72 on Herbert, Allora Queensland.

07-4666 3161

They don't call the Darling Downs town of Allora "the best little town on the Darling Downs" for nothing.  The history and country hospitality is all around as you stroll the main street from one of the three pubs all the way down to the Dalrymple Creek.  The shops are lovely and the locals welcome you with open arms.  Recently a new food establishment has opened next to the award winning Allora butchery (I've got to tell you about the butchery another time, it's amazing).  Yes, this new cafe come pizzeria is called "72 on Herbert" (which is also the address) and it's as trendy and exciting as any cafe in any city in Australia.  We almost felt like we had teleported back to Flinders Lane in Melbourne. 

The decor is dark polished wood with exquisitely comfortable leather seats and beautifully captured photos of local sights mounted on the walls.  The atmosphere is comfortable and easy going.  There are lounge areas where you can enjoy a great coffee while reading the morning papers.  I was tempted to slip off my shoes.

The menu isn't so pedestrian either.  Roast pumpkin, Greek and Caesar salads can be enjoyed with Barramundi fillets, chicken skewers or Wagyu beef steak cooked to perfection.  A range of home made pastas with cheesy garlic bread, or there is their take on the burger which is definitely restaurant style.  And then there is the pizza.  The whole pizza menu has been named after local streets and the dough is hand made fresh every day.  I think we can safely say these are gourmet pizzas by the way they are expertly cooked and seasoned.  There are four sizes, small, regular, large and family.  I ordered the small "Warner" consisting of Ham, pepperoni, Spanish onion, capsicum, olives, pancetta, rocket, mozzarella, and Italian tomato sauce.  The crust was toasted beautifully at the bottom and edges and light and bready where the topping soaked and melted into something special.  This was a small pizza and I wasn't sure I could eat the whole thing (Kelly helped).  It was truly delicious and for only $10 I felt like I was taking advantage. 

Kelly ordered the hot chicken Caesar wrap and this was also huge.  The chicken wasn't over cooked and the balance of flavours exact.  The chicken was delicate, juicy and tasty, and the Caesar sauce with a hint of garlic, was tangy and salty with the flavour of the bacon and parmesan cheese.  The wrap was toasted and served with a delightful aioli sauce and crunchy potato chips for $13.  Another winner. 

The drinks menu included smoothies and shakes and a fine coffee menu.  The cafe is also BYO and open for dinners, which will see us dining there often and next time I'll bring a couple of cold beers to really get to know these pizzas well.
With a cafe like "72 on Herbert" open for business, I'd say Allora is "The luckiest little town on the Darling Downs".
Allora is situated on the New England Highway 20 minutes from Warwick and 45 minutes from Toowoomba.  There is free 24 hour camping at the Dalrymple Creek Park and many interesting historical sights.  And a whole street full of lovely little shops and of course three country pubs with accomodation.  The place is packed with country charm and well worth the visit or weekend away.  And don't forget to grab a meal at 72 on Herbert for a real treat you'll be telling all of your friends about it for years.
Karl