Regulars to the Logan Rd precinct across from the Gabba (with the occasional tipple at nearby Canvas), Bistrot Bistro was a chance encounter for MM and I recently, even though we’d had our eyes on it for quite some time.

In an effort to take care of our hip pockets as well as our waistlines, we decided to keep it a low key affair, ordering only some bread to share, a main each and a dessert to share (as opposed to the usual bottle or two of French wine, bread, starters, mains and desserts – read: minimal sharing!).

The Bistrot Bistro restaurant itself is a beautifully restored and decorated warehouse with high ceilings, beautiful fittings, lovely art work, a gorgeous comptoir and romantic mood lighting.  The waiters were prompt, attentive and friendly – not too snobby but not too casual.

To start, we decided to be a little adventurous by choosing the duck liver pate, red wine jelly and baguette to share.  The baguette, which I suspect was baked onsite, was divinely doughy and the red wine jelly was so good that the normally non-red wine-jelly-eating MM even enjoyed it.  As for the foie gras – it’s official, we’re not fans.  The big, plump quenelle of pate was pretty much untouched, much to the waiter’s dismay; however, I’m sure to the trained palette, this pate would’ve been tantalising.

For a main I couldn’t go past the seafood bouillabaisse ($32), perfectly warming on a cold winter’s night.  Unlike other bouillabaisse I’ve tried in the past, Bistrot Bistro’s was not based on a thick tomatoey soup, but rather a light, fragrant broth with the odd minted pea sprinkled throughout.  The bugs, mussels, prawns and other fishy pieces were fresh and flavoursome, cooked to perfection and left me wanting more, however I was adequately full.

MM decided on the filet mignon, rare, on a bed of potato mash and red wine jus ($38).  Cooked to perfection, this was probably the best filet mignon we’d sampled in years – and that’s a big call from such regular carnivores as ourselves.  The red wine jus was light and the potato creamy and lump-less.

For dessert we shared the home made profiteroles with vanilla ice cream ($15).  Needless to say this were the perfect end to a lovely meal at Bistrot Bistro.

Our only regret is not ordering entrees in order to sample more of the beautiful, modern French cuisine on offer at Bistrot Bistro.

• Bistrot Bistro – 14 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba +61 7 3162 1185

Biagio is essentially a fine dining Italian restaurant, complete with the white linen tablecloths and service to match, but with modern and elegant decor and a relaxed, casual feel to it.  The price list isn’t exactly inexpensive, but the dining experience at Biagio is well and truly an exercise in value for money.

The menu is no less than exceptional, with almost too many items to choose from and unfortunately for my waistline, a hard-to-go-past Italian feast – a seriously delicious and creative 11 dishes.  This was a birthday celebration for yours truly, so we decided to lash out a little….okay, a lot…by choosing the Italian feast ($89 per head) and an accompanying few bottles of Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc ($39 – Biagio is also BYO wine, which we were unaware of at the time).

The feast started with a lovely, onion free tomato and olive oil bruschetta.

The share plates that followed were plentiful but not too filling, rich in flavour (but not too overbearing) and contained the freshest produce, including seafood and meat, salad and vegetables.  I can’t remember an Italian meal so thoroughly enjoyed unanimously by a group of people in my presence!

First up – whole, local calamari grilled and served with a Sicilian salmoriglio of extra virgin olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs.

Cozze Sute – blacklip mussels served in a light tomato sauce with a touch of white wine, extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs.

Gamberi Sute – large Queensland banana prawns sautéed with extra virgin olive oil, white wine, a touch of tomato, chilli and garlic.

Capesante – grilled half shell Queensland scallops served with salmoriglio.

Moreton Bay bugs grilled and served with salmoriglio.

Gnocchetti con Polpa di Granchio – petite (we’re talking small here, I feel for the chef who had to make these tiny morsels with their bare hands!) potato gnocchi served with fresh crab meat, tomato, extra virgin olive oil, chilli and coriander.

Costolette di Agnello all Griglia – sovereign 5 star lamb cutlets chargrilled and served with salmoriglio.and seasonal green vegetables.

Scaloppine al Ragu di Funghi Porcini – grass fed tender veal medallions panfried and served with slow cooked porcini mushroom ragu.

For dessert, we received a large share plate with selections of Biagio’s decadent homemade desserts including cannoli, pannacotta with strawberries, profiteroles, chocolate mud cake…the list goes on.

I couldn’t fault a single dish in the Italian feast at Biagio and I can’t even pick a favourite – they were all exceptional, well presented and generously portioned.  The flavours were authentic and passionate, as was the service.  I’ll be returning to Biagio in no time to sample some of the other items from the a la carte menu.

• Biagio Restaurant – 191 Musgrave Rd, Red Hill +61 7 3369 7417

The Stamford Plaza is a great location for the Brisbane arm of Moo Moo’s (after all most of the real estate down on Eagle St Pier is taken).  There is something very grand and sophisticated about the Moo Moo’s decor and overall feel, which I think matches the similar qualities of the Stamford Plaza Hotel.

My party of 3 sat overlooking Edward St and the Port Office Hotel, which was quite a nice people watching spot and a lovely area to sip crisp white wine, tucked away from the bulk of the lunch goers.  We all agreed that both entrees and mains were a must have, in order to get a full appreciation of the Moo Moo’s menu, which was very, very impressive.

Big Phil decided to have the sea scallops with confit pork belly, wasabi cream corn and soy poached quail egg ($26).  A really well plated combination, the black sesame encrusted scallops were cooked perfectly and the pork was tender with just the right amount of crackling.

Knowing I wouldn’t have steak for a main, I figured I should have the peppered carpaccio of beef tenderloin with caper berries, pecorino, apple, curry oil emulsion and watercress ($25).  The slivers of beef were smooth and rich…every component of the dish worked.  However, it was a little on the dry side.

Tommo chose his hand very well and I had to hold myself back from stealing his entree from under his nose.  The Moo Moo’s Szechuan glazed Mooloolaba tiger prawns with fennel angel hair pasta ($26) was indeed the pick of the lot; it was fragrant, fresh and right up my alley….

Onto the mains and as predicted, both my companions chose from the long list of beef options.  All sorts of ‘x’ aged and ‘something’ fed varieties were on the list and the gents were very torn over which to choose.  I didn’t mimic their enthusiasm and although I love a good steak, I had no desire for it on this occasion and I tuned out a little when they made their decisions (sorry!).

What I can tell you is their choices of steak (both around $50) were both cooked as requested, and presented beautifully, the t-bone on its very own chopping board with gravy and roasted roma tomatoes.

I chose the yellow King Fish curry with prawns, spiced pear chutney, jasmine rice and yoghurt ($39).  The flavour was exceptional – very Thai, very fragrant, pleasantly spicy and the sweet flesh of the seafood bits and pieces made a perfect match.

The slow, lazy lunch was memorable and I’d return in a heart beat to Moo Moo’s.  The staff are friendly and helpful, with intimate knowledge of the menu and cuts of beef available.  I can’t comment on whether the Moo Moo’s steaks are worth the big bucks, but if their other fine menu options are any indication, then the steaks will surely be a cut above the rest.

• Moo Moo (The Wine Bar & Grill) – Stamford Plaza, Edward St, Brisbane +61 7 3236 4500

Green Papaya has good genes; the owners are those responsible for the very popular Mons Sabai Thai in Camp Hill. The elegantly mood-lit Green Papaya dining area is spacious and open-plan with a direct line of sight to the hard working geniuses in the kitchen.

Upon being seated, MM was granted the privilege of selecting a bottle of white for our party of three to sip on, as we feverishly studied the menu containing both Thai and Balinese dishes.  Steering mostly towards the Thai influences for starters, we shared a few plates of your standard Thai entrees, however there was nothing standard about them. The curry puffs with minced chicken, potato and onion ($7.90) were light and fluffy on the outside with a delicious, mildly spicy filling.

