Now, my tastebuds prefer to take their time over a tipple. I’m happy to spend a bit more money for a decent glass of wine or a tasty cocktail. Of course, when I fork over my hard earned cash for a cocktail that reminds me of the same quality associated with Red Bear or jugs of Bundy draft, I get a little grumpy.

I know why cocktails are so expensive; they take a while to make, there’s expensive liqueurs and spirits in them, and technically they take some skill to make. So, Fringe Bar: please explain. On my previous visit to Fringe, I enjoyed several cocktails. They were inventive, used quality ingredients, and were whipped up without a problem (although took a little while).

On a recent visit, however, something was awry. I ordered a pina colada, and knew something was up when I was told they didn’t have any coconut cream. This is not the first time this has happened: Brisbane bars, I beg you, STOCK YOUR BARS WITH COCONUT CREAM. It’s like, 90 cents a can from Woolworths. Just do the damn thang.

So, perhaps encouraged by my sad pout, the bartender at Frindge eventually found some coconut cream somewhere, and made me a pina colada (pictured above). I don’t know what the hell I was drinking for 12 days on a recent vacation in Mexico, but it sure wasn’t this. Yes, it was sweet and tasty, but was nothing like a pina colada. I was prepared to forgive and forget, and ordered a Toblerone (pictured below).

Again, it was sweet, but tasted like no Toblerone I’ve ever had. Now, you might be thinking that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and that a unique twist can be good. But this Toblerone was just…weird. Something about the flavour ratios was off. I was missing those gorgeous caramel and chocolate hints that can only come with a crapload of Baileys and sugar.

I persevered and waddled back to the bar one more time. This time, the guy actually knew what he was doing, and produced a tasty ‘Blonde Passion’ (‘summer fruits with fresh cream’. Vague much?). He didn’t just chuck ingredients into a glass and hope for the best; he took his time and put in carefully eyed quantities. This drink was delicious, bitey, and not too rich (can I confess: I was hoping for something richer. My name is A-dawg and I am a cream-based-drink-aholic).

It’s good to know that there is at least one bartender at Fringe who can make a good drink. But this problem happens a lot in Brisbane. Bars need to either put on more staff who can make cocktails, or train all of their staff in the craft. When you’re forking out close to $20 for a drink, I think that’s a good investment.

^Because one day I will be that crazy cat lady.

I’ll jump off my cocktail high horse and commend the rest of Fringe. It’s a really nice bar with lots of comfy seating and heaps of cool private areas. The beer on tap is very reasonably priced, and there’s a distinct lack of the other dickheads who seem to frequent the Valley. And let’s talk snacks - the munchies are GOOD, and not just I’ve-had-several-beers good.

Fringe Bar, I like you a lot. I’ve stepped it up and have stopped going for whatever’s cheap. Maybe you can do likewise and step it up with your cocktails.

UPDATE: I went to Fringe last night (28 May) and had the BEST Pina Colada I’ve ever had outside of Mexico. Later in the night I had a Toblerone that was also fantastic – both made by two different people. Brilliant! Massive improvement on my last visit!

Fringe Bar

Corner of Ann & Constance Streets, Fortitude Valley

07 3252 9833

www.fringebar.com.au

I kid, I kid. He’s a Dominos man. Plus, he’s wrong – Garuva doesn’t smell like our barefooted friends at all. I found out because I went there recently – with my FRIENDS, not with my BOYFRIEND. Sure enough, when we were led through the darkened entrance way into the dining area, I was fuming. “It is romantic! It is sexy! Why have you not taken me there!” I squawked later at D.

Garuva is indeed perfect for couples, but it’s also fun in a group. It’s true novelty dining – each table is private, with a little curtain that is drawn around. The result is rows of little tents in a large room, and one little A-dawg getting quite lost as she wanders around.

So, the little tents are very cool. What isn’t so cool is the seating. Keeping in with the exotic, I’m-eating-on-the-banks-of-the-Nile approach, you sit on the floor on cushions. This would be great for two people. For seven incredibly rowdy people in their twenties, some with abnormally long legs? A little squishy. Make that, really bloody annoying. Larger spaces for larger groups would be fantastic at Garuva.

