I saw a photo of Greaser online of its creepy back area, a concrete and fluroescent light dungeon…read morecovered in menacing graffiti, and made plans with friends to go there immediately. Greaser's shtick is, well, a 50s American greaser bar. Think of the kind of place James Dean and the Fonz would have a beverage. It also serves greasy (hehe) American food like fried chicken, burgers, fries and hot dogs. Greaser's front bar area is not a creepy dungeon at all, and quite elegant and cosy under the dim lighting. Between all of us, my group of friends ordered everything off the menu. I ordered the fried chicken. The coating was KFC-like but with interesting spices in it - I think it may have been dukkah. Unlike KFC, I didn't feel sadness and regrets afterwards - it was really delicious. Our meals came with onion-y "red eye" gravy and smoked chipotle mayonnaise, which I quickly became addicted to and mopped up with chips. There's a few interesting beers on tap but I had the special that night - whisky with freshly-made apple juice, straight from the juicer. PLUS the bar played some fun rockabilly and 80s tunes that got us chair-dancing over our burgers. Greaser is pretty cool. I hope they hold events and gigs in the future because it's a rad little space.

This place is absolutely fantastic. Hands down the best bar in Brisbane I've been to in years…read more Greaser is bang on trend in the way that only a place opened once a trend has settled down can be. Serves generally American food and drinks? Check. Craft beer? Check. Much edgier barstaff than you are? Check? Down an alley? Check. Johnny Cash on the stereo? Check and check. I wanted to go because I wanted to try it but with some recent rock bottom experiences with other bars in this vein I kept expectations set to low. There is nothing particularly original about Greasers. American food stopped being a revelation a while ago, and frankly is starting to grate a little. Bloody Marys and Picklebacks are having a real moment right now so people are slinging them at you anywhere you go. And craft beer? You can now actually get it with breakfast some places. The fact that these are everywhere does not in any way diminish their appeal. I like burgers, I love bloody marys, and I enjoy brine more than is entirely reasonable. And these offerings are made all the more appealing by Greaser. The space itself is lovely with ample couch seating and booths, elegantly low lighting that isn't seedy and the mid-century music that is curated rather than cloying. Special mention must be made of the staff. During our visit they were uniformly incredibly polite, attentive and very very pleasant to deal with. Knowledgeable about the drinks behind them and able to mix an excellent cocktail. These are the sort of staff we should see more of and who should be clutched like rare diamonds by bar owners. Special shout to the woman with the tattoos and undercut. She mixed what is easily the best bloody mary I've had in Brisbane. Served on bourbon with plenty of hot sauce, this was living and this was living well. Greaser also has a top flight tequila selection which is really great to see. It's wonderful that more places are experimenting with tequila and incorporating it into more than shots, which is a really barbaric way to treat a drink of such complexity. One of our group hailed from Mexico City so this was a blessed relief. My ex is Mexican and nothing says 'Australians are completely clueless about soft racism' than taking someone's national drink and letting bogans punch it until they fall over Here the reposada is served in appropriate glassware and all is good. The troubles with on-trend establishments are just like the troubles of any other establishment, poor staff, wrong price point, sub-par offerings etc. The problem is when a venue is also tricked up there can be a gloss over it that keeps people coming back for no particularly great reason other than to be seen to enjoy themselves. Greaser suffers for none of this. This is a bar that is serious about being a bar. All venues need an edge. But as more and more venues in Brisbane slide from creative to kitsch it is deeply refreshing to see a venue like Greaser that maintains an interesting point but does it with a laser like focus on great service, great décor, great drinks and great food. It's a real credit to the group behind this venture. I'll be back. A lot.

I found this place simply by looking on the Internet, it sounded interesting, so my wife and I came…read morefor lunch- and we were not disappointed! We walked a couple of blocks and were impressed with the California feel about the place- definitely living up to its name! We walked in and were greeted by the hostess, they have tables outside, and we chose to sit there. The menu is a QR code. I ordered drinks, and then we ordered a couple of appetizers. The drinks and food came quickly, and we had was excellent! There was a big office Christmas party happening near us, the huge platters of food looked amazing- I would LOVE to have a Christmas party here! We came back a couple of days later with some friends and had another great meal. Service was great, although using the online menu takes away some of the personal touch, but the staff were still attentive to our needs. Chicken fingers were awesome, as were the wings and the fries- crispy and delicious! My wife said the tacos, while not up to California standards, were still excellent. Highly recommended just for the vibe!

