Which are the 12 best new restaurants in Brisbane? Times have been challenging, but that hasn’t stopped food creatives from putting their heart and soul into some surprising new venues around the river city. Most of the action has been close to the CBD, but there’s a new suburban star to taste as well.
I asked some of my food-loving friends for their top new tastes, and here are their favourites.
• Jess AKA Foodie in Heels – Exhibition, Herves, Tillerman
• Karen AKA Brisbane Food and Wine – Exhibition, Tillerman and Etna
• Mary Dickinson – The Lodge and Rothwells
There are 12 on my list, some of which I am still to try. Which are your favourites?
BOS Tomahawk steak
Bos suckling pig
12 Best New Restaurants in Brisbane
BOS
A new haven for meat eaters, BOS at the Howard Smith Wharves end of Queen Street has fabulous views of the River and Story Bridge. You may have dined there when Otto occupied the site before the restaurant moved to South Bank. Named for the Latin word for beef, BŌS, comes from a trio who really know their beef. Chris Higgins, ex Mr and Mrs G Riverbar, Cha Cha Cha, acclaimed chef Adrian Richardson and Brisbane lawyer Liam McMahon.
Need to know
With several new restaurants opening in the area in just a few months and Andrew McConnell’s Asian-inspired Supernormal launching across the road in early 2023, this end of town is fast becoming Brisbane’s fastest-growing dining precinct.
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Brisbane is no stranger to great steak restaurants. You’ll find more to enjoy at Black Hide and Walters Steakhouse
Rothwell’s Beef Wellington IMAGE Dean Swindell
Rothwells Seafood Platter IMAGE Dean Swindell
Rothwells Bar & Grill
Leading the resurgence in classic Brisbane CBD dining, Rothwell’s combines smooth, old-world European glamour with deep Brisbane heritage. The bronzed pastry of their eye-catching Beef Wellington turns heads as it parades to your table. Still, the perfect slices of pate, opulent seafood platters, and 9+ wagyu rump with onion rings will also win followers. This is memorable dining with a great deal of style.
Need to know
Downstairs is a new private dining area that is secluded and enclosed. Perfect for important diners and anything that needs to be kept away from public eyes.
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Leonards in CBD Mary Street has the same high service levels with an innovative food menu.
Tillerman Black Pearl White Sturgeon Caviar Served with Buttermilk Blini, Crème Fraiche, Chives, Cornichon, Egg White and Yolk IMAGE Judit Losh
Tillerman
Veteran Brisbane restauranteur Andrew Baturo bounced back from Naga Thai’s closure due to the Riverside Centre’s redevelopment with the opening of seafood-centric Tillerman in Riparian Plaza.
Tillerman’s Head Chef, Suwisa Phoonsang, has moved over from Naga Thai to focus on using only the freshest and premium seafood. The menu takes its influences from some of the world’s best seafood dishes depending on the top produce available on the day from their suppliers. So expect anything from croquetas and ‘Sugarcane’ Fish with Nuoc Cham to a simple plate of freshly shucked oysters.
Main courses may include Fremantle Octopus Carpaccio, Golden Pampano Meuniere, Dusky Flathead Burnt Orange Ghee and Fried Caper or Roast Albury Goose Frites with Cherry Vinegar.
Need to know
Well, you probably don’t need to know this, but Tea for the Tillerman was a top 10 album released by Cat Stevens in 1970. Question – In this gender-neutral world and with a female chef at the helm, perhaps Tillerman should have been called Tillerperson?
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Award-winning Gambaro Seafood Restaurant at Petrie Terrace is a Brisbane seafood institution.
Herve’s Restaurant and Bar
It’s a little tricky to find but follow the sounds of happy diners upstairs at Albion’s Craft’s Grounds to find yourself in Herve’s Restaurant and Bar. Sample the Australian produce menu with a French twist from husband and wife chef team Chris and Alex Norman (ex-Emporium Hotel, Brisbane).
Need to know
It doesn’t come cheap, but the excellent food here has found its people, mainly A-list diners and foodies.
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Chris and Alex formerly headed the kitchen at Emporium Hotel’s Signature Restaurant at South Bank.
Sushi Room entrance
Sushi Room, Fortitude Valley
From the team that gave us Hellenika and SK Steak & Oyster comes Sushi Room in James Street. The sushi here is premium, with a price to match the theatrical dining experience. Think fatty Japanese tuna, Tasmanian sea urchins and prawns from New Caledonia.
Need to know
Don’t be misled by the simple name and the hard-to-find, understated entry, the food is anything but ordinary.
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Seafood lovers should also check out SK Steak and Oyster.
