Brisbane Restaurant Tips by westrella

Restaurant Name: The Brunswick Hotel

The Brunswick is not one of those poshed up pubs that charge the earth. They have a drinking, smoking, gaming and eating section. Take your pick. The atmosphere is relaxed and congenial. Nice staff, nice locals.

Currently there is trivia run on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm by one of the best trivia hosts in Brisbane. (Harry). Cost is $3 per person.

The fare is standard. Steaks, hamburgers, schnitzel, seafood, pasta. They average the $10-15 mark. Drinks are at a pretty fair price also.

Although it is about a 10 minute walk from the main area in the Valley, it's worth the trip for a good night's entertainment (if you like questions).

Favorite Dish: Mmmm... well tonight I had the lamb chops with chips and salad and it was $11.90. Now if this isn't good value, I don't know what is!

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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (07) 3358 1181
Address: 569 Brunswick Street, New Farm
Directions: Roughly halfway between Fortitude Valley and New Farm on the main street.

Restaurant Name: The Forest Food Lounge

Simple surrounds and simple foods means you can concentrate on enjoying your company. When I went here, they had 4 different meals in the hotbox, plus a salad bar and sandwiches which could be freshly made.

The decorations are funky, and they have a screen showing trippy music videos. A refreshing change from the upmarket places that have recently opened.
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2006 The Forest has grown since it opened. It now has a liquor licence and serves organic beers and wines. On some evenings they have an open mike night - bring your instrument or your voice and entertain us. Movie nights sometimes. Usually with a political theme.

Food is still whats available daily in the hotbox. They have a plate size system now. Around $6 for a small plate and $8 for the large. A range of sweets weekly.

Favorite Dish: There wasn't much on offer so I had the pumpkin pilaf, brown rice and carrot and beans with macadamia nut. My friend had the pilaf and a garden salad with yogurt dressing. She said she could live off the pilaf forever.

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Theme: Vegan/Vegetarian
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 124 Boundary St, West End

Restaurant Name: Cibo (chain)

There are currently 2 Cibo's in Brisbane. The West End branch has some very good baristas in action and they are always sweet to the customers.

If you like glossy interiors, finesse and cleanliness, then pop in to Cibo for a break.

Gaze and drool over gelati, then make your choices on the many pastries they have on offer. There are traditional favourites like rum babas and eclairs. There's also a savoury section including pre-packed salads.

It's not a budget affair though. Generally a petite lunch time treat will set you back $8, whilst the cakes etc will be around $4-5. Biscuits $3. All the servings are quite small.

Favorite Dish: Gelati... the texture and flavours in Cibo far outweigh the quality in Belladonna, which is just down the road.

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Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 88 Boundary Street, West End

Restaurant Name: Watt

A few years ago, the old powerhouse was redeveloped to provide an art space and tourist attraction to something that had lain vacant for decades. Now known as the Powerhouse art complex, providing gallery space, theatrespace and hosting a variety of local and international theatrical performances, it is also home to a bar and Watt Modern Dining, a wonderful 5 star restaurant for modern tastes infused with asian and australian influences.

Watt takes its work seriously. The service is great and the wine list extensive. Dine inside or alfresco before catching a show, or go to relax since it's distanced from main roads and overlooks the Brisbane river.

There is parking available, or is a walkable distance from bus drop off points from New Farm. It is a short walk after getting off the CityCat so that may be your best option.

Favorite Dish: All their menus are available online!!

The last time I went I tried the Pan roasted kangaroo with silverbeet & potato pie with shiraz jus. It was delicious. More and more Brisbane restaurants are offering kangaroo and it is something good to try if you have travelled from overseas.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: Powerhouse in New Farm
Directions: Take the 199 or 195 bus from the city and exit at Merthyr Road. Walk across New Farm park diagonally towards the left of the park.

Alternatively, take the CityCat to New Farm and walk along the path.
Website: www.watt.net.au

Restaurant Name: Urban Grind

Urban Grind is a tiny little place is West End which is filled up every day. Closed at night. Its cute little tables are just the right size for a travel scrabble or chess board. Take a friend.

There is the original branch in Paddington and they offer free wireless internet access. Take your laptop.

Urban Grind is the original mecca of true coffee. They know all about it and you will come away satisfied. Urban Grind hold a BYO food policy. Feel free to take any food items into their shop.

Urband Grind is also an art space for locals. They regularly change the exhibitions.

