Merthyr Bowls Club — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Overview The Merthyr “Bowlo” is a classic Aussie bowling club with a well-maintained green, a pub and a bistro with indoor and outdoor seating. What sets it apart from other similar types of clubs is its prime location on the banks of the Brisbane River, offering a unique riverside setting.

Food & Drink We kicked off with the beer of the month, a pint of Gage Roads Single Fin lager for $10, and an Aperol Spritz for my wife at $18. That got us in the mood for dinner - and we weren’t disappointed. The food was excellent. I ordered the Thursday night steak special, while my wife opted for the brandy cream salmon. My steak was well cooked, just how I like it, with a generous, tender piece of meat served with crispy chips, a rich pepper sauce, and a fresh and nutritious salad. It was a satisfying, well-balanced meal.

My wife’s salmon was moist and tender, and accompanied by braised cabbage and a portion of chips. The presentation was neat and thoughtful, served on quality crockery. The portion was slightly on the small side, but the chef kindly added an extra plate of chips, which we appreciated. We both enjoyed our meals.

Service The staff are genuinely friendly, attentive, and professional. From the moment we walked in, we felt warmly welcomed and well looked after. Dressed in smart black uniforms, the team is focused on good customer service. You order drinks at the bar and food at a separate counter, and since we were the only diners inside, everything ran smoothly and our meals arrived without delay.

Ambience The club’s standout feature is its riverside location, with outdoor tables offering a view of the water. Unfortunately, the weather conspired against us as it was a cool and rainy autumn evening, so we decamped inside, which is a bit dated, with plastic chairs, patterned brown carpets, and bright lighting. It was quiet, as we were the only ones dining inside, but the relaxed, casual and laid-back atmosphere suited us fine.

Just behind the dining space, separated by a bright red partition, is the gaming area, which added some lively background noise. Outside, a few brave patrons toughed it out in the chilly weather. All things considered, I imagine this would be a top-notch spot on a warm summer’s evening.

Cost Prices were fair, especially in today’s hyperinflationary climate. The Thursday steak deal was $25, and the salmon at $29, bringing our total food bill to $54. Add to that $28 for the drinks, and the whole evening cost us 72 Aussie pesos. Welcome to Albo’s Australia 2025, where 72 buys you two modest meals and two drinks. No fault of these guys though, and we thought that, given the quality of the dining experience, it felt like good value.

Toilets & Parking Toilets were clean and well-stocked, located at the back of the venue. There’s also plenty of free parking in the club’s car park, conveniently situated in front of the function centre.

Summary We had a fantastic Thursday evening at the Merthyr “Bowlo” during the Anzac Day long weekend. The staff were lovely, the ambience was relaxed and the food outstanding. Prices were reasonable if you try the specials. Add to that, the riverside location, clean toilets and easy parking, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a relaxed and enjoyable night out with family or friends.

Thanks, Merthyr Bowlo....

i'll just list the cons and pros (i deliberately stated these in the order i will list them) of going there.

Cons include: the website menu is different from the physical menu; it caused a bit of confusion the food was somewhat expensive, $27 for lasagne (though there was a small salad and fries included) the MAIN courses tasted somewhat average, not too good but not terrible, though the lasagne tasted about as good as the lasagne you'd find at a school tuckshop, maybe even a little worse the drinks were also a bit expensive

Pros include: fries were tasty, there was a good amount of salt and i appreciated that, as most restaurants have somewhat plain and flavour-less fries the scenery was pretty; if it's quiet enough you can hear the splashing water and admire the rythmic movement of it. on a somewhat sunny day it becomes very calming despite the drinks being expensive, they gave you a good amount of ice which i also appreciated, because most restaurants which i've visited don't provide as much the servers at the drink station were somewhat friendly, they weren't intimidating which was noteworthy in my opinion

Overall, the restaurant was fairly decent, but i think i'd only go there once or twice to enjoy the scenery and for the experience, but i wouldn't go back unless there was some sort of...

Update June 2023 Sitting quietly on the bank of the Brisbane River is the layback venue called Merthyr Bowls. Never seems to get too packed out these days ( unless there's a function on ), so wise to ring in advance . The food menu covers most tastes & is probably typical of a local pub with prices to match . Has beer on tap with a schooner of craft beer costing $8 ( Lashes) or can purchase by the jug . Great to watch the continuous water craft passing by & joggers / dog walkers & bike riders on adjoining small pathway . Can get a bit cold if a fresh southerly is blowing so dress appropriately. On the well kept green, you can have a game of barefoot bowls , but you will need to book for that . There is a limited amount of free parking on site . Can now use eftpos for both food & drinks which need to be ordered inside . Very friendly and helpful staff. Update :- latest visit , similar to another review , couldn't find our booking . Lashes & 2 other craft beers on tap . Best choice on menu would be Calamari, chips & salad for $20+ . (very tender & also...