McGinn's of Kenilworth — Restaurant in Sunshine Coast Regional

A really nice little cafe with good potential. However the menu is in real need of an update and some of the food combos don't work well together.

Whilst I understand the need to meet the expectations of the older folk who come to town to eat, a complete review of the menu options needs to happen before the competition starts to give people better options.

For example, the 'burgers' are terrible in my view. If it was 1994, I guess you could say they are sort of good - but it's 2024. Using proper burger buns not white bread rolls would be a good start. Then, remove raw beetroot from ALL menu items and replace with pickled beetroot. No one wants raw beetroot or carrot on their burgers or steak sandwiches (unless they request it). Burgers like to have pickles - especially dill pickles (Poslka Gorski) and they like to be cut THIN. Burgers also like thinly sliced onion and tomato - if tomato isn't cut thin, take it off! Burgers also like sauces, suck as actual tomato sauce and mustard. Chicken burgers love mayo mixed with mustard etc. It's like they've never left Kenilworth and tried anything different than what's been served up since the 90s. I mean they try, but whomever sets this menu and then decides how to prepare the food, really needs to get out more and see how successful businesses are doing it. Also, for what they serve up (eg a Fried 'Barra' burger for $16 - with zero chips or sides or anything). Literally a small bit of fried fish on a bun with some lettuce and mayo. It's like a primary school canteen at times. For the sake of Kenilworth and it's future, please take some advice from people who have travelled the globe and know what real cafe/fast food is in 2024.

Some music and vibes would also go down well. They really need to cater more for younger couples as the only other option is the 'Bakery' which is arguably the worst bakery...

Visited Nanna McGinn's Coffee Shop yesterday morning with my family. Asked for a large hot flat white in take-away container. It did not taste like coffee - thin and watery. I went to the counter and politely enquired that this does not seem like a flat white coffee with all milk, Leanne - the owner - without caring to look up and make eye contact said bluntly, "IT'S ALL MILK" and just walked away. For a moment I thought that she was not the owner because an owner of a business would listen and try to resolve any complaint. Not wanting to make a fuss and spoil my day I paid and left.

This morning I made the effort to personally speak with Leanne over the phone. Unfortunately the same arrogance and denial filtered through which plagues so many businesses in the service industry. I should know because I have been running restaurants for over 25 years.

To top it all we did not notice one smile from any of the Nanna McGinn's Coffee Shop staff team or the owner for all of the 40 odd minutes we were sitting there. Not a happy mix.

My advice - for a caring experience...

I had a Christmas hamper delivered to the Blue Mountains in NSW, care of my gorgeous son and daughter who live and study on the Sunshine Coast. Wow!!! It bought tears to my eyes. The shortbread was a little crumbled by the time it had travelled from Kenilworth to Glenbrook... but sprinkled on ice cream it made a delicious desert. The other contents of the hamper... Christmas pudding and cake, relish, rumballs, white Christmas, nuts and mince pies survived the interstate journey and arrived in one piece. I will say, living in the Blue Mountains and attending many farmers markets and travelling to the inner suburbs of Sydney and beach suburbs for many foodie festivals... Nanna McGinn's is up there. The nuts in the hamper went beautifully with a glass of red... and the relish... Well, that was my absolute favourite!! Nanna McGinn's relish is delicious. I'm not sure if it is bottled in larger quantities and if it is sold in store... but it is the best relish I have...