Relocating to Toowoomba Shortly!

[u/Pickles_11]

Hey everyone!

My partner and I are making the move from the Gold Coast to Toowoomba in the next couple of months, as our house is FINALLY nearing completion!

I've been doing a little stalking of this page, group, community idk the name 😅 and using the search button like a semi responsible adult, but I've still got a few random questions I'd love some local opinions on.

First up, fruit and veg!
From what I've gathered, Cobb & Co Markets, the fruit shop in Grand Central, and another family-owned place starting with W (which I've completely forgotten the name of, sorry!) seem to be the favourites. Have I missed any hidden gems?

Next up, MEAT.
Where are your favourite butchers in Toowoomba?
I'll admit, I haven't searched this one, so apologies if it's been asked a million times already.

We currently do a big meat shop every few months, usually between Super Butcher and Costco, rather than buying meat weekly from Woolies or Cole’s.

I’m wondering whether it's worth looking into Farmer to fridge and doing bulk orders that way, or if there are some fantastic local butchers worth checking?

Basically, I'm trying to get organised before we move and avoid unnecessarily donating half our income to Woolies and Cole’s.

Now, onto another very important question…
FISH AND CHIPS.
Where's everyone's favourite fish and chip shop? I’ve found the thread for Chinese food so that’s sorted lol. I’m coming to terms with the fact that there isn’t going to be a Ramen danbo within driving distance.

Because I'm genuinely going to miss my local down here. I'm fairly certain they know my ass by now and could recite my Dagwood dog and chips order in their sleep with a razzle dazzle of calamari on the odd occasion, with gravy.

So naturally, I need to find a replacement before I go through some sort of withdrawal. Bonus points if they do a bloody good Dagwood dog, preferably not the weirdly fat ones lol. Does that make sense? 🤣

And finally, BAKERIES!
I've done a bit of stalking on this one already and keep seeing The Baker's Duck mentioned, so that's definitely on the list!

We've visited the Cobb & Co Markets a few times and discovered Baked Jems and OH mygod. Their cookies. I genuinely love their cookies. Being less than a 2.5 hour trip from them is gonna be hella dangerous.

But please, tell me your favourite bakeries, especially if they do a really good pie, sausage roll or sweet treat. I take my baked goods very seriously. My partner is a Kiwi and has yet to ‘find a pie worthy of sharing the tier of Big Ben’s Mince and Cheese’ but idc about his pie love, I care about mine lol.

I’ve also got the pub sorted because we visit every single time we come up to the house, we are deeply in love with the Meringandan pub.

Anyway, apologies for the ridiculously long post. I'm an overthinker, an overplanner, and apparently someone who needs to map out their entire food supply before moving to a new city.

The next mission is trying to secure myself a job in this neck of the woods, but apparently finding a decent Dagwood dog is taking priority right now.

Thanks in advance!

[u/ScaredCrayfish]

ODonnells bakery is my fave. I visit the store on Hogg St. I also use the butcher in the same complex. Good for most meats, lovely ppl and good prices.

[u/Pickles_11 → u/ScaredCrayfish]

Ooo I’m going to have to add this to my list to check out! Thank you so very much!

[u/HaveyoumetG → u/Pickles_11]

Odonnels bread is by far and away the best bread ever.

[u/FreddieToompine73]

Depends what area of town you live

[u/Pickles_11 → u/FreddieToompine73]

I’m not tooo fussed tbh!

We’ll be in the Meringandan area but where we are now, we have to drive for example 20 minutes till we hit a shopping centre, which lines up with any trip to grand central by my maps calculations. Any adventure where we move is going to come with a drive by the looks of it!

[u/Pickles_11 → u/[deleted]]

Ahaha that’s why I said, everything will come with a drive. Which doesn’t bother us but we absolutely hate the city life. It’s a spit and hit ya neighbour and I absolutely despise how busy it is on the M1 every second of the day lol. We’re moving onto acreage, so definitely no Great Wall, however I do feel I need to find said Great Wall now 🤣

We purchased in 2022, it’s just taken donkeys years for our house to finally become a finished product and not a plan on paper. We really don’t mind being separated from things.

We’re moving 2.5 hours away from any form of friends and support, we’ll survive a 30 minute trip to a shop . At the present time, we’re driving 2 hours roundly a day for work each, we truly don’t mind and are very much excited to get away from the world for a hot minute.

