PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
At Mondo Organics, pure and natural food is given caring and intelligent treatment in a tranquil space that would make even the most hardened junk-food eater feel at peace with body and soul. Tables near the entrance are surrounded by open-air timber slats, a hand-set river stone floor and the sounds of a gently trickling water feature, while the interior dining room is reminiscent of an Italian bistro, with lush wallpaper and an art adorned feature wall.
Whet your appetite with slices of their warm ciabatta with spezie spice, lemon olive oil and Sicilian green olives. Among the entrees are fresh seafood, such as garlic tiger prawns with saffron and ricotta cake and verjuice pesto, and interesting vegetarian choices like pumpkin and provolone cheese baked custard with vegetable relish and olive thyme crostini. For mains, sample crispy-skinned chicken breast with spiced pork sausage, wilted spinach and white polenta. The Mondo weekend brunch is extremely popular; health conscious foodies spill out onto the pavement for their divinely crunchy muesli with Barambah yoghurt and fruit compote, and the baked Italian beans with fresh pecorino, spinach and garlic bruschetta.
LOCATION
West End.
DETAILS
Australia’s first organic restaurant, Mondo opened in 2000, and since has been a stalwart of local Brisbane diners, and highly regarded nationally.
Entering Mondo, you cross a threshold into a beautiful space, soothing and sophisticated. The entrance features the sounds of gentle trickling from the stone water fountain, candle lit tables, cushioned banquette seating and architecturally designed surrounds, transfers you to a mood of tranquillity.
Head Chef, Eileen Horsnell, kitchen qualifications are high end and impeccable, with extensive experience at Sydney’s legendary ‘Bel Mondo’ and ‘Bistro Moncur’, and as Head Chef at ‘Will and Toby’s’. Adam then moved to London for three years where he worked at ‘The Connaught Hotel's’ Gordon Ramsay's Michelin star restaurant ‘Menu at the Grill’, under the watchful eye of Celebrity Chef, Angela Hartnett. Adam finished his London experience with a short stint at London's premium catering company, ‘Rhubarb Food Designs’, cooking for the rich and famous. Try Adam’s signature entrée, Mille-feuille of grilled local prawns, tomato confit and celeriac puree, with fennel vinaigrette, also highly recommended by Restaurant Critic, David Bentley ‘the flavoursome and ‘fall-off-the-bone’ tender’ Fillet of beef with polenta ‘chips’, creamy salsa verde and marjoram jus. For dessert indulge in the Dagoba bittersweet chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream and blackberries, a recipe inspired by ‘River Café’ London.
The wine list features over 100 wines, an impressive selection of premium wines from the top regions of Australia, New Zealand, Spain & Italy, including organic wines from small vineyards.
Mondo now offer’s an air-conditioned dining room for corporate or business boardroom lunches.
Personal Statement
TESTIMONIALGood Evening! I want to say thank you. Thank you for the experience that I was able to share with an international colleague at your fine establishment, two weeks ago. The physical setting of Mondo Organics, inside and out, puts most other restaurants to shame.
The service is exceptional and the food is exhaustingly delicious. I've worked in hospitality for many years, both in kitchens and on the floor in some of the finest places in both Australia and Europe, and to see the passion your whole team has, is.. mind-blowing.
I will admit, that in the shoes of a diner, this is the first restaurant that has enticed me to return as soon as I can, for yet another sumptuous meal. So, thank you Brenda and Sonja, and to your whole team of experts. Your combined talents and what you've produced (and continue to produce!) is what will keep Mondo's alive for a very long time.
The uniqueness of your culture, the ideologies behind your cuisine and the comfortability of the dining area were all supportive of what we both perceived (on the night) to be your corporate vision. A very strong, undiluted vision. I look forward to coming in again and I am so glad I found Mondo's. I will be mentioning my experience to my future colleagues and clients, who seek the tremendous experience that you offer. Well done, what a great team.
Warmest regards
Daniel T Jess (visitor from USA)
