Brisbane Restaurant Tips by SWFC_Fan

Restaurant Name: Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant

I ate at Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant one lunchtime during my visit to Brisbane in April/May 2006.

This large Hunan Chinese restaurant is located in the heart of Brisbane's Chinatown district at Fortitude Valley. It stands on the corner of Duncan Street right by the large Chinese gate that signals the entrance to Chinatown Mall.

The huge interior was empty at the time of my visit, but this may have been because it was a public holiday (ANZAC Day).

The dining area was well decorated and the tables were well set - it seemed a shame that it was devoid of diners.

Below is a sample of the menu items:

Entrees

Dim Sim ($4); Prawn Toasts ($6.50); Steamed Dumpling ($4.50); Prawn Crackers ($3.50)

Soups

Chicken and corn ($4); hot and sour ($3.80); vegetarian ($3.80); chicken and ginger ($3.80)

Prawn dishes ($17.80)

Imperial style; Hunan style; with chilli and black bean sauce; with cashew nuts

Fish dishes ($16.80)

Stir fried; steamed with vegetables; sizzling yellow fish; sweet and sour

Chicken/Duck ($12.80)

Hot and sour; with cashew nuts; with ginger; with chilli; with pineapple

Pork/Beef ($12.80)

Pork ribs in bamboo; Hunan-style pork; beef with bean vermicelli; curry beef

Noodles & Rice ($8-9)

Stir fried noodles Hunan style; pork spare ribs in noodle soup; fried rice Hunan style

The staff were friendly (they brought me a newspaper to read while I waited) and the service was fast and efficient.

You can bring your own alcohol, but the restaurant is also licensed to sell alcohol.

Favorite Dish: I opted for:

Spring Rolls - Cost: 4 AUD

4 hot spring rolls (with chicken and vegetables in them), served with a bowl of sweet and sour sauce.

Beef in black bean sauce - Cost: 9.80 AUD

Tender pieces of beef with green and red peppers, onions, and an assortment of other vegetables in a black bean sauce. Served with a large dish of steamed white rice. Tell the waiter how spicy you wish your dish to be.

375 ml bottle of Castlemaine XXXX - Cost: 4 AUD

Good value Chinese food and friendly staff in the heart of Brisbane's Chinatown. Recommended!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (07) 3852 1583
Address: 28 Duncan Street, Fortitude Valley
Directions: Located on Duncan Street (Chinatown Mall) in the heart of Brisbane's Chinatown district at Fortitude Valley.
Other Contact: Fax: (07) 3358 6751

Restaurant Name: St Paul's Tavern

I stopped off at St Paul's Tavern for a beer one afternoon after a day of sightseeing during my visit to Brisbane in April/May 2006.

This large bar and restaurant is located on the corner of Wharf and Leichhardt Streets in the suburb of Spring Hill. It is located a 10 minute walk north of the Central Business District.

Despite its external appearance, this is quite a trendy bar with a young clientele, pop music playing in the background and a handful of flat screen TVs mounted above the bar.

As well as the bar area (known as the "O" Bar), there is also an attached restaurant (known as "Halo's"). The restaurant offers a selection of pub fare such as steaks, sandwiches, fish and chips, seafood dishes, pizza, salads and other light meals.

There is also an attached gaming room with a selection of "pokies" (fruit machines), to tempt you to part with your hard earned cash.

I resisted the opportunity to gamble away my spending money....and I even resisted the chance of a plate of fish and chips.....I just opted for a schooner of Castlemaine XXXX bitter (Cost: 3.80 AUD).

Pub food and drink in laid back surroundings in the leafy suburb of Spring Hill.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (07) 3831 8288
Address: Corner of Wharf and Leichhardt Streets
Directions: On the corner of Wharf Street and Leichhardt Street in the Spring Hill area of Brisbane

Restaurant Name: Decks: Seafood and Steak Restaurant

I ate at Decks Seafood and Steak Restaurant one lunchtime during my visit to Brisbane in April/May 2006.

This large, and relatively upmarket, restaurant is located in the relaxing Southbank Parklands, next to the river and just a few minutes walk from Streets Beach.

The restaurant boasts a large airy interior and a host of outdoor terraces with tables set amongst leafy surroundings.

You must wait in the reception area to be seated and a notice states that the dress code is "smart casual". I checked with the young waitress whether my shorts and flip flops (looking somewhat out of place amongst many better dressed diners here) would be acceptable. This being Australia, shorts and flip flops easily qualify for smart casual, so the waitress led me to a table on one of the outdoor terraces at the back of the restaurant.

The menu consists of a large selection of seafood, pasta and meat dishes. Many of these were dishes served in fancy sounding sauces that I'd never heard of and served with accompaniments that I wouldn't normally class as *proper* food! ;-) As is always the case with menus of this nature, the prices were pretty steep!

