Great food, lovely service & excellent wine list The food at…read morethis suburban bistro is lovely and the wine list is really impressive. The staff are attentive but I thought it was a little pricey.

Cinco Bistro is less than a 500m walk from our door. Even better, it's downhill on the way home. A…read morevery attractive proposition when you're heading to a 5 course Taste of Piedmonte degustation with matching wines ($120 pp). Hat's Off Dinners are a chance for restaurants that received 1 or more hats in the 14/15 Guide to do a special menu that shows off their cooking chops or in this case, cotoletta. Cinco is lucky enough to have Michelin chef Andrea Leone working with them and it was from his native Piedmont that he drew inspiration for this dinner. A region in northern Italy that borders both Switzerland and France, it's famous for its fortifying mountain cuisine. The style of hearty food you enjoy after day of hiking the freezing alps or skiing the piste is quite different from the calorie intake you require after a 500m walk. The dishes on offer had been lightened significantly but the elements remained. Many people would be hard pressed to tell you where Piedmont is on the map but if they had any knowledge of Italian cuisine, they'd certainly know the dishes. As part of the anti pasti, Bagna Cauda was served in a baked and caramelised onion cup. Translated as 'hot dip', garlic and anchovies are pounded together to create a warm, creamy, salty sauce served with blanched vegetables. Vitello Tonnato is a favourite of mine. Rare veal is sliced paper thin and coated in a sauce of eggs, tuna, capers and lemon juice. Served at room temperature, this version included slivers of pickled sardine to add extra piquancy to cut through the rich sauce. Tiny ravioli filled with oozy regional Fontina cheese was the richest dish of the evening finished in brown butter dusted with shaved truffles. It didn't touch the sides. The final dish was Bollito Misto or 'boiled meat', though there was nothing plain or peasant like about this dish with carrot top pesto, little gems of sweet mustard fruits and an almond tarator style sauce. Dessert was a cold, smooth milky chocolate pudding or budino that despite its appearance was not overly rich. A citrus sauce and candied, dehydrated orange slices provided sweetness, with a slight hint of bitterness. Paired with a moscato, it was a remarkably light dessert. Service throughout the evening was stellar. It's an art to serve an entire restaurant with the each of five courses at the same time. The somelliers were happy to discuss the qualities and merits of the wines being poured. It's been quite some time since I've been able to engage in conversation with staff who really knew their product. Peter Stubbs has certainly put a lot of effort into selecting the correct staff and providing a high quality dining experience. Cinco was recently awarded BYO Restaurant of the Year by the 2015/16 Brisbane Times Good Food Guide

Six Degrees is quite a surprising place! It does not look like much from the outside but it…read moreactually offers some top quality food. It has become a bit of a secret gem amongst Western suburb dwellers as more and more people are discovering its quality food. I had walked past time place many times and disregarded it as a cafe that probably serves your generic cake, sandwich and coffee type. One day, my boyfriend and I thought we would go for just a quick snack, we did not want to enter the busy shopping centre, so this place seemed like a sensible option. We were impressed from the moment we walked in; the place looks much nice on the inside than the outside. Once we sat down and looked at out menus we realised the place offered better meals than we thought. You can get seafood, duck and all sorts of meals cooked in adventurous ways. Since we weren't that hungry though, we decided to share a satay burger, this was one good burger. The burger was moist, tender and the satay sauce added an unexpected twist. This just goes to show, you can't judge a place by its exterior. Six Degrees looks very plain and uninviting from the outside, but once you walk it - it is a complete different story.

My family and I love this restaurant. We bring all our friends here. Olivia is the sweetest person,…read moreand the most incredible baker. She baked my Mum a tiramisu cake for her birthday this year :) The food is incredible. I dream about their duck pancakes. You seriously can't go wrong with whatever you order though :) I love their curry, pizza, and risottos!! Emphasis on risottos. This place is a hidden little gem :) it's one of those places you wish always had a line out the door because you love the food and the people so much. Highly recommended!

Because it's the "in" thing these days, I ordered me a smashed avocado served on toasted malt and…read morebarley bread, pepitas, feta, lemon and some poached egg. We also ordered a breakfast burrito with fried eggs, bacon, sautéed onion, mushrooms, mozzarella, tomato relish, smashed avocado. Don't we all want more avocado to ensure that we live an eternal life? ;-) Also, I had an opportunity to try the chicken burger with bacon, smashed avocado, haloumi, spinach, tarragon mayonnaise, and beer battered chips, which were pretty good. Vue is a cute little place with simple but elevated food.

