You know those people, you know they're mentally disturbed. They should be sent to Australia
Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode “The Good Samaritan”)
My backlog of post is continuously increasing, and sincerely I see no way to catch up with some of the post properly. As a result, I decided to give you at least a quick highlight of some of my favourite and not so favourite experience in Brisbane.
The Spanish Posh Place
Ortiga it’s a nice relax place, quite atmosphere, looks anything but Spanish. However, the menu is quite regional. Two levels, tapas on the top one, and full dining on the bottom one. Owner Simon Hill bet has giving him three chef hats by the Australian Good Food Guide.
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| Spanish cured cuts |
The highlights, the San Simon cheese from Galicia, a creamy cow milk slightly smoked, delicious. Also the Valdeon blue was superb, a cow milk spicy cheese, wrapped in sycamore leaves from Castilla y Leon. The Iberico is quite good, even I usually don’t like to eat Jamon outside Spain as disappointments are a common denominator. The chargrilled marinated chicken wings were awesome, I loved them, the marinated was extremely good sadly not too Spanish. You can also try La guilda, it was the first pintxo ever, an olive, anchovy, and pickled chilli. Quite strong flavours, good acidity, the olive flavour really nice with the salty anchovy. I would avoid the potatoes as the sauces were terrible. We ended having Armagnac excellent strong aromas while you drinking.
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| Iberico time |
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| La Guilda |
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| Armagnac |
Ortiga
T: +61 7 3852 1155
Spanish Cuisine
Approx Damage: AU$50pp
Area: Fortitude Valley
Brisbane
Brisbane
Twitter: ortigawine
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The Italian One
Tartufo is a modern Italian place from chef Tony Percuoco. The place was packed so I sat by the bar which was some sort of American diner style boots and tables but with a European twist, probably similar to a French Brassiere style. Dark oak with crimson red boots, dim lights (terrible for food bloggers), noisy place, Buena Vista Social Club as musical ambience. Two hats from Australian Good Food Guide.
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| Tartufo's bar |
I started with Calzoni fritti, so some sort of Panzerotti, small fried handmade calzone filled with ricotta, salami, provola mozzarella, and white pepper, topped with basil tomato and Parmesan. Amazing flavour that's what we call a Pastelito back in Venezuela. I think it needed a bit more in the fryer as the dough was underdone/tough, but the flavour was great the cheese with ricotta the basil and tomato punch really nice, good balance of flavours, wouldn’t mind a bit more of the salami. My main a cotoletta alla valdostana. Veal rack filled with fontina cheese, sage, and prosciutto, coated in almond and breadcrumbs. Amazing the flavour was great, perfectly cooked, the melted cheese superb. As a side a rocket salad, simple but perfect. I can eat in places like Tartufo every day.
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| Panzerotti |
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| Cotoletta |
T: +61 7 3852 1500
Italian Cuisine
Approx Damage: AU$ 73pp
Area: Fortitude Valley
Brisbane
Twitter: TartufoBrisbane
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The Other Spanish Place
Moda is another Mediterranean restaurant. One chef hat by AGFG. Al fresco sitting, nice and quiet atmosphere. The menu under chef Javier Codina based on rustic cuisine. It only had a couple tables when my visit for diner.
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| Moda |
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| The place |
I got a Manolete chorizo sausage with pimientos. Great flavour, a spicy notch, and the beautiful pimientos cooked on the grilled with a smoky flavour, sea salt, and olive oil drizzle. Great dish.
The zucchini flowers with goat cheese, and sweet corn salsa, oh my god! It's a volcano of flavours, I love it. The corn salsa is great, tomato, red onions, watercress, corn, just beautiful, and when you cut the flower the creamy goat cheese explosion in perfect balance of acidity and sweetness punch. Superb dish.
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| Chorizo and pimientos |
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| Zucchini flower |
Finally, Angel hair pasta with scallops, calamari, prawn, and aioli. This is the rustic cuisine that characterise the place. A heavy dish, dense, well-seasoned, the aioli makes it lighter, seafood was cooked perfectly, great flavour and excellent to share.
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| Angel Pasta |
T: +61 7 3221 7655
Mediterranean Cuisine
Approx Damage: AU$65pp
Area: CBD
Brisbane
Twitter: modarestaurant
The Greek Transatlantic
George's Paragon serves Mediterranean cuisine in a traditional style. White and blue atmosphere with an outstanding view of the river and story bridge. No chef hats for the place. Seafood oriented menu.
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| The place |
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| The view |
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| The Platter |
T: +61 7 3211 8111
Mediterranean Cuisine
Approx Damage: AU$80pp
Area: CBD
Brisbane
The Modern Australian
Tank is a Modern Australian cuisine awarded with one chef hat by AGFG. Intimate space inside, while outside a laneway bar with U shape tables. The menu is a combination of mod oz cuisine with Italian.
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| The place |
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| Special |
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| Calamari |
T: +61 7 3003 1993
Modern Australian
Approx Damage: AU$45pp
Area: CBD
Brisbane
Twitter: TankRestaurant
The Hotel Steakhouse
Vintaged a modern and luxurious restaurant located at the lobby of the Hilton. Minimalistic style, relax, not too busy. Classic steakhouse menu, no hats for Vintaged.
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| Vintaged |
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| Pork Belly time |
T: +61 7 3231 3265
Steakhouse
Approx Damage: AU$35pp
Area: CBD
Brisbane
Twitter: VintagedGrill
The French Bistro
Montrachet is a lovely and classic French cuisine under the command of Chef Thierry Galichet. The place is like getting into a bistro in Paris. French décor, small tables in single line, and a big marble bar for more sporadic clientele. Well lit the white brick wall gave intensity and atmosphere. Menu changes every couple months.
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| Montrachet |
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| Jamon tostade |
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| Steak tartare |
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| Scallops |
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| Bouillabaisse |
As a plus the service was great, probably the best I found in Brisbane and the food is simply excellent.
Montrachet
T: +61 7 3367 0030
French Cuisine
Approx Damage: AU$115pp
Area: Paddington
Brisbane
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