The Downs List (2024)

02/01/2024

Escape to the country this holiday season and sample some of the best hospitality that our region has to offer.
The Bull & Barley Inn, Cambooya, now under new management, offers an extensive menu with a variety of dining options. You can choose the classic dining room, or perhaps the bistro, a stool at the bar or the lovely veranda with rural views. There is also the footpath pergolas or the quiet beer garden out the back.
We opted for the footpath (actually no choice as it was packed!) and each enjoyed one of the best steaks that we had ordered at a pub for a very long time, while listening to the fun being had in the front bar.
One thing we noted, was how house proud these new girls are. Everything was beautifully attended to, adding to the atmosphere of sitting in the shadow of this glorious old building.
Being only a 20 minute drive from the bustle of the city, the experience is well worth the short drive, but remember to book ahead!

02/01/2024

Escape to the country this holiday season and sample some of the best hospitality that our region has to offer.

The Bull & Barley Inn, Cambooya, now under new management, offers an extensive menu with a variety of dining options. You can choose the classic dining room, or perhaps the bistro, a stool at the bar or the lovely veranda with rural views. There is also the footpath pergolas or the quiet beer garden out the back.

We opted for the footpath (actually no choice as it was packed!) and each enjoyed one of the best steaks that we had ordered at a pub for a very long time, while listening to the fun being had in the front bar.

One thing we noted, was how house proud these new girls are. Everything was beautifully attended to, adding to the atmosphere of sitting in the shadow of this glorious old building.

Being only a 20 minute drive from the bustle of the city, the experience is well worth the short drive, but remember to book ahead!

22/12/2023

Thank goodness for The Book Tree at Christmas, and on all occasions 🌲
This beautiful little store has been our ‘go to’ for Christmas for a very long time, and never fails to deliver.
There is always something for everyone, including ourselves. From stocking fillers to real treasures.
It’s worth getting down town Toowoomba to take a look into this iconic local business.

21/12/2023

are the new kids on the block in Laurel Street, Toowoomba, expanding the street as the new centre for design in town.
The owners of this new store have a keen eye for unique and rustic item, all displayed beautifully in the glorious old shed.

Be sure to find something extra special here, just in time for Christmas.

20/12/2023

, as a relative newcomer on the catering block, and henceforth perhaps still a secret for many.
Specialising in boutique, catered functions, the difference here is the moody, centrally located dining room that is available for the events.
Certainly, apart from the atmosphere and the location, the food is the superstar of the show.
Delicious, elegant, creative and plentiful. Perfect for any style of celebration, and accompanied by great service.
We would definitely put on the list of possibilities for our next catered function.

18/12/2023

Toowoomba has been touted as one of the most generous cities in the country, partly due to extraordinary people like Justin from . Firebrand, currently set up as a pop up in , supports numerous QLD charities and organisations, with the 2024 calendar being one of their sought after items.
The calendar, being sponsored by many other local businesses is a true collaboration of fantastic community spirit, and it’s running out the door!
Scented candles, funky cow hide earrings, beads, bracelets and other lovely gifts, there is plenty here to buy for fabulous Christmas presents, with the added bonus of supporting local charities as well.
Justin is also a passionate su***de prevention, awareness advocate, which at this time of year, is so vitally important. ‘Don’t give up on you’ merchandise raises awareness, and also funds for those in need of help.
We love your work Justin, and know that our generous Darling Downsites will be right behind you.

16/12/2023

This unique local business has certainly become one of the favourites in Grand Central shopping centre. On arrival, to check it all out, there were people everywhere, and many buying.
Looking around was a real feast for the eyes, with so many gorgeous things to look at. The range is quite vast, and the quality refreshingly good.
Congratulations to the owners. They have really created something special here.
Chase & Hide

14/12/2023

What to wear to a Christmas party??
Find all the colour and style at this shinning CBD fashion store!
Smoke and Mirrors is definitely that. Behind the often monochrome, highly styled exterior windows is a glorious display of colour and shape to suit all celebrations.
Beautiful women’s clothing, apparel and accessories, including head wear, is their specialty, so make your way over there this Christmas or find them on line.

14/12/2023

Colour and Style in the CBD

Smoke & Mirrors is an exiting place to visit when on the hunt for that special occasion.

Displaying a glorious range of colourful and stylish clothing, with apparel and accessories to compliment, this locally owned fashion spot is a gift to those wanting to celebrate in style.
Ruthven Street, Toowoomba and online.

13/12/2023

While we are singing the praises of Duggan Street, we must include the newest edition in .

This ultra healthy smoothy and loaded tea parlour is something to savour.
Focusing on flavour along with higher protein, lower calories and general goodness, Rosezel is a novel addition to the offerings in the area.
The mango pash that we tasted was gorgeous. The perfect lunch on the go.
Welcome to town . We are so lucky to have you.