I got lost going into Vue for the first time; not only because it has a charming little outdoor…read moreseating area, but because it also has an indoor area AND a hybrid area of the two. So I walked through to the indoor area and was first struck by one of their walls. Ever seen Get Him to the Greek? Familiar with the concept of the furry wall? Well at Vue, it exists; it actually exists. They have a carpeted wall with this funky design and the décor and colours of the place just remind me of coffee. Everything is black or brown or mocha and reflects a cool, trendy, and vibrant atmosphere. If coffee could take on a tangible décor form, this would be it. Putting aside the furnishing and décor for a second, the food itself was wonderful. I started off with garlic pizza and it had a real kick with a great burst of fresh flavour. The staff were also very attentive and cleared away plates as soon as we were done, always asking if we had enjoyed our courses. Essentially, I felt like I was being looked after, and it was nice. Merthyr Road is a really great and lively strip and Vue takes the cake in a really classy way. I recommend it for an intimate dinner with a fresh twist. Boys, you'll also be very pleased to know that Vue serves a great range of boutique beer, so you're all set.

As I sat in this eclectic cafe-come-vintage store-come-honey dealer I almost forgot I was in…read moreBrisbane. I had driven over the bridge and into a pocket of Brisbane, I'll freely admit, I had never ventured before. Apples came to my attention, as most things do these days, via The Internet (Instagram I think) and it had been on my "to try" list since. So, try I did. On a windy and wintery Wednesday morning I ventured to Apples and for a moment thought I had taken a wrong turn as there was no easily visible sign from the street. Nestled smack bang in a row of old school shops including a convenience store and nail spa and across the road from a lawn bowls club, Apples on Ainsworth is the last thing you'd expect to find. You know as soon as you see the knitted blankets over the mismatched outside furniture you're about to walk into a gem of a cafe. A cafe that feels like you're visiting your grandmother. It is a vintage visual feast and I'm distracted, forgetting that I'm here for lunch. There's a standard menu including avocado on sourdough with haloumi but on this occassion I take a punt on the eggplant risotto cake from the cabinet at the counter (also housing sweets and sandwiches) with a side of salad. PS. This salad was wicked. Beetroot, nuts, kale and a poached egg. I'm not sure what they put in it but it was easily competing to be the hero food on that plate party. Their coffee is Byron Beans and I could drink about three more flat whites than I do. You can also purchase some of the vintage and retro knick-knacks on display and if you bring your own container or jar you can also purchase fresh honey. Ainslie is a little bit out of the way for my north-side self but, in my opinion, well worth the trek!

Came here today at around 10 am for brunch. Almost didn't go in as it didn't look too friendly! But…read morebased on positive reviews on Yelp, I pushed on. Took me a while to focus on the deco and find the menus hiding amidst piles of newspaper on the side by the wall. Fairly small place inside so it was a cosy fit. They have extra tables outside as well. Antique furniture and little knick knacks gave this place a really charming and interesting personality. The staff were an interesting bunch and seemed friendly. I ordered the sunny side up (two eggs, spinach, one slice of sourdough toast and aioli) with a side of bacon. It was pretty yummy, though I personally found the yolks slightly over cooked and I'm a little confused as to why there weren't two slices of toast, but maybe that's just me being a fatty but I always thought two was standard the bacon was super delicious though! Thick, soft and not too salty. At $9.90 (plus $4 for bacon), it's really good value for money. Props to the dude who cleaned up our plates. He was so polite and smiled genuinely

This pub wasn't all that bad, though once again, considering its location is probably isn't one of…read morethe best in the area. However, you do tend to get that with pubs that happen to be located in entertainment districts such as Fortitude Valley. In a way, it was pretty much just your standard pub, though the service was friendly enough, and the atmosphere was also pretty good. I didn't mind it, but unfortunately, with the other better ones out there, it really didn't compare all that much.

With so few pubs around The Valley offering good pub food, The Flying Cock is a sight for sore…read moreeyes. I've been frequenting this place pretty regularly since its opening a few years ago, and have rarely left disappointed (besides the one burnt parmy like 2 years ago). The fitout is spacious and unassuming, with the walls plastered with pieces of Australiana - even the table numbers bear faces of notable Australians (my girlfriend, being the ALP supporter she is, had to request a different number to the John Howard one we were originally given). The food is a broad range of pub classics, with steaks, parmys, burgers and all that you'd expect, alongside some more inspired dishes like tacos and ice cream sandwiches. They also offer a $40 chook pack that comes with a slew of accoutrements that will definitely leave 3 people walking away feeling very well sated. There's also a bunch of great weekly deals like 2 parmys for $19.99 on Wednesdays, and the smuggler's bar up top has a great vibe and regularly hosts events like trivia. Definitely a place to check out for good quality, modern pub food that won't break the bank, unlike a few of the other places nearby.

