Spirit House Restaurant — Restaurant in Sunshine Coast Regional

The reputation of Spirit House precedes it and I had been looking forward to this dinner for ages. I booked in advance to ensure I could go during my two week stay on the Sunny Coast. I’m a big believer that service and food together make a great dining experience, and unfortunately, neither were outstanding.

We were given a table with no view of the lake (fair enough, it’s peak season, not everyone can have the best tables). You can see our view pictured below. We ordered the premium banquet for two, and premium vegetarian banquet for one. One of us also had the wine pairing. The whole experience took 2.5 hours with long waits in between courses.

The paired wines arrived haphazardly, often as we were finishing a course. This was particularly obvious when the ‘dessert’ wine arrived after dessert, with a ‘bonus dessert’ that was not on the menu (one little tart each, as pictured below) which felt like an afterthought. It was clear our waitperson was doing their best, but potentially had very little experience, or needed more support and training. They were unable to tell us the name or origin of the wine, let alone anything about it. When this happened for the first course, we thought “oh well, they’ll go away and make sure they know for the next course, no big deal” but it only got worse as the night wore on.

Our water glasses were rarely refilled, and any other staff who attended our table seemed overworked and/or disinterested. We completely understand the time of year is extremely busy - perhaps Spirit House could schedule more staff, or give more days off, to support their employees’ wellbeing.

We had asked our server at the beginning of the meal if it was possible to vary the dessert included with the banquet (and pay any difference in price, of course). They were unsure and said they would find out and check in with us prior to dessert. After the main course, before dessert, we initiated that conversation again, only to be told it was “too late because the desserts have already been made”. Ultimately, the dessert was delicious, so not a big deal, but just an example of the lack of attention to detail. It also would have been nice to try at least one other dessert between the three of us rather than all having the same.

The women’s toilets were grubby, with smears on lots of surfaces, toilet paper on the floor and no hand towel. All of this is completely understandable in a busy restaurant, but not what I would expect at this price point. Highlights were the cocktails, and the dessert. We also had a perfect night weather wise which added to...

Subject: A Heartfelt Thank You to the Spirit House Team

Dear Spirit House Team,

I wanted to extend a big thank you to the entire team and owners of Spirit House. From the moment we walked through the gorgeous gardens, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, setting the tone for an unforgettable experience.

Ryan was fantastic in his thorough explanations of each dish, and I appreciated how he shared his honest opinions and preferences (that I eagerly asked for). His guidance made the selection process enjoyable and added an extra layer to the experience. He made us feel at home from the moment we arrived, and his wine pairing for the entrees was perfect. My partner Kee, who is pregnant, even said that the wine Ryan suggested will be her first post-pregnancy! We also had the pleasure of meeting Luigi, who shared that he’s about to attend his first cooking class with his partner—what a wonderful opportunity, generously provided by the owners. It’s clear how much he enjoys being part of the team.

A special nod to the bar staff as well—the cocktail and Kee’s mocktail were exceptional. You set the perfect scene for what became a dining experience we’ll never forget. Kee is already planning to recreate the mocktail special for Christmas!

Now, onto the food—where do I even begin? Hats off to the kitchen team. As a chef originally from Darwin, I've had my fair share of Asian cuisine and experienced dishes like those on your menu, but you guys did not disappoint. Every bite was phenomenal. The Thai Crab Pancake and Grilled Whitefish Miang Kham were perfect starting bites—they should be compulsory! Each dish that followed was equally impressive. The pork belly and scallops were cooked to perfection, with flavours that hit all the right notes. While I must say my mum’s deep-fried Nani/Snapper with sticky tamarind sauce still reigns supreme in my book, your version was incredible, and I ate well past the point of being full. The duck was also outstanding—cooked perfectly and bursting with flavour.

Though I’m not usually a dessert person, I have to tip my hat—everything was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Kee was in heaven.

Thank you all for making this such a memorable experience, especially as it was Kee’s first fine dining experience. I couldn’t be more thrilled that it was with Spirit House. You’ve gained repeat offenders—we will...

A beautiful spot. An Asian themed, architecturally designed and decorated restaurant, overlooking a tranquil pond and zen garden full of bamboo plants and trees.

My partner and I arrived in awe. However, quickly into the the meal on arrival (less than 10 minutes) of our first round of drinks, my partner's coke was spilt on her lap by the waiter. I want to highlight this was a complete accident and the member of staff couldn't have been nicer about it, quickly assisting us - I cannot falter him. We made no fuss, however, we were disappointed and surprised that nothing was offered, nor our bill ever so slightly discounted. Not even a reference was made after we were all cleaned up (bar from the poor chap who did it who couldn't apologise more!), for the inconvenience and embarrassment - it's a deadly quiet restaurant and when a can slams against the table and then the floor, everyone in the vicinty heard and looked.

It's a hard one to broach, as although it's not expected, in a lesser restaurant (ones I've personally worked in) they would have made more of an effort to make us feel "reimbursed". It slightly tarnished our experience as when we left the venue, all we could talk about was that moment. For an anniversary meal (and a large expense - it's not cheap!), this was not how I wanted it to be remembered and slightly threw off the premium feel.

On to the main topic, the food was excellent. We chose the premium banquet, a delightful array of Asian infused food with the highlight being a whole fish! Each was awesome and a truly wonderful dish. They had a wide array of wine (which we didn't sample) and local/world beers (which we did).

Despite our little "hiccup", I would highly recommend the spot for special occasions. I just am still disappointed (writing this weeks later) about how they handled the spillage, hence I've knocked a star off, because, as stated, it somewhat spoilt the evening. I couldn't have faltered...