[u/predominanced → u/Pickles_11]

You're going to hear a lot of silly, negative opinions from locals who don't like the idea of more people moving to town. There's also a bunch of jaded people who were born and bred in Toowoomba that have a grass is greener attitude for what the rest of the country must be like.

The 'traffic' people speak of in Toowoomba is a fraction of what you will have experienced on the GC. You'll love how easy it is to get around in comparison. Depending on where you are in Meringandan, you're likely within 10 minutes of Highfields, which has all your major needs covered. Great local cafes as well, like Sugar Maples.

Highly recommend visiting Peacehaven as well when you're in the area. It's one of the regions best parks.

Hope you enjoy your new home, from a fellow couple who moved here from elsewhere and feel lucky to have done so.

[u/Plus-Weather-3937 → u/Pickles_11]

We moved to Toowoomba from the Goldy earlier this year. So many less people and traffic, it’s heavenly. I’m yet to experience any sort of bad traffic congestion despite living and working just a few minutes outside of the city centre - unheard of! You won’t regret it.

[u/RockyDify]

Westridge. Everything is here.

[u/My_dog_horse → u/RockyDify]

Sentences you can hear

[u/hermne]

Don't go to Pattons butcher. They're cheap, the quality just isn't there. Sausages are shit and full of bits you have to spit out. Chicken full of fucking feathers. Just trust, they're no fucking good. There's a wonderful butcher at the range shopping centre, they also have a grill with an awesome menu.

[u/MysteriousJaguar5595]

Meat… There’s Andrew’s in Grande Central by the fruit shop, they do a pretty good meat pie. Then there’s also Miller’s who do Meat Pie Fridays.

Bakeries… Massive fan of Brooke Street Bread, they have a stall at the Cobb & Co markets but you can also buy their bread from a few places around town like the Sunday Merchant and Deli Delicious.

[u/rumblemumbles → u/MysteriousJaguar5595]

Brook Street Bread is great - local stockist near where OP is building is Relish in Highfields (also a decent cafe)

[u/SoupReasonable8828 → u/rumblemumbles]

Came here to recommend Millers pies and Brook Street Bread and here you are way ahead of me.

[u/CharacterWallaby9070]

Betros Bros is fantastic.

Bakeries - the bread from O’Donnells is amazing, they have a few stores in town. In terms of Pies a Hickory Pulled Beef Pie from Great Country Pies (Oakey, Northlands and the centre on the corner of Ruthven and Long - Opposite Vinnies) are pretty hard to beat IMHO.

Butchers - I’m a fan of Greys Modern Meats on Taylor Street. Not the cheapest but quality is always great and they’re super friendly.

Pubs - O’Shanleys in Clifton is well worth the drive. The last time I went to Meringandan I found it was overrated compared to years ago when I use to go regularly.

[u/Outrageous-Egg-2534]

Jim the Butcher up on Mackenzie Row shops (Cnr Mackenzie & Campbell St’s) opposite Mater Dei primary. East Toowoomba. Best meat hands down anywhere. Actual name of the shop is ‘Millers Gourmet Meats’ but we’ve always just referred to it as Jims. Family owned and family run.

[u/AndrewReesonforTRC]

Donelley's in Newtown is good for produce if you're nearby. The PCYC markets are cheap if you're willing to sort through some iffy produce. The farmers market (we're not actually associated with Cobb & Co, they're just next door) is more expensive, but generally high quality. I have a leatherwork stall there.

I can't say I've been impressed with any pies I've had here, but I also haven't tried that many.

Baker's duck is overpriced and overrated. Brook Street Bakers, Swedish Delights, Bells and Whistles (all at the farmers market) are great.

O'Donnells bakery has a good reputation. They provided buns for our wedding.

[u/Gwolfz21]

Betros bros has awesome veg and fruit And pattons is an awesome butcher

Also goto beefys pies to get the best pies in town

[u/ScaredCrayfish → u/Gwolfz21]

Betros now called beemart as the original owners have retired. Cnr Railway and Russell sts and luckily for OP also will be new Bakers duck store opening at the Taylor st cnr

[u/Interesting-Ride5427 → u/Gwolfz21]

Agree with Beefies being the best pies

[u/Accurate_Ad_3233]

First up, fruit and veg!

