The Strand Hotel
Located opposite Riverlink Shopping Centre is The Stand Hotel with a friendly relaxed pub atmosphere.
Its bistro access is through the main front doors. Don’t be shy to take your date here, you’ll find it lacking queues and hustle so you can sit back and enjoy a conversation.
I took my children here to eat on a Tuesday night, there is a selection of schnitzels on the menu all priced at $15 each that will challenge your hunger. I tried the stuffed jalapeno poppers, my favourite chilli, and a great way to serve them.
They also had old school hand-made pizza on the menu, made with fresh ingredients. It is hard to pick one thing to recommend here, for me those jalapeno poppers have got me hooked on this place.
Laneway 116
Laneway 116 is located behind Indian Mehfil in the centre of the Ipswich CBD.
The best thing about this place is that it’s shaded all year around, so in the hotter months you can still enjoy outdoor dining without getting too much sun.
My son and I had a hard time choosing from a range of eats under $20 here.
The chicken and mushroom dish didn’t scrimp on the mushrooms but by far it was a unanimous choice of the eggs Benedict served with the most generous serving of home made hollandaise sauce for $16.
Memories of India
Kick lunch up a step with these tasty value packed lunch box items for under $15.
You’ll want Memories of India’s number saved into your phone because you can ring ahead or take away for a slightly cheaper price.
The lunch specials come on a delightfully presented lunch platter that won’t leave you hungry, including butter chicken, rice and naan for $12 dine in, or $10 take away.
The whole eat in experience was right on the money. Head Chef Promod Kumar is also cooking a new lunch special, a vegetarian and non-vegetarian curry platter from $13.99 including three curries, plain rice, plain naan.
Individual curries like the delicious goat saagwala are under $20. Open for lunch Tuesday to Friday 11.30am to 2.30pm.
Jets Leagues Club
Ipswich Jets is located in a heritage building on a site that has been licensed to sell alcohol since before 1880. There is an extensive menu, but I settled on the Jets burger at $18.90 for members.
This burger is part of The Jets Leagues Club everyday menu available at lunch or dinner.
There is nothing left to add as the burger includes pineapple, beetroot, egg, bacon and relish made onsite – this is the ‘front row forward’ of burgers.
Club Services Ipswich
The Club Services Ipswich (CSI) Longhorn Bar and Grill Bistro have chosen a winner with their focus on steaks.
While the current promo is a steak and lobster special, I tried the 300g steak and chips with salad and spoke to head chef Chris who expressed a passion for tasty food.
He told me that where possible the steak is sourced locally from Schulte’s Meat Tavern.
The great tasting steak comes at modest price of $25.50 for members and what’s even better is if you order this on a Monday or Tuesday night you’ll receive a free kids meal when you bring a child along for dinner.
Catering for gluten free diners (the house made gravy already comes gluten free) just ask the staff and they will cook the chips in gluten free oil, so anyone can enjoy this steak and chips.
