PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAWhen it comes to entertainment and a fab place to eat out, the Belvedere Hotel is one of the best places north of Brisbane. It’s situated at Woody Point, a beautiful finger of land that pokes out into Bramble Bay and offers a great view across the water to Brisbane and Moreton Bay’s islands. The hotel occupies a large area and consists of a couple of restaurants and cafes, the largest of which is the Crab and Steakhouse. Wander in off the street and you will find yourself in a large dining area complete with wooden tables, a very high loft ceiling and a seafood display cabinet at the rear. There’s a bar and even your very own ice-creamery hidden in a corner; though you’d be doing extremely well if you could fit ice-cream in after the generous portions here.
There’s a casual system in place whereby you order at the bar and then find a seat among the vastness of the dining room (that never the less fills up rapidly on a weekend). Fresh seafood is on display at the front counter including live mud crabs, so you can pick the plumpest and juiciest one if you’re in the mood and your wallet can handle it. Oysters are on offer as well as a variety of great steaks from the char-grill. They include the usual suspects, accompanied by a generous portion of salad and chips. On the weekends there is usually entertainment on offer like bands or comedy acts, plus a place for the kids to play.
Meagan Hepworth, December 2007