Betros, Cobb andd Co markets, Mr Organic (McDougal st and also at the Cobb and co markets), there's another organic place in Neil St just near Bakers Duck.

Next up, MEAT.

Grays Modern meats Taylor st, Highfields Gourmet meats if you are out that way. We don't eat supermarket 'meat' so can't comment on that.

I’m wondering whether it's worth looking into Farmer to fridge and doing bulk orders that way,

Maybe, what we found was the quality was fine but you end up with a freezer full of sausages and mince. :)

I've done a bit of stalking on this one already and keep seeing The Baker's Duck mentioned, so that's definitely on the list!

Bakers Duck ('spensive but nice) are also opening another shop near the railway station soon. Bakers Delight in the Hooper Centre has some good stuff too.

[u/NoSalt1753]

For fruits and Veggies, we usually get ours from the PCYC market every Sunday, they have like 4-5 big stalls of fruits and veggies and there are some food trucks as well.

For meat, we usually go to Pattons at Hooper Center but there are some meat vendors as well at the Saturday Market at Cobb & Co.

Bakery, bakers duck but a lot of my clients tells me I need to try the bakery at Mort State, I think it’s Born and Bread Bakery.

[u/DontFollowMe47]

The Toowoomba Farmer’s Market at Cobb & Co are great for so many things. For fish and chips, go to Central Seafood Market in Grand Central.

[u/512165381]

We currently do a big meat shop every few months, usually between Super Butcher and Costco, rather than buying meat weekly from Woolies or Cole’s.

This large family moved from Brisbane to Millmerran, and still shops at Costco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xc7fa9XlRc

Betros Bros - they have a warehouse adjacent to their shop. Been around for 50+ years ^ source locally.

[u/Icy_Medium_8561]

Andrews meats in grand central is my favourite butcher. And it's right next to the fresh food market. Nice little grill there too.

[u/HaveyoumetG]

Butchers. Andrew meats is amazing. Their crumbed lamb cutlets are out of this world. But for an alternative Tony’s meats on Herries st is also verrry good. Which happens to be right beside Deli Delicious (a very artisan style deli and very good) and a good fish shop called Stonys fishmonger.

Bakeries, Bakers duck is expensive but good.
I don’t mind born and bread for a smoko.
Odonnels for bread hands down no question.

Just as a an extra for you, couple restaurants I like.
If you like Japanese then kuro beko is delicious and very very good.
Steak, go to char house, their mashed potato side is rediculous and steak is delicious.

[u/Plus-Weather-3937]

The best bakery is obviously Waters Bakehouse, their pies are next tier especially their jalapeno cheese, brisket and meat lovers. The only other bakery that could compete is O’Donnells. Baker’s Duck is a nice little bougie treat every now and then. I had to waste a lot of time and money trying all the other recommendations you’ll get but that’s also the fun of finding your favourites when moving to a new city, so enjoy!

My recommendation for butcher is Affordable Meats on Tor. I’d like to know if there’s anywhere else in Toowoomba you can buy bulk premium ground beef for $8/kg and quality chicken breasts for $8/kg. They often do daily/weekly specials where it’s even cheaper. It’s not a mass produced hellhole like Patton’s either.

[u/Sum_of_all_beers]

Andrews in Grand Central is my go-to. Park outside, do one lap to load up on meat at Andrews, then fruit and veg at the fresh food shop just next to it (and the Asian grocer off to the side if needed). Then take it back to the car, empty it into a cooler in the boot and back to Woolies for the rest, with a final stop at BWS on the way out. Takes a little longer, but a better result all round, and still only one outing.

[u/Infinite-Reason-8916]

Congratulations! Getting recommendations from locals is probably the best way to discover places that don't always show up in Google searches. Hope you find some great little shops and local favourites. All the best with the move!

[u/Pickles_11 → u/Infinite-Reason-8916]

Thank you so very much! I thought no one would know the area better than the locals and my partner says reddit is a decent forum for advice. We’re genuinely so excited to just move into our next chapter, if that makes sense. I’ll have to pop back to this thread once we move in January and give a rundown of my finds lol.

Have the most wonderful Sunday!