The Alliance Hotel — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Seriously cooking without making an impression

S27°27.675' E153°1.597' In the centre of Spring Hill, Brisbane QLD, we had dinner in The Alliance Hotel in September 2018, with the restaurant in the back. After schooners of Kosciuszko and reading the menu of this QHA best restaurant, we ordered pan fried duck breast with spring onion, pearl barley risotto, savoury muesli and sour cherries (AU$34.90) and the special of the day 500-gram grilled pork Tomahawk with roasted potato cubes, papaya, sweet corn salad with Montpellier butter (AU$34.90). Impressive menu.

The duck breast was well prepared and had nice flavours, but consisted of only five slices of duck breast. Good work was done on the risotto, but no matter how good a restaurant risotto is, it will not show such a rich texture and just-right doneness of good homemade risotto. The pork was served stacked on the potatoes (still not sure about this presentation habit in Australia) with a lot of fat on the bone, which added flavour to the dish.

The dishes were pleasant and the result of serious cooking efforts, but there was no wow-factor on our taste buds. These expensive dishes left no impression or impact to return the next day. The waiter knew the menu and looked after us.

The Alliance takes cooking seriously, but the food left...

We can't thank Emma and the team enough for their efforts in hosting our wedding reception in the Leichhardt Room at the Alliance Hotel! We were a little apprehensive when the management changed 4 months before our big day, but everything turned out swimmingly. Emma was on top of it from the get go, and was incredibly supportive, communicative, helpful and flexible during the planning phase and even went to great lengths to ensure we had the right combination of tables to fit all our guests. We had a few minor issues when drinks and food selections were changed last minute by the venue but I would put that down to them working out the kinks of new management. Their function packages are also very reasonably priced.

The event went off without a hitch thanks to the incredibly professional and approachable team who were entremely attentive and allowed everyone to have an unbelievably good time. Many guests commented on the amazing service. The food was immaculate, the plating was beautiful and served in a timely fashion. We got so much positive feedback from our guests about enjoying the food. The venue itself is stunning with exposed red brick walls and was the perfect space and atmosphere for our wedding reception. Thank you again to the whole team!...

We were recommended by folks we know to have a drink and a feed at The Alliance so we tried it last week during an obviously quiet time. The bar has an oldy worldly warm charm with a decent selection on tap served by a friendly barman. I reckon it would have a good vibe when there's a bit of a crowd in. Anyhow, we also went there for a feed and to be honest, it wasn't great. You'd think with so few customers and a small menu the food would be wonderfully prepared, the Mrs's Parmay had been far too long in the fryer, it was black and solid round the edges, no amount of cheese could hide it. I had the battered fish which had just the right amount of time in the fryer, it was lovely, albeit, the portion was a bit small. Someone else had a 'leaning burger' :), it had collapsed on the plate and looked a bit of a mess when served up. Each meal was advertised with a side slaw, this turned out to be finely grated dry cabbage with a small spoonful of some sort of dressing. The meals were also served with fries, they turned out to be shoestrings, yip, just like Maccas, unfortunately they were drenched in salt, so much so that none of us ate them. In conclusion, I'd go back and have a drink in the bar when it's a bit livelier but I wouldn't eat...