LOCATIONOn the waterfront at Cotton Tree.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIATourists and locals alike are magnetised to the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast’s Maroochy River. Sparkling in the sunshine by day, lit up by the moon at night, the river’s lapping waters provide the visual backdrop and soothing soundtrack for a meal at The Boat Shed. What was once the local boat hire go-to has since been transformed into a charming restaurant, offering fresh seafood and friendly, attentive service. Take time out to sip on a cocktail while soaking up the sun in a daybed, munching on the catch of the day for lunch or a hearty dinner by candlelight. The chefs twist top local produce into innovative dishes, dazzling diners with their tempting a la carte menu.
What better morsels to begin the feast with than a nibble on super-fresh oysters. They can come natural in their birthday suits, as a shot, clad in a Wakame, soy and mirin dressing or grilled with a zesty bacon and red pepper salsa. Mouth-watering mains run from calamari, scallops and prawns to barramundi and Atlantic salmon and continue on to kangaroo, lamb back-strap, chicken and duck. Why not opt for the delightfully simple battered fish and chips with tartare sauce and fresh garden salad? Or for something a little more exotic nosh on the Chang Mai Angus beef cheeks, coconut jasmine rice, broccolini and toasted peanuts. Desserts are equally tantalising; try the pistachio meringue, poached rhubarb and double cream for a light, sweet summer treat.
Lauren Barker, November 2008
DETAILSThe Boat Shed restaurant has been transformed from a humble boat hire shed into a Sunshine Coast icon. With stunning views of the Maroochy River and within sight of the original "Cotton Tree" that gives the area its name, you'll enjoy excellent, friendly service and international cuisine with a Sunshine Coast edge.
FOOD & BEVERAGEKnown for its innovative Modern Queensland cuisine, and its tranquil location on the Maroochy River, the Boat Shed encapsulates the easy-going Sunshine Coast lifestyle - good food, good people and great weather. Head Chef Adam Marrable acquired his skills in top restaurants all over the Sunshine Coast from Noosa to Coloundra. Adam heads a team of the coast's best and most well-known chefs. They work together like a well-oiled machine to create consistently fantastic food with an outstanding attention to design, detail and produce. Dishes such as the coconut and chilli battered prawns on roasted banana, drizzled with rum syrup and the seared fresh tuna with grapefruit, Persian fetta and pistachio balsamic are examples of Adams's unique and carefully construed flavour combinations.
Personal Statement
The Boat Shed was highly recommended to us by an elated seasoned diner, who wrote:
"The Boat Shed in Cotton Tree is fabulous. The service is great, the food superb and on a sunny day overlooking the water, the ambience is to die for. We have just sent an article to the local paper praising it... to find a restaurant like this is like finding a needle in a haystack..."
-Claire McAuley, Hunters Hill, NSW