Brisbane:
The ultimate guide to the best degustation

21 SEPTEMBER 2023

Unbuckle your belts – we've discovered Brisbane's best degustation’s. Let the city’s star chefs lead you through a gastronomic adventure where each small but carefully designed course strives to achieve the perfect flavour, texture and colour. Go for broke and indulge in paired wines!

IN THIS ARTICLE
IN THIS ARTICLE

Agnes, Fortitude Valley 

Experience food like never before as Gourmet Traveller's Restaurant of the Year, Agnes. Feast on food cooked by flame in this minimalist restaurant with an open kitchen that showcases the unique cooking techniques. Arrive for your booking early? Savour a crafted cocktail on their intimate terrace rooftop bar that overlooks The City, or their cosy wine bar tucked underneath the restaurant.

La Cache a Vin, Spring Hill 

Operated by the renowned chef, Dan Arnold, behind the highly regarded venue with his namesake, Restaurant Dan Arnold, and co-owner, Romain Maunier, La Cache a Vin is dedicated to providing excellent French cuisine. Their degustation menu features classic French dishes like soufflé and roast duck - all to be enjoyed in a rustic underground setting with charming archways, exposed beams and attentive service. There is even a luxurious private dining room on offer!

Exhibition, Brisbane City 

They do things differently here at Exhibition. With no menu provided, their dishes are focused on their access to incredible live seafood, benchmark meat and fresh produce from Queensland’s best biodynamic and sustainable farms. Exhibition aims to bring you a menu that takes inspiration from a Japanese style omakase – meaning the chef will choose what’s being served each evening for the 24 guests, you being one of them of course! 

The Balfour Kitchen & Bar, New Farm 

The Balfour Kitchen & Bar offers a five-course degustation, created by head chef Lachlan Horstman. This menu will showcase sustainably sourced seafood, ethically farmed meats, and hero vegetables with beautifully balanced Asian aromatics and distinctive flavours of Vietnamese cuisine.

Donna Chang, Brisbane City

Indulge in a decadent Chinese banquet in the luxe setting of Donna Chang. Sample dim sum bites like cumin lamb buns and prawn wontons, to large mains like char siu pork while cocooned in the plush velvet seats as chandlers twinkle above from the ornamental high ceilings.

Perspective, Fortitude Valley

If you're looking for a high-end degustation experience without a jaw-dropping price-tag, then Perspective is your best bet. With a tantalising menu, including complimentary vegan alternatives, which showcases local farm produce and an intimate 12-seat chef's table that neighbours the open plan kitchen, this venue is definitely one for the foodies.

Honto, Fortitude Valley 

This banquet-style menu is designed to share, with carefully curated large plates, side dishes, dessert and appetisers for you to enjoy. There are 10 courses so don't expect to go hungry but make sure you leave room for winning dishes including the Honto drumstick with tuna and avocado, and the lobster katsu sando. 

Restaurant Dan Arnold, Fortitude Valley 

After spending seven years mastering the fine art of French cuisine, you can be sure that Dan Arnold knows what he is doing. At Restaurant Dan Arnold, you are invited on a culinary journey of Australian flavours and techniques. With three strands of degustation, diners will be delighted by the journey of Australian flavours and techniques, all sourced from small producers and local farms. No matter the rotation, you will not be disappointed.

Takashiya, South Bank 

For a degustation with a difference, head to Takashiya in the Emporium Hotel at South Brisbane. Indulge in gourmet Japanese ‘omakase’, which means the chef chooses what to serve for each course. Choose from their mini (9 course), standard (16 course) or premium (19 course) options, with the latter two served in their gorgeous private dining room while the chef cooks in front of you.

Joy Restaurant, Fortitude Valley 

This tiny space (we're talking a total of just 10 seats) has an ever-changing 9-course degustation depending on inspiration at the time. Joy Restaurant is not like other fancy restaurants. Owned and loved by husband-and-wife duo Tim & Sarah Scott, you can expect to get to know them as they cook your food, pour your wine, and wash your dishes – definitely not your average up-market venue. 

Tartufo, Fortitude Valley

With a motto of ‘come for a meal, leave with an experience’, you don’t want to miss out on a visit to Tartufo. Inspired by the owner’s hometown of Naples and the surrounding regions of Tuscany, Tartufo’s mixed degustazione menu offers sumptuous authentic Italian with the perfect wines to match.

Degustation in the Outer City

C’est Bon, Woolloongabba 

There is something about French cuisine that feels particularly fancy. A luxurious degustation experience is to be had at the charming C’est Bon with their seven-course chef’s tasting menu full of modern French morsels and based on only the best and freshest local produce. You can also opt for matched wines.

Deer Duck Bistro, Auchenflower 

Fall in love with Deer Duck Bistro’s moody atmosphere and vintage charm. With a focus on foraging, Deer Duck prides itself on sustainable food with their constantly evolving degustation shaped by the local seasonal produce. While there is an à la carte menu, it’s the degustation that they are famous for. Choose from five-course, short-course, and long-course options, as well as vegetarian alternatives. 

Montrachet, Bowen Hills 

For a truly intimate French experience, Montrachet is the one. On Friday and Saturday nights, they offer a six-course chef’s tasting menu showing off their award-winning beverage selection and service, and highlighting techniques and flavours of Montrachet. Only working with the most sought-after produce, the Montrachet team pride themselves on their relationship with farmers and providores to bring you this exquisite degustation. 

E’cco Bistro, Newstead

E’cco Bistro is renowned for their delightfully flavourful farm-to-table fare. Swing by between Wednesday and Saturday to be treated to their four- or five-course chef’s tasting menu. Wine aficionados will be pleasantly surprised with the variety of vino on offer.

Sono, Hamilton 

Fans of Japanese cuisine won't be able to resist the alure of Sono’s premium six- and ten-course tasting menus. Be treated to stunning views and enjoy traditional dishes at one of Brisbane’s finest award-winning Japanese restaurants.

Rogue Bistro, Newstead 

If you’re accommodating allergies and dietary preferences, you really can’t beat the degustation at Rogue Bistro. Their six-course ‘dego’ menu changes monthly and features beautifully plated delicacies made with local and fresh produce. Visit the website to peruse the vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, no seafood, gluten free/dairy free and standard menus. The only trick is getting a booking in amongst regular clientele with monthly bookings! 

An image of some European dishes with hands holding the food and glass of wine.