The sate madura, or chicken satay skewers, ($13.90) were made with fresh, lean chicken pieces with a home-made satay sauce with the perfect balance of peanut chunks, tang and spice, without too much clag factor.

One of the entrée specials for the evening was the duck spring rolls (sorry, no price); tender cooked pieces of duck meat drizzled with hoisin, wrapped in a crispy spring roll case. Beautifully presented in a Villaroy & Boch coffee cup, the duck wraps were delightful, however my favourite was the sate madura.

The mains were definitely a tough decision, with so many delicious Balinese and Thai options to choose from including old favourites, but so many new and innovative combinations as well. Without a second thought I chose the island duck curry ($19.90); roast duck in red curry sauce with coconut milk, pineapple, lychee and tomato – served in a half-pineapple shell! Duck curries are my Achilles’ heel at the moment and Green Papaya delivered a hands-down winner with this dish.

Under the Balinese banner, the beautifully presented tamarind snapper – crispy fried and topped with crispy ginger and tamarind sauce ($25.90) was perfectly cooked and the flesh gently infused with fragrant ginger and hints of chilli.

Another item from the specials board, the boys decided the barbequed Kangaroo with papaya salad and dark dipping sauce was a must-have. This was a fresh, modern approach and an exceptional example of how kangaroo meat should be cooked.

Compliments of the manager, we were lucky enough to be treated to one of Green Papaya’s signature dishes – the Penang king prawns ($21.90) with local, king sized prawns in a creamy and peanut sauce. Without a doubt, this was the best Penang sauce I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting and the boys had a fight on their hands to even get a taste.

The array of beauty that lay on our table was almost overwhelming…..every dish was beautifully presented with fresh garnishes good enough to eat (but almost too perfect to touch!), and dipping sauces that you could lick straight from the spoon. The sauces in which the meat dishes bathed were full of flavour, not heavy and not one bit boring.

To me, Green Papaya is Brisbane’s answer to the Spirit House in Yandina (minus the lake and water dragons of course…) with regards to their quality of taste, preparation, creation and ingenuity. The modern menu demonstrates their passion for delivering high quality, creative yet traditional food and they certainly have that WOW factor I’ve been looking for.

Thanks to the staff and management at Green Papaya for inviting us to sample what could possibly be Brisbane’s best Thai!

• Green Papaya – 898 Stanley Rd, Woolloongabba +61 7 3891 5000

Japanese cuisine never ends up being a cheap eat; whether you’re taking sushi from the train, doing Tepanyaki, or having a sit down al a carte style meal.  Sake is certainly no exception however the price tag matches the quality of food, the service and overall experience pretty much perfectly.

Red and I were out for a Monday lunch in between meetings and Sake was on the must- try list for both of us.  We were greeted pleasantly upon arrival by both floor staff and the kings of the kitchen who overlook the dining area as they whip up their master pieces.  

Sake is a huge venue (to match the huge list of sake options on the drinks menu!), decked out with typically traditional Japanese fittings, with private and intimate dining rooms for both small and large groups, as well as standard tables and booths for casual dining. 

It was explained to us that whilst most Sake dishes contain traditional Japanese elements, Sake’s menu provides a contemporary twist on the traditional fare, and is portioned mostly to cater for shared dining.  Sounded pretty good to us…

We began with the sashimi appetiser with 8 pieces of sashimi including salmon, tuna, king fish and barramundi ($17).  The sashimi was fresh and ice cold and the barramundi was a nice, unusual twist to the platter.

Next up was the steamed king prawn dumplings ($16); 6 pieces of Chinese inspired shumai (dumplings) with spicy ponzu (citrus juice).  This dish was one of my favourites – the shumai were rich in texture, plump full of prawn meat and although the flavour of the ponzu was a strange combination of sour and spice, it all worked. 

Red’s pick of the lot was the Wagyu new style ($24) which was a long, generous serve of the thinnest slices of wagyu beef, lightly seared with hot oil and finished with ginger, chives and yuzu soy. Enough said.

We finished things off with the tonkatsu cups ($15); 4 pieces of panko fried pork belly and spring onion bites, served in lettuce cups with mustard miso and Japanese barbeque sauce.  These were the smallest tastiest cups of battered pork katsu curry ever but they were a serious package of flavour and the textures in the dish once again were amazing.

The portions at Sake are small, but the flavours are quite rich, so the concept of sharing different plates works well.  If you’re uber hungry, you’re better off ordering a couple of share plates and a main to yourself, because in all honesty after spending close to $70 between us we weren’t exactly bursting at the seams, but we thoroughly enjoyed our Sake experience.

• Sake – Level 1, 45 Eagle St, Eagle St Pier +61 7 3339 0999

Just to set the scene and give you a bit of background on Spirit House – the owners purchased the land in Yandina in the mid 90’s and spent a long four years working on the landscaping alone to give their patrons a truly serene, peaceful and cultural experience as they walk through the Spirit House gates.  A short trek through palm laden gardens and thick jungle rain forest laced with flickering lanterns and the occasional water dragon will set the scene for a remarkable dining experience, well removed from the rat race.

Along with its renowned Thai cooking school, the Spirit House premises are nestled in the leafy surrounds around a peaceful lake with intimate seating catering for couples, small groups, or larger functions.

Spirit House dining consists of to two seatings – MM and I took a 6pm booking and had the benefit of wandering through the serene gardens in the early evening and enjoyed watching a humid, cloudy dusk fall over the premises which added to the overall experience.

Our waiter was vibrant and friendly and made a few good recommendations on cocktails and dishes to choose from.  The Spirit House master minds pride themselves on their tasting plates to share and MM and I weren’t about to buck the system.  The shared dining menu boasts many contemporary Asian flavour combinations (too many to choose from in fact) and we embraced the share plate theme in a big way, deciding on 4 plates (all priced at $12) between just the two of us for entrees.

The crispy pork belly with citrus caramel sauce was as good as it sounds.  The tender pork belly meat was ribboned with just the right amount of juicy streaks of fat and a thin layer of crackling on top.  The citrus sauce was like nothing I’ve ever tasted and we both literally licked our plates clean (all class).

We next divulged the candied lemongrass scallops with charred pineapple and three flavour dressing.  I don’t know what the three flavours were, but they were tangy, sweet and spicy all at once and the scallops were cooked to perfection.

The miang of smoked prawn with finger lime, chilli and palm sugar was again an amazing mix of flavours and it’s hard to fathom that such a wonderful balance of intense heat, sweetness and sour tang can be achieved in one small mouthful.  Finally, the soft shell crab with chilli garlic sauce tasting plate was my least favourite of the entrees, but this is not to say that it wasn’t delicious. It just didn’t carry the same uniqueness and grace that the previous dishes had delivered.

After insisting on a small hiatus between entrees and mains to allow some time for digestion and recovery from what was truly an exceptional culinary experience, I waited with bated breath on the arrival of our two main dishes which we also shared.

MM was sold on the char grilled beef ribs with sweet chilli dressing ($39) and on their arrival to the table it was love at first sight.  The tender meaty ribs were resting on a tangy, summery citrus mint salad and when all the flavours were combined it was a truly original, sumptuous flavour explosion.

Our second main was the lemon grass curry of chicken with Kaffir lime ($36).  This was described as a dry curry but it rested in quite a lot of sauce and the dish was packed to the brim with fresh, plump chicken breast pieces.  The lemongrass flavour was strong but not overwhelming; while the chilli paste packed a reasonable punch it wasn’t too much.  Again, the Spirit House kitchen magicians managed to present a beautiful dish with each authentic spice individually discernable yet perfectly balanced and so well matched to its neighbouring flavour.

Top buttons down, we settled for green tea instead of dessert and sighed in a true state of contentment and awe.

