New Sunshine Coast eatery that has our reviewer planning another visit
A new Sunshine Coast restaurant is worth the drive for its less-commonly seen cuisine, flavour-filled menus and weekend events.
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In the space once occupied by blockbuster Asian-fusion restaurant Sum Yung Guys at Sunshine Beach, new restaurant Ra is showcasing Sri Lankan food.
From seafood cooked in mild coconut curry or hot butter sauce to banana blossom patties or a Colombo street food staple starring shredded roti, vegetables and perhaps chicken, the menu is stuffed with dishes to explore.
The co-founders are restaurateurs Dushan and Vino Illesinghe and head chef Udee Suradasa, who was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Australia when she was 19.
The chef boasts a CV including running her own Brisbane eatery Ayubowan by Colombo Foodies in Geebung and time at Sri Lankan-raised celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita’s noteworthy but now defunct Noosa Beach House and Alba restaurants.
The restaurant space is light and bright with a view out through a grove of pandanus trees to the street.
Most tables are set for fours or groups and despite the early hour on a busy Saturday night, options for a couple are along the bench in front of the windows or at the back at the end of the banquette.
The airconditioner beside the bar seating is the clincher and while the outlook is pleasant, the stool is not so comfortable you’d want to settle in for the long haul.
The drinks list includes an inventive, lengthy line-up of cocktails from a Ceylon coconut colada to Colombo iced tea; the beer runs to Sri Lankan Lion beer, local Boiling Pot Brewing Co’s Hastings lager and a swag of Mountain Culture beers on tap; a dozen each white and red wines are available by the glass (from $13) and bottle; and spirits include Sri Lankan gins.
The a la carte menu begins with starters such as seared scallops with fried lotus root, kingfish with mango, rambutan, finger lime and crunchy “kokis” (a deep-fried batter of rice flour and coconut milk), and a slow-cooked jackfruit dish.
Mains could be pork negombo, fish curry, coriander chicken, a version of beef rendang and vegan black soya curry.
Otherwise there’s the aforementioned street food dish, or mud crab, Moreton Bay bugs or Mooloolaba king prawns cooked in the butter or coconut sauces and served with rice and two condiments.
We’re encouraged to try the chef’s choice menu ($89 a person including a glass of Shadowfax minnow roussanne or a Mountain Culture beer) and agree as it seems a reasonable way to check out a wide selection of dishes.
A brace of dessert-sized bowls appears all at once (we’re told they can be topped up if required) filled with negombo pork; fish curry (we swapped out the standard coriander chicken); mild cashew curry; red lentil curry; chunks of potato; yellow rice; a roti and pappadam each; and condiments including coconut sambal, cucumber curd and pickles.
This is more than enough food for two people and I only realise later that we didn’t get the chef menu’s “string hoppers”, thin steamed noodles made from rice flour.
The pork belly curry is darkly coloured from a mix of roasted spices including coriander, cumin and fennel and is punchy and delicious (with the soft, flaky roti perfect for soaking up the sauce) as is the “catch of the day” fish curry, which is this case is mulloway, in a mild but aromatic coconut broth accented by Noosa Reds tomato relish.
The potato wedges are seasoned with mustard seeds, curry leaves, shreds of onions and spices and cashew curry and dahl are also decent back-up players.
Desserts are Sri Lankan date cake; pineapple dosi (part candied fruit) with passionfruit and berries; and our choice of watalappan (coconut custard pudding) with coconut ice cream ($17); and it’s a sweet, cooling if unremarkable finale, topped with cashew nuts.
Ra is a terrific addition to the Sunshine Coast dining scene and I’m keen to return and explore the a la carte menu.
Initiatives such as monthly shared traditional Sunday breakfasts and vegan lunches also sound worth exploring.
Ra Restaurant and Bar
Shop 8/48-54 Duke St, Sunshine Beach
5211 1842
rarestaurantandbar.
com.au
Open
Wed-Sat 11am-2pm,
5-10pm and Sunday 11am-3pm
Must try
Negombo pork
The verdict
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
Overall
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