Imperial Hotel Eumundi — Restaurant in Sunshine Coast Regional

Typical works canteen style. Large, over lit, dominated by TVs and loud piped music. As usual in the ‘Land that Table Service forgot’, guests are expected to queue up to order and pay for their food, more like McDonald's than a restaurant. In general these establishments mistake service for hospitality. Our group of four last Saturday night decided to venture out of the metropolis and try the Imperial in Eumundi. It ended up more like an episode of faulty towers or candid camera. On arrival we opted to sit upstairs, we felt there was a better chance of an ambient atmosphere there. The ground floor was dominated by the biggest TV screen on the planet accompanied by heavy metal music. Once seated up stairs, difficult for me as I’m disabled, we asked a passing server to take a drinks order, no bar upstairs, to take an order. She replied that our choices were to walk back downstairs or order on the covid era QR code system. We chose the latter as the best of two evils. The drinks order took 23 minutes to arrive (needed to prompt the server to achieve this). The order of four drinks was incorrect (their fault not ours). Great start! Our wives decided to trek downstairs to order our food rather than risk the complexities of the QR system. They ordered the food as one order, albeit splitting the cost 50/50. They also were explicit in stating what were starters and what were mains. After about a further 20mins wait 50% of the order showed up (again after prompting the same server). The arrival consisted of two mains along with a starter. We were expected to have our soup and steaks simultaneously. We refused the soup and said we were going to ask for a refund. The steaks were delicious, but enjoying them was tempered by the fact that our friend’s food hadn’t arrived. My wife and I were finished our mains and our friends hadn’t even arrived. Our friends sought explanation. The server stated that mains had been ready for some time and were under the heat lamps, the problem was they were waiting for the soup!!!!!! a la Faulty Towers. Our friend’s food eventually arrived including the soup!!! One of the mains (chicken) being stone cold. We chose to leave at the point. This is a rudderless, illtrained venue. We questioned three different employees, not one took responsibility or accountability, every one said it wasn’t their fault it was someone else. Not one felt they represented the venue, they represented themselves. In true local fashion, despite being sought by us, no apology was forthcoming. Our only offer of compensation being a free desert, seriously? Our evening, ruined up until that point, was partially improved by the professional and friendly staff in Matsos further up the same block.

PS $20 for pea & ham soup, really? Cost of goods...

Best of everything - staff, locations, atmosphere and FOOD!! Having options when you are gluten free is delightful. Having options that makes your mouth water is so very rare! The Imperial Hotel delivers this and more. We had the Ginger and garlic beef skewers, Watercress, goats cheese and strawberry salad, and Karaage honey chicken, then Lime pannacotta. All gluten free. Everything was just so good. We got to the pub a little late due to traffic and when we went to order desert the chef and kitchen staff had gone on their afternoon break. The manager called a few staff back and helped out and got us desert - no issues. I felt a little guilty but that desert was so worth it. It is clear the friendliness of the staff clearly comes from the top.

And then there is the atmosphere and the art work - even the bathroom is a gallery. Even if you are not going for a meal, it is worth it just to go in for a drink (oh did I mention they brew their own beer - sadly no gluten free but the others in the pub said it is really good).

So do yourself a favour and go check it out.

Oh and don't worry about the constructions (they are upgrading some of the pub to make it even better - cannot imagine how but that is what...

As Eumundi Brewery is located within the Imperial Hotel Eumundi, you can actually park at the hotel itself. Parking is complimentary for diners at Eumundi Brewery. At Eumundi Brewery, you can also join the Eumundi Brewery Tasting Tours. These happen on Wednesdays (12:30pm) and Saturdays (11am/12:30pm/2pm) only. The tours itself costs $20 per person. However, if you take the tour and lunch combo, it costs only $35 per person. Definitely great value to have lunch thrown in as well.

As we were not sure if there were still available slots for the tasting tours, we decided to order some drinks (before kitchen opened at 11:30am)…

This time, we tried Summer Lovin and Wappa from Eumundi Brewery. Although it was $13 a pint (which we thought was a little pricey) but they tasted rich and flavourful. Plus, Australia prices are already inclusive of taxes and tips are not required. We also learnt that Wappa is named after the water source, Wappa Falls where the water was used to brew this beer. Definitely a must-try. In addition to their own beers, Eumundi Brewery also has several guest beers on tap, including the famous One Fifty Lashes from the Charming Squire 😉

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