Flaunting exposed brick walls, polished concrete floors, a backlit bar, heated outdoor dining and an upmarket industrial feel, The Office is a restaurant that could easily slip into the Melbourne or Sydney food scene. Instead lucky Toowoomba residents have the pleasure of calling it their local.

With head chef Shayne Mansfield (ex-The Long Apron) at the pans, the share-style menu effortlessly blends creativity and modern techniques with comforting classics, such as in the seafood chowder delicately crowned with a rosy-hued twirl of salmon floss.

It’s food that appeals to the masses, steak frites and southern fried chicken, say, but also excites the foodie, with the likes of croquettes oozing with creamy Manchego and spinach upping the ante. And it’s this blend, which also extends to the likes of strawberry and rosemary roasted lamb shoulder, and red wine braised beef cheeks, that makes it a place loved in equal measure by couples enjoying date night and groups out to celebrate.

With service that doesn’t skip a beat and a refined drinks list encompassing some cracking signature cocktails, this is one office that will have you doing happily clocking in for overtime.

Must-eat dish: Manchego and spinach croquettes
Instagram: @theoffice_toowoomba