Don’t expect to have much in the way of spare change after your visit to Spirit House.  If you just go for a main meal, then perhaps your hip pocket won’t be too badly hit, but to be honest you probably shouldn’t bother if you’re not going to exhaust the majority of options on this exceptional menu.

• Spirit House – 20 Ninderry Rd, Yandina, Sunshine Coast +61 7 5446 8994

Siana’s tag line is “Uniquely Asian” and I have to say that sums it up pretty well.  My party of three took a seat in the vibrant, mood lit dining area not quite knowing what to expect – there aren’t too many places you can find Japanese, Indian and Chinese cuisine on the same plate, let alone on the same menu.

The venue was abuzz with a couple of Christmas parties in full swing out on the alfresco area, so it was quite difficult for us in the dining room to hear each other talk; none the less we enjoyed the atmosphere and reverted to alternative means of communication over a couple of whiskey sours and one of my favourites, the ‘take me home’ cocktail ($17).

The dining area consists of a couple of large, long dark wood tables – so you have to be content with shared dining.  The space between seats is more than enough however, so you don’t feel as if the person next to you is imposing on your dining experience.

In an effort to sample a few items on the menu, the three of us chose Siana’s platinum platter ($30pp) which included chicken togarashi, duck rice paper rolls, wonton prawns, vegetable samosas, steamed prawn dumpling, Peking duck wraps, Keema lamb naan, tuna and almond roll, California roll, BBQ pork bun and steamed Edamame beans.

At first glance, with only one of each item per person on the platter, I was dubious as to whether this appetizing spread would adequately cater for our unified hunger.  As we picked through the items however, it was soon evident that we’d be satisfied.

All of the morsels were delicious, fresh and full of flavour.  The stand outs for me were the duck rice paper rolls, wonton prawns and the Keema naan, although I have to say that every item on display was without fault and the combination of cuisines worked (strangely enough) really well.

The staff at Siana City were a little scarce due to the Christmas parties, however they were very friendly and most helpful with recommending suggestions for our meal.  My interstate guests were most impressed with the food and experience which is a testament to Brisbane’s often criticised, but ever growing night life. 

For a similar experience out of the CBD you may like to try Siana Valley.

• Siana City – Upper Plaza Level, Riparian Plaza, 71 Eagle St, Brisbane +61 7 3221 3887

I’ve always quite enjoyed a Friday lunch at the Boatshed Restaurant – the venue is open and breezy with a nice casual, summery vibe to it.  It literally feels like you’re dining in a super-sized boatshed but with a distinct lack of sweaty bodies wearing unflattering lycra outfits.

Same vibe on this most recent occasion, however the food and the service were most disappointing.

Once seated we were kept waiting for over 10minutes before even being asked if we would like a drink.  From there, it took almost 20 minutes for our beers and ciders to arrive.  Several waiters wafted past without making eye contact and this pretty much set the tone for the rest of our stay.

Onto the food….and on a positive note, we shared a dozen oysters Kilpatrick ($27.50) which I must say were up there with the best of them (and I’ve tried a lot of oysters over the years!).

Unlike the drinks, the mains arrived quite promptly.  I decided on the potato gnocchi with a sauce of chardonnay, parmesan, olives and roasted plum tomatoes ($25.50).  Perhaps too heavy a dish for this time of year, but in any case the gnocchi was stodgey and didn’t seem overly fresh to me.  The tomato sauce lacked vibrancy and flavour and if it weren’t for the visible chunks of plum tomatoes I could have sworn a tin was to blame for the lack of flavour (but hey, even I can make tinned stuff taste good!).

DP has a penchant for fillet mignon, so chose the 250g grass fed Bos Indicus ($32.50) medium rare.  Unfortunately the chef missed the mark on the medium rare as it was closer to medium-well and my colleague, renowned for being a whinging pom, now had some new ammunition to play with.

PT chose the 450g Sirloin on the Bone ($34.50) with a side of traditional Caesar salad.   There weren’t too many complaints from his side of the table, however he remarked that he wouldn’t rush back to the Boatshed Restaurant for a steak any time soon.

That was the general consensus within the group.  I suspect we were all mostly disappointed with the service, which is a shame as I’d really hoped to impress the crew with a tasty meal and a new experience.  I still won hearts and brownie points, but I don’t think the same goes for the Boatshed Restaurant.

• Boatshed Restaurant – Regatta Hotel, 543 Coronation Drive, Toowong +61 73871 9533

My party of 6 arrived for a midday seating and the large, beautifully fresh and well appointed alfresco dining room was filling rapidly – a Spring-induced buzz filled the air at Jellyfish and I suspect everyone was of the opinion it was far too nice to be stuck in the office.

Our waitress was a little dishevelled herself and although it took some effort to get the Jellyfish specials menu right, she certainly entertained us with her wit and banter (big points for personality!).  We kicked things off with some sourdough with truffle butter which was a little rich for my liking, but a nice touch none the less.

The entrees menu was full of fresh, fishy choices – all of which sounded delicious, but for me it’s always hard to go past the oysters…so I didn’t.  The fresh, chilled Pacific oysters were natural, with a side of spring onion and Jerez vinegar (8 for $24) and were probably some of the best I’ve had in a very long time.

Princess chose the Stradbroke Island prawns with aioli dipping sauce ($24).  The tiny fried creatures were presented whole and lightly battered to a perfect crispness, ready to be munched heads and all.

BigPhil chose the tempura soft shell mud crab with green chilli and spring onion accompanied by a side of wasabi mayonnaise ($26).  He wasn’t too awed by the dish and suggested it was standard as far as soft shell crab goes.

Ed on the other hand was very impressed with his spicy fish tacos ($26) which looked exceptionally well constructed.

The mains menu at Jellyfish holds a range of fresh fish choices including barra, whiting, squire, kingfish and more – all with recommendations on whether it should be battered, fried, crumbed or grilled and advice on the best accompanying sauces.  There is a great range of sides to choose from to compliment your choice of fish.  If you’re looking for more than just a piece of fish, there is an ala carte menu full of mouth watering dishes.

Here’s a taste of what was on order at our table:

Seared tuna (rare) with soy and wasabi ($30).

Hiramasa Kingfish with cherry tomato compote ($30).

Spaghettini, Tasmanian clams, prawns, white fish, baby zucchini, garlic and parsley ($37).

Carnaroli risotto, wild river barramundi, saffron, fresh peas, fennel and lemon ($37).

Thai style red curry, Port Lincoln leather jacket, basil, kaffir lime, snake beans ($38).

Side dishes of new potatoes, garlic, parsely ($7.50), wild rocket, parmesan, rhubarb vinegar ($7.50), steamed Asian greens, oyster sauce ($7.50).

Each of us were impressed with how the Jellyfish mains were presented and tasted.  The dishes all had a unique construction and were well complimented by our chosen sides to share.  They were cooked delicately but with big handfuls of flavour and passion.

There were only two of us brave enough to squeeze in dessert and boy I’m glad we did.  For someone who’d normally rather eat a pie than a cake, I have to say this chocolate fondant with double cream, mint and raspberries ($18) was exceptional.

The price tags at Jellyfish are sizeable and it’s probably best to point out that this lunch was all expenses paid on the corporate credit card.  I would however return in a flash to spend my own hard earned cash on the Jellyfish menu.  If you’re a seafood lover and don’t mind a good view as well, then Jellyfish is a must.

• Jellyfish Restaurant – Boardwalk Level, 123 Eagle St, Brisbane +61 7 3220 2202

A survivor of Sir Joe’s courtship with the Deen Bros. demolition ball, the Waterloo Hotel has stood the test of time and its façade of old still remains standing, witnessing no doubt countless episodes of bloodied brawls over the years gone by.  Its latest iteration maintains this façade, showing no glimpse from the outside that anything has changed, with the exception perhaps of a lick of paint.