Etna
Styled like an old-world pizzeria, Etna in Fortitude Valley comes from the same stable as the high-end Italian restaurant Rosmarino. It seats just 45 inside. The pizza dough is made using a six-year-old starter. Options range from the classic margherita, mortadella and napoli to house specials with king prawns or carbonara.
Need to know
Some say the pizzas here are the best in Brisbane.
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There’s more fine Italian food at Rosmarino.
Dining at Exhibition
Exhibition
Underground and intimate, Exhibition is a new addition to Edward Street in Brisbane’s CBD. The 130-year-old Metro Arts building’s basement has been transformed into an intimate 24-seat underground restaurant and bar with premium seasonal produce from around Australia. Expect a five-course Japanese Omakase style degustation.
Need to know
This premium dining experience has a set menu with a price tag to match.
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Over at South Brisbane, Takashiya offers another premium Japanese dining experience.
The Lodge Bar & Dining
Located in one of Brisbane’s premier dining streets, The Lodge Bar and Dining takes a prime corner position on James Street, Fortitude Valley. This is glamour territory, and The Lodge takes its style from its owner, gentleman’s outfitter Rodd & Gunn, next door. The 150-seat, two-story restaurant has it all. A ground floor with bar and dining, and, on the top floor, wrap-around veranda eating and a private dining space favoured by high-level politicians. Chef Matt Lambert has created a menu with all your favourites, from mud crab custard and open-fire grilled rock lobster to rib eye tomahawk steaks and duck fat potatoes. They also have a buttered Moreton Bay bug roll, but is it as good as the Rick Shores version?
Need to know
The must-try is the caviar service with ‘the royal treatment’.
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Just down the road on James Street, you can enjoy fine food at Brisbane institution Harvey’s Bar and Bistro and continue your people-watching.
Scandi decor at Allonda, Newstead
Dining at Allonda
Allonda
From Sebastiaan de Kort and Kevin Docherty, the talented creators of NOTA Restaurant and Wine Bar in Paddington, comes Allonda, a 90-seat restaurant in a laneway space off Longland Street in Newstead. The menu in this sleek scandi-styled restaurant is broadly European-based, using premium Australian ingredients with the highlight of a raw seafood and burrata bar.
Expect freshly made pasta paired with a secret recipe from Nonna, Venetian risotto, West Australian scampi, and chicken liver parfait. Their signature tempura fish sandos (think Rick Shore’s bug rolls but with fish) also grace the menu.
Need to know
The mezzanine level can be used for private functions.
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If you like Allonda, it’s a no-brainer to try NOTA at Paddington.
Izakaya Publico restaurant IMAGE Kerry Heaney
Dining at Izakaya Publico
Izakaya Publico
Izakaya Publico and its accompanying Bar 1603 live up to the promise of an izakaya, a Japanese word (居酒屋) that means “stay-drink-place.” Here you can grab a drink at the bar, then settle in for some fine Japanese food just like you would enjoy at a traditional izakaya tucked away in one of Tokyo’s side streets at this Japanese restaurant in Turbot Street.
Need to know
Sit close to the kitchen and order their flame-fired food to see Australia’s only Warayaki grill in action.
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For more Asian-inspired food and one of the best views in Brisbane, head to The Terrace at Emporium Hotel South Bank.
Mews, Howard Smith Wharves
Mews
You’ll head to Mews for the hyper-local dining experience from Chef Andrew McCrea. Drawing from a network of artisans and producers he developed while working in the kitchens of Queensland’s Parliament House, McCrea uses 80 percent of produce sourced within three hours of the venue. It’s a great selling point which also tastes fabulous. Find it on the ground floor of Crystalbrook Vincent at Howard Smith Wharves
Need to know
Go for the food, but you’ll love the street-art-inspired wall decor with some of Brisbane’s biggest names included.
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Head out into Howard Smith Wharves to finish your evening at Felons or up to the Crystalbrook Vincent rooftop bar Fiume.
Half shell scallops, tarama, sumac, salmon caviar at BABYLON, Brisbane IMAGE StevenWoodburn
Babylon Brisbane
Babylon from the Mantle Hospitality Group is a three-level 120-seater restaurant cascading from Eagle Street to the Brisbane River. The theme is Levantine cuisine, a tricky name for Middle Eastern flavours. The dishes are cooked over wood and charcoal, and there’s plenty of prime produce. The menu makes good use of the fire with wood-fired treats, including pumpkin, chicken skewers and beef, the always hard to resist, and house-made bread with za’atar spiced butter. The dessert list includes my all-time favourite Turkish Delight!
Need to know
With an approachable price point, popular flavours and a perfect location, this restaurant will surely become a Brisbane go-to.
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There’s a similar Middle Eastern menu at Brisbane’s best vegetarian restaurant, ZA ZA TA.
More top Brisbane restaurants to try
Babylon Turkish Delight IMAGE Steven Woodburn
