I recently went up to what I call “The Womb” but locals call ‘Tbar’. I had never been to Toowoomba for longer than a night. I have done shows up here at the famous Empire Theatre and then it was off home straight after. I decided to come up for the Carnival Of Flowers and stay for 5 days. My stay was September 15th to 19th, Monday to Friday. Also fuck people saying “Why would you go to Toowoomba?”.
Honestly here are some reason to go:
All the places I ate:
The Bakers Duck
Morning or Afternoon Treat
This bakery was highly requested. I visited here at the worst time of 3:30pm before it closed at 4pm. I was to eager and wanted to visit before checking into my airbnb. All they had left, because they were cleaned out, was a Calabrese Roll. Buffalo cheese, pesto, roasted tomato’s on fresh herb bread. I picked off the tomato’s because I’m not a fan. ROLL WAS 10/10!
The Bakers Duck team found out I had visited and were like “you have to come back and try the pork, sage and apple sausage roll”. I swanned back over a few days later at about 11am and it was BUSY! A line almost out the door that was moving pretty quickly. After feeling like Taylor Swift with all the locals asking me for pics (huge ego boost) I got my sausage roll, sat down and it was the most flakey delicious pastry. It wasn’t searing hot so you could actually eat it straight away. They had an incredible boujee selection of pastries. I had a Dubai chocolate croissant bar which wasn’t super rich and just the perfect amount of sweet (I’m not really a sweet tooth I’m definitely a savoury)
124 Campbell st, Toowoomba.
7-4pm daily
@thebakersduck
The Finch Cafe
Came for Breakfast
Gorgeous cafe, I stopped in for breakfast for the classic ‘Christian Special’ scrambled eggs on toast with a side of smoked salmon. The eggs were folded and there was about an entire fish worth of salmon on my plate. The serving size was AWESOME! I left feeling so full. I really enjoyed this dish. I ended up making a sandwich out of it with the two slices of sourdough. The relish and rocket made the CRAZY GOOD. It tasted even better as a little sando.
Also shout out to this amazing elephant on the coffee.
2/469 Ruthven St, Toowoomba
7-2pm daily
@thefinchtbar
Super Rooster
Snack
Another highly requested food stop over was Super Rooster to try their fries. Think of it as the local fast food chain, there are three locations in town and i popped through the drive thru and got a large fries. HOLY JESUS! I can see why the fires are so loved. There was about a week’s worth of sodium intake over these fries and the salt tasted slightly like chicken salt but not quite. These fries were like a more crunchy KFC chip and while delicious I could only do a quarter of the box before the salt took over. I rated these but should have opted for a small.
They sat in my car for a few hours and when i got home after finishing up for the day I ate the rest and even cold and a little stale they were so good.
10:30 - 8pm daily
@superroosterbbq
Loulaki
For Dinner
I bumped into a local while out in the Carnival of Flowers who strongly suggested I try a Greek restaurant. When I googled it the reviews convinced me that she was a crazy lunatic in a park talking nonsense. Turns out the lady was right. THIS RESTAURANT WAS AMAZING!
I arrived and was seated, I was told you’d need to book ahead usually as a safe guard as this place gets packed out. I ordered the Saganaki, which is a hunk of delicious fried cheese and it came out in about 60 seconds sizzling. IT WAS DELICIOUS, not too sweet and you squeeze the lemon over it…perfection. Usually a dish best shared with a friend but FUCK FRIENDS, I love dining alone.
I’m not a big eater due to the weight loss medication im on so while I wanted to try a few things on the menu I just ordered the Keftedes, lamb and beef meatballs, garlic labneh, salsa and spiced chickpeas. This was an incredible dish. I polished it off.
Did I get a cocktail? I did just for the gram, an Auras Kiss, Lychee and Elderflower, Gin and Prosecco. This wasn’t sweet as you might think it was more heavy on the Prosecco flavour and I really enjoyed it.
14 Duggan st, Toowoomba
12-9pm Tuesday - Saturday
@loulakirestaurant
Urban Grounds
For Breakfast
This place is right next to Laurel Bank Park, where the Carnival of Flowers is happening. It feels like it used to be a big Queenslander home that’s been converted into a cafe. I sat out on their gorgeous big front deck under a big umbrella in the sun. I was told the more popular ‘verandah’ was fully booked.