I’ve never actually set foot in the place (refer previous blood bath comment) and the anticipation of dining in the newly spruced venue was almost too much for me.  On this Wednesday evening, I have to say the Waterloo Hotel was much quieter than I was expecting and as we entered the bar area I wondered if perhaps we’d imposed on their night off….it was a bit of a ghost town.  Never the less we proceeded to the dining room and were half-heartedly greeted by a well presented waiter who didn’t seem too fussed to see us.

I scanned the surroundings, taking in the scenery and pondering my feelings on the décor…eccentric and eclectic definitely, but a mish-mash of modern and retro, which in all honesty didn’t float the boat of the amateur interior designer within me.  The outer edges of the Waterloo Hotel dining area consisted of private booths which looked quite cosy, however the 1950’s style wooden-framed dining chairs and tables in the centre of the room weren’t particularly comfortable and just didn’t look right.  The surrounding bar area was a meld of marble, mirrors, glitz and grandeur which was lonely without patronage and ached for a glamorous crowd.  The retro and somewhat stale feel of the dining room did the bar area no justice at all.

Onto the menu and the first thing that impressed me was the reasonable price tag.  The bulk of the items were well and truly affordable and the majority of options available sounded tempting.

Our waiter skulked past every now and then, still unsure if he really wanted to be there; with gentle persuasion and encouraging nods from us all, he timidly took our order.  Big Dog in his usual fashion opted for 5 spice slow cooked pork belly with gai lan, sweet potato fondant and soy reduction ($23).  It looked the goods, but unfortunately the pork was a little stringy and overcooked.  The accompanying crackling was too thick and way over salted.

Rizza, in his usual carnivorous (and typically unimaginative) state opted for the grain fed rump with red wine and thyme reduction ($29).  His slab of tender moo cow looked very appealing and held a lot more moisture than the poor Dog’s piggy.  Rizza was impressed and was quick to suggest that he would return to the Waterloo Hotel for the steak in a heart beat.

My choice of the whole baby barramundi with Japanese soy, chilli, ginger and shallots ($32) won serious presentation points.  I was awed, to say the least, when my fishy friend of the sea presented itself (as per the menu) whole – from its beady little eyes and gaping jowl, right down to its crispy mortis tail.  He didn’t look to happy to see me.

The construction of this dish was intricate and a great show of clever salad assembly, although the pictures don’t quite do it justice, sorry.  The fish flesh was cooked very well and tasted beautiful.  The Asian flavours of the accompanying salad were fresh and spicy and complimented the fish perfectly.  To my disappointment however, it was just too damn salty.  I couldn’t finish it due to the salt factor – before long my lips were crinkled and felt like they’d knocked back a litre of ocean water.

A mixed bag is probably the best way to describe our evening at the Waterloo Hotel .  The food could be better, but has serious potential and a bit of life in the wait staff wouldn’t go astray.  Despite its funny mix of ultra modern, super-chic style with Grandpa’s favourite chairs and tapestry covered lounges, I can’t help but feel that deep inside the Waterloo Hotel there’s a monster with seriously fun attitude just dying to be let out – I think it’s just a matter of time or timing.

• Waterloo Hotel – Cnr Ann St & Commercial Rd, Newstead, +61 7 3719 4100

What set out to be a casual, brief Sunday lunch with good friends ended up as a long, boozy and hilarious culinary extravaganza which crept up on us with sheer stealth.

I suspected the culinary side of things was always going to be enjoyable as I’d heard nothing but glowing reports of the menu at Bar Alto .  What I wasn’t expecting (or perhaps wasn’t prepared for) was a constant stream of energy-fuelled patrons entering the restaurant and bar; banter-filled wait-staff with beaming smiles and slightly flirtatious attitudes; a buzzing kitchen in the public eye for all to see and to top it off a never ending glass of Tin Cows pinot noir from the Yarra Valley ($38 per bottle).

Our table of 6 held prime position in the centre of the venue with a great view of the kitchen, so we could check out the team’s handy work.  We could also see all the action at the bar – these guys know how to pull a crowd.

After much deliberation and debate over which of the mains each of us would decide on we finally made some progress by way of the ciabatta with olive oil and balsamic ($2 per serve), but that was as far as we got for some time….

On his fourth or fifth attempt, our waiter finally got some sense out of us, but not until after he provided some interpretation of the Bar Alto menu items (it would seem that our Italian was a little shabby, but perhaps the wine had something to do with it?).

MM and Aunty both chose exceptional meals of venison-filled parcels in rich mushroom and olive oil sauce ($24); the pasta parcels were thin and light, allowing the flavour of the venison to shine in this dish.

CC had the best-dressed plate of the day with the Venetian style crespelle filled with ricotta, pumpkin and burnt sage butter ($17).  I was jealous – this dish was my second option…how good do these little parcels look?

AJ was feeling fishy, so opted for the pan seared halibut with prawns and wilted spinach in a tomato and seafood bisque ($23).  The fish was cooked perfectly with a nice crispy skin and the bisque was subtle yet flavoursome.

SM took a huge gamble with the squid ink risotto ($23); the dish certainly didn’t have much appeal to look at, but somehow these squishy, inky creatures worked well with the perfectly gluggy rice and greenery on the side.

I chose the strozzapreti with prawns, squid, tomato and black olives ($23).  This was a little disappointing to be honest as there was only scarce pieces of seafood to the dish and it presented as a very large pile of no-frills pasta, with what looked and tasted like bolognaise sauce with a hint of spice.  It was tasty, but nothing outstanding like what my fellow diners had the pleasure of enjoying.

The meals were all very filling but a few of us kept some room in the dessert pocket, mainly to try the chocolate budino with panettone ice-cream ($12) dish that we were witnessing being made by the tray-full.

This dessert is obviously a house specialty as they must’ve put a hundred of these things in to bake while we were there.  The pictures say it all really….

Our lunch was definitely in the long category by now and after such a lovely couple of hours we really weren’t ready to leave, so we moved our little party to the alfresco area.  There is no bar service on the Bar Alto balcony, but it is the best seat in the house, overlooking the river as the sun sets over the waterfront homes on Norman Reach and Bulimba.  By now the line up at the bar was 4 or 5 deep but with the spring time vibe in the air everyone was more than happy to queue up and have a chat.

The food alone makes Bar Alto a winner, but when you add the ambience and the scenery, it makes for a really enjoyable experience and I can’t wait to lock in another Sunday sesh with the crew to do it all again.

• Bar Alto, The Powerhouse, 119 Lamington St, New Farm, +61 7 3358 1063

Better suited perhaps as a romantic venue for two than a Friday lunch for the office crew, Two Small Rooms is a deliciously quaint, fine dining restaurant that most people on the west side of Brisbane would know of.  I’ve been driving past it most days since I was 10 years old and only recently have I had the pleasure of dining there.  It’s actually about 2 and a half rooms by the way…

Whilst there is an a la carte menu on offer in this French influenced venue, we opted for the value-for-money option of the Two Small Rooms set lunch menu for $40 per head, which included an entree, main and dessert each.

Each course had a selection of 3 dishes to choose from, all of which sounded well rounded and appetizing.  For entrees, the majority of our table chose the Barramundi fish cakes, but being the black sheep of the group I opted for the pork belly with cauliflower puree and apple salad.

I’m not fussed on things that are crumbed or fried, but these fish cakes were very lightly crumbed and fried and plump full of fresh Barramundi in a herbed and creamy white sauce.  My pork belly was cooked well with a nice thin, crispy layer of crackling.  It was resting in a thin gravy as well as a cauliflower puree – both very subtle but complimentary with the pork.

For mains there was a choice of sirloin and shoe string fries, mushroom linguini or sand crab omelette.  Upon recommendation by the waiter, CB and I both decided the crab omelette was a winner and a first time for both of us.  The omelette was in essence a great dish however it was a little on the skinny side and over-salted for my liking.  It was drizzled in balsamic and accompanied with some greenery which all worked well together.