I had two food experiences, one being room service and the other the full breakfast buffet. In both…read morecases, prices were higher than even usual in Australia, and while there was quantity, the flavors were lacking. Room service us available in the evenings and strangely, the menu is different than if you were eating in the restaurant. I would have eaten in the restaurant, but the menu there was fancy and even more expensive, so I opted for room service. There's a $4 AUD tray fee. I had the crispy chicken sandwich, which came with chunky fries. Large portions on both; the chicken spilled out of the bun. Both were fresh fried and crispy outside. But the chicken was a bit bland, while the fries were oversalted. (I guess they balanced each other, salt-wise.) I was okay with the chicken but the fries were just too salty for me. I had the full breakfast buffet for $25 AUD (about $17 US at the time). There was a continental breakfast buffet for less and a few items you could order, like an omelet or eggs benedict. I had bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, sauteed mushrooms, hash browns, fresh fruit, and orange juice. (I had two flights that day, and needed a big hit of protein to sustain me.) Again, quantity, but flavors were lacking. I made sure to eat and drink everything I took, but it wasn't worth the price. Breakfast was served till 10:30, but already at 9:45 when I arrived, they weren't putting out any more food. People who arrived after me found that a lot of stuff was already depleted. The dining room is spacious, with interior and exterior seating and tables. There's a nice view outside. There's a bar here, too. It would be a nice place to have coffee or a drink and watch the sunset.

You know when you travel for work it can be a bit hit and miss. Whilst not a hit per say, they…read morecertainly started off on the right with a really good coffee. Then there was a choice of buffet; continental or full or you can opt for a la carte, which is what I did. The menu has a great all round selection that would please most. I went for 2 poached eggs with side orders of Haloumi and hash browns. Service was very quick, about ten minutes from ordering. Eggs were cooked to my exact liking and as requested. It was a real shame they weren't free range as they has little flavour. Hash browns were crisp and golden and Haloumi, well I just love that cheese. The bread looked like it was just waved over the toaster which actually worked out for the best. It annoys me web restaurants serve thick hard crusts, like a sourdough, and you can barely put a knife throughout. The wilted rocket used for garnish would have been best left off the plate. Next time I think I'll go for the buttermilk pancakes with mixed berries.

Spanish tapas style although they have some larger plates. We ordered the passion fruit sangria…read morewith little ice but lacked some taste as it seemed to be dilutes bit too much. The octopus was excellent and done well. The pork tomahawk was tasty and cooked perfectly but was a bit on the small size. It wasn't really a tomato but rather just a pork chop. The seafood paella was decent and had good flavours and had a decent amount of seafood.

Never disappointed. Always delicious creations of Tapas. Authentic flavours of Spain…read more Spices salty Chorizo, white anchovies, creamy mushrooms porcini cream and manchego, lamb, olives, swordfish and croquetas to die for Perfect for groups, small plates or larger. Beers wines and sangria. Yummmmo A definite must when in brisbane

When a friend of a friend who used to own a reasonably well-known Brisbane cafe says to you that…read moreyou should check out Jacu Espresso. You listen. And so, following a conversation with this friend, off I went to taste the brew being poured at this Norman Park cafe. I arrived at around 11 and there were a few customers about - two women who I'm guessing had just finished a flex yoga class next door, two mothers catching up and general cafe goers. It was a calm atmosphere even with the air-con technicians attending to the cafe's unit. The space itself is light and breezy. My latte is solid. It's not distinctly any particular blend but it's just a darn good coffee. My friend was right. I also ordered the smashed avocado on sourdough. The bread was fresh and soft - easy to eat delicately and I liked that the avocado came separate to the toast so I could put as little or as much on as I liked. I imagine that locals are loving having this kind of cafe in their hood. And while I won't necessarily drive here specifically for coffee again, if I find myself in this area, I know I have a solid option up my sleeve for a strong coffee.

I've been going to Jacu since it's humble beginnings a few years ago now. It started out as just a…read moresmall local cafe serving high quality coffee with a rotating filter coffee (Veneziano). Since then they have had culinary mastermind Tim Dorman effectively utilise the tiny kitchen space to generate meals that are significantly higher quality and absolutely more creative than the standard "bacon, eggs and sourdough" cafes. Unashamedly using a wide variety of flavours borrowed from other cultures around the world (think labne, sagnaki, chipotle and kasundi) you'll end up coming back for more. If you're still looking for bacon and eggs, try the BRAT (order extra sagnaki though!) which is the best breakfast sandwich in Brisbane. The coffee is some of the best in Brisbane but by god the most reliable any day of the week. It wins huge points with me for serving filter coffee with a proper breakfast menu too.