Embracing the chance to try somewhere new, my wife and I have booked a date night at a hotel restaurant. This dining option differs from what we might ordinarily have chosen as hotel restaurants aren’t always known for their excellent cuisine. However, we’ve heard good things about Goldfinch Restaurant and Street Cafe in Brisbane.
Located across the road from King George Square and Brisbane City Hall, Goldfinch Restaurant is part of the Pullman and Mercure Hotel complex. The restaurant reminds me of a contemporary European bistro with its street café seating and, upon entering, its open, airy, fresh styling with a Mediterranean vibe. The service is also on point, with smiling staff quick with seating, menus and water. So far, things are off to a great start.
We are seated at a table overlooking Ann Street and Brisbane City Hall, which provides excellent people-watching. For our added entertainment, a big football game is on up the road at Lang Park which is within walking distance, and a stream of colourful jerseys passes by the window. We turn our attention to the small but quality wine list and chose a Robert Oatley ‘Signature Series’ Chardonnay and Henschke Sass ‘The Tailor’ Pinot Gris, which are both excellent.
The menu consists of share plates, small plates, pizzas and main dishes. There is also a grill selection, sides and desserts. The Mediterranean theme of the menu shines through with a lovely variety of bread and shared meat and cheeses on the shared plats and good seafood choices for both the small and main courses. The grill includes a prime beef range and a pork cutlet, and pizza menu is available for quick eats. There will probably be duelling spoons for dessert thanks to the decadent range of choices on offer.
After perusing the menu, we are both torn as one of us needs to make a tough choice as we are both eyeing off the same dish for mains. It’s a thing with both of us to always go alternate in case one dish is terrible. However, we are about to discover this won’t be the case here.
We select the chickpea falafels served on a bed of caramelised hummus, broccolini, green dressing, and whipped goat cheese to share for starters as we spotted this dish at another table and thought it looked delicious. Mains will be the grilled chicken breast, kipfler potato, sundried tomato, spinach and artichokes served with a tarragon velouté and the “Tajima” Wagyu rump 300g from the grill.
Service is a big plus at Goldfinch Restaurant and Street Cafe, with numerous staff passing by to ask if we need more water or wine. We take our time with the impressive and generous serving of chickpea falafels, which go nicely with our wine choices. As we’re enjoying our shared starter, I order a glass of Henschke ‘Stone Jar’ Tempranillo to sip and then enjoy with the steak.
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Just in time, as it turns out, as the mains arrive very quickly (a little too quickly as we’ve barely finished chewing the last bite of our starter). I must admit to being a little jealous about my wife’s grilled chicken, as it looks fantastic and tastes as good as it looks. My beef rump is also delicious but it lacks the plating and pizzaz of the chicken and other mains I spy emerging from the kitchen. The rather high price point of the steak also makes me think I should have tried one of the other mains or even the pizza I see arriving at another table. But our decision to alternate dishes pays off with us both sampling each other’s choices. Hands down, the bird wins.
We are keen for something sweet but it has to be shared as we are a little full. Still, the choices are either the chocolate fondant with hazelnut brittle, chocolate soil, berries, vanilla bean ice cream or the Bundaberg macadamia baklava. Our lovely waitress points us towards the chocolate fondant when we ask for her advice, which suits my wife’s need for ice cream. The chocolate fondant arrives and our spoons parry for dominance over the melting chocolate gooiness.
Finishing dinner, we are both delighted with our date night choice and would return to Goldfinch Restaurant and Street Cafe in Brisbane for the desserts alone. I would also like to try lunch or a coffee in the café and indulge in a European fantasy for an hour, with people watching and a cafe au lait without the jetlag or having to pay for my drink using euros.
Disclosure: The writers dined as guests of Goldfinch Restaurant and Street Café. They would not hesitate to return to this restaurant at their own expense.
If you’re looking for accommodation in Brisbane, we have reviewed the Treasury Hotel, The Calile, The Alva Hotel, Ovolo The Valley, W Brisbane, Capri by Fraser Brisbane, Hilton Brisbane, The Johnson, NEXT Hotel Brisbane, Sage Hotel James Street, The Westin Brisbane, Oaks Brisbane Festival Suites, Royal on the Park, Ibis Styles Elizabeth Street, Sofitel Brisbane, Crystalbrook Vincent, The Inchcolm, Chester Hotel, and Pullman Brisbane Airport.