The mushroom linguini was to my right and I managed to sneak a taste; the linguini was perfect with an abundance of mushrooms in a light yet flavoursome cream sauce.  Like the omelette, it was also a little on the small side size wise (sorry, no pic for this one).  The sirloin and shoe string fries took the remaining two places at our table. The meat was cooked as requested and beautifully juicy and tender and the accompanying fries were (too) more-ish.

For me the stand out course from the Two Small Rooms set lunch menu was dessert.  A selection of ice creams and sorbets was my pick and they didn’t disappoint – one scoop of caramel, one of yoghurt sorbet and a berry sorbet scoop.  All accompanied with a few juicy strawberries and a shard of waffle cone.  Yum!

Princess chose the cheese platter with quince paste and apple, which she thoroughly enjoyed, but I suspect she had a touch of the green eyed monster when the Eton mess (the third dessert alternative) arrived at the table – a big creamy mess of berries, meringue, red wine jelly, cream and ice cream with piles of sugar stirred through.  Double yum.

The courteous and prompt service at Two Small Rooms is worth noting, however the lunch time vibe felt a little hasty and lack lustre.  Perhaps it was because we were a table of 5 in a room that looked better suited to star crossed lovers, gazing at each other over flickering candle light.  I’d like to sample the ambience (and the delicious menu) on a Friday night with my Mr Right and see how it feels; I have no doubt it would be perfectly perfect.

• Two Small Rooms – 517 Milton Rd, Toowong +61 7 3371 5251

A testament to Brisbane finally growing up and getting a life, when we walked into Drift just after 6.30pm on this Wednesday night, we were informed they were fully booked and we’d have to wait for the 8pm seating. We chose to take a seat in the bar/lounge area and crack a bottle of Sav Blanc to pass the time.

The décor has totally been revamped since its Oxley’s days - Drift has an old-school jazz and cabaret club feel to it. Bottles of Moet lined the walls around the bar, a lady sat at the grand piano singing pleasant but dated tunes and the staff hurried around with an air of arrogance and sophistication. From my initial 30 second appraisal, I couldn’t help but feel I was a little out of place – particularly when the bulk of the clientele walking through the door were my parent’s age.

After ordering the bottle of wine from their extensive list, I was a little shocked when the waiter waltzed back over and insisted I show my ID. Sure, one should probably take this as a flattering gesture, but how many under aged patrons come in wearing business attire? To soften the blow he kindly requested my two colleagues show their ID as well, but only gave them a token glance over. When it registered in his head that I was over 30, he gave a mild shriek followed by half an apology. Sigh…

8pm finally ticked over and after being promised a table three times, I managed to stop one waiter in his tracks and request that we be seated at last (my eyebrows were raised – he knew I meant business). Once we were seated the service was very prompt and professional, however a little stale and false for my liking. The Drift menu however was innovative and mouth watering and it was hard to make a call on what to have.

For an entrée I chose the crumbed goats cheese, zucchini flower and asparagus atop a cauliflower puree ($18). MM loves his sashimi style dishes, so he chose the ocean trout tartar with salmon caviar, salted cucumber and wasabi-avocado cream ($19). Big Dog’s choice (the best of the three in my opinion) was the Gladstone scallops, chorizo and crisp pork belly dusted in cumin, with quince paste ($21).

The goats cheese dish was really pleasant and beautifully presented, however the zucchini flower was very small and wasn’t stuffed as they usually are. This meant that the dish really was just the crumbed platform of cheese and had no other element of real substance to compliment it or balance out the strong cheese flavour.

MM’s tartar was a great composition of raw flavours and the dish presented very well however, he thought it was lacking an element of flavour that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.  Either way it needed a bit more punch. Big Dog’s scallops looked exceptional and again Drift gets top marks for presentation. The scallops and chorizo were in my mind a strange combination but they seemed to work and both were cooked to perfect texture. The pork belly however was overcooked and whilst the cumin dusting was a nice touch, the meat was too stringy and didn’t melt in your mouth like a good piece of pork belly should.

The mains were of similar standard when it comes to the look of the dish – this is something Drift really excels at and obviously take a lot of pride in. I chose the macadamia encrusted snapper with prawn ragout in a creamy citrus sauce ($33). The fish was cooked perfectly however the macadamia lid resting on top was too sweet and in fact it tasted like a crust of brown sugar. With the sweetness of the creamy sauce as well, it was a little too much for my palette but overall it was a nice dish.

MM’s choice of the honey glazed duck breast with cinnamon and blood orange sauce ($35) brought the little green monster out in me. Whilst the duck was a little over-cooked, the flavour and composition of the dish was spot on and I wanted it!

Big Dog chose the Drift special of the day – Moreton bay bugs in Rendang sauce atop a bed of coconut rice (sorry, no record of the price for this one). There was a generous serve of the beady eyed creatures, and The Dog enjoyed devouring these treasures of the sea.

We were too full to even look at the dessert menu and by this stage we really just wanted to get home; the service had started to wane and any hint of vibrant atmposhpere that may have existed earlier in the evening was certainly nowhere to be seen now.

The overall experience at Drift was pleasant, but it was tainted by little moments of pretentiousness and neglect that lead me to rate this as NOT. To be honest, I wouldn’t recommend it to any of my friends who were looking for a fine dining experience, as there are plenty of vibrant venues around our beautiful city with better food and friendlier service. Interestingly enough, Drift has just won the award for best new restaurant at the Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence.

• Drift – 330 Coronation Drive, Milton, +61 7 3368 1866

From what I can tell, Capri Café Bar is a family business of two brothers delivering their impression of fine Mediterranean cuisine to the masses.  I’ve always been impressed by their pizzas, and if you check out their website, you’ll see their nominations as finalists (year on year) for the Restaurant and Catering QLD Host Plus Awards for Excellence.

On this most recent visit, I brought with me 8 of the harshest food critics I know (yes, they all eat food therefore they are critics!) and they were super hungry after a frantic day in the office. We decided to share a range of starters between the 9 of us to take the edge off our hunger.  These consisted of a serve of the toasted Turkish bread with baba ghanoush, tzatziki and hummus ($13.50), the arancini balls of porcini mushroom and truffle risotto with capsicum coulis and fried chorizo sausage ($17), and the pan fried calamari with a seasonal vegetable salad and mango chilli coulis ($16).

The arancini balls were superb; in fact, they were the best meal of the night.  The chorizo morsels were packed with fiery flavour and were the perfect accompaniment to the lightly battered mushroom risotto packages.

The calamari on the other hand had a strange smoky flavour and whilst it was cooked perfectly, there wasn’t much substance to the dish as a whole.

The dips for the Turkish breads were flavoursome and fresh – the baba ghanoush was the stand out.

On to the mains and with such diversity (and increasing intoxication) at the table it was going to be interesting to see who would opt for what dish.  Without hesitation I chose the pumpkin gnocchi in a creamy sundried tomato pesto sauce with fresh spinach and Grana Padano cheese ($21).  This dish was mild on the cream but full of rich pumpkin and cheese flavours, well complimented by the tomato pesto.

SH was all smiles with her special-board dish of the crispy skinned salmon fillet on a bed of fresh Asian greens ($21).  The salmon was perfectly cooked and drizzled in a light olive oil.

Woody decided to go against the Mediterranean theme and chose the 250g eye fillet in red wine jus ($42.50).  His steak was cooked to perfection at medium-rare and accompanied by creamy mash and fresh greens.

Surprisingly, CB and Princess were the only pizza goers at the table, and both opted for the Capricciosa Special ($21) with salami, mushrooms, olives and mozzarella cheese.  To be honest, the pizzas didn’t have the usual flare and finish that usually comes from the pizza oven at Capri Café Bar, but the girls were happy with the flavour.

