Dos Amigos

There are many types of Mexican, from healthy, fresh and light to the cheesy, large and filling. No one does the latter better than Dos Amigos. This Taringa restaurant was operating long before tacos became the new sushi, and were once upon a time one of the only mexican restaurants in the city. So they have had plenty of time perfecting their food and more importantly, their margaritas!

The Dos Amigos speciality is the fajitas served with a sizzling plate, but my personal preference is the chicken enchilada combo which isteamed with refried beans, spicy rice and guacamole (be sure to leave the tight fitting clothes at home!)

Dos Amigos – 185 Moggill Rd, Taringa, QLD 04068

Tuckeria Fresh Mexican

This meal is the perfect mid-weeker meal – quick, easy, fresh and won’t break the bank. Located in the heart of the valley on Brunswick street, Tuckeria is a great meeting place before a night out and a few tummy filling meals before a few too many margaritas. Your meal is assembled right in front of you while you pick how you want your taco/salad/burrito/nachos assembled – beans, no beans, sour cream, guacamole and a variety of tender marinated meats and a spread of spicy salsas (or mild if you’re so inclined). My hot tip – the beef taco salad and a side of spicy cheese fries.

Tuckeria Fresh Mexican – Shop 13 ‘Central Brunswick’, 421 Brunswick St

El Torito

If you want the most authentic Mexican experience in Brisbane, El Torito is where you go. Not only will you feel like you’re a native surrounded by the colourful decor throughout, the chef himself is from south of the boarder and serves dishes from his native country. You will find slow cooked beef stewed and chorizo quesadillas on the menu but for me the must-have dish is the El Torito Nachoes – generously topped with beef, chicken and beans, what more could you want?

El Torito – 146 Boundary St, West End, QLD 4101

La Quinta Mexican Café y Bar Bulimba

La Quinta is possibly the most lively restaurant in Brisbane and is consistently packed with people and parties. If you want to celebrate a birthday, farewell or just the fact it is a Friday night – there is no better place to do so. The sangria and margaritas come by the jug full, along with many imported beers , all of which go hand in hand with the amazing menu. If you do happen to be dining with a group, book ahead and opt for one of their brilliant banquets. If not, you can never go wrong with their chilli con carn nachos.

La Quinta Mexican Café y Ba – 1/189 Oxford St – Bulimba, QLD 4171

Guzman y Gomez Mexican

It is no wonder there is a Guzman y Gomez are popping up all over the place – they have finally mastered Mexican that is as quick as fast food but taste a million times better and is much better for you. This is a great lunch time option with most meals coming in at around $10, my personal favourite is the burrito bowl with shredded pork topped with guacamole and spicy salsa. If you’re in the valley, their big, open restaurants is perfect for a hot day with plenty of ice margaritas to cool you down.

Oink oink,

Truffle Pig.

The Morrison

The Morrison is without a doubt, my favourite place in Brisbane, possibly the world, to have a steak. Why you ask? I personally don’t think it is too hard to find a good piece of beef and ‘throw it on the barbie’? It is what the steak is served with that really turns a good meal into a great one. And you know what they say, behind every great steak there is a beautiful pile of mushroom sauce lathered chips behind it. At the Morrison you can get a rump, steak, eye fillet or even a fillet minon teamed with a Caesar salad, beer battered chips, a whole bowl of mushroom sauce with a piece of garlic bread on the side. I dream about this meal often, it is death row worthy. There is not one part of the meal that is healthy, it is without a doubt a heart attack on a plate but it is heaven in your mouth.

The Regatta Boat Shed

The Regatta, or some may say the “Regretta” is a river-side Brisbane institution known for its cheap drinks and drunk uni students, but also its famous steakhouse, the Boat Shed. After going under during the floods a couple of years ago, the owners decided to revamp it while it was under construction and it looks far more fancy than I remember it from my days of uni Sunday sessions. The service always seems to be fairly poor here, but the atmosphere and venue pick up the slack. The steaks are both “wet” and “dry” aged and can be seen in the cabinets on display. For something different get it served with their blue cheese and port or beer and brown onion butters… amazing!

Cha Cha Char

If watching overweight corporate men talk about how great they are while stuffing their self-important faces with steaks and beers is your thing, Cha Cha Char is the place for you. Regardless of the obvious deterrent, the quality of the steaks here is undeniable! You can pick and choose your sides here; each cut is served with a unique gourmet offering. My recommendations is to go for the wagyu eye fillet with Asian slaw and nam jim dressing for something different, it is tangy and won’t leave you with the standard beef bloat most others do.. Prepare to pay a pretty penny because this place ain’t cheap!