13/12/2023

A fabulous find in Duggan Street, Toowoomba.
serves great coffee, one of the best ‘Avos on Toast’ in town (gluten free available), and …..
Taylor Swift Cookies, for all the little Swifties out there.
Who knew?
Plus loads of funky earrings, and more.
So escape from the madding crowd, into this awesome, happy little space, and enjoy a snack between shopping, whilst grabbing some merch for the Christmas stockings.

22/02/2023

The things we do for testing. For the past two weeks, we sent one of our staffers to try one of the most recently raved about fitness trends, Reformer Pilates. Located on Ruthven St, Antara Studios is a fitness space that specialises in Pilates, Yoga and Meditation; all with a focus on mental well-being. For this review, we’ll be focusing on the Reformer Pilates aspect.

Being low-impact, Reformer Pilates is an excellent exercise for those wanting to up their personal fitness or cross-training. According to our staff member, the key takeaway from the classes was optimisation. The instructors were really helpful in adapting movements for those with injuries and the customisation of the reformer’s resistance made it easy to dial in the intensity. Another positive was how Antara caters its classes to those who are pregnant. Overall, our staffer said that after the two weeks, they felt stronger and less sore when doing other more intense activities (such as running).

📷 .studios

17/02/2023

Gips Restaurant is somewhat of a Downs institution and has stood the test of time in the highly competitive, culinary category.

So what draws us back time after time?

For us it has to be the stunning location, setting and unmatched ambiance. Walking through the front gate you walk into a serenity that is rarely available in urban spaces. The gardens are beautiful and the architecture eye catching; the perfect prelude to the taste sensations to come.

After truly delicious mains, chosen from an exciting list, we could not go past the panna cotta with tts rose water, spun auger crown. Sublime!

Cocktail parties, weddings, functions large or small, indoors or outdoors, there is not a lot that Gips could not cater for, and all with superb culinary flair.

Thank you Gips for a lovely long Friday afternoon.

Downs List Pro Tip: Gip’s have an express lunch menu choice, that includes a glass of wine. Perfect for an economical and time saving visit.

15/02/2023

It’s called Banter for a reason.

Tucked away on Margaret St, Banter Coffee Kitchen is an intimate cafe you could easily drive past without noticing. But like most great things, once you find it, you can’t forget it.

Appropriately named, Banter is a great facilitator for conversation and catching up. Its drink-focused menu has created a welcoming space for those who want to enjoy a coffee and nothing more. In addition to their house-blend espresso, Banter has a rotating single-origin (espresso) and filter for those wishing to switch up their routine. Complementing the drinks menu is a snack cabinet with banana bread and several bagels. Perfect for those who are still a bit peckish from breakfast or want a light lunch. Banter Coffee Kitchen is a wonderful choice for those wanting to catch up with friends or step outside for a quick meeting.

12/02/2023

Mondays are hard. However, they’re less hard with a good brew. To celebrate their 10th birthday tomorrow (13th of February), Ground Up is offering free coffee for the day. Here’s to another ten great years. Our team can't wait to come down and celebrate with you.

09/02/2023

The rotating lunch special is always one of the highlights when visiting The Burrow. You never know what you’ll get, although it’s usually pretty good. One of our favourite specials has been their current offering: the breakfast burrito. Made with chorizo and dirty rice, this is a well-proven formula for success. The added corn chips gave the burrito a crisp texture. Without being too spicy, the burrito had a good kick to it, perfect for pushing through that afternoon slump.

08/02/2023

Let them eat cake!

There is something happening in the cake making industry that seems to have taken us all by surprise.

The cleverness and creativeness that now adorns our celebrative centerpieces has most certainly gone to another level.

One article will not be enough so we will begin our chronicle with Impressions on Scott, a relaxed, well established cafe in East Toowoomba.

Lovely coffee, delicious food, extraordinary catering and amazing staff, is just the beginning, but let’s check out the extraordinary cakes!

Bespoke, made to order, unique, creative and beautiful are all words that come to mind. No occasion seems to worry Anita’s extraordinary talents.

We are going to allow the pictures to tell the rest of the story, so please enjoy the show.

06/02/2023

Jannusch Shoe Repairs,
Where would we be without them?

It might be a ‘throw away’ world, but when a favourite pair of shoes is concerned, throwing away is definitely not an option. This is when you need the regional Cobblers, the expert shoe repair people, And this is when you visit Jannusch Shoe Repairs.

The best thing about these shoes (above) is not that they are Prada, nor the fact that they are almost 20 years old. The best thing is that they have been expertly repaired with soles replaced, not once but twice in their lifetime.

And these aren’t the only old favourite, one of a kinds, that this wonderful business specialise in. Boots, school shoes, most any shoes, bags, suitcases, coverings, colouring and more, and all on the list of possible repairs.

Being a long standing, family owned business can tough however the rewards to the community are special; unique, and we are so lucky to have access to artisan craftsman like these.

