1889 Enoteca — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Daughter’s 21st Birthday family dinner on a wet Saturday evening at an old-time favourite of ours - greeted courteously at the door having our rain nappers taken and stored. Requested and proceeded to a booth seated in a roomy spot for four with the renowned marble tabletops. Tap water delivered to well-presented glasses with no inquiry for ‘tap, still or sparkling’ which was enjoyable not giving that ‘ick’ of blatant selling from the get-go.

Entrée of pane & olives plus drinks ordered up of cocktails and bottled birra with the food turning up prior to any ordered refreshments with the beer surprisingly forgotten and needing a prod of the server. Rich, punchy evoo given up with the warmed bread and mix of tasty black and green olives. Pasta for mains all-round tonight: Risotto for the vego mother-in-law, mashed up Paradelle with the gnocchi accompanied sauce (pork & fennel sausage, parmesan cream, black truffle tapenade) for me, Bucatini for the bride and pure iconic Gnocchi for the Birthday girl. Always good when the place can adapt sauce and pasta variants to avoid the plumping gnocc. We had literally devoured the last crumb of bread when three mains plopped out - very well plated up and portioned although the fourth dish of Bucatini took a while to complete the delivery noted by the Manager to server. Maybe a sign as that dish of all'Amatriciana was blow your head off chilli style… We like a spicy tomato sauce but this was next level, so much so it had to be sent back and substituted with a glass of milk… Something we’ve never experienced – not even via a lovely hot Pad Krapow Gai let alone Cuisine de Roma. Replaced with the generic Gnocchi dish comforting the soul post that kapow and delivered when all other mains devoured. We can only imagine there was a rogue Pepper X mixed up with the peperoncini and/ or the Chef became ‘over-exaggerated’ as promoted by Management. The Amaretto Sours were top notch though and the margaritas refreshing.

Desserts brought some redemption with the ever-consistent Pannacotta and Tira but with the first appearance for us of the Tortino (baked dark choc custard, hazelnut & toffee). Being a lover of all things dark sweety, this was a true delight of bitterness with the toffee being taken right to the edge and tart luxurious, with a rich mouthfeel. Pâtissier obviously investing in a quality chocolate. Vin Santo comp’d up for the Birthday princess surprisingly with three Ciambelle al Vino for four covers and no time for limoncellos divinity this evening with us closing in on our two-hour limit since booking time.

Almost two years to the date since our last visit (29 Apr 2023) and unfortunately rating is now 3.5 stars here.

Dan and Manny’s shop used to be the pinnacle and benchmark for our Roman-Italian fine dining appetite but others have caught...

Had booked a table outside for 8 Nov, was seated inside instead. Almost to dark to read the menu, but without the ambiance of a bistro. Impressive array of wines, but could not find one that was halfway as good as a $20 Australian wine On googeling the available wines next to us, we realised there is a 400% markup of the normal Australian prices, which would be double the Italian price, which explained why an $80 bottle was actually cheap $10 plonk from Italy. My wife gave up after the 3rd taste testing attempt and had a beer instead. Waiters provided only tepid water instead of proper cold water and didn't leave a carafe on the table, which meant they kept interrupting us. A very loud scuzi doesn't make up for a rude interruption, (actually being loud rather adds to the rudeness) and to reach across someone's table while they are eating to get a bottle from the wall it just unforgivable. Like, really unforgivable. Add to that the fact that though we liked the entrees, one main course of pasta was completely bland, and in contrast the veal was so salty is was almost inedible. When leaving the waiter almost picked a fight with us when I said it was disappointing.

It might be a great gimmick for what appears from outside to be a classy restaurant, and no doubt it makes money, but a gimmick is all it is.

Next time Elios in Carina for me, doesn't pretend, just makes really good tasting Italian food.

Edit after the owner Dan Clark said he would report my initial feedback to Google.

Please note that I have posted this review only after an invitation by email from the restaurant to do so, I just wanted to forget about the experience. I see at least one previous review that also thought the staff we're as they called it rather robotic about their treatment of guests and that some of the food is rather mediocre, so I know I am not the only one. I know most reviews from the restaurant are very, very good, maybe the waiters and kitchen staff just had an off day or maybe we just happened to pick the wrong items from the menu. All I can report on is my personal experience on that particular night, which as I said, left me...

1889 Enoteca delivers an exceptional dining experience with outstanding food and a stellar wine selection.

As it was our first visit, we kept it simple, opting for the bucatini and the classic carbonara. Both dishes perfectly highlighted the restaurant's dedication to high-quality ingredients and timeless Italian classics. The bucatini — a hearty pasta with a perfectly chewy texture — was served with a rich tomato sauce that struck a delicate balance between tangy and savory, accented with just the right amount of spice. The carbonara was a stand-out: creamy, indulgent, and rich with the smoky flavor of pancetta, the sauce clinging to each strand of pasta in the most satisfying way. It was the kind of carbonara that makes you close your eyes in appreciation with every bite.

Service at 1889 Enoteca started off strong. Our servers were warm, and attentive, providing a smooth, unhurried dining experience. However, as the evening wore on, there was a slight dip in attention. Toward the end of our meal, it became more difficult to flag down a staff member, and the pacing of the service seemed to slow, which made us feel a bit forgotten in the final moments.

While the atmosphere is undeniably romantic, the acoustics of the room leave a bit to be desired. The high ceilings and open space contribute to a bit of an echo, which can create a louder-than-ideal dining environment. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it does detract from the otherwise cozy and intimate vibe of the restaurant.

Despite the slight dip in service toward the end and the occasional noise, 1889 Enoteca delivers a delightful dining experience that is worth recommending. The food is consistently excellent, and the ambiance, while not perfect, still evokes a cozy, romantic feel. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in a great Italian meal, 1889 Enoteca is a solid choice.

Verdict: Highly recommended for food lovers and those looking for a romantic evening out — just be prepared for a...