Big Dog didn’t seem too pleased with his choice of the prawn and calamari linguini with chilli, garlic, Italian parsley and olive oil ($30); he was disappointed with the lack of flavour however there was a generous amount of seafood in the dish.

Similarly, LR thought his sand crab and scallop risotto in seafood bisque ($32) was missing something on the flavour side and looked to scavenging other plates to fill the void.

The other dishes were demolished before I could get a picture or sneak a taste, but the general consensus at the table was that the meals were sound.  The service was exceptional; we weren’t the easiest bunch to contend with and were getting a little rowdy towards the close of the evening.  There were some concerns over the prices, particularly with the seafood and steak dishes and I’m inclined to agree that perhaps Capri Café Bar is pushing the envelope a little here, particularly when you can go to a specialist seafood or steak venue for the same price and have an exceptional meal.

All in all though, Capri Café Bar is a lovely venue with good atmosphere and great service.  Their menu is varied and offers a range of dishes that represent the flavours of the Mediterranean and all this makes for a lovely dining experience.

• Capri Café Bar – Shop 18, The Emporium, 1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley (07) 3257 0401

Zenbar is a modern Australian restaurant with Asian influenced cuisine and as long as I’ve known it, they’ve been serving excellent quality, fresh and flavoursome food.  At lunch time it’s hard to find a seat as the suits descend from the buildings above to grab a quick curry and a beer in their lunch break, or, settle in for 3 courses while they solve the world’s problems.

My most recent experience at Zenbar was for dinner with a customer who hadn’t previously had the pleasure of dinner service, only a few beers on a Friday after work.  We were fairly ravenous after a long afternoon in meetings so I encouraged a selection of entrees be made before indulging in mains.

We decided to share a few dishes between the 3 of us and I insisted one of those be my Zenbar favourite of the duck wraps with cucumber, hoisin sauce, shallots and Chinese pancakes ($18.50 for 6).  We also chose the lightly toasted roti flat bread with spicy satay dipping sauce ($7.50) and the Vietnamese rice paper rolls with spicy nam jim dipping sauce ($13.50 for 6).

The duck pancakes were a huge hit and we actually had to play rock-paper-scissors to determine who would have the pleasure of devouring the remaining piece.  The duck was nice and tender with a touch of crispy skin, and once rolled into the fluffy pancake with hoisin sauce and cucumber it really was a flavour sensation.

The roti bread was a little over-toasted for my liking, but the spicy satay sauce made up for it with a zesty punch.  The Vietnamese rolls were my least favourite of the three dishes as the filling lacked texture and depth of flavour; again however, the accompanying sauce was fiery and complimented the rolls well.

On to the mains and I was surprised when my guests who are both curry lovers opted for the more main-stream meals of the marinated lamb rump with Moroccan vegetable cous cous and raita ($34.50) and the Coorong beef fillet with kipfler potatoes, garlic mushrooms and red wine jus ($36.50).  Quite the duck lover at the moment, I opted for the red curry of twice cooked duck, with lychees, tomato and tamarind relish with a side of rice ($27.50).

My curry was delicious – the red paste was punchy but not too hot and the coconut milk was subtle and didn’t disturb the flavour of the duck meat one bit.  The lychees complimented the dish perfectly by adding just a hint of sweetness and took the edge off the chilli.

The steak sitting across from me looked plump and juicy and was cooked to MG’s satisfaction of medium-rare.  The serving was generous (more than you’d probably expect from most restaurants with these sorts of price tags as they flaunt quality over quantity) yet basic, with the small kipflers and large field mushrooms beautifully supporting the fillet.

GG’s lamb dish looked delicious and was cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of pink in the middle.  The bed of cous cous and raita complimented the dish well.

Full marks so far – my guests were well impressed with my recommendations and hinted ever so gently that dessert would ensure their evening was a true success.  I politely passed as I couldn’t possibly fit another thing in, but GG indulged in the chocolate mud cake with vanilla ice cream ($14.50) while MG went for the affogato with honeycomb ice cream ($12.50).

Thankfully I had the pleasure of tasting both desserts, and while the mud cake was too rich for me, it was moist and dense with no doubt the right amount of Calories to qualify as a true mud cake.  The affogato was to die for, with the bitter espresso shot perfectly complimenting the sweet honeycomb ice cream.

Zenbar impressed my guests and of course it was no surprise to me that the meals would be flavoursome and impressive.  The wait staff were attentive, friendly and even a little cheeky as they dished some banter to my fussy counterparts, which made for a pleasant experience all round.  The bill is always a little on the high side of average at Zenbar, but for the quality of the service, food, ambience and overall dining experience, I’d be willing to say it’s justified.

• Zenbar, Post Office Square, Brisbane CBD, +61 7 3211 2333

So for someone like me to happen upon a place like Claret House is probably a bit of a waste, but I know a fancy time when I see one and these guys have got the goods.

This review only just touches the sides of what Claret House has to offer, as my visit involved a quick few glasses of white while my posse waited for our friends’ nuptials to begin over on the river.  They offer a wide range of sparkling, reds, whites and in-betweens, but also available is a lovely dinner and dessert menu, as well as cheese platters.

JPC happened to know the owner, so we were attended to promptly when our group of 8 descended on the Claret House porch front.  The smartly dressed waiter quickly assessed our (limited) requirements for thirst quenching and presented us with a couple of recommendations that were capable of satisfying our budget and palates.

A beautiful setting for an afternoon glass of French wine and a cheese platter, the Claret House porch is located down under the old Wool Stores in Teneriffe and is a great people watching spot.  Inside is a cosy, old school cigar-bar style get-up; a long, old wooden bar with a few lonely stools and a wall lined with a range of reds too great to even contemplate counting.  The ceiling of old wooden chairs hanging precariously overhead is a nice touch.

Back to our uncultured party of 8…we cracked a bottle of the Waipara Hills (NZ) chardonnay ($42) and the Domaine Schlumberger pinot blanc (very French and not sure on the price tag!).  Our crisp, clear medicine was poured into the most beautiful and delicate tall stemmed white wine glasses and imbibed with consummate ease.

Needless to say, we were all impressed with the ambience, service and range of wines available at Claret House – if it weren’t for the wedding we had to get to, I’m sure we would’ve settled in for a few more rounds and sampled the menu as well.  I’ll definitely be returning to sip a few more of their delicious whites, accompanied by a plate of creamy local and overseas cheeses.

• Claret House Wine Bar, Shop 5 36 Vernon Tce, Teneriffe +61 7 3257 0402

The menu is par for the course in modern Aussie cuisine these days – meat-centric, with some reasonably inventive accompaniments and a rich and delicate jus or similar kind of sauce. To their credit, Azafran also offers a page full of vegetarian options – none of which tempted us, but it was nice of them to be so considerate. The meat-based mains were $34.50 and the vegetarian mains were $29.50, with entrees between $18.50 – $22.50. Apart from the strange 50 cent fetish, these are reasonable prices for the quality of food.

The standout main at our table was probably the crispy szechuan duck, spicy braised eggplant with soy and mandarin sauce. It was very tasty, although a whole plate was maybe a little too much flavour. The dukkah-covered, crispy-skinned salmon (a special) was also an enjoyable meal, and matched well with a side of pear and vinaigrette salad ($8.50).

Capping off the night at Azafran was the turkish delight pannacotta with pistachio ice-cream and fairy floss (yes, real fairy floss – goes in like cotton, then transforms itself into liquid sugar). Fittingly, the 50 cent obsession continued over into the deserts – all $14.50.

Friends of ours live practically next door and are regulars – a testament to Azafran’s consistency. However, being tucked away in Annerley, it might be a little out of the way for some; North-siders in particular.  If the quality of a restaurant can be measured by the distance you would be willing to drive to get there, I would rate this one… 35 min. But since that would be in breach of the editorial policy of the world’s most decisive review website, I’ll just go the whole hog, and give Azafran a hot!