I got the Christian Hull special again, scrambled eggs, toast and salmon. However we hit a small hurdle as they don’t have salmon as a side. Not to worry, as a creature of habit I have been used to some cafes not having this on the menu. While I don’t like change very much I ordered it with bacon and honestly I’m so glad I did. Bacon is so risky, with salmon I know exactly what im getting, there really is only two version of salmon, cooked or not cooked. With bacon there are 1000 ways to make it. I find it so hit and miss.
Out comes my meal without so much as a wait which I was shocked at as they were pretty busy. I saw the bacon and initially I was sceptical as it didn’t look like how it was about to taste. I scooped it up with some eggs and bread and that first mouthful was CRAZY. I know I’m being dramatic it’s just who i am BUT FUCK ME THIS WAS THE BEST BACON. I think it’s because it’s how mum used to make it. It’s not soft about it’s not crunchy. It’s so hard to describe, the edges were crispy and the middle was cooked but softish, moist. There was also a bit of oil with the bacon which really enhanced the flavour.
I FUCKING RATED THIS BREAKFAST. I would make this my local if I lived here. Fuck the salmon off!
210 Harries St, Toowoomba
7-9pm Wednesday to Saturday
7-2:30pm Sunday - Tuesday
@urbangroundscafe
Greek Yiros
Lunch
While out wandering around the Carnival of Flowers I stoped by a food truck for a meal. The smell was calling me. It was also next to a delicious cinnamon donut truck. I got the chicken yiros with chips and then sat on a near by picnic table in the gardens to enjoy. $18! I enjoyed this. Especially sitting in the beautiful gardens.
Food trucks are around the major hubs for the Carnival just keep an eye out. Mine was in Laurel Bank Park.
Picnic Point
Lunch
I was told, as this was my first trip to Toowoomba that I would HAVE TO got to the lookout at picnic point “where the giant flag is”. When I got there I was very impressed with the view, It overlooks the huge Lockyer Valley and it’s just stunning. Everything in Toowoomba is so close. This look out feels like it’s right in the city, it’s on the edge of the escarpment and a 5 minute drive from town.
There was a cafe/restaurant that I popped into for lunch and ordered the Blueberry, BBQ Beef Burger. Again the wait times for food in Toowoomba have been very short. It didn’t take long to come out and it was a classic! Exactly what I want in a burger, soft bun, meat that’s not SCORCHING hot, crispy lettuce.
What I was delighted with was the actual blueberries on the burger. It was like a relish but with blueberries. Like full blueberries. IT WAS SO DELICIOUS!
164 Tourist Rd, Toowoomba
8:30 - 5pm
picnic-point.com.au
The Other Bird
Breakfast
A gorgeous cafe nestled at the top of the mountain. It’s almost the first cafe you come across when you arrive. I was here early and sat in the stunning morning haze. I also got a coffee here one afternoon and sat in the sun and it was a really nice spot.
I loved that its part of the rehab centre next door, some of the employees are trained up as baristas and wait staff as part of their recovery so its easy for them to be able to find a job and get back on there feet. Loved how this place was helping those in the community and it was such a beautiful spot to go and eat. The breakfast burger was so delicious. Friends (yes I have those some how) ordered the avo on toast and also loved it!
2 Margaret St, East Toowoomba
6:30 - 2pm
@theotherbird_tba
Hello Harry
Lunch
After doing a full day of op shops and flowers we were exhausted and stumbled upon a lane way with some great restaurants and bars. Hello Harry had some nice taco options and loaded fries and my Mounjaro shot hadn’t kicked in yet so I was feeling hungry.
Loved the vibe of this place and really LOVED the loaded fries. I ordered the pulled pork soft shell tacos with a delicious BBQ glaze. I was so exhausted from such a huge 5 days in the womb and it was nice and quiet and peaceful when we were there, 3pm on a Friday!
Shop 6/476 Ruthann St, Toowoomba
11-8pm
@helloharryburger