On to the cocktails – these are pictured in no particular order. My first cocktail was the After Dinner Drink (Kahlua, crème de methe, crème de cacoa blended with milk, cream, ice and portion of Aero peppermint bar, $16). My friend got a Garuva Martini (Chambord, cointreau and cranberry juice, $16). Both drinks were tasty, but – this is where I disgust myself – I was expecting mine to be a lot sweeter and richer tasting.
The favourite of the night was the Garuva Grabber (Mango liqueur and peach schnapps blended with milk, cream and mango pulp, $16). This again was not as creamy or rich as expected, although it was sweet with a fruity kick.

I had heard very good things about Garuva’s cocktails, and most of them were tasty, but I think they skimped on the ingredients a bit. Have you ever heard of a Pina Colada with no rum (Garuva’s is listed on the menu as having Malibu, coconut cream and pineapple juice)? Sorry, but Malibu does not really suffice. They were also very weak, which wasn’t surprising given that most of them didn’t have spirits in them, just liquers. The bar area, however, is awesome; dark and cosy, with an exotic Eastern feel.

The food menu is Asian-influenced, and offers simple dishes that are well priced. We started with Cob bread and Babaganoush (pictured above, $5). This was a bit disapointing – the bread was essentially ordinary bread rolls, and the Babaganoush did not have even a hint of an eggplant flavour. It tasted more like hummus.

Our mains came out and we were pleased with the generous sizes. I ordered the Singapore Vegetables (pictured above, wok steamed vegetables with oyster sauce and lemongrass, served with glass noodles, $23). No real complaints with this dish – the vegies were varied and flavourful.

Other dishes ordered around the table included the Chicken Karaage (Japanese style deep fried chicken accompanied with dipping sauce, $23), and Lamb Curry (Braised lamb shanks with spicy curry sauce, $23). Most of my friends’ dishes were really, really meaty – as in, just meat + rice (as pictured above). We had a chicken dish that I can’t remember the name of (bad blogger), which was tasty with very tender chicken, but the Lamb Curry was disapointing. The meat was very tough and over-cooked, and seemed to be a cheap cut. The Chicken Karaage got the thumbs up around the table, but the meal in its entirety would be a bit a bit sickly for most tastes – it was essentially fried chicken on a bed of rice, with a sweet sauce. (My peeps could handle it though. Arteries of steel.)

Service throughout the night was excellent – friendly and swift. While the meals at Garuva are very average, it’s definitely worth a visit just for the experience. It’s very cool, funky, exotic and unique – and YES, it is slightly ROMANTIC (D are you hearing me).

Garuva Hidden Tranquility
Restaurant & Bar

324 Wickham St
Fortitude Valley (note: the doorway is hard to find – keep your eye out)

(07) 3216 0124

www.garuva.com.au

It’s a similar case with Siana’s website. Go to it. Turn the volume up. Looks like a nice website, right? Nice colours, very chic. Wait for it…
“Everybody’s talkin’ ’bout Sianaaaaa”. There’s the burp. Oh God. Seriously? Seriously, Siana? Take it off. They’ve got a very nice-looking website that’s easy to navigate, then they go and crap all over it with that ridiculous background song.

Luckily, Siana in person does not embarass itself. There is no awkward tune to spoil the night. The food isn’t ugly. The waitresses aren’t mean. In fact, on a recent dinner date at the riverside restaurant/bar, the only thing that worried us was where to go for dessert after (Gelatissimo. Of course).

Neighbourly dining

Siana has a bit of a ‘communal’ dining style that might seem off putting at first. Two very long tables in the dining area mean that you will probably be sitting next to, or across from, a stranger or two. However, this isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The tables are big, so there’s a bit of a buffer zone. Plus, the ambiance at Siana is so gorgeous that you can’t help but overlook the seating arrangements. The location is unbeatable-right on the river, with a view of the Story Bridge. There’s Asian design influences inside, and lots of funky lighting and a fun atmosphere.

Sashimi Platter

The menu is ideal in that it combines several Asian cuisines. This is genius! Indian, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese are all on the one menu. There’s dishes like Pad Thai and Fried Rice, Dim Sum like Gyoza and Pork Buns, Sushi, Tandoori dishes, and curries. A great option are the platters (from $30pp) which come with all sorts of goodies for tasting and sharing. On a previous visit we’d tried the Gold Platter ($35) and loved it-it had sushi rolls, rice paper rolls, little balls of popcorn seafood, dumplings, and some of the best naan I’ve ever had.