However, the saving grace for a budget traveller like myself was the specials board outside the restaurant which advertised a burger or a steak sandwich, with a beer, for just 12.50 AUD. This was the main thing that tempted me into this restaurant rather than one of the more informal cafes or fast food joints nearby.

The restaurant offers an extensive wine list and a decent selection of local and imported beers.

Favorite Dish: I opted for the specials menu:

Steak sandwich and chips with a glass of Heineken beer - Cost: 12.50 AUD

A nice tender beef steak with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on a toasted sandwich. The meat was excellent quality and was cooked well-done (as I asked for). Served with a portion of chips and a cold Heineken beer!

Fancy food in an upmarket seafood and steak restaurant. Check out the specials menu for a tasty, affordable lunch! Highly recommended!!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Seafood
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (07) 3846 4036
Address: End of Tribune Street, Southbank Parklands
Directions: Located at the end of Tribune Street in Southbank Parklands, close to Streets Beach and the river.
Website: www.decksrestaurant.com.au
Other Contact: info@decksrestaurant.com.au

Restaurant Name: The Alliance Tavern

I ate at The Alliance Tavern one afternoon during my visit to Brisbane in April/May 2006.

This traditional pub is located on the corner of Boundary Street and Leichhardt Street in the Spring Hill area of the city, about 10-15 minutes walk north of the CBD.

The bar area offers 4 beers on tap (Castlemaine XXXX Gold, VB, Carlton Cold and Cascade Premium) and offers a couple of TV screens showing sports channels.

The ground floor bar (at street level) also offers dining. More extensive menus are available at lunch and dinner times, but at the time of my visit (4pm), I was limited to the bistro menu.

The bistro menu contained fish and chips, steak sandwiches, potato wedges, chips, spring rolls, seafood dishes, sandwiches and a selection of meat dishes and light meals.

In the course of researching the contact details for this tip, I read that there is another bar in the basement with a few pool tables in it and that the upstairs floor is a nightclub after dark.

The barman was friendly and my food was served quickly.

Favorite Dish: I opted for:

Fish and chips - Cost: 9.50 AUD

A large battered and boneless fish, served with a large portion of chips (that were covered with a sprinkling of paprika and thyme) and salad (lettuce, tomato, cress, onions, grated carrots and salad cream). The fish was excellent quality and the chips were very tasty.

A large Castlemaine XXXX Gold - Cost: 3.60 AUD

The barman kindly warned me that this was only a mid-strength beer (3.5%)....but I assured him that it would be fine at that time in the afternoon.

Good quality pub grub in the suburb of Spring Hill. Recommended!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +61 (07) 3832 7355
Address: Corner of Leichhardt and Boundary Streets
Directions: Located on the corner of Leichhardt and Boundary Streets in the suburb of Spring Hill. About 10 minutes walk north of the CBD.

Restaurant Name: Kapsali Greek Restaurant

I ate at Kapsali Greek Restaurant and Mediterranean Cafe one lunchtime during my visit to Brisbane in April/May 2006.

This large Greek style taverna is located in Brisbane's Southbank Parklands with views, from the outdoor tables, over the artificial Streets Beach and lagoon. Sitting at one of the outdoor tables, shaded from the sun by the overhead trees, watching the lizards pass by and hearing the children splashing in the lagoon, you could easily imagine yourself sitting by the seafront on a Greek island.

The menu offers a large selection of traditional Greek food and other Mediterranean dishes. Entrees include Greek salads, pitta breads and feta cheese. You could treat yourself to a traditional Greek "mezedes" (including tiropita, keftedes, meatballs, souvlaki, feta cheese, olives, octopus and other Greek foods).

Main courses include seafood dishes (prawns, barracuda, oysters, squid, octopus, fish), steaks, pasta dishes, chicken, pork and lamb souvlaki.

There is a good choice of local and imported beers, a wine list and a selection of cocktails, as well as soft drinks and hot beverages.

Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

Favorite Dish: I opted for:

Grilled haloumi cheese and bread - Cost: 7.50 AUD

A plate of the lovely rubbery grilled Cypriot haloumi cheese and a handful of slices of crusty bread. This might sound like an expensive "cheese on toast", but that's not the case - the haloumi cheese is excellent!

Chicken souvlaki - Cost: 18.50 AUD

3 skewers of succulent grilled chicken. Served with a healthy portion of tzatziki, Greek salad (tomato, cucumber, red peppers, onions, feta cheese and olives) and Turkish bread. Excellent quality, just like you'd get in Greece!!

Pint of Carlton Draught beer - Cost: 4.50 AUD

Authentic Greek and Mediterranean food in an almost authentic Mediterranean setting! Highly recommended!!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (07) 3846 1803
Address: Southbank Parklands, Brisbane
Directions: Located in Southbank Parklands, next to Streets Beach.
Website: www.kapsalis.com.au
Other Contact: Fax: (07) 3844 4132