One of the best burger joints I've been to in Australia, hands down! I ordered the Southern Fried…read moreburger and the southern spices were on point. The burger was fresh and all the ingredients were well balanced. The staff were lovely, checking in with me and making sure I had fresh table water. The ambiance was lovely with music and laughter around. I would definitely recommend giving this place a try.

Yum! I am no expert on creole or soul food but I know what…read moretastes good - this was good. Came here on a Thursday night for dinner - it was busy but a table for two was found and menu in our hands in no time. Drinks order taken and quickly the drinks provided - usual beer selection with some local craft options, includes cider. We went for the pasta - creole style and it did not disappoint - the taste was just right. Dessert and a coffee topped off a good meal. Found opposite the Johnson Art Series Hotel - it too convenient to miss. Enjoy

It's a rare and specific restaurant in Australia, one that claims to offer New Orleans cuisine,…read morespecifically Italian New Orleans cuisine. The location is a bit out of the way, and characteristically open. They have some nice affectations, notably Crystal hot sauce and some New Orleans beverages. They can whip up a nice pasta dish, and offer plenty of customization options. I was quite happy with their mushrooms, and you can see them cooking stuff up fresh. Of course, that also makes for slow service on a crowded night, and the prices are a bit high for what it is. My other notable downside is that the menu just doesn't offer the range I might have hoped for; it's almost all pasta and pizza and very little of it is vegetarian. Not that this isn't a feature of New Orleans, but I would really have liked some red beans or some okra in there somewhere. It isn't a terrible restaurant, but I suspect it is no substitute for the real thing.

This bar was pretty cool. Being off the main road actually makes it pretty quiet, and a rather nice…read moreplace to sit and relax with a beer. They even some some rather decent beers on tap as well. Okay, I was here earlier in the week, which was probably why it was quieter than normal, but still, it is out of the way, and in a sense I would put it down as a hidden bar. Anyway, it was quite charming.

At first I was little apprehensive to set foot in this place - as it was full of those that are one…read morepast hipster - not sure how to explain them - punk? I'm such a suburban white male. But the scary bald men in their suspenders are super lovely. It's all counter service, which is great as so many places like this try to do table service and just suck. It's all 'dude food' here. But it's pretty good. All the burgers come out on brioche. I've heard the wings are great. The portions (espeically the nachos) are ridic large. There's nothing to write home about. But it's good. And it's relaxed.

If you read nothing else of my review, read that this is a place best ventured to with a group. The…read moremenu is hearty and unless you have super-human eating ability you really won't be able to experience the best of the menu as a solo diner. Still with me? Okay let's begin. I stopped in for lunch and dined solo mid-week. Despite being school holidays it was relatively quite. This is definitely a place that needs the atmosphere of many diners to make it feel like (what I imagine) a true Honky-Donk American bar would be like. The waitresses on duty were so lovely and polite. She explained the flag system they have. Just pop the flag atop the menu holder and it signals to them you would like to ask them a question / order / ask them the meaning of life. This worked fairly well with but a handful of patrons, but I do wonder how it goes when they're at capacity. Defeating the very purpose of dining in an American-style venue, I ordered the Mad Dog Tortilla Salad - grilled chicken, mixed lettuce, smoky bacon, tomatoes, avocado, corn, beans (green), goats cheese, sour cream, house made dressing and tortilla chips. It's a hefty salad and it's probably an illusion to think it's remotely healthy, but I did figure it was more virtuous than a burger or hoagie. As far as salads go, it was filling, a good balance of all ingredients but, and this is entirely personal preference, something this robust needs to be served in a bowl not a silver platter. It's just easier eating. All in all: a solid addition to Bulimba and gives them a part of the Brisbane fixation on US-style eateries.