We mixed it up a bit on this visit and ordered our own dishes. I went for the Sashimi Plate (12 pecs for $20) and the Asian Greens ($8), which were stir-fried in ginger, garlic, and sesame oil. D went for the Tandoori Salmon ($28), which came with naan bread.

Asian Greens

Tandoori Salmon

The twelve very generous portions of sashimi was delicious and excellent value for money. I felt like a Grizzly Bear who had just been dipping its fat paw in the waters of Alaska, the salmon was that fresh. There was also white tuna, which didn’t have a very distinct flavour-is this normal, sashimi lovers? I am a little new to tuna sashimi, so I wasn’t sure, but it was tasty all the same and seemed very fresh.

My Asian Greens were so simple, yet it was one of the best dishes I’d had in a long time. The flavours in the sauce were tangy and light, and the vegies were cooked to perfection. This, coupled with the sashimi, was probably the healthiest meal I had ever had out.

D’s Tandoori Salmon was also pretty good. The thick slab of salmon went perfectly with the accompanying yoghurt sauce, and the plain naan was there to soak up all the dregs. We’d never had Tandoori salmon before, and noted that the spices took away a lot of that distinct salmon flavour. If you were scoffing it down quickly, you could have mistaken it for a different meat.

We didn’t get any alcoholic drinks but their cocktail (from $17) list is impressive with some tasty-sounding choices. Beer is reasonably priced from $6, and the dessert menu carries the platter theme too; for $16 per person you can enjoy the Dessert Platter, which includes such delights as the Half Baked Chocolate Cake.

Don’t judge a website by its god-awful theme music. Ignore the kitsch, go to Siana, and save the belching for when you get home. Or for in the car, in your partner’s ear. Your choice.

Stairway to Sushi!

Siana Bar and Restaurant
Upper Plaza Level
Riparian Plaza
71 Eagle Street Brisbane

I’m starting to get into the cocktails lately. Don’t ask me why-it’s not like I can afford $20 drinks. When I’m standing at the bar, and I’m presented with a list of delicious concoctions, my mind seems to convince me otherwise.

Such was the case recently at the Jaz Bar, in Toowong. This restaurant/jazz bar specialises in Stonegrill dining, and the dinner and lunch menu is well worth a look. But really, you’d be crazy to side step the cocktails: Jazacino with coffee, Baileys, Tia Maria, milk, and honey. Their menu also included other classics like a Pina Colada and Long Island Ice Tea, and they also offer Virgin Cocktails. It may seem like an odd-looking restaurant from the outside, as it’s positioned over a Woolworths carpark. But don’t let that put you off-inside is quite pleasant and spacious, with a large bar area, a deck, and a jazz musician playing away.

We started with a Lychee Sundae (Lychee Liquer, Baileys, Midori, lychees, and cream), and a Watermelon Kiss (Chambord, Mango Liquer, Lychee Liquer, muddled watermelon, and pineapple juiec). They were both $16, which is really quite reasonable.

The Watermelon Kiss was very refreshing and fruity, and didn’t have a strong alcohol flavour. It sort of was like what would happen if you were a kid with a slushie, and you ‘accidently’ broke intlo your parents’ liquor cabinet with a paper clip and a safety pin. Not that I’ve ever done anything remotely like that.

The Lychee Sundae absolutely trumped the Kiss. It was amazing. It had the consistency of mushed up ice cream, and had a fantastic creamy and tangy flavour. I threw caution to the calorie wind and we ordered more.

This time, my pal got the Lychee Sundae (she had cocktail envy; plus, it’s that damn good), and I went with the Toblerone. It had a very strong chocolate and hazelnut flavour, which was a bit confusing; since when does a Toblerone have hazelnut in it? Have I been eating the wrong pyramid-shaped chocolate all this time? It didn’t bother me too much though, because again, it tasted awesome.

It’s drinks like these that you truly savour, and not knock back like you’re a 16 year old on a Vodka Cruiser. The barman definitely knew what he was doing with a cocktail, which is actually something hard to find in a lot of bars.

Cocktails are the new dessert, people. Take note.

