Como Restaurant — Restaurant in Brisbane City

The worst dining experience of my life – on my own birthday. We were a group of six – myself, my two brothers, and our partners – out to celebrate. Instead, we ended the evening being intimidated by the owner and two waiters, and followed to the door by another man who smirked, shook his head, and stared us down as he closed the door behind us. An absolute circus.

We ordered: • 2x steak tartare • 1x burrata • 2x focaccias

Only the tartare and burrata showed up at first (no bread). No focaccia in sight.

30 minutes later, a waiter finally approached and asked if we wanted more food. We said:

“We’re still waiting for the focaccia.” He replied: “Oh sorry, the focaccia is coming. I’ll bring you another burrata to make up for it.”

Meanwhile, we had already placed our order for six mains – including a dairy-free risotto and the Gonzaga pizza. I specifically asked if the pizza had red sauce – he confirmed it did. It arrived later with pumpkin sauce/cream.

20 minutes later, the same waiter returned to double-check the pizza order. We confirmed again:

“Did you order the Gonzaga pizza?”

30 minutes after that, the pizza finally came – and with it, the long-awaited focaccia. When questioned, the waiter suddenly changed the story:

“Oh, was the pizza supposed to come with the mains? Just eat this one, and we’ll bring the other one later.”

We said, “We’re good – no need for another pizza.” He left.

We ordered a bottle of red wine. It came… but no glasses. We had to ask and wait another 10 minutes while they claimed they were understaffed, had “many recent breakages,” and needed to polish the glasses.

Finally, mains started arriving. Then came the second risotto question:

“Was the risotto supposed to be dairy-free?” Yes. Again.

We waited another 20 minutes. When it arrived, it was half-cooked, gritty, rushed.

I had to stand up and ask Angus (a staff member) for water. He said:

“This restaurant is my baby. I’m honestly embarrassed by how this night has gone.” He offered us a dessert. We said: “We’re okay – we would’ve just appreciated more care throughout the experience.”

We told him the pancetta pasta was raw. I cut it in half — it was dry and white inside. I cut a second one — same. He acknowledged it and said:

“I’m really sorry. Let me take it to the kitchen and see what they can do. I’ll come back.” He never returned.

On my way to the bathroom ,which passes through the kitchen. I witnessed two kitchen staff engaged in inappropriate behaviour for a professional setting. In full view. During service. While we were still waiting on food.

Over the entire 3-hour dinner: • Not one staff member asked how the food was.

When the bill came: • No apology • No acknowledgment • Not even a basic “How was your night?”

We asked to speak with someone about the raw paccheri pasta, which we didn’t eat but was still charged. Then the manager came over and said:

“Actually, the pasta was al dente. The chefs checked.” Which made no sense, since Angus said he’d check and then never came back. I explained everything to the owner, who had the audacity to say: “I gave you water twice!” Then accused us of lying and said we ordered the pizza separately from the mains. Suddenly, three staff were at our table, arguing with us, trying to prove we had “great service.” As if that erased everything. It was hostile, defensive, and completely unprofessional. We were surrounded by the owner and two waiters, standing over us, intimidating the group. When I started recording the scene, an older woman (staff) stormed over and screamed at us to stop filming. Then the owner said: “Check our reviews everyone loves this place. We had 100 ppl in here tonight.” As if overcrowding and ignoring our table was proof of quality. We voiced our concerns all night, to multiple staff, because no one was assigned to us. We just wanted the pizza and pasta removed from our bill. After 20 minutes of arguing — they finally did. This was not written out of anger, but out of disappointment. This left us feeling completely disrespected. We paid the...

Ah, South Brisbane, you've done it again! You've managed to sneak another culinary jewel into your treasure trove, and this time it's "Como Restaurant," the Italian sensation that's got everyone talking – and eating, a lot!

First things first, let's talk about the star of the show at Como Restaurant: the Spaghetti Champagne Lobster Lemon with Bottarga. This dish isn't just a meal; it's a culinary escapade. Imagine the most luxurious seafood date you've ever had, but instead of the awkward small talk, you get spaghetti. The lobster is so tender, it practically flirts with your taste buds, and the champagne? Oh, it's like a bubbly high-five in every bite. And let's not forget the lemon and bottarga – they're like the Fred and Ginger of flavor, dancing gracefully atop this pasta masterpiece.

But Como Restaurant isn't just about this show-stopping dish. Oh no, it's an experience from the moment you walk in. The decor? Think modern chic meets Italian nonna's living room. It's the kind of place where you wouldn't be surprised to find a sleek, contemporary sculpture sitting next to a vase that looks suspiciously like it was "borrowed" from an ancient Roman villa.

The waitstaff are so friendly and attentive, you'll start wondering if you accidentally walked into a family reunion. They're quick with a joke, a smile, and an uncanny ability to appear right when you think, "I could use some more parmesan."

And let's not forget the ambiance. The atmosphere in Como Restaurant is so warm and inviting, it's like being hugged by a giant pizza. The lighting is just dim enough to make everyone look good, but bright enough to ensure you don't accidentally dip your sleeve in the marinara sauce.

Back to the food, because let's face it, that's why we're all here. Every dish is a love letter to Italy, penned with the freshest ingredients and a dash of South Brisbane flair. From the antipasti that's as colorful as a Venetian carnival, to the pizzas that are so authentic, you'll start speaking in Italian hand gestures.

And just when you think you can't possibly eat another bite, the dessert menu arrives. It's like choosing the winner in a beauty pageant of sweets. The rasperry sorbet ? Heavenly. The cheese? Divine. The watermelon yoghurt? It's like a scoop of creamy, frozen joy.

In conclusion, Como Restaurant is not just a dining experience; it's a delightful Italian escapade nestled in the heart of South Brisbane. It's the kind of place where you come for the Spaghetti Champagne Lobster Lemon with Bottarga, but stay for the laughs, the ambiance, and the sheer joy of Italian cuisine done...

came here last week and left with a sour taste in my mouth (metaphorically). food + portion sizes are absolutely abysmal for the price and the amount of time you spend waiting for it to come.

avoid questioning anything about the food even if your risotto was so undercooked that the rice grains were crunchy. otherwise, an older man will come out to rudely confront you about how the recipe is PERFECT, the dish is PERFECT, and that you are in the wrong. they will agree to remake it but it will take ages to arrive and come back exactly the same.

i also overheard the kitchen staff talking about making sure to check that others at my table weren’t “taking advantage” of the bottomless pasta deal - however, i feel that three bowls for one person is completely reasonable considering how small the portions are, so not sure where that assumption was coming from. [edited to add in response to original reply that we “asked for the promotion for three guests to share between five”: we were not a party of 5 nor ordered the bottomless pasta for 3 people, and we didn’t ask to share. it probably isn’t a good look to fabricate information just to make it seem like it was reasonable to make that assumption, and then proceed to change your response when called out on it.]

my fellow POC be warned that you will experience a noticeable difference between the way your table is treated compared to other non-POC diners. i will not go into detail but please take your money elsewhere to support local businesses where you will actually feel welcomed. have yourselves a look at the demographics of people who have had a bad experience here amidst “every other review” and you will...