queensland Kauri Pines, manicured lawns, escarpment walking trails, a playground, and a...

I have to agree with Julie and disagree with John and Aaron ... at least with my experience today. Yes, the views, position, scenery etc are second to none ... spectacular. We've been there several times and I have to say, each time has left us feeling quite down. You pay a la carte prices, but the food is not up to that standard at all.

Sadly we went today for my birthday. I had the Beef Cheek Bourguignon and my wife had the Picnic Point Fish Pie. My meal was basically cold. So clearly, the reheating process in the microwave (which is all it could have been) was very poor. The food was basic and not overly tasty. More mashed potato than anything. Again, my partners dish sounded great on the menu. Problem was, there was virtually no seafood, 2 very sad dried prawns and mostly a dish of mashed potato. We also had dessert of lemon meringue tarts that were clearly several days old, "chewy" and basically tasteless ... and charged a disgusting $2 each extra for a very small scoop of ice cream.

Cannot recommend this as a place to eat as it is very overpriced and trading on the view, not the food quality. It only gets two stars due to the view ... the food gets zero I'm sad to say and we should have demanded our money back.

RESPONSE back to owner: - sorry, but my comments are valid and fair. The food was very poor and exactly as portrayed. If your staff had come back out and asked, we would have informed them. However, the fact we have to go inside to order and pay BEFORE we receive our food makes this hard, and actually not in keeping with the prices you are charging. My like a cafe than a proper restaurant. You were also extremely quiet with few customers, so no excuse for what we were served. Hopefully you take honest feedback on board...