Jaz Restaurant & Wine Bar

80 Jephson St
Toowong

(07) 3870 1111

www.jazbar.com.au

Blogging (or is it pronounched ‘yohging’?) has not quite taken off in Brisbane as it has in Melbourne, Sydney, and especially North America. Usually when I tell people I have a blog I am met with a blank look. It was, therefore, a nice relief to attend a recent bloggers dinner and find out that there are lots of other Brisbane bloggers out there.Originally GG’s idea, the blogger dinner was set up by Kerry and was held at Bar Barossa. A new-ish restaurant, Bar Barossa specialises in wine, particularly from the Barossa Valley (who knew). It has a casual feel, and is decorated with all things vino-oversized wine bottles, a welcoming bar, wine glasses, photographs of such connoisseurs as Peter Lehmann, and some sweet grape-like chandelier things. The space has a very clean and modern feel, which wasn’t what I was expecting-I hear ‘wine’ and I think warm, cosy spaces.

We had a wine tasting on our visit, and tried about seven wines. I have been trying to get into the wine lately, people. And by ‘try’ I don’t mean I’ve been smacking the Sunnyvale every Friday night (but that’s not to say I’d oppose/judge/not join in those who are). I’ve been trying to develop more of a palate for vino, so the tasting was rather timely. We started with a Clare Valley 2008 Riesling, from the Wilson Vineyard. What does this all mean? I don’t really know. But it tasted good. Next up, we were the first ever customers to sip the Semillon from the Cirillo Estate. Winemaker Marco described it as a good oyster and seafood match. This wine was a little lighter in alcohol content, which was probably a good thing, as there were plenty more to try.

I’m really not a good wine critic, so I’ll just briefly go over the others: the 2007 Picardy Chardonnay was fruity, but still a little dry for my liking. The Rose, again from Cirillo, was really good and not overly sweet. This was because it was a dryer red, with only 3.4 grams of sugar per litre. It wasn’t as bitter as the other reds, and Marco said it was because there wans’t as much oak.

The wines were all tasty and complemented the food well, which coming from a newbie to wine, is really saying something.

Now. Food? Food.

I was disappointed to see the all-day tasting menu wasn’t on our tables, and assumed we had to order from the main menu (the waiter told us later that it was in fact available-it would have been nice to know this). Bar Barossa’s menu is fairly small but covers a good range of entrees, mains, and sides. I stuck with a main and promptly got food envy as entrees came out, and on either side of me was plonked half a dozen Coffin Bay Oysters, served with a Verjus Salsa, and a Slow Roasted Tomato and Basil Tartlet (both $18). The oysters looked very fresh, and were presented on a bed of ice. The tart was a pretty generous serve, and had very flaky pastry. I didn’t try either, but that was ’cause I was getting me some SALMON, baby.

For $30, I was really impressed with the size of this dish. The Grilled Atlantic Salmon was really quite big, and had a nice crispy skin. Salmon roe was on top-this was my first salmon roe, people. It was goood. They were little balls of sweetness that burst in my mouth. It was a rather exciting experience for my molars, let me tell you. The salmon came with celeriac mash and some steamed asparagus and snow peas. I would have preferred a higher vegie: mash ratio, but the huge mound of buttery, creamy mash made it a very filling meal. In fact-wait for it-I couldn’t finish it. Huh?

Kay-Lynn beside me was on fire. Both entrees she picked were delicious and excellent value for money. I was really jealous, especially when i tried her House Made Pasta wth Scallops, Prawns, & Salmon in Saffron Salmon Cream & Pearls ($18). The scallops (a generous serving, too) were very tender and were cooked perfectly, while the pasta sauce looked really rich but had a light flavour.

I also tried a little of GG’s Salt & Pepper Quail on Shaved Cucumber and Watercress Salad ($18), which was accompanied by a lovely sweet dressing. The serve was pretty small though, I have to say-and I always find this really funny with salads. Lettuce is cheap, right? Why not chuck a few more leaves on? The presentation of all of the dishes was beautiful, and they came out in an ideal time frame.

If you blog, or review, or whatever, you know that the most stressful part is taking a photo of the food. Some people have no problem with this and will just whip it out (filthy). I get massively stressed out, and am convinced everyone is looking at me and thinking I am a restaurant spy. Or, that they’ll be like the charming girls who sat near me recently at The Cupcake Parlour and loudly discuss why the hell “that girl is taking photos of the cupcakes. OMG she is taking photos of the cupcakes!!11!!”

