Culinary Delight – Goldfinch Restaurant – Brisbane

Ann Street Brisbane City is as fast-paced as any other, but as soon as we stepped into the entrance of Goldfinch Restaurant, we were transported to a quiet, yet stylish and nurturing environment. Whether it was the welcoming greeting by the friendly staff, or the clean lines and stylish design or the greenery draped from the glass ceiling as a backdrop to the intricate lighting arrangement, we felt instantly calm and relaxed. Something that can not be said about all great eateries, mind you. Goldfinch has this unique feel that had us guessing – were we in a fine dining restaurant with a casual flair or a casual eatery of sophistication?

Regardless, we were tended to by Pak with grace and care. She was brimming with knowledgeable suggestions from the menu and prompt professional friendly service, without being pushy or overbearing. Again, something not found all too often these days.

We soaked the place in, its spacious layout, its draping greenery, Hamptonesque white timber features and white furniture, and the large glass front that allowed us to people watch outside and feel like we were still part of the street albeit being served culinary delights we absolutely fell in love with. Come to the food, well choosing wasn’t easy. The new winter menu at Goldfinch Restaurant featured a rich palate of choices with a strong Mediterranean flair, from a scrumptious range of exceptional stone-baked pizzas, to generous and delicate combinations of seafood, poultry, a selection of tender steaks, salads, sides and entrees, so much so that we were struggling to make a choice.

To be able to grasp a good cross-section of the menu and its diverse textures and flavours, we selected a diverse mix from right across the nicely bound menu. Starting with the highly recommended king prawn, confit garlic, cherry tomato, chilli and rocket pizza as a starter to share. It was massive and would have easily made a meal in itself. Perfectly baked, the crunchy yet fluffy base was covered with generous helpings of fresh toppings which really came to life. Absolutely Delicious!

We added a serving of the Fremantle Octopus leg served with spicy chorizo, roasted baby peppers, radish, basil and a delicate cucumber-yoghurt dressing. Wow, this one topped the charts for us right away. The tentacle was perfectly charred letting the tender seafood melt on our tongues. We could have licked the plate clean, it was that flavoursome.

A splash of the Gisborn, New Zealand-grown Days & Daze Pinot Gris was definitely a perfect fit and between the king prawn pizza, the octopus with its delicate flavours, and the refreshing white wine – it instantly lulled us into our dining experience.

We were given sufficient time to let the flavours linger before Pak, an international student with an obvious neck and passion for hospitality, brought us our mains. A serve of the pan fried crispy skin Humpty Doo Barramundi, which came with kipfler potatoes, brussel sprouts, nduja butter and salsa verde – yum!

Our second main – a generous cut of medium-rare scotch fillet, was served on a bed of creamy confit garlic mash with tossed broccolini and red wine sauce. It was tender and divine. To wash these down we opted for the rich-red Spanish Grenache Karman Tinto “Rioja” which served the steak as much as it did (surprisingly) the Barra.

Yum! The flavours were dancing like notes to a symphony. We could not stop trying from each other’s dish, discussing the obvious intentional combination of flavours and nuances, and while somewhat typical winter dishes, these were concocted well above your average winter meal.

Feeling completely tantalised and nurtured by our meal selection of generous sizes, we could have called it a night, but…  we couldn’t go past a quick taste of the chocolate fondant, hazelnut brittle, chocolate soil and berries. Again, to share.

This was again a delicate affair of flavours – rich, yummy, and well put together, both for the eyes and for the tastebuds. The brittle was just a tad chunky for our liking since the rest of the dish was so soft and gentle in textures – right down to the creamy vanilla bean ice cream. The flavours hit the right mark and we loved every bit of it.

In fact, we were so absorbed in the culinary journey that we completely forgot the time and were almost the last to leave. Easy to do here at Goldfinch Restaurant which also caters to both the 228-room Mercure Tower and the 210-room Pullman hotel in which the eatery is housed. Not only does the well-run kitchen serve the in-room service, house guests, breakfast and restaurant plus cafe, but the Sixteen Antlers rooftop bar as well, which is another experience not to miss when next stepping out or staying in Brisbane city. (we’ll share that story another time)

Overall, we were positively surprised by the quality of the food and the flavoursome menu, the atmosphere and friendly service – as said, it felt like a fine dining restaurant with a charming casual flair, and we will definitely come back again as there was simply too much on the menu we didn’t yet get to try.

Booking ahead is definitely recommended, especially on weekends. To check out the menu and wine list and the cool decor, log onto www.goldfinchbrisbane.com.au.

Our rating:

4 out of 5 forks
(albeit, it was almost a 5 out of 5)