• Azafran, 97 Ekibin Rd, Annerley, +61 7 3892 1776

In general SONO is not cheap – it’s a restaurant for expensive and refined Japanese fine dining. However, if you can make it on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, you can partake in the good value $25 lunch menu. A large tray is brought out to you with much ceremony, and it contains several slices of salmon sashimi or prawn avocado sushi, a dish of garden salad dressed with a sharp vinaigrette, a bowl of soothing and rich miso soup, steamed rice and your choice of one of the five main courses – chicken teriyaki, mini wagyu sukiyaki, simmered pork belly, salmon teriyaki and assorted tempura.  My pork belly was soft and juicy, RM’s tempura was pretty good although a little on the heavy side, but I think the best option was W and D’s  mini wagyu sukiyaki, which came served in an earthenware hotpot steaming with slices of beef, a rectangle of tofu and various vegetables.

You can’t get much better than $25 for a filling meal in lovely surroundings. Note that SONO has a sister restaurant in the city on Queen Street Mall but the $25 lunch menu is not available there.

• SONO Restaurant Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules St, Hamilton +61 7 3268 6655

Melbourne is renowned for its utilisation of the funky laneways that branch from main streets of the CBD: bars, cafes, boutique shops…you name it, in the laneways down there they’ve got it.

Brisbane, however, has been a little slow on the uptake.  We have plenty of laneways, but there’s not much doing aside from rubbish bins and maybe a few groggy party goers late on a Friday night.

So I was driving down Margaret Street a few weeks ago when to my surprise I noticed a street sign labelled The Laneway.  I did a lap of the block and came back to see that Spencer Lane (across from the Stamford Plaza) has indeed been Laneway-ed!!  Sure, there are the alleyway rubbish bins, but beyond that is a funky new entrance, giving way to a cool, very Melbourne-esque bar (The Laneway), bistro (The Euro) and exclusive restaurant (Urbane).

I had heard rave reviews about Urbane, so decided to sample the goods on a balmy Saturday evening with my other half and another couple.  Designed by local architects Arkhefield, the features of the long, narrow Urbane dining area are very modern with clean lines and simple, classic colours amongst the timber floor, shelving and entry way.

When MM and I entered we were watched closely by the patrons, which was a little unnerving – perhaps it had something to do with my Steve Maddens making a right racket on the wooden floor?  The majority of diners consisted of couples looking dreamily into each other’s eyes (when they weren’t gawking at us) and having quiet, intimate conversation.  A little clinical and sterile was my immediate impression.

Our friends joined us shortly after and finally we were able to get a bit of laughter and ambience into the room.  The wait staff greeted us promptly and reminded us that we had signed up for the 6 course degustation menu.  We glanced over the set menu and all gave nods of approval.  We chose to have the wine degustation as well – why not let the experts chose the wine for us?

No one at our table had tried a degustation experience before.  Most of the courses on the set menu sounded mouth watering, but I had my doubts on how sufficient the portions would be. In the back of my mind I was flashing dollar signs – the degustation experience isn’t cheap, and this meal wasn’t on behalf of anyone’s corporate expense account.

The first tasty morsel was lobster, almond gazpacho, capers and lime meringue – very small, but a flavour sensation and it was served in the most fascinating conical shaped glass.  The second sample was one of my favourites – yellowtail kingfish with Japanese inspirations.  Again the serving was quite small but the fish was fresh, light and melted in your mouth.

The third plate was questionable….but perhaps my palate’s not cultured enough for this sort of experimental cuisine – it was foie gras in a white chocolate bonbon, with gingerbread, carrot and dark chocolate.  To be honest, the rich flavour of the duck pate didn’t mix well with the sweetness of the chocolate.  This dish didn’t really work for any of us at the table and it was too rich for me to finish (more dollar signs flashing).

From there, we were served slow cooked pork belly with apple, onion and rhubarb – another taste sensation with not a scrap left on the plate, except for my crunchy crackling (which I would have loved to pick up with my fingers and shovel into my mouth – not the kind of behaviour this establishment would encourage so thought it best to let go).

Now that we were into the main dishes I was really starting to enjoy the degustation experience – the portions were more liberal and the combination of flavours was unusual and delicious.  Next on the bill of fare was the stand out for me – venison with raspberry, beetroot, cocoa and hints of liquorice.  This was my first taste of venison and it fell gracefully away as I cut into it and melted in my mouth; the liquorice and cocoa worked well with this dish which really surprised everyone on the judges panel.

Onto the dessert items and the first was lightly poached peach with jasmine flower, lychee, sesame and almonds with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.  MM thought this sort of food was best served at breakfast, but I thought it was a perfect balance of fresh and light with a little bit of sweetness.

Following this was a tray of petite fours which included a chunk of creamy aerated milk chocolate (MM thought perhaps they had sampled an aero bar from the local 7-11?!), compressed watermelon and a green tea sponge cake.  All in all a very nice, light finish to our meal.

The wines that complimented our meals were very well matched to the food that was presented.  There was a mix of

aged French red, white and sparkling wines as well as some locally grown and bottled.  We imbibed sufficient wine to warrant a taxi home, but with no hangover the next morning.

Would I return to Urbane?  Yep, no risk – but next time I will be dining from the a la carte menu.  The degustation was a great way to sample a range of items from the menu, but the portions are small and it’s a bit of a tease.

Unfortunately by the time we had finished it was almost midnight and we were feeling the pinch from a late night and full stomachs, so we chose not to have a night cap at The Laneway.  Its décor and ambience looks fresh and exciting for Brisbane and I can’t wait to sit at the bar and sample a fruity summer cocktail.

As we wandered back down Spencer Lane there was an old black and white movie being projected onto one of the laneway walls – very cool . I can’t wait to see more of this in Brisbane.

• Urbane Restaurant, 179 Mary St, Brisbane +61 7 3229 2271

If you get a Christmas bonus from the boss this year, Aria is the place to spend it.  I’m struggling to think of a better in venue in Brisbane when it comes to food, service and scenery.

If you got sucked into the reality TV extravaganza that was MasterChef Australia, then you’ll know that the original Aria is Matt Moran’s signature restaurant in Sydney.  I was so excited to hear that he was bringing Aria to Brisbane – who could justify buying flights to Sydney just to experience fine dining from some dude who helped make Average Joes famous?!

Aria in Brisbane has taken over residence from one of Brisbane’s most well known seafood restaurants, Pier Nine, down on the Eagle Street Pier.  For some reason I have always found the vast interior of this venue a little bit sterile and overall ambience boring, but that certainly didn’t dampen my Aria experience.

My table of four had an early sitting in the dining room after sharing a bottle of Billecart Salmon Brut Rose in the bar – we were celebrating a 35^th birthday and Christmas after all.  I was delighted to see they stocked my favourite champagne and it was a great start to the evening, overlooking the spectacular Brisbane River and lights of the Story Bridge.  The wait staff were well presented, well spoken, and had exceptional knowledge of the wine list and dinner menus.  We all agreed it was one of those occasions that probably wouldn’t be repeated in the near future due to the cost, so we went all out on entrees, mains, desserts and we weren’t shy with the vino.

The range of entrees made it near impossible to make a decision.  I decided on the scallops entrée – pan fried with sweet corn puree, cauliflower beignet with caper and sultana dressing.  I never order scallops because I am so fussy with how they’re cooked – I couldn’t fault this dish however and the combination of flavours really was a taste sensation.  MM chose the sashimi special – yellow fin tuna sashimi and tartar tasting plate, decorated with green beans and a delightful anchovy mayonnaise.  We are sashimi snobs and this was possibly the best we’ve tried.  My female companion K chose the gnocchi and beef ragout special which almost made me regret my entrée choice.  This was all washed down with a deliciously smooth yet flavorsome Coonawarra Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon.