So. A moment of acceptance washed over me as as soon as the first dish landed on the table, and a dozen cameras were whipped out and people began busily snapping away. Yay!

GG and I were keen for some cheese, although we were pressed for time and had to forgo it in the end*. I was intruiged by the Ciresa Gorgonzola Dolce ($8 for 50g)-sweet cheese?? Yes please.

Service throughout the night was friendly, efficient, and professional. Wine lovers will no doubt adore the place, and it’s refreshing to see such a specialty establishment opening in Brisbane.

*I may or may not have attacked a block of cheddar when I got home

Bar Barossa
Restaurant and Wine Bar

545 Queen St, Brisbane
(corner of Adelaide & Macrossan Streets)

(07) 3832 3530

www.purplepalate.com/barbarossa/

South Bank used to have a beverage that my friends and I thought was the ultimate in culinary delights: the Rainbow Smash. I can hear you all sneer, “Oh, it’s just a frozen coke.” It is not just a frozen coke. It is a Rainbow SMASH, people. It’s all in the title. The range of flavours in the Rainbow Smash are not to be reckoned with. As I’ve grown older, my tastes have matured (somewhat), and so have South Bank’s. Here’s a brief run down on some of the dozens of restaurants, bars, and cafes that are scattered around this relaxed riverside community.

Breakfast
Poppy’s Basket earned rave reviews from Nick recently for their accommodating service and fresh eggs. Era do an all day breakfast on the weekend, and are more higher-end.

Lunch & Dinner
There is such a huge number of food places in and around South Bank that I’m going to just list them under the one heading-I am fairly sure that all of them are open for both lunch and dinner. I’m also going to list them by cuisine, as the beauty of South Bank is the plethora of different foods.

Pub-style
The Fox is on the outskirts of South Bank, and is a busy bar by night and a relaxing spot for a pub lunch by day.
The Plough Inn and The Shipp Inn have this same relaxed open-air feel and upscale pub grub.
Beastie Burgers are the perfect spot for a working lunch; they’re outdoors in the sunshine, they’re licensed (gets you through that arvo meeting), and they have awesome burgers.

Italian:
Dell ‘Ugo are an upscale restaurant with traditional Italian food, available on both a set menu and a regular menu.
La Via Pizzeria is ideal if you want to seduce someone (sexy low lighting and waiters that don’t hover), plus enjoy some pizza and Italian fare while you’re at it.
Amici’s do some impressive sounding banquets, or just some singular Italian dishes for all you weaklings out there.

French:
Piaf do possibly the most well-priced French food in Brisbane (think under $20).

Asian:
Satay Hut have low prices, a casual and modern setting, and mainly Thai and Malay food.
Viet De Lites: I am dying to try some food off this fresh, healthy-sounding Vietnamese menu.
Ginga Japanese are a sushi train (yay!), as well as a more up-scale Japanese restaurant.
Gandhi Curry House is another very reasonably priced, clean and chic restaurant, this time offering South Indian and Sri Lankan food.

Other
Mado do delicious Turkish food and are ideal for large groups.
Chez Laila have some of the best river and city views, and offer Lebanese dishes.

Modern:
Toscani’s have a huge, varied menu, including pasta, seafood, steak, and sandwhiches.
Sardine Tin was recently opened by Piaf’s owner Simon Livingstone, and is a small, open-air space serving mainly tapas.
5th Element is possibly the best-looking lady on the strip, with low lighting, open flame features, and a waterfall behind the bar. The menu is a bit more up-scale, and the service is fantastic.
Stone are located within the Saville Apartments, and are being very mysterious and saying that they have a new concept coming soon.

Drink
Era Bistro has a restaurant menu as well as a varied tapas menu, and are well-stocked with a variety of wines. Aside from The Fox, The Plough Inn, and The Shipp Inn, there aren’t many large bars or pubs around South Bank. You can take a short walk down the road to West End, or simply enjoy drinks at a South Bank restaurant’s bars (like 5th Element, who have a well-stocked wine bar, or Sardine Tin).

