Eastwoods Dining and Bar named Whitsundays and Bowen’s best restaurant | 2024

From islands to major cities, meet the hospitality power couple who has made their mark to be voted the best in the region only a matter of months after opening.

A Southeast Asian style restaurant that has only been open for the four months has already caught the attention of the region, being titled Whitsundays and Bowen’s best restaurant for 2024.

For Kirsty and Jack Mason, Eastwoods Dining and Bar was a dream project they have been meticulously planning for the six months prior to opening.

With more than 30 years of service industry experience collectively up their sleeves, working and managing restaurants from casual to fine dining restaurants, Mr and Mrs Mason were confident they had something to offer when starting up their restaurant in Airlie Beach.

In the restaurant, Jack assumes the role of executive chef, while Kirsty manages various aspects, including accounting, front-of-house operations, social media, HR, and ensuring exceptional customer service. Picture: Simone Hutchen Creative.

Working across a range of different kitchen and dining experiences, when Jack came across the Southeast Asian style of service, he became fascinated by the fast-paced environment and unique flavours of the cuisine.

“I just knew straight away, that's what I wanted to do,” he said.

Jack and Kirsty met while working together at a similar style restaurant on Hamilton Island.

“Hamilton Island is where it all began,” Jack said.

Located in the Beach Plaza along the Airlie Esplanade, Kirsty described the spot as an up and coming restaurant hub, with the Mexican restaurant Mika, and Italian restaurant La Tabella, nestled in the complex.

When coming across the space, the couple described it as an empty canvas that provided them with the freedom to design their own kitchen and restaurant.

“We were able to custom build everything to how we wanted it to be, picking all the materials to create the right environment and feel for our restaurant,” Kirsty said.

“We got to really plan it out,” Jack added.

With an open concept design that allows guests to see, smell and experience the action behind the bar and in the kitchen.

“We tried to make it more theatrical experience, so you aren’t just staring at walls,” he said.

Offering both outdoor and indoor settings, guests can enjoy nice ocean views and open coastal air, or immerse themselves in a warm and tropical setting, inspired by the beaches of Thailand.

Incorporating the colour palette and materials of the tropics, raw timber panelling and greenery was used as accents throughout the restaurant.

“We’ve created a venue where we want to go, and a dining experience that we want to share,” Kirsty said.

Showing the view from the kitchen, the restaurant features a large tropical leaf mural that has been painted by a local artist, and a vertical plant wall with the glowing sign 'Eastwoods'. Picture: Simone Hutchen Creative.

Sourcing traditional Southeast Asian ingredients and techniques, but done in a modern way, the restaurant offers a broad range of dishes incorporating all the big flavours, colours and fresh produce and seafood.

“The freedom that we have across all the different countries is good fun,” he said.

“And there’s no other place like it in Airlie, so we thought if we were to open a restaurant it would have to be this style of cuisine,” Kirsty added.

“People have said they follow their nose into the restaurant to see what’s going on.”

A casual style restaurant with the level of service offered to the detail of a fine dining restaurant, Kirsty and Jack combine the best of both worlds with a commitment to consistency and freshness in every dish while offering a relaxed and welcoming environment. Picture: Simone Hutchen Creative.

They’ve also extended the theme to the bar by choosing a wine list that aims to offer different beverages to what people sell in the area.

“We have also done the same with our cocktails, using different ingredients to keep it in theme with Southeast Asian,” Kirsty said.

Black Sesame Margarita, Coconut Kiss, KISAKE, JAPANESE RICE WINE & UMESHU – PLUM WINE A handful of the cocktails available are pictured here. Picture: Simone Hutchen Creative.

Southeast Asian inspired alcoholic beverages such as a Black Sesame Margarita, Coconut Kiss, Kisake, Japanese Rice Wine and Umeshu – Plum Wine are available on the drinks menu. A handful of the cocktails available are pictured here.

Smashing through the poll with 37 per cent of the votes, the Masons were astonished to hear that they had won the title of Whitsundays and Bowen’s best restaurant for 2024.

“We are very grateful for the support we have received from the locals,” Jack said.

“It’s pretty humbling to think, after three months of being open, that we have been voted the best restaurant,” Kirsty added.

Kirsty and Jack would like to give a shout out to their support system at the restaurant, in particular their ‘second in command’ Milena Wong, the restaurant’s sous-chef and Brian Guitman, the bar supervisor.

Jack and Kirsty Mason's (second in command) Milena Wong and Brian Guitman have recently become engaged.

“From the beginning, they have come on this journey with us,” Kirsty said.

“Having their support is just incredible; they’ve been the biggest help and we couldn’t have done it without them.”

“The restaurant wouldn’t be up and running as quickly as it was without them,” Jack added.

With 13 per cent of the votes, d’Viet House in Airlie Beach came runner up, with Mika Airlie only two votes behind them.