Rothwell’s Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Brisbane City

I've tried all the highly-rated steakhouses in Brisbane (Black Hide, Blackbird, Norman Hotel, Moo Moo, Breakfast Creek Hotel) and wanted to try Rothwell's and went in for Dinner during weeknight with high expectation based on the excellent reviews. I will start with the positives. The restaurant looks fabulous even before you walk in and sets high expectation. The massive crystal lighting at the entrance and the bar area looks impressive and would be a hit with anyone.

We ordered the spanner crab pasta, Rib Eye and Tri-tip fillet all cooked to medium rare. Also ordered the fried broccolini and spinach on the side.

The spanner crab pasta was first off the rank and it didn't disappoint. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was rich and full of flavour. Got us expecting even more from the steak given it's their or should be their specialty and unfortunately it went downhill from there.

The waiter didn't even offer us any condiments to go with the steak until I asked if we could get some. The menu clearly states it comes with a selection of condiments so why is it not offered before you have to request it separately?

The rib eye was pretty much cooked rare rather than medium rare as requested. Also, the meat had terrible strings of silverskin which I tried to chew because I didn't want to have to spit it out at the table. I chewed on it for 2 minutes trying to swallow it but in the end I gave up and spat it out on the cloth napkin. Not really pleasant when you have to go to the bathroom to try and pick out disgusting fibrous connective tissue that is stuck between your molars, which is exactly what I had to do.

The tri-tip fillet was cooked ok one the thicker end but the other end was pretty much well-done, not medium rare.

It's pretty disappointing to come to upmarket steakhouse and find that they can't cook the steak to your request. My local sports club cooks 250g rump steak to perfection for $16, so it's not excusable.

Onto the sides now - the fried brussels sprout was pretty much burnt black and as a result it was so bitter and not enjoyable. Spinach was ok but bland and nothing to write home about.

Finally, the service is not up to the standard for a place that charges this much. Not once throughout the whole evening was I asked how everything was. Can't say I've been to a restaurant and spent $130 per head and not been asked how the food was.

We did end up raising the issue with the steak with the staff and we were offered to have the rib eye cooked more and the tri-tip replaced with a new one. I politely declined to get the tri-tip replaced as all I wanted is just to let them know they have really dropped the ball on this occasion.

The rib-eye was much more enjoyable when it came back so it's a shame that it couldn't be cooked right the first time.

Really had high hopes going in but came out disappointed. I'm seriously scratching my head connecting my experience to the 4.7 star rating. Apart from the pasta, I enjoyed the local sports club $16 steak more to be honest. Looking at the low rating reviews now, it looks like I'm not alone and what they say are consistent with...

We dined at Rothwell's on a Saturday night and had a wonderful dining experience. From the moment we entered the venue we were warmly greeted by Kira who would be our host for the evening. We were seated at one of their signature booths which had soft, comfortable leather seating. The venue was tastefully decorated, from the gorgeous chandelier that is at the entrance, those gorgeous booths, and the nicely designed and well stocked bar and really projected the fine dining experience.

Kira was friendly and struck that fine balance of being attentive while non-intrusive and very helpful and well versed with the menu, providing information and recommendations as we enquired. She really helped to elevate our dining experience.

The food was excellent and everything was cooked to perfection. For starters we ordered the crab with potato, saffron rouille and black pepper and the Campanelle with lobster and caviar. The crab was very fresh and flavoursome and the dish was light and refreshing.

The campanelle was cooked al dente and the lobster was also very fresh with the lobster meat being sweet and tender. Combined with the caviar and the rich and tasty sauce that was clinging to the pasta it was a very hearty and satisfying dish.

For mains we ordered the signature Beef Wellington with sides of fried brussel sprouts wih acon and sherry vinager and the creamed spinach with toasted almonds. The wellington was the star of the show and very deserving of being the signature dish.

The beef was cooked perfectly and was medium rare in the middle, surrounded by the deliciously rish, buttery pastry. The red wine sauce topped it and was really rich and flavourful. We wished that there was a bit more sauce as we went through ours very easily.

Word of warning about the Wellington. The portion is huge and could quite easily feed 4 people, especially if you add a few side dishes. We were extremely hungry from a day of hiking and we came close to finishing but fell short by about 1/6th. Both side dishes were good but we barely made a dent in them as we were focusing on the Wellington.

For dessert we ordered the Apple Tart Tartin. This was an absolutely wonderful way to finish the evening. Piping hot, sweet, juicy apples covered in a warm gooey caramel glaze, surrounded by a gorgeouslly light and flaky pastry base. Yes, it was every bit as delicious as it sounded and looked.

So thank you to Kira and the rest of the team at Rothwell's for one of our finest dining experiences...

Rothwell's Bar and Grill has been open for almost 15 months now and has proved to be a very popular city hotspot for drinks, and French style bistro meals. The restaurant boasts a premium location, premium styling and services, and prices as well. Therefore one would expect the food to be presented and cooked perfectly and fortunately it was. The Beef Wellington, roast lamb, and potato purée were smooth, silky and tender; the only reservation I had was that perhaps the servings were a bit more on the modest size, but maybe it was because of my large appetite, one would prob. have to order more depending on one's appetite. Fortunately all the other elements match up perfectly and you are welcomed into a world that feels special, luxurious and perfect for a special occasion or celebration. The decor is minimalist Bistro style with oversized mirrors, large floral arrangements, marble tables, shiny wooden furniture, and glinting brass and silver. One might feel overwhelmed by the grandeur of the space but luckily you are welcomed back by the service which is second to none. I attended with my brother and mother on a relatively quiet Saturday afternoon for my brother's birthday. Immediately we were welcomed warmly and introduced to our waiter Emma who attended to us with geniality, wit and decorum. It was a great pleasure for her to serve us and she very knowledgeably informed us about the running of the restaurant and bar which was quite fascinating. Later we were attended to by Craig, one of the managers who was also very professional, knowledgeable and charming as well. I loved the presentation and different hierarchy of uniforms that the waiters wear to denote their designation. It felt like a very tightly run kitchen whilst being attentive and compassionate. Many thanks to both of our waiters and especially to Emma for surprising my brother with a birthday cake! It was the thought that counts. I look forward to visiting again on a bustling and busy night. All the best,...