Built in 1851, with a stunning outlook over Moreton Bay, the
Grand View Hotel is Queensland's oldest licensed hotel. It retains an old world charm having being thoughtfully maintained and restored over the years. Owned and run by a local family this hotel is a family friendly venue well worth a visit.
Courtesy of gvh.com.au
The interior of the hotel is warm and inviting, from the dark wood panelling to the comfy couches by the Lounge Bar.
Vegas by the Bay - the pokies and gaming area - brings a touch of modern to the place in a subtle manner. Steeped in a history which is not lost or forgotten, historical photos of the local area and community line the entrance walls.
Warm and cosy interior
Historical photos
The hotel boasts two restaurants, two bars, live music and entertainment, hosts regular events, weddings and functions, and offers accommodation in their Bed & Breakfast Heritage Rooms, which are tasteful portraits of the hotel's earlier years.
Our party arrived around 11.30am on a Sunday; we bypassed the courtyard seating and the gorgeous gazebos to take an outdoor table in the
Emu Point Restaurant. The view was spectacular, the table was shaded by enormous jacaranda trees; it was a perfect setting. There weren't many people there when we arrived but an hour later there wasn't one empty table in the house.
Emu Point Restaurant courtyard seating
Garden gazebos
Beautiful garden setting
The view from our table
We grabbed a round of drinks from the outdoor Emu Point Bar which stocked an incredible variety of beer both on tap and by the bottle, from your everyday XXXX to more exotic varieties such as Red Speckled Hen from England, and Fischers from Germany. I went for a vodka and lime slushie special ($5), which turned out to be perfect for a hot summer's day.
We'd come to the Grand View primarily for the food which had been recommended to us as top pub grub, so my expectations were high and we all know where high expectations inevitably lead. The first thing that struck me about the
menu was the prices. This was definitely on the expensive side of pub grub, but the proof is in the pudding so I withheld judgment.
Mains ranged from $25 to $35 and there was a wide selection of salads, sides, and meals from the sea and from the paddock. For the two vegetarians in our party it was slim pickings with only two vegetarian meals on offer - the Asian tofu salad ($22) and the four cheese and mushroom ravioli ($25.50). The Asian tofu salad was small but fresh and tasty, the ravioli however was even smaller and terribly bland.
Asian tofu salad ($22.00)
Four cheese and mushroom ravioli ($25.50)
The meat eaters fared better with the Cape Grim Tasmania natural MSA rib fillet ($36.50) and a salmon dish off the daily specials menu. Both dishes were well received, the rib fillet more so, described as beautiful and tender. I will say that the chips I sampled from this dish were fabulous.
Cape Grim Tasmania natural MSA rib fillet ($36.50)
Salmon special
Despite the food being a disappointment for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the venue. The old world charm combined with the magnificent outlook from the lush garden setting made for a glorious Sunday afternoon adventure. And with good old fashioned pubs that still feel like pubs and not hospital waiting rooms becoming increasingly difficult to find, the Grand View is a gem worth treasuring.
