They launched a new menu today and I wasn't going to miss it.
Setting and atmosphere
@thebrasseriebrisbane sits at the ground floor of @naldhamhouse, and the moment you walk in, Brisbane disappears. The interior is genuinely stunning. I need whoever designed this room to come and sort out my next place.
The food
We opened with oysters natural and a red wine mignonette. Clean, briny, exactly what you want at the start of a meal.
Then came the Gruyère beignet. Better than sex. The mustard is sharp and cuts beautifully through the gooey, molten cheese inside. The pickle was a nice touch that brought it all together. I ordered another one for dessert. Zero regrets.
The vitello tonnato was simple and refreshing. There is something quietly European about it. Sliced veal, tuna sauce, capers. It just makes sense.
The lamb shank was phenomenal. Twenty-four hours of braising, and it showed. The toasted breadcrumb on top gave it a crust that was genuinely perfect against the tender meat underneath. Dish of the night. Actually no, Gruyère beignet still wins. Moving on.
The pommes purée deserves a mention of its own. Texture like silk. A litre of that, please. The Brussels sprouts could have used a bit more crunch, but the flavour was still solid. A minor note on an otherwise strong spread.
My companion had the vanilla crème brûlée and seemed happy enough about it. I, meanwhile, had a second Gruyère beignet. I think I won.
Service
The staff here are consistent in the best way. Attentive and warm. You feel looked after, and that matters.
Final thought
The new menu holds up. The lamb shank and the Gruyère beignet alone are worth the visit. Come hungry, stay for another round.