The Spice Bar is one of those restaurants that, since first discovering it, it has become a bit of an ultimate favourite which I have felt compelled to visit many times since.  I have tried to find alternate favourites, and while some have come close none have managed to knock the Spice Bar off the dining pedestal that I have it placed so high upon.

I am often asked what is so good about the Spice Bar,  well… ummm, try everything… the food, the service, the ambience… ahh yes, it may well be true love…

The Spice Bar is located on First Ave in Mooloolaba.  It is a little tucked away, but trust me, it is by no means a secret, at least not anymore.

The Spice Bar’s menu is sensual melding of predominantly Asian cuisines that really do tantalise the taste buds and leave you wanting for more.

The menu is made up of a selection of small and large plates, which are perfect for sharing – for me that means that I will get a little bit of everything, or at least that is the plan  There have been numerous occasions in the past where I have with good intentions visited the Spice Bar and tried to have just one share plate, but it simply does not work; it is almost impossible to stop at just one.

My most recent visit was with the introduction of a new menu (like I needed an excuse).  Amusingly word travels fast, the grapevine working impressively well with this morsel of news.  There are a few mainstays on the menu – they wouldn’t dare removing the Beef Tataki and I am happy to report that it is still on, but there were a few sensational additions that made for wonderful aquaintancing.

If you are new to the Spice Bar, probably the best way to have your Spice Bar experience it to do either and small or large degustation menu where you get a set selection of dishes from the menu and sometimes a couple of bonuses.

The degustation menu sequence can change, but these were amongst our selection; Citrus Cured Snapper , Beef Tataki, Green Mango and Sticky Pork Salad, Numbing Chicken Wings, Five Spice Cuttlefish and the Okonomiyaki with Duck.  There were also a couple of bonuses in the way of some of their signature scallop dish and some takoyaki.  And of course we needed some Lotus Root Chips to nibble on as well.

While the Beef Tataki will always be my Spice Bar favourite, the Citrus Cured Snapper was responsible for yet another OMG moment. Slivers of subliminally fresh cured snapper were highlighted with fine lime leaf shreds and salmon caviar. Sensational!

Then there are the scallops.  Served on the shell with a light sabayon, it is their signature dish and one that one of my dining buddies, simply cannot forgo.; resulting us all ordering an additional two scallops each… well, we were not going to sit there and watch her make a feast of them!

Of course the experience was made all the sweeter with the Italian Cantina Tollo Pinot Grigio which made a fabulous accompaniment, especially to the seafood dishes.

Happily, the Spice Bar continues to excel, and their latest menu offerings are proof that there is more yet to come.

Unfortunately I did not quite leave enough room to sample the new desserts, which was a particularly devastating oversight on my part, but happily, it really just gives me yet another excuse to visit again sometime soon.

Spice Bar
4/19 First Ave, Mooloolaba, Qld
Ph. 07 5444 2022
http://www.spicebar.com.au/

Regional Foodie’s visit was unannounced and food and beverages enjoyed were paid for.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Digg
• Technorati
• del.icio.us
• Design float
• Mixx
• Reddit
• Yahoo MyWeb
• Google
• Newsvine
• MySpace
• Email with Feedburner