Recently opened, they started 'quietly' with explosive flavours! I happened to be heading towards…read moreto cross Oxford St at the 'safe pedestrian' crossing when I noticed that the Thai spot is no longer and new seating and decor replaced it. I pursued the menu and the first thing I thought is "YES 'MURICA!" Eager to try them out, I mentioned to my DH when he was finally 'settled in' (and in the midst of removing his shoes) that I'd like to get drinks to 'celebrate.' He put back on his one shoe, and off we went! We ended up sharing a 'Southern Special' 10 Hour Braised Brisket with our chosen sweet potato fries and Bourbon glazed carrots. There's a few of those specials (it's on the second to last page of the menu, just after the BBQ page) - reasonably priced and they come with two sides. I'm not a big meat eater, but daaaammmn that brisket is fiiiinnnnne. And naturally, I came for the drinks - I got the Chipotle and Grapefruit margarita -- perfectly sea salt rimmed Mason wide-mouth jars. Yummily sweet with a nice heat at the back of the throat. I winkled my nose at my DH's choice of Long Island Iced Tea, because I was being a snob as that drink was my 'young, stupid, cheap, and often watered-down preferred drink' - but I am pleased when I tasted it -- good mix and definitely not watered down (just don't let the ice melt, k?). We also ended our meal sharing 'Mum's Milk Punch' (my original desire for one of their Chocolate Peanut Butter milkshake was denied by DH - he's looking out for me). I enjoyed looking at other people's meals, and had a giggle when I glanced at a pretty lady taking a bite out of one of their German hot dogs (...sorry, I know.) In all, we have been impressed, especially as it is a sister restaurant to La Quinta next door (we weren't terribly impressed with the food there). They have the same ordering system where when you're ready to order, put up the flag on the Longhorned cattle head at your table.

Bring your extra stomach or at the very least, wear stretchy pants, for the portions at The Smoke…read moremean business. I guess you could order a salad. But that's like going to a seafood restaurant and having a steak. That's like going to Dreamworld without hopping on the rides. That's like...going to The Smoke and ordering a salad. Yeah. American eats are cropping up all over the place and that suits me just fine. I'm an Aussie, a country boy living in the suburbs. Forever nostalgic for my days out in the bush, my pursuit of western movies, country music and good ol' fashioned BBQ dictates my leisure time as an adult. That's where The Smoke comes in. I can't say it's the best southern yankie grub going. But I can say it's the best I've had. I mean, how wrong can you go with beef brisket smoked for 12-14 hours? How about beef ribs so tender you can pull the meat off the bone with your fork? How about pork ribs so succulent they make my fiance do the foodgasm face? How about slappin' down a generous serve of cool, creamy coleslaw right next to your slab of meat? If it sounds like the only thing missing is chowing down on a plate of buffalo wings (go the blue hot if you like a bit of kick to 'em, stranger) and washing it down with a beer (of which the selection is generous and predictably American) then they've got you covered there, too. Even though the portions are generous, you can still modify your food coma level. There are a few combos that mix up some of their mains should an overly hungry indecisiveness get the better of ya. But if you're feeling all sure footed and slightly less hungry then there's no harm in ordering some pork belly in a southern rub. That's some good eating. Although damned if it ain't a bit dry if you get a bit without the fat on it. Guess that's why they accompany it with a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. The pulled pork's another winner, although be warned, it is vinegar based, so your enjoyment may vary. I also have to give a yee-ha to the Mac & Cheese. It's just like the home made stuff my daddy used to make. Finally, desserts. There are 3. A brownie, and peanut butter pudding which is closer to a dense moose, and last but certainly not least, a big ol' hearty serving of pumpkin pie. To cut this long story short, ya'll need more than one visit to hit all The Smoke's good stuff. Like I said, just remember your stretchy pants.

