Granite Belt Brewery Retreat

I brought my dog here for a midweek getaway, and the secure yard made the dog friendly accommodation a great fit. There was lovely scenery and wildlife, with good places to walk, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. The kitchen wasn’t fully running early in the week, but the frozen chef meals they provided were still great, and the beers were excellent. My dog passed away a few weeks later, but this place gave us both some wonderful memories.

The staff were lovely, especially the young blonde guy, who was friendly, very good-looking, and really tall. Do they keep him around to reach the high shelves? We tried four local beers, and the session ale and stout were standouts. My partner and I had dinner here on Friday 10/4, and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time, definitely my favourite in Stanthorpe. I had seared scallops, chicken roulade, and creme brulee; my partner had arancini, lamb shanks, and sticky date pudding. The scallops were so good I nearly wanted to burst into the kitchen and demand the cider reduction recipe. The pudding and lamb shanks were great too. The creme brulee had split a little, and the lemon myrtle was extremely strong, but it was still a good idea and ended the meal with a clean flavour. We’re planning another trip from Brisbane pretty much just to eat here again.

The restaurant had a great setting, with a fantastic location and a nice feel both inside and outside. The welcome from the staff was so poor, though, that we felt unwelcome as soon as we arrived. Some seemed uninterested in helping, and a few looked downright miserable. The loaded fries started out tasty, but they came on a cardboard box set on a plate, and once the cheese went cold everything stuck together. It felt like the box was there just to make washing up easier. The lack of care for us as hungry paying customers put me off trying dessert. I’m disappointed, especially because it’s a local business. It felt like a tourist trap, and I want to support local places, but I won’t go somewhere I don’t feel welcome. I can’t recommend it. I might try again if they improve.

The nuts tasted rancid when we tried them, and when we returned them, a very rude staff member corrected us in front of other people, saying they were fine because they were only past their best before date. She took them out of my hands, ate some, and insisted they were fine, adding that she was hungry and would eat them. Other guests and staff heard the exchange and were disgusted. We had travelled a long way for our first visit to the brewery. The restaurant was supposedly fully booked from 11:30, though no one was in sight, and we would have been happy to sit on the back deck or a barrel and have anything to eat. Instead, we were only offered out-of-date nuts and crisps. If that staff member is part of the kitchen team and can’t tell rancid nuts from good ones, it makes me wonder about the food. The embarrassment from how we were treated means I won’t return or recommend the place.