Popina Eumundi — Restaurant in Sunshine Coast Regional

The perfect place for our catch-up with our good friends. Sitting outside on this balmy evening under magnificent trees prettily lit be fairy lights created the perfect setting.

The select menu is small but we still found it difficult to choose. It all sounded divine. We all chose the Anchovy Toast as our entre. It was a masterpiece, not only in taste but also in presentation.

Three of us opted for the Murray Cod, sharing a bowl of Rosemary Roast Potatoes and perfectly cooked Greens. The crispy skin on the Cod was amazing, the meat sweet juicy and flaky. My Fraser Isle Crab Spaghettini was equally amazing. The sweet, delicate crab meat perfectly balanced with fresh herbs and spices. The chili not at all overpowering. Just right.

Only one of us had room left for desert, lured by the description of the Chocolate Brownie with pistachio, cherries and vanilla gelato. My friend said I had to try it, declaring it to be absolutely divine. As someone without a sweet tooth, who seldom orders desert, I was impressed with this. Once again, a perfectly balanced dish. It wasn't overly sweet as I had 'feared', and the vanilla gelato was silky, smooth, light and full of flavour.

We all agreed, our entire experience at Popina could not have been better. The ambience, the amazing food, the wonderful service....

This husband and wife team, with the charming, attentive and knowledgeable Penny running front of house and Alex creating magic in the kitchen, have got the recipe that is Popina perfected. We've been to almost all restaurants in Eumundi, most of which are very good, but Popina truly stands out as exceptional.

It was also lovely to discover that another good friend had been with us in spirit. We thought we recognised the artful metal work surrounding the court yard and discovered, that indeed, it was created by our good friend Steve Weiss.

Needless to say, we will be returning to Popina soon. Thank you Penny, Alex, and your young assistant for a delightful and memorable evening.

I was curious about the meaning of Popina, which I discovered is Roman in origin. The meaning quite intriguing, but I'll let you discover it for yourself. :-) I asked Grok.

Photos: Last to leave / Rosemary Roast Potatoes front, Fraser Isle Spaghettini back /...

Finding only one vegetarian meal available on the menu - a mushroom meal for $35, I was about to leave as mushrooms were not going to cut it for me tonight. The waitress offered neutral and efficient service though some voluntary attention would’ve been appreciated rather than having to grab her attention constantly between only a small number of diners. The very polite chef kindly offered a pumpkin tortellini as an alternative, which I accepted. The plate arrived instantly sporting a tiny meal consisting of 12 wee parcels and a sprinkling of inconsequential greenery. I checked that I had not received an entree size but was assured that it was in fact a main. It was consumed within a few minutes even when I consciously tried to eat slowly to make it last. It was tasty but extraordinarily tiny - leaving me almost as ravenous as before I ate. I was prepared for an expensive meal but expected something more substantial. I understand that sourcing fresh organic product is exorbitantly priced and that handmade pasta is time consuming so this is a restaurant for those who consider money as no object and welcome the many servings it would take to be satiated- and hopefully these diners abound. I however could not comfortably stretch my finances to do this and left hungry to fill up at home!...

I have visited Popina twice now and both times have been excellent! Every dish was moorish but our favourites were stuffed zucchini flowers, lamb backstrap, their roasted potatoes and coffee mille feuille.

Penny runs the front of house. She is attentive, knowledgeable and professional.

From using the finest ingredients to the plate presentation, it is clear that Chef Alex takes great pride in every single detail.

Their passion for food and commitment to ensuring an enjoyable dining experience is evident!

The ambiance of the restaurant is elegant, sophisticated and comfortable.

Popina is a real gem. This is a must-visit restaurant for anyone seeking an stand out experience. If you haven't had the pleasure of dining here yet, do yourself favour. You won't be...