Oh woooh wwooooh woooh for the longest time…read more... I have waited for the best rib joint in Brisbane. Ribs done the American way, meaty on the bone, tender oh so tasty, homemade BBQ sauce. You definetely need to book before you head here, I've tried going there off the cuff and no sir. They just don't have the space for stragglers. Probably a good thing, I had my tracksuit pants on. The onion rings are to die for melt in your mouth orgasmic, I can't even write a sentence there that makes sense because it's making my drool just thinking about it. The beef ribs, forget about it. You can't get any better. They are tender, and sauced with that homemade BBQ sauce, you just die. The buffalo wings... very spicy... thank god I got the mild ones, even they were a bit kick you in the guts peppery. My husband ordered the hot ones... yeah, I can handle it. Yeah right. There was no more ice in the ice bucket. So if you want ribs done the right way and want to try your hand in the American Buffalo Wings experience, this is where you need to be. Oh, and don't forget to starve yourself beforehand, it's a lot of meat. Not for the vegetarian and not for the faint hearted... literally.

Beef lovers delight! This chefs at this unpretentious eatery…read moreat East Brisbane/Kangaroo Point really know how to cook beef. The brisket, pastrami, beef cheeks and beef ribs are smoked and cooked to perfection. The meat just melts in your mouth and is full of flavour. The portions here are very generous and it's all very reasonably priced. The salads are very good too! The food came out very fast even though it was busy.

Defiant Duck, Newstead, Brisbane,Qld. Terrific little joint…read morewhich will be loved by locals. Big choice of beers on tap and lots of USA style fast foods. Really fast and efficient service. So take your time before ordering. Nothing to complain about - reasonable price for quality burgers,hotdogs and wonderful sides. Worth the visit. However not to be defient,but no duck on the menu?? #facxual_events

This wasn't a bad bar at all. In fact, it was rather nice. Okay, I won't say that it was one of the…read morebest that I've visited, but it was nice. There were some decent beers on tap, the place was rather spacious as well, and the service was pretty good. The thing that sort of irked me was that it just feel a bit too clean and sterile - it could have had something to spice it up a bit more. Still, it was a nice bar.

It is literally the hole in the wall. Yes it is a cliche,…read morebut it fits - the place is great. Food is good. Had a burger special with a friend. Great quality and value for a city foodary. The place gets busy at lunch so advice is get in early to beat the rush. Plenty of outdoor seating- under big umbrellas perfect for chatting and crowd watching. Definitely doing it again.

Red hook is the perfect lunch spot! I haven't been there for dinner yet but I plan to this week…read more It's an outdoor restaurant and very conveniently located in the cbd. I had the duck tacos and they were so good. I really like the staff there they are nice and attentive. They play good hip hop and I like their NY no sleep till Brooklyn vibe. Can't wait to go back and try some other items!

So I've read some pretty bad reviews about The Beat but I've gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised!…read more Being open to new things, I was stoked that my three friends who attend the beat on the regular asked if I'd want to come to "the best gay club". Arriving before 11pm on a Friday night meant half price drinks and of course we couldn't pass that up. The line was fast moving and we got in with no cover charge (about 10.45 pm). Music was great, but very loud. PSA there are stairs upon stairs inside this night club. I made the mistake of wearing platform heels which later in the night lead me to "gracefully" tripping over one of the smaller staircases and falling down completely, made a pretty sweet recovery though. The bartenders on both the top level and the bottom level were great! There was some great energy going around. The drink prices were the best part. We all ordered vodka lime and bitters which didn't exceed $4.50 each. The bathrooms were decently tidy and the lines weren't obnoxious. I loved that the photographer made it a point to take multiple photos of almost everyone in the club and also showed them to us for approval (a girls best friend). After leaving and then coming back around 2 am, there was a cover charge. I think about $5? But don't quote me because I don't remember. I do remember though, the drink prices stayed consistently low even into the wee hours. Overall, I had a blast at The Beat. Great energy and awesome staff and fellow club-goers. I won't hesitate to make another fun night out of this place.

This place is great. Diverse nightlife suited to a variety of different scenes. 6 bars with 5…read moredifferent dance floors. You can get into everything from house, pop, rave to RnB and back. They're also one of the few nightclubs that still stay open until 5am. They have shows games and a variety of competitions almost every night. Cover charge is reasonable and you can get in for free until 1030 most nights. They also have a free bbq on Sunday's around 630-7 which is great. If you've never been, you should give it consideration. You'll be in for a good night out.