The weather looked fine enough when we started on this motor bike trip to Mt Glorious. My partner was worried about wet roads and bikes sliding but with sunny skies I thought it would dry quickly.
The roads at Mt Glorious snake gloriously between the trees and rainforest, along hilltop ridges and down gullies to the next ridge. It's a beautiful ride for the passenger, looking down on to the green valleys through the bush and drinking in the aroma of the rainforest.
When we hit a patch of low level cloud I guessed the weather wasn't going to get brighter - and it didn't. We had just arrived at our destination when the rain really set in for a while. It didn't matter because we were perched on the edge of the mountain at Mt Glorious Restaurant and Cafe.
If you haven't ventured to this part of Greater Brisbane you really should, particularly if you live in the western or northern suburbs. It's so close, yet a whole world away. In under an hour you can be walking through beautiful rainforest.
Mt Glorious Restaurant & Cafe was originally built as a dairy farm in the 1930s and was developed into the restaurant in the 1970s. The views from the deck are of Moreton and Stradbroke Islands, the Redcliffe Peninsula, south to the Port of Brisbane and the city, all from an altitude of 682 metres.
The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and all the food is made on premise.The breakfast menu looked delicious - pecan praline and strawberries with buttermilk pancakes; lemon hollandaise on poached eggs and a muffin with smoked salmon; local Killarney bacon and eggs with grilled tomato and a choice of egg cooking styles - good standard brekkie items with a subtle twist to catch a foodie's imagination.
But, since it was a little too late in the day, we decided on morning tea. I ordered the 'Devonshire Tea' which included just baked buttermilk scones, jam and a wonderful whipped cream which I was told was from Norco. They source their milk from northern New South Wales and Queensland. It was really delicious.
Our companions settled for this thick fruit toast which came beautifully presented and was pronounced great.
The star of the day was my partner's choice of orange and almond cake - a moist cake made with fresh oranges and almonds served with an orange and lavender syrup. The flavours were intense and it would be my pick next time - a show stopper.
There's a lunch menu with hearty food like steak and guiness pie, frittata of the day and ravioli. Lighter meals include smoked salmon rolls, thai pumpkin soup and salt and pepper squid. See the day's specials in the photo below.
I have to give them top marks for presentation here. The plates were artfully arranged with lovely flower touches. It was visually very pleasing and tasted as good as it looked. My criteria for a winning combo!
This is a popular cafe so time your visit well or, better still, book.
Mt Glorious Restaurant & Cafe
1816 Mt Glorious Rd, Mount Glorious p 07 3289 0145