Breakfast Creek

The ‘brekky creek’ is a meeting place for many. With its numerous bars and lively beer garden, there is always some life in this north side haunt. They are also well known for their steaks, but I would say the atmosphere is better than the food. But when you are 6 beers deep and so hungry you could eat the arse of a low flying duck, the steak will be god sent. They also do $10 steak sandwiches lathered in mushroom sauce which is the highlight for me.

Bravo Bar B Que

When Bravo Bar unveiled its beefy brother, Bravo Bar B Que, steakhouses around the city were shaking in their beef covered boots, and it is no wonder why because this Brunswick Street beefery won the best steak award in 2010 and 2011. The steak is char grilled and delicious, but the sides are out of control. My favourites are the heart stopping selection of, cheddar glazed broccoli cauliflower and bacon, black mushroom risotto and the potato, prosciutto and rosemary gratin – dine with a group and order them all!

The Norman

There is one way to ruin a pre-feast buzz, and that is lining up for ages waiting to place your order. Thankfully for the Norman, their steaks are well worth the wait and this is easily forgotten once you’re mouth deep in a cow’s behind, the chilli sauce is amazing so I usually get it along with my standard mushroom. To top it all off they serve the serves with a huge Idaho potato jam packed with sour cream and bacon bits… prepare to be put in a food coma!

Embers

This is where the best black angus beef goes to die…. Literally. This unassuming Park Road restaurant often flies under the radar with locals keeping this best kept secret all to themselves. All the steaks are sourced from the best producers and are tenderly taken care of right up until they end up in your both with chefs lightly basting them through the whole process. Their eye fillet is the most popular menu item, and it melts in your mouth like an icy pole in Africa. All steaks are served with a baked potato, but definitely opt for the chips instead and try there delicious blue cheese sauce.

Deery’s at the Story Bridge

Pubs and steaks are like rum and coke – always better when they are together. So what better place is there to enjoy a steak than at one of Brisbane’s best known and loved pubs, the Story Bridge Hotel. Unlike the rest of the refurbished digs, Deery’s has a bit of old Brisbane charm with the walls adorned in tacky steakhouse memorbillia. It is noisy and packed with families, but you’re not at a pub to have a quiet low key dinner. Try the trio of mustards with your steak, and wash the hot one down with a one of their 100 wines founds on their list.

Other outstanding steak restaurants I have previously blogged about:
Moo Moos Bar + Grill
Vintaged Bar + Grill
Montrachet
Ecco

Oink Oink,

Truffle Pig.

1. Beccofino

The owner of Beccofino is your typical Italian – passion, firey and a wizard when it comes to preparing pizza. He has perfected the art of “less is more” with his thin crust bases, fresh ingredients and scarce use of the freshest mozzerella you can find. The chilli and prawn with rocket and pork and fennel sausage pizzas are the winners for me. But make sure you get there early to get a seat on the weekends or be prepared to sit by and watch the beautiful people of Teneriffe from the bar while you wait.

2. Two sisters

Two Sisters is casual suburban eating at its best. This hole-in-the-wall in Milton is a secret spot of mine that I don’t tell many people about, but now I am a Sydney-sider I will spill the beans. These pizzas are delicious – they’re not to heavy and a good mixture of meat and seafood options. Or, if you want both, get the Happy Bill – perfect combination of prawns, bacon and veggies. Two Sisters is an ideal place for a BYO dinner or a lazy night in with a takeaway pizza.

3. The Burrow

The Burrow is the cool new kid on the block in West End. Every hipster is lining up to get pizza while marveling over the extensive craft beer menu and each other beards, perhaps that is why the service sucks. But, you’re there for the pizza and they are close to perfect! Packed to the brim, these pizzas are filled with all kinds different toppings that will have you stumped on what to order. My pick of the pizzas is the Aphrodite with prosciutto, gorgonzola, walnut, fig and spinach. Or you can always get a herd of hipsters to go with you and order one of everything.

4. Arriva

Arriva has changed management more times than I have rolled in mud over the past few years and their food as often suffered. But these days they are back on the pizza wagon and punching out plenty of fabulous flatbased fun. The toppings are generous and full of flavour, but opt to eat in because the base can get a little soggy on the go. My favourite choices are the Dolomiti with mozzarella, smoked ham, truffled mushrooms and asiago cheese or the 4 formaggi pizza. Belissimo!

5. Il Posto

Rumour has it the second in charge at Beccofino has had enough of his boss and packed up ship to Paddington. Unsurprising considering the menu and décor of both pizzerias are almost identical. But, not complaints from me, Paddington is closer to home and makes pizzas almost as perfect and its predecessor. My advice would be to avoid the white base pizza (who the hell wants pizza without sauce?) and order the classic capricciosa
 tomato, mozzarella, ham, mushroom, artichokes, black olives.

Oink oink,

Truffle Pig.