I was recently asked to choose a restaurant for a dinner catch up with friends who were stopping by BrisVegas on their honeymoon tour. I asked what their budget was, and when they said they just wanted a good meal, I gleefully booked us in to Blackbird, which I have been dying to try for years.
Highlights: Herb crusted saddle of lamb with spicy eggplant relish, yoghurt + cucumber salad
My favourite: Pheasant tortellini with creamed wintergreens and black garlic
Tips: Splurge and enjoy!
Review:
It was basically love at first sight. The restaurant overlooks the Story Bridge, much to the delight of my tourist friends, and the décor is all plush chairs, fancy lights and gold wallpaper. You can’t help but be impressed by good-looking gold wallpaper.
The prices were what you can expect from any high-end restaurant and I feel we got what we paid for – especially when you consider how many refills I requested of the breadbasket.
Our waiter, Richie, was graciously considerate of my friend Rosie’s severe dairy intolerance, and had the kitchen modify the Poached Pumpkin Gnocchi and Tiger Prawn so she wasn’t restricted to salad starters.
Once again, I couldn’t go past the Goose and duck pâté, and finding myself at a table of people either unwilling or unable to try it, I downed the whole generous pat with the accompaniment of a surprising Roussane. Bliss.
Between us we ordered the Wood Grilled Swordfish, Pheasant Tortellini, Black Angus Scotch Fillet and Herb Crusted Saddle of Lamb, and I managed to sneak a bite of each.
They were all expertly and caringly prepared and provided in decent-sized portions. Beautiful in appearance, texture and flavour, the designer Tortellini was my favourite, although only available in a starter size.
The Egg Custard Tartlet with Butterscotch was the ideal end to the meal, although I managed to find room to try someone else’s Warm Manjari Chocolate Tart as well, and it was worth the squeeze in my stomach.
My budget can’t stretch to a regular meal at Blackbird but luckily a treat like this is best enjoyed sporadically, so you can fully appreciate the details that are carefully combined to create the sensation of indulgence.
A special shout out to our waiter, Richie, who accommodated our endless questions, requests and photo taking with a cheerful smile.
The info:
Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane
Click through to the website for the menu. Tel: 3229 1200
Opening hours restaurant: Mon – Sun | 12.00pm – 3.30pm | 6.00pm – Late
Opening hous bar: Mon – Sun | 11.30pm – Late
Emma Lee is a Brisbane native but lives to travel. She is also a big fan of food, good books and browsing at markets.
Since graduating from Griffith University with a Communications Degree, Emma has put her writing skills to good use in jobs ranging from Media Rep for a rugby team to Marketing Manager for a Japanese ski resort.
Emma dreams of publishing a novel one day and wants to live in a luxury camper van that never stays in one place for longer than a week.
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