Sweet
Speaking of 5th Element, I am still yapping to people about my recent, unique dessert experience there. There’s also cute cupcakes at My Sweetopia, which is open until late on the weekends and also serves coffee. For something more casual, Movenpick ice cream serves up Swiss ice cream scoops that are all-natural. And, well, I have to say it: Cold Rock is right nearby. It’s no Rainbow Smash, but the ice cream flavours and mix-ins are equally as enticing.

Lately, desserts have been making me sad. Caramel slice. Baked cheesecake. Even the humble chocolate mud has been getting me down. Don’t get me wrong, classics like these will always have a special place in my heart, along with things like Degrassi Junior High and Brad Pitt. It is hard to perfect some of these desserts, but they are boring. They have been done. They need to step up their game.

They need bacon.

5th Element at South Bank has restored my faith in Brisbane’s dessert scene. We wandered past there the other night and spotted the following dish on the menu: Banana mousse, [banana] bread, condensed milk ice cream, macadamia nuts, and bacon ($14).

FINALLY someone is doing something unusual, different, noice in Brisbane. Thank God. We returned to 5th Element after a dinner at Beastie Burgers (more on that to come later), and ordered the banana dish along with some coffees. 5th Element is a very cool bar and restaurant, and is ideal in that it can be visited for dinner, a drink, or dessert. It’s all dim lighting, waterfalls behind the bar, and open flames (leave the polyester shirt at home), with cushy couches and high stools. It’s a beautiful space, and service was consistently professional and friendly during our whole visit. Plus they spell their name like the band 5ive.

The dessert menu is small, but has other interesting items like the Warm Chocolate Tart with Cumquat Compote. Coffees arrived promptly, but were a bit hit and miss. My mocha was very good, and struck the perfect balance between chocolate and coffee, but D’s flat white was a little on the bitter side.

No matter-dessert soon arrived to sweeten our mouths. I have to apologise, because this photo is crap, and it doesn’t do the dessert justice. The presentation was lovely, I promise. It was also a decent size; good for sharing, but also good if you wanted to have it all yourself and not feel too sick afterwards.

Now, anyone with half a brain knows that banana and bacon are perfect together. Yes, I know the Canadian Breakfast thing has been happening for a while, but 5th Element’s dish just took it to a whole new level. A thick slice of fresh banana bread and fresh banana slices were the foundation for scoops of condensed milk ice cream and fluffy banana mousse. Two crispy strips of dried banana lay on top of this little mountain, and bacon bits, macadamias, and a light banana syrup covered everything else.

I am very fond of condensed milk. When that can is open during a baking session, my finger is into that bad boy like it’s nobody’s business. This condensed milk ice cream was truly amazing; thick and creamy, it had a flavour that was between vanilla and condensed milk. Every now and then you’d get an actual chunk of pure condensed milk. It was spiritual.

The banana bread was moist and dense, and was just savoury enough to balance out the sweet on top. The mousse was tasty, but we agreed perhaps it could have been left out-it risked overpowering the dish with too much banana.

What amazed me was that the bacon was literally just bacon, albeit very small and crispy pieces. It wasn’t glazed, it wasn’t sugared, it was just bacon, and it worked. A forkful of banana bread, banana, the ice cream, a touch of mousse, and the bacon=the perfect bite. Sweet and salty are a partnership that will last the distance.

Our only other criticism? Not enough macadamia nuts. These guys were delicious, and roasted in a sweet, crispy shell. Unfortunately there were only about five of them on the plate. D’s other suggestion: “Instead of the banana on top, it should be whole strips of bacon!” His tastes aren’t a very good indicator, though; this is the man whose facebook status the other day was, “D wonders what bacon flavoured ice cream would taste like.” I rest my case.

Never mind the fact that places like North America have been doing unusual dishes like this for years. The point is, 5th Element is raising the bar for unique desserts in this town, and I thank them.

5th Element
Resturant and Bar

Corner of Tribune & Little Stanley St
South Bank

(07) 3846 5584

http://www.5thelement.com.au/

I hate Crocs.

Not because they’re sort of ugly (apologies to any Crocs lovers out there). I hate them because as a shoe, they fail. What are they? Are they gardening shoes? Are they shoes to wear in the shower at the gym? Are they casual weekend shoes? Do you wear socks with them? They don’t know what they’re doing. They need to find a singular identity.

So does Cicada, a fairly new joint on upper Adelaide Street (this could or could not be King George Square-I’ve only lived here for 18 years, what do I know) in the CBD. It’s downright beautiful inside: little candles; gold, black, and grey tones; chunky, new modern furniture; and cool copper wall hangings. There’s lots of seating and it’s a popular place for after work drinks. Outside is simple but pleasant, and has a lively vibe.

That all sounds dope, but what’s with the incredibly loud, pounding house music inside? What’s with all the low tables that make you feel like you’re in a restaurant, but the menu that makes you feel like you’re in a pub? What’s with them not being open on the weekend? What’s with such a gorgeous place mainly offering just cheap takeaway breakfasts (from $4) and lunches (pastas, sandwhiches, etc.) during the day?

On the one hand, it’s awesome that one place has managed to capture the holy triumvirate: restaurant, bar, and office takeaway. The bar part is fantastic, although the lack of lounge- and bar-style seating may throw some. It’s mainly the restaurant part of Cicada that is a little weird; the interior design and furniture make you feel like you’re in a restaurant, but the loud club music makes you think you’re wearing fat pants and ordering your third Red Bull.

Now, having said all that: the food is good. Yay! The menu is quite small, with six or seven main dishes and a small snack selection with chips, antipasto, and the like. I ordered the Salt and Cayenne Pepper Squid ($16~), while D went with the Chicken Burger with Portugese Chili Mayo ($15~). Other menu items included a lamb salad; a beef burger; and fish fillets.

While you order and pay at the bar, food is brought to the table. Service was very good: the waiters and bartenders were young and relaxed but still had that professional vibe.
So many places stuff up squid. Often, I find deep frying is the culprit: why deep fry something that only needs a minimal amount of cooking time? In animal life, a cicada would have no chance in a throw down against a squid. But this is food land, and Cicada nailed that bad boy. The generous serving of the squid strips were very lightly crumbed and flash-fried, and melted in my mouth. The accompanying aioli resembled a pile of mayo, unfortunately; a bit of garlic would have made the fish pop. The side salad was quite standard but fresh.

Speaking of salad, who hates iceberg? Hands up. It’s a shame the ‘filler lettuce’ was used on D’s grilled chicken burger, because the rest of the dish used very quality ingredients. A thick breast rested between a pair of very soft buns. Who else is giggling right now? But seriously, it was a good burger. The accompaying chips were a bit of a wedge/chip hybrid, which to me is the perfect love child: a thick, crunchy, seasoned skin gave way to a little pocket of fluffy potato. The Portugese Chili Mayo was another nice addition, although it was very mild in spiciness.

I really like Cicada, but make sure you brace yourself if you’re going there to just eat dinner. The food is tasty and of good quality, and it seems like a great place for drinks. Eating a ‘proper’ meal there, however, can be a little weird.

Cicada
Bar/Restaurant/Takeaway

275 George St
Brisbane CBD

07 3211 2161

The same could not be said about my breakfast. The last time D and I went out for brekkie, we ordered muesli and eggs benefict. This time, we ordered muesli and eggs benedict. Excitement fail. Could this mean our relationship was going stale too? Nah, we conceded. We were awesome.

We were also at Onyx, a very cool bar/restaurant on the popular restaurant strip of Park Road. Onyx is usually known for their dinner and cocktails, and have only recently started doing breakfast. It’s probably the nicest digs on Park Road-the seating area looks down on the street below, there’s comfy couches, a gorgeous onyx bar (geddit?), and at night dim and sexy lighting. There’s not a lot of seating though, so beware if you’re there when it’s a full house-it can get a bit squishy.

We started with coffees ($3.50), which were delayed a little bit but the waitress was so professional and apologetic that we didn’t mind. It also helped that the coffees were excellent; my skim cap was just perfect. Oddly enough D’s latte was a little more bitter, but it was still good. They also came with a buttery piece of shortbread on the side. We were naughty and had cookies before breakfast. Don’t tell mum.

The breakfast menu offers a few standard favourites as well as some surprises. There’s Poached Haddock; Pork and Guiness Sausages with French toast; and Banana Bread with Rum and Raisin Mascarpone. Gym junkies and cyclists take note, too: there’s a healthy section, with things like protein pancakes and egg white omelettes. The drinks menu also covers smoothies and fresh juices and smoothies. I’ve had Onyx’s fantastic cocktails, so I bet the juice concotions would be just as delicious.

The meals arrived shortly despite a rapidly filling restaurant and a poor lone waitress. My Bircher Muesli was a generous portion ($9), and D’s Smoked Salmon Benedict was good value at $16. The salmon was of a very good quality, and sat underneath two perfectly poached eggs. You could not poach an egg any better. The little guys wobbled delicately, then threatened to spill over when you cut into them-but they didn’t. Cheeky. The toast was unfortunately a little too hard to cut; the dish would have been better with a soft sourdough on something similar. The hollandaise had that delicate lemon zing that comes with good h’daise, and was finger-in-the-plate licking good.

My muesli was tasty, but unfortunately it was missing…something. Nuts? More fruit? The garnish of the red wine poached pears on top was pretty, but didn’t do a lot for the taste. There’s a bit of a long-running debate over bircher muesli-in its strictest sense, it’s just like what Onyx serves. But come on, how about a little cheating?

The general ambience and surrounds of Onyx are really quite lovely. Service was also very admirable given there was only one waitress attending to a busy floor-despite the pressures, she remained friendly and calm. I shouldn’t complain about a classic recipe tasting a bit bland-but maybe if they can learn to mix things up a bit, I can too.

Onyx
Bar & Restaurant

1/12 Park Road
Milton

07 3367 0547

http://www.onyxbarandrestaurant.com.au/

Open seven days until late

The downstairs river walk area is constantly bustling with traffic as people ride bikes, walk dogs, run and it’s ideal for just sitting back with a coffee or a beer and people watching.

To keep you on premises when the hunger pains kick in, there’s also 3 different options for food; Bar Alto (upstairs) which features Italian fare, Watt Modern Dining (downstairs) which is a formal white table cloth kinda restaurant and Watt Park Lounge, a cut down café style menu and our choice for a recent late lunch.

Park Lounge is definitely the ‘entry level’ option at the Powerhouse as you order over the bar and the menu is compact and affordable – most options are around $12 – $16. But that’s not to say they haven’t made it interesting. I can’t recall the last time I saw a Croque Monsieur ($12) (fancy French ham & cheese sandwich) on the menu and Gravalax of Salmon with Dill and Mustard ($18) is not your standard café grub. After suitable deliberation over the first round of beers we settled on 2 of The Watt BLT ($12), a Salt and Pepper Squid ($16) and Roast Pumpkin Pide with Red Peppers, Goats Curd and Rocket ($15).

The crowd at the Powerhouse on a Sunday afternoon are a diverse mob. People seem of fit in no matter what they’re wearing and I dare say t-shirt, boardies and pluggers would effortlessly blend with those in a suit and tie. The young family with kids on scooters mingle with those that have dropped in for a coffee break on they’re Sunday afternoon cycle – in full bike kit.

But back to the point of this post… our food arrived in a timely manner and it’s clear that the kitchen goes to a little bit more trouble than many other places when it comes to presentation. The plates were sparkling and the food looked delicious. My Pumpkin Pide (pronounced pee-day as I was reminded when I went to order) sat in the middle of the plate, and the vivid colours of the capsicum, rocket and pumpkin just screamed take a picture.

I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed by the portion size though. Both the pide and squid dishes didn’t look like they should of cost as much as they did, despite the artistic flair.

My pide was delicious – the creamy goats curd and pumpkin working especially well together and it took a conscious effort on my part to savour the flavours rather than wolfing it all down. The flat bread was crisp and the whole package was spot on – I just wish there was more of it.

Around the table there were nods and smiles as the BLTs and squid received equal praise. The squid was served with capsicum and a little onion as well as a dipping sauce, the flavour of which now escapes me – the whole lot was cooked well with the squid nice and tender.

If being able to sit back with a beer (these start from about $6) or a glass of wine ($9 – 14) and laze away a Sunday afternoon with some good food is your style then definitely get along to the powerhouse – it’s not perhaps the best value in Brisbane but it’s certainly got a lot going for it.

Watt Park Lounge

The Powerhouse
119 Lamington Street
New Farm map

07 3358 5464

Tuesday – Friday: 10.00 am – Late
Saturday – Sunday: 8.00 am – Late

www.watt.net.au

http://www.brisbanepowerhouse.org

Visited on Sunday 19 July 2009