04/02/2023

Dining Out: Dinner at Ortem

If there's one part of our food culture that’s truly Australian, it’s our overtly casual dine-in approach to cafes. There’s something comforting about our cafes that is never quite felt in any other space. And for those who long for cafes to be open at later hours, there’s nothing more exciting than when a cafe starts offering a dinner menu. Last Saturday, our team went out to try Ortems' dinner menu.

For pre-main drinks, we had a cosmo, blueberry spritz and watermelon frosé. A pleasant surprise was how accommodating the staff were in preparing non-alcoholic versions of each cocktail menu item. The cosmo was undoubtedly the group favourite, being assertively flavoured without overpowering the entre we had (bao buns). The watermelon frosé offered something more refreshing (almost like an elegant slurpee), while the blueberry spritz was optimal for those who prefer something more acidic.

Our team shared the ocean trout, scotch filet and steak sandwich. The scotch filet came with a café du paris butter that had a velvety mouthfeel and acted as a wonderful juxtaposition against the low-fat cut. Those more used to a fattier piece however should definitely ask for it to be cooked less (medium-rare instead of medium). The steak sandwich was classic and comforting, served with mustard aioli, caramelised onion, salsa, and smoked cheddar on turkish bread. In a clear first place, the trout was our team's favourite. It was sweet, savoury and melted in your mouth. Perfect.

We finished off the night with a cheesecake and lavender-flavoured crème brûlée. For this course, we couldn’t choose a favourite. The cheesecake was sweet, creamy and charmingly simple. In contrast, the crème brûlée took a slightly more eccentric route. Usually, when sharing a crème brûlée, the crunchy top causes a fight at the table. However, with this one, everyone was most impressed by the delicious lavender creme.

Downs List Pro Tip: We all have that moment at the end of a meal when we’re too full for dessert only to regret our decision when we arrive home. Ortem offers their meals to go. Take pride in bringing that cheesecake home.

04/02/2023

Business Spotlight: High Grade Windscreen Repairs

Living in regional Australia has many benefits; however, windscreen chips are not one of them. For those who spend countless hours driving on country roads, the pain caused by small rocks and gravel is known all too well. Small window chips can often escalate into more significant issues without proper maintenance.

This is where High Grade Windscreen repairs come into the picture or the windscreen. They are a family-owned and operated business with mobile service and quality on its mind.

One of our team members said, “Brendan was at our home within hours and had the star chip mended quickly with expert skill. He was a pleasure to deal with.”

More minor chips and cracks can be looked at, with repairs often saving hundreds of dollars.

It is wonderful to have such prompt, personal, and quality service in our region.

📷

03/02/2023

Just Launched: The Wheatsheaf Store

As the sun comes out for its final and hottest days of summer, many are longing to get out and explore the country. For most, this means a weekend road trip, however, often the idea of driving along for hours on end is often less romantic when experienced. Inspired by the continued growth of Toowoomba’s outer regions, such as Crows Nest, The Wheatsheaf Store makes a wondrous short trip for those who want to travel out with friends and family.

The Wheatsheaf’s food options are all cabinet based, however, there are plenty of offerings for those who are wanting either a light morning tea or something more substantial. At the time of this piece, the store was offering a muffin, a slice and two cakes (orange and carrot). The cakes were simply enjoyable and would be sure to satisfy most groups. For those wanting a light lunch, a separate cabinet is presently offering a range of pies and sausage rolls.

Acting as a general store, The Wheatsheaf has a lot more to offer than its cafe-based menu items. For those who forget to buy tissues or deodorant at the grocery store, The Wheatsheaf has plenty of general essentials. However, The Wheatsheaf truly shines with its selection of artisan quality products. From jams to non-alcoholic sparkling beverages (non-alcoholic Bellini anyone?). There is a wide variety of products for those who are looking for gifts or want to spice up (pun intended) their cabinet selection.

Downs List Pro Tip: By default, coffees are served in takeaway cups. On request, you can get your order served in a mug.

02/02/2023

Introducing: The Downs List,
From the people who brought you .

Almost three years ago, we created a Facebook group to help connect the Toowoomba (and surrounding) community to local businesses without anticipating what would come. 7600+ members later, we found ourselves repeatedly answering similar questions while slowly curating a list of the Darling Downs best and brightest.

This year, we made a pact to create a directory/guide to showcase all the fantastic businesses we’ve come across. will continue to exist alongside this project as our sister group. However, we hope to create a curated space where people can feel confident in finding businesses that fit all their needs.

Our region is unique and exciting, and we are thrilled to showcase it to the world. Come along with us as we post about all the businesses that make our region unique.

The Downs List

02/01/2024

02/01/2024

22/12/2023

21/12/2023

20/12/2023

18/12/2023

16/12/2023

14/12/2023

14/12/2023

13/12/2023

13/12/2023

22/02/2023

17/02/2023

15/02/2023

12/02/2023

09/02/2023

08/02/2023

06/02/2023

04/02/2023

04/02/2023

03/02/2023

02/02/2023

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