Grape & Grazing — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Where do we start? Well, let's start with the good. The food was nice. Now, the service...

We arrived promptly. No please wait to be seated sign or anyone at the door, so we went inside to the counter to ask if we could be seated. Curtly told by staff member, "sorry I'm really busy, go back to the door and you'll be looked after" (we didn't get her name but subsequent to thIs spoke with the owner and agreed that their inferences and disagreed points would be removed). So, we return to the door. Another staff member arrives, we advise booking, and he looks at his laptop (had to leave us for 15 seconds to go inside and get it as person at counter had same), then tells us we aren't on the list. We say you've confirmed with us twice, so....? Then he finds us, and we are seated inside... 20cms either side of adjoining parties whose personal conversations we were privvy to all night unless you also include the larger drunk group behind us, llouder than the high decibel interior where we couldn't speak comfortably over the noise. Anyway, we are asked for our wine order. We ask for a particular Aus. sparkling. Waitress advises, "we are completely out of Aussie sparklings, next best is a Tatinger, we're 'between menus''". "No thanks", we say, we'll look at the list again (largely because, like all establishments needing to cover costs, the wine costs are high). Interesting. This is a wine-based venue. And no Aussie sparklings? So, our second preference arrives. Then we order food. BTW, we had specifically answered a booking question about GF allergy and special occasion, our anniversary - neither was acknowleged. I needed to ask about GF options (there were options, thank you) but anniversary still remains under the radar and we chose to leave before dessert). I ordered the rainbow trout and mussels and was asked if I wanted a side, as, "it's just trout and mussels". So I say, "ok, your side dish of green salad please". Lovely grazing plate arrives with GF crackers to start. Very nice. My trout then served but is on a bed of asparagus. They say my salad is on the way, but sorry for the delay. I pointed to the asparagus and said, "you told me there are no greens, what's that?" "Oh", says waitress, 'they didn't tell me that". So I ask if she actually knows the menu? "Of course I do"..... Then a bowl of something unusual and a spoon arrives. We ask, "What's this?" "Your risotto." We didn't order risotto. So, deliverer exits to counter to check, comes back and removes risotto. No "sorry", just "excuse me while bowl is removed. But, we enjoy the wine and meal then proceed to ... nearly...the bill. But our guess-who comes over and says,"would we like the bill?" "Yes' I say, and waitress says, "too easy" (!) and "how was the evening?" Suffice to say Manager comes over and listens to my list of cincerns, which included intention of a review.. They were good to take my two glasses of wine and the greens off the bill. The invoice, and subsequently EFT machine, arrives. Different totals (card charge on EFT, called 'service charge'). I say, "what service?' and the waitress responded, "my service", pointing to herself. Maybe she didn't know about standard card charges - or how to...

This place is a hidden gem with a food and service quality pretty much unrivaled in Brisbane.

It is understated, yet offers spectacular food and a wine list that is extremely well considered.

The chef has an amazing talent to turn a common dish into an experience you would expect in a hatted or even Michelin Star restaurant.

Fresh Sydney Rock oysters with an eschalot vinaigrette would be considered a basic entree at most establishments but even this crowd favourite was set apart with a tarragon infused vinegar that I would personally buy by the bucketload! And before you think that is the only spin, a plum infused, handmade Tabasco was added.

I wished I could take a sample home with me and before I even asked, a small jam jar sample arrived at our table.

Steak frites followed with another amazing spin (you’ll have to find this one out yourself) and a home made apple pie that almost ended up in divorce proceedings over who got the last spoonful.

The owners are relaxed, yet passionate which is a beautiful combination.

I can’t give this place enough stars, get there before it...

We absolutely love this beautiful neighbourhood gem. From the moment we first sat down, we knew it was somewhere special, so much so that we’ve made a point of bringing friends back every chance we get.

The service is second to none and nothing is ever too much trouble. This week, with only a couple of days’ notice, Rowena, Oliver and their incredible team pulled together a stunning celebratory birthday dinner for our party of 16- including accomodating last minute additions and dietaries. From custom menus and thoughtful wine and food consults to the small, personal touches that elevate the whole evening, everything was seamless and made us feel so well looked after.

It’s rare to find a venue that feels both intimate and super refined while also being exceptionally warm and welcoming, but Grape & Grazing truly nails it. We’ve found a place we’d happily come back to again and again, and that we couldn’t recommend more highly. Thank you to the G&G team for creating such a special experience - Brisbane is very lucky...