There’s something about a restaurant where as soon as you walk in you realise you have come to the right place where fine food and wine combine for the ultimate dining experience.
As we continue on our delicious drive around the country checking out Chef-hatted venues, here are five to set the standard for your next memorable meal:
Mouth-watering Cuisine + Enviable View
An all-encompassing destination for wine tasting, functions, mouth-watering local cuisine and an enviable view, Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard on Harris Road in Lenswood has fast warranted itself an enthusiastic loyal following. A rustic, barn-like cellar door has been expanded and refurbished with wide timber decks allowing diners to admire sweeping valley landscapes, as they sip estate wines and feast on delectable dishes.
Pair a glass of estate red with starters like beef tartare, witlof, mustard, egg yolk, radish and tomato powder; then delve into mains such as chicken, corn, pommes Anna and spring onion, with a side of charred cabbage, or sirloin steak, tempura oyster, seaweed Bordelaise and turnip. Those with room left to spare, indulge with decadent desserts like almond panna cotta, compressed melon and fig leaf.
Sophisticated Dining in Brisbane
Primal eating and sophisticated dining are on the menu at Fatcow on James Street in Fortitude Valley. This elegant restaurant is a new addition to the Brisbane dining scene, boasting a solid marble bar, circular booth seating and mirrored ceilings to complement a menu specialising in steak and live lobster.
The latest offering from the Tassis Group, expect entrées like char-grilled prawns, creamy bisque, piment d’esplette and finger lime, or seared scallops on charred corn miso purée with lime gel and furikake; before signature mains like eye fillet steak, half wood-fired butter and garlic lobster, or rib fillet topped with gold leaf and served with sides of mashed potato and roasted pumpkin with blue cheese sauce.
Beautiful Vineyard Vistas and Wine
Taste the quality of Great Southern and Western Australian produce while enjoying estate-grown wines at Monty's Leap on South Coast Highway in Albany. Based on the banks of the ancient Kalgan River, the vineyard, cellar door and restaurant offer beautiful vistas overlooking the vines; ideal for lingering over a leisurely lunch with family and friends, from an ever-changing menu showcasing seasonal and local ingredients.
Begin a memorable culinary adventure with pork belly, nduja, grilled plum and corn salsa paired with a glass of Sunset Red, or market fish carpaccio, avocado, buttermilk, jalapeño, chilli oil and lime; for the main affair, think choices like duck breast, creamy parsnip, blueberry jus and sage, or Wagyu steak, sauce au poivre and grilled greens, paired with a glass of River Hawk Shiraz.
Heart of Italy Meets Casual Dining
Indulge in rich, authentic flavours at Firma Italian on Grey Street in South Brisbane where the heart of Italy meets the soul of casual dining. Find yourself transported to the charming streets of Europe as you dine in elegant surrounds of banquette and intimate table settings, floral arrangements and wine racks on dishes from handmade pasta to slow-cooked sauces, with every bite a celebration of tradition crafted with passion and precision.
Say ciao to starters of tender octopus, with potato, lemon oil, black olive and parsley, or scallops, pine nuts, tomato and basil; then twirl your fork around pasta plates of malloreddus with swordfish ragu, cherry tomato and pangrattato. Perhaps roast pork belly tempts, served with cabbage salad and apple vincotto, or crumbed veal cutlet, tomato, rocket and Parmesan; finish with indulgent tiramisu for two.
Thoughtfully Restored Historic Venue
There’s space for everyone at your new local watering hole, The Milton Hotel on Princes Highway in Milton. This thoughtfully restored historic building has great indoor-outdoor dining with a view out to the ocean from the deck, where soaking up the sun with an icy brew is the name of the game; or sip a whiskey in the lounge before a memorable meal with family and friends.
The in-house micro-brewery makes this pub the House of Dangerous Ales – grab a Crispy Boy Lager to go with grilled prawns, curry butter, tamarind and lime; from the wood-fire come mains like a BBQ pork chop, with Szechuan, BBQ mushrooms, master stock and sides of cabbage, sesame and crispy shallots, along with chippies and housemade ketchup.
