A few months ago, I chucked a dummy spit about shivering my way through another Melbourne winter. Husband Jude and I consequently decided to move to Sydney. But before we made that minor life decision, we did what normal people do and booked a holiday to a warmer destination: we chose Noosa.
Of course, you can read a previous post on 9 of the best things to do in Noosa here.
When it came to eating out in Noosa, I’m not too sure what I was expecting, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised that the quality was up there with the best of Flinders Lane. For me, there were two particular stand-outs: Bistro C (located smack bang on Noosa Main Beach) and Ricky’s (a five-minute drive away from Noosa’s main drag, Hastings Street, and on the banks of Noosa River).
Beach views aside, here’s why Bistro C shared the Eat Play Love Travel pedestal for best spot to enjoy a meal in Noosa…
A hidden nugget
Hidden within a ‘90s shopping mall, stumbling across Bistro C is like finding a peanut M&M in a bag of crispy M&Ms. But once inside there is nothing ‘90s about this restaurant that makes you feel like you’ve walked onto the set of a Ralph Lauren photo shoot – it’s all ultra-modern Queensland thermomixed with a hint of Hamptons.
A seafood showstopper
Upon studying the dinner menu, there were way too many entrees that we wanted, so decided to order a bunch and then share a main. Kicking off, we started with two Pacific oysters that were plumper than Lindsey Lohan’s lips and came with a vodka-tomato vinaigrette. Then we enjoyed the crunchy and salty ocean trout sashimi, the seared scallops with cauliflower puree (which to my horror needed the accompanying black pudding) and Bistro C’s ‘famous’ calamari – not too sure why the fame but nonetheless it was the polar opposite to rubber, making it a calamari winner. All super delicate and yum AF.
The grand finale was the seafood spaghetti, which was like eating velvet, definitely didn’t skimp on the seafood and came richly dressed in basil, garlic, olive oil, roma tomatoes and aioli. It rendered us both speechless.
We probably didn’t need the sweet potato chips too but they were more there to satisfy the husband’s persistent fries fetish.
Bistro C is…
Given we went back to this relaxed restaurant the following night for a cheese and meat board, and to watch the sun set over the beach, we were suitably impressed and possibly still in a spaghetti stupor. Although the breakfast menu remains a mystery for now. Next time I head north, there will be a date with the pulled pork and sweet potato hash.
My recommendation is to book a table by the window or on the beach-facing deck around prime sunset-viewing time – actually I’d encourage booking at any time as Bistro C is prone to a line up out into the 90210-circa shopping mall.
Overall, the service is super friendly, it’s a sophisticated dining experience without the usual touristy stench to it and it’s very kid-accommodating (there’s access to high chairs, under-12s food choices and colouring books if you ask).
It’s not on the cheap side, but then listening to the waves of the Pacific Ocean over an ultra delicious dinner is totally worth the extra $$.
Bistro C | 49 Hastings Street, Noosa, Queensland
Phone: (07) 5447 2855
bistroc.com.au