Favorite Dish: There's no dishes, just get yourself a nice hot coffee.

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Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 80 Boundary St, West End
Directions: Main street

Restaurant Name: Cafe Checocho

A long, long time ago this space was the Cafe Bohemia, hub of chessplaying in West End. Unfortunately, it met its demise a few years ago and this place lay vacant for quite a long time.

But recently, it has opened as yet another chess cafe and all the paraphenalia lining the walls makes for a sweet, atmospheric place to rest your heels of a day or night. There are little shelves with chess pieces laid out. The tables are decoupaged with interesting images including Alice talking to the red queen! They have indeed done a wonderful job of presentation.

Chess nights are available and there is also time for live music. They are open for breakfast, lunch and evenings. Meals or coffee can be your reason for visiting. Meal costs are reasonable and they have an interesting mix of foods available to cater for a wide audience.

In a sea of stainless steel and franchise coffee houses, it is Cafe Checocho and others like it that rescue us from homogenisation.

Favorite Dish: I didn't have any food this time, but there is French Toast on the breakfast menu!!!!!

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Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 69 Hardgrave Road, West End
Directions: middle of Hardgrave Road.

Restaurant Name: Thai Garden

On heading out to Thai Dream, we discovered it had been sold and was now Thai Garden. We were worried that we were not going to have the same excellent food that we were hungering for.

Well, there was nothing to worry about. Thai Garden is in good hands and the food is wonderful. They are only a small restaurant, possibly 30 people max but their great staff, great food, and great little setting is a drawcard.

We started with an entree of fried calamari, curry puffs and fish cakes. All perfect. The curry puffs in particular are probably the best and dreamiest I have encountered. Sorry, my friends ate it all too fast so there is no photo! Then the mains we had a red curry chicken, pad thai and chilli prawns. Just amazing.

It is BYO, no problem as Chalk and Cheese are a mere 10m away. I will miss the sweet potato balls that Thai Dream used to make, but no matter, as the fare here is just as good.

Favorite Dish: The curry puffs are melt in your mouth, and perfect!

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: centre of Hardgrave Road
Directions: Hardgrave Road dining strip, next to Tongue and Groove.

Restaurant Name: Golden Palace

This place follows the tradition of those big Hong Kong restaurants replete with stage and decor. There's more staff than you can poke a stick at and most of the time there's a line up just to get a table. When that happens, be sure to keep an eye out for the person handing out tickets. Without one, they won't know you want a table.

This place does Yum Cha and plain meals. There are tanks of fish and crabs. A great place if you intend on having a dinner party of 30 people. Definitely a plus for Yum Cha. This place blows all other yum cha joints out of the water in the Valley in terms of variety and tastiness.

The only issue is service. Make sure everyone orders their drinks when they arrive. Its probably the only time you'll catch the waiter's attention all day. If you're drinking chinese tea, take the lid off when you run out of water, its a signal for a top up.

Favorite Dish: Ham Sui Gok - salty water dumplings. These fried football shaped treats are filled with pork mince and savoury vegetable.

Mango pancakes - a smooth crepe filled with fresh cream and a slice of fresh mango.

Har Kow - prawn dumplings.

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 3252 8872
Address: Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
Directions: The top of the Chinatown Mall

Restaurant Name: The Crepe Cafe

This chain has recently sprung up in a few locations. They provide a range of savoury and sweet crepes for shoppers on the run.

Its good for workers who want a quick dessert during their lunch break - a lemon and sugar crepe is inexpensive, prepared almost instantly, and doesn't weigh you down for the rest of the afternoon.

The only downside is that this chain is based in foodcourts so you may not get a seat.

Favorite Dish: Bananarama is marinated bananas wrapped in the crepe with chocolate sauce.

There are also fresh strawberry crepes and crepes suzette (liquer orange). As you can see, I hardly look at the savoury menu!

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Theme: Dessert
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: City - Myer Foodcourt, Mt Gravatt - Garden City

Restaurant Name: Happy Cup

Surfing the wave of asian tea and fruit drinks comes Happy Cup. They have over 50 different flavours. Choose a flavour, decide if you want jelly or tapioca pearls, and they will mix it up and heat seal it, and give you the thickest straw out.
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2005 - This outlet has now closed down!!! For all your bubble tea needs you might have to go to the tea shop on Wickham Street instead (2 places along there)

Favorite Dish: Starfruit green tea with bubbles are for me!

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Theme: Other
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Centre of the Valley mall
Directions: Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley