Beastie Burgers

Beastie Burgers are a favourite amongst our group - as their burgers range from beef, to seafood and chicken all done in style.   Although the piece-de-resistance are the chunky onions rings which are absolutely delicious!

Hence, when faced with a decision as to what to eat one Monday evening, I wandered down and ordered my takeaway feast.

I have to say, when we ate in the restaurant, I loved the onion rings - I thought the burger was ok.  But I was disappointed with the takeaway.   The onion rings are 100 times better fresh and my beef pattie was burnt. =(

Given that experience, I'm giving Beastie Burgers 5/10, although I think my fellow Brisbane Biters would be quite a bit more generous.

Beastie Burgers is at Shop 60d, Little Stanley Street, South Bank.

Sardine Tin

A previous lonely Monday, I was walking around Southbank (waiting for my Beastie Burger to be cooked) when I spotted this lovely, wine bar.   I was enchanted with the name and decor and decided that this would be the place for our weekly team dinner.






Arriving at 7pm, we didn't make reservations, but I was charmed by the chalk reservation handwritten onto another table.  The three of us perched on some high chairs, and proceeded to choose items off the menu and wine list.


We chose 3 share plates of tapas.   They were all delicious!    We started with some marinated mushrooms, anchovies and fresh beetroot with goats cheese.   We then had lovely calamari, chicken wings, and smoked salmon with asparagus.   And yet another with pork belly and sardines.   

Finally, we decided to share a cheese platter and indulge in some dessert wine (although Gary opted for Port).   Really great cheese platter with plenty of variety.  I enjoyed the dried muscatel grapes, and thought the touch of honey comb honey was a great alternative to fig paste.




Thoroughly delicious, and I only hope to find a restaurant like this back in Sydney so I can enjoy it!

I'm giving Sardine Tin a 9/10.

Sardine Tin is at Shop 3A, Little Stanley Street, South Bank.

Guppy's Seafood & Grill

Looking for a good value meal, I couldn't go past the 2-4-1 that Guppy's holds on Tuesday nights. Besides the meal, you need to buy a drink (but very reasonable) so for under $20 you can eat and drink!

Although choices are limited to a compact menu, the selections are interesting.   We copied each other though and opted for the Corn crusted barramundi with mango salsa and sweet potato "chips".   I really liked the corn crusting - tasted like nachos - yum!

I also enjoyed choosing the strawberry/white chocolate / frappe type shake.   Tasted like creaming soda.

The service was fast and the food was good value.   I'm giving Guppy's a 6.5/10

Guppy's Seafood & Grill is located at 199 Grey Street, Southbank

Sardar Rasoi

We spotted a brand new indian restaurant - boasting bollywood music, bright uniforms and decor at the edge of the South Bank parklands, so we thought, why not? let's give the punjabi fusion theme a go.

Chicken Tikka Entree

At first, we were a bit worried about the single, poor review on eatability, but with the rain pelting down, we thought we should give it a go anyway, and we were very glad that we did!

The menu was both nicely presented and exciting!   We finally settled on a chicken tikka entree, a family sized naan, a mild pindi masala (okra), a medium... masala (chickpeas) and a vegetable biryani.

Mild really is mild - thank goodness, and I'm glad we only chose medium, as already I found it quite spicy.   So that's a good sign for those wanting an aurthentic taste.

Impressed by the family size naan!!!

Everything was very tasty - and surprisingly light and fresh!   MVL commented that this was similar to home style cooking and thought that it was delicious.

After seeing the poor review, but then having our own good experience (and the great value - $50 in total for dinner - including the 15% off voucher on eatability for Dec 2010), I'm giving the place an 8/10, Hayden agreed with an 8/10 and MVL went for a 9/10.

We all agreed we'd go back.

Sardar Rasoi is at Shop 2, 164c Grey Street, South Brisbane (although, we entered from Little Stanley Street)

Piaf

Piaf is a cute little french restaurant in Southbank, with a small seasonal menu, and I decided on Monday that I had to try it out!

Boasting a small seasonal menu, each section had me salivating and in dilemma about what to eat!   In the end, I chose to go all french...!

For my entree, I went with the escargot.   Beautiful snails in a lovely garlic and chive? sauce.   Really lovely, and I enjoyed mopping up the sauce with the bread provided!

Leesa chose the onion tart with goats cheese.

Meanwhile, Gary tucked into the beetroot cured salmon.   Quite good, although the beetroot curing was unusual.

Next, we chose our mains.   Leesa went with the "rump cap" which came with a broadbean salad.   The rump cap is a tender piece of meat, just above the usual "rump" cut on the cow.



Gary chose the chicken breast with roasted garlic and potatoes.   

And I tucked into a delicious confit of duck, on a watercress salad, with dried cranberries and walnuts.   Yum!!! and the duck was cooked perfectly, tender and falling off the bone.

We then decided to indulge further, sharing a cheese plate and some desert wine. We went with a brie and a crusted cheese.   Leesa and I liked the brie, but the crusted cheese was a bit pungent for my liking.   At least Gary liked it though!



All in all, quite a good meal and the prices were good for the quality of the food.   The entree's cost $12 and the mains $22.

 I think this was the place Sacha mentioned when I first visited Brisbane - but its probably now at the end, when we discovered it!  I only wish I knew about it earlier so I could have taken my mum when she visited.

I'd probably rate this place an 8/10 - good food, good prices, nice ambience, but I didn't like the cheese I picked... which is probably my fault... but still!!

Piaf is at 5/182 Grey Street, South Bank.

San Kai - Japanese Modern Cuisine Lounge Bar

7 months in Brisbane, and this little gem that has opened up the road is still in its first month!  But what better place to start then around the corner from where we're staying!

Hayden had done some pioneering, and as a result, we booked a table of 8 for 7pm.   The decor was lovely - actually, that was one of the things that attracted us to the restaurant in the first place!   Seated just inside (but feeling alfresco as the window was wide open behind us) we enjoyed the weather and ambience of the place.

There was an extensive menu, and we all spent a lot of time studying it so we could decide what we wanted!   Eventually, we made up our minds and then the feasting began!

Stuart, who had eaten lunch at 3pm - was too full for a full meal - so he chose the Sashimi plate (supplemented by Asahi of course).   It was fresh and delivered fast.   5/10 (he felt that he couldn't give a bigger score since he only had one dish)

Leesa shared with Gary, but started with some vegetable tempura, before a generous main course of teriyaki chicken.   (8.5/10)

Leesa had some red wine.

Sacha who's been overdosing on vegetables lately, ordered some chicken yakitori before digging into the Vegetarian dinner box. (7/10)

Sacha had a cabernet savignon.

Ryan also had the Vegetarian dinner box (surprisingly!) but did steal some of Ann's sushi later.   (8.5/10)

Gary meanwhile spoilt himself with some pork tonkatsu.   (8.5/10)

Hayden dug into a Tempura Dinner box.   (8/10)   It also had some amazing grilled fish which was amazing.

He also had a chardonnay.

Whilst Ann enjoyed a yummy Sushi dinner box. (8.5/10)

She also had a plum wine.

Finally, I had a great Sashimi Dinner box.   The Sashimi was lovely and fresh, the rice was fluffy and I liked the seaweed on the dish.  The only downside was that the miso soup was a bit too salty.   The surprise of the night however was the chawamushi - a savory egg custard filled with goodies - chinese mushroom, chicken, prawn, bamboo and fish cake.   Delicious - I'd go back just for it!  

I also had a pokka guava drink which was yum!

I would give it 7/10 - their score was reduced as I was left waiting for my food....!

All the dinner sets finished off with some green tea ice cream which was a perfect way to round off a delicious meal.

I'm sure we'll be back (or the rest of the group anyway, as this is my last week in Brisbane!)

San Kai - Japanese Modern Cuisine Lounge Bar is at (approx) 164 Grey St,  South Bank - opposite the Mantra.

La Via Update!

Fast becoming our favourite Italian restaurant, we returned to La Via for Hayden's birthday.  

To our surprise and delight, the menu had been updated so we all had new choices in which to indulge ourselves.

Hayden had a chilli pizza.   Aimee and Ann shared a square Gnocchi and truffle Risotto.    Gary had a delicious smelling mushroom pizza - could smell the porcini mushrooms.   Sacha and Kylie had pizzas, whilst Stuart had the fish with clam chowder.

I decided to do the double entree and enjoyed rabbit arancini as well as a delicious scallop with squid ink linguini - beautiful!

Once again, La Via delivered and we all had a wonderful feast out!