Onto the mains and again the choice wasn’t easy, which really troubles me because I am notorious for my poor menu choices and drive MM crazy as my fork spends more time poking around his plate than my own.  The snapper dish caught my attention as it was flanked by pippis, ginger, shallots, baby bok choy and black bean sauce.  The black bean sauce was gentle and didn’t over power the favour of the fish and complemented the pippis perfectly.  A sigh of relief from my friends as they realised I wouldn’t be pilfering their mains.  MM and J both chose the special – pave of beef with a side of mash and roasted vegetables.  The beef really did melt in your mouth and like most men with a juicy slab of meat in front of them, they were very reluctant to share.  K enjoyed her 200g Blackmore Wagyu rump and we shared a generous side of the garlic and chilli broccolini.

I didn’t have much room left in the dessert pocket, but thought it rude of me to sit and watch everyone else indulge.  MM and I chose the Valrhona Chocolate delice with chocolate sorbet and J chose the doughnuts with strawberries and cinnamon ice cream.  All faultlessly presented, the doughnuts were the pick of the two dishes and regrettably I really was too full to enjoy my rich, chocolaty tart.  It didn’t stop there though – we were surprised when a complimentary plate of petite fours arrived with our coffees, which would have been ample dessert for all of us…if only we’d known.  The turkish delight and macadamia nougat were perfectly textured and I was heart broken that I couldn’t fit more than one (or was it two?) of each in my overloaded belly.  Unfortunately Aria is not the kind of establishment that you can pocket your leftovers and save them for later.

We had our waddles on as we said thank you and goodnight to our friendly wait staff.   If I had to make a negative comment about our time at Aria it would only be that it’s a little too perfect – it’s not a venue that copes well with rowdiness or banter and at this time of year (or is it me and my friends?!) it’s a little hard to avoid that festive spirit.  This aside, it really was an exceptional experience.

• Aria, 1 Eagle St Pier, Brisbane +61 7 3233 2555

Blink and you’ll miss it.  Montrachet is a modest little restaurant just up the hill from the Paddo Tavern.  It’s tucked behind some dark roller blinds on the sidewalk and not particularly well signed.  Who cares?  This exquisitely French establishment was not put on this earth to attract the passing traffic – it’s a destination venue for French cuisine aficionados.  Ooh la la.

The setting and ambience at Montrachet is stereotypically French (in a good way), from the red cushion lounge seats and high back chairs at the Comptoir (counter) to the warm yellow lighting and dusty wine bottles lining the walls.

Thierry Galicet is the owner and head chef.  At the beginning of our meal, he made a visit to our table to show off his extensive range of self-imported French reds and whites.  We selected a Sancerre (one of MM’s favourites) plus a couple of Grand Cru…quite fancy. It will hurt your back pocket but tantalise your palate.

Our table of seven all chose entrees, mains and desserts as the menu made it impossible to pass up the experience.  As Les Entrees arrived at our table the rich aroma was mouth watering.  Among the choices were duck foie gras served with fresh fruit compote and toasted baguette, homemade potato gnocchi with tiger prawns and fresh porcini, double baked soufflé with onions and Gouda cheese finished with a light chive sauce.

Plats Principaux at our table comprised of poisson du jour, steak with frites and my personal favourite, the bouillabaisse – reef fish, scallops, fresh green prawns and scored cuttlefish served in a rich seafood broth with aioli and garlic French toast.  There wasn’t a dry mouth at our table, as once again the aroma of the cuisine that was brought to the table tickled our senses silly.  Needless to say, we all adored the flavours Thierry put together and the wine he recommended complimented our food to perfection.

The wait staff were impeccably dressed with just enough attitude to create some light banter and cheekiness, whilst delivering a totally professional service.  The service was prompt but not too in-your-face.  There was a suitable period between service of entrees and mains, adequate for more swilling of wine glasses as we critiqued our collection of precious French white.

If you appreciate fine dining and don’t mind paying that little bit extra for the pleasure, Montrachet is a must.  The menu is actually reasonably priced; it’s the wine that will sting you more than anything.  The service is impeccable and to me, that speaks volumes about how the business is run.  As I mentioned before, it’s a destination venue and I suspect many would travel from the outskirts of Brisbane to sample this fine French fair.

• Montrachet, 244 Given Tce, Paddington, 4064 +61 7 3367 0030

Teppanyaki isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and more often than not you’ll find that an evening in front of the Japanese BBQ plate will leave both your stomach and wallet feeling a little empty.  My most recent teppanyaki experience was at Kabuki which is heralded as one of Brisbane’s best Japanese restaurants.  Following my March 09 escape to Osaka, I doubted that it would cut the mustard.  However, as I waddled out of the said venue earlier this week, I concluded it was worthy of its title.

This visit to Kabuki was a corporate affair sponsored by one of my business partners, so I must admit there was little concern about the price tag for the evening.  However in the interest of BNE: HOT OR NOT readers, I ensured one eye was kept on the menu and wine list for those who may have to dip into their own bank account to eat there.

At 6pm on Tuesday evening the large restaurant, decorated as you’d expect for a Japanese venue, was empty with the exception of the wait staff.  They kindly offered my party of three a seat at the end of a large BBQ plate which caters for ten patrons in total.  With nothing but chirping crickets in the background, I wondered if we would be experiencing teppanyaki by ourselves and to be honest I didn’t think it was going to light us up.  By the time we had selected a bottle of Stella Bella Sav Blanc ($40) from the tidy and slightly over-priced wine list, our BBQ plate was surrounded by two other couples and a party of three.

As the group settled, our Japanese chef Tommy stealthily appeared and started the show with a brief display of knife wielding and spatula spinning before launching into the BBQ-ing process.  The BBQ we selected was a good compromise between quantity and price per head ($60).  The ‘Botan’ option provides ample portions of cooked-to-order salmon fillet, teriyaki chicken pieces, as well as prawns in soy and garlic.  For the more adventurous foodies, the prawn heads are of course squashed and pan fried for consumption – worth doing, if you can block out the fact that you’re eating eye balls and legs.  As 7.30pm ticked over our table was only half way through the culinary delights (my party of three was well into the second bottle of wine) and the venue was pumping and packed to the gunnels with a good mix of clientele.  As I scanned the room I couldn’t help but snigger at the other patrons who were cleaning fried rice or egg from their clothes and faces whilst trying to avoid singed eyebrows.  If you’ve done teppanyaki before, you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

Also on the serve were melt-in-your-mouth cubes of marinated eye fillet as well as fried rice and mildly spicy stir-fried mixed veggies.  There was a trio of dipping sauces to accompany the tastymorsels, as well as a garden salad with a tangy, creamy dressing and a warm bowl of miso soup.

Although I quite enjoyed the company I was dining with, the conversation didn’t last long as Tommy’s antics held our attention and I was never quite sure what might get thrown my way if I took my eyes off him.  He also entertained us with Japanese renditions of River Dance and Queen’s We Will Rock You and regularly took the mickey out of his clientele as well as himself.

As the evening drew to a close almost three hours after we first sat down, the punters at our table were akin to a bunch of old mates and showed reluctance to be removed from the venue they were now settled into.  The sizzle from the other BBQ plates in the room, along with the shrieks of laughter from the entertained clientele ensured the vibe didn’t end too abruptly.  As Tommy powered down the BBQ and said his goodbyes, he cleverly signed off with thanks with some ‘salt art’, which was a nice touch.

Kabuki is definitely a worthwhile experience, especially if you’ve never sampled teppanyaki before. If you’ve got a group of mates who appreciate well crafted food and entertainment, I wouldn’t look past Kabuki.

• Kabuki Japanese Restaurant, Stamford Plaza Brisbane Hotel, Cnr Edward and Margaret Sts, Brisbane +61-7 3221 1999