The Arsonist — Restaurant in Brisbane City

The Website is the High Point

After months of salivating at the thought of visiting the Arsonist we arrived early, giddy with gleeful anticipation and asked if it was possible to have pre-dinner drinks. Rather unfortunately (as it turned out) we were seated rapidly outside until our table was available. We enquired about standard cocktails not on the menu and were informed that would be possible on the second round of drinks and not the first (mmm okay but weird) so we happily received and polished off drink round “one” (we were incredibly parched) only to then spend 25 minutes trying to flag down a waiter to order round “two”. When we were seated at our table we immediately ordered another round of drinks fearing we may never see them if we didn’t. They took 15 minutes to arrive (because pouring wine from a bottle into a glass is a difficult and dying art). Over the course of the dinner we had five different wait staff, which may fool you into thinking the service was excellent, but in actuality speaks to the overall feel of pure unadulterated chaos within the restaurant, bar and kitchen. There is zero ambience and the promised “intimate and moody environment” must’ve been ripped from the pages of a design book, unless you count tables set so close together you really get to know your neighbours (and their arguments) as intimate. The restaurant is insanely noisy with no apparent thought given to acoustics (one of our many wait staff had to crouch down and speak to us each in turn to explain specials to us, and before you ask we’re the younger end of their demographic so it wasn’t our hearing that was the issue); and the “sensually indulgent décor” is somehow code for chairs set too low for the tables and you may actually need to BYO a booster seat. Before perusing the wine list we asked about the availability of a certain bottle, was told they don’t have it (fair enough), only to then discover it on the wine list and available for order (we were confused and obviously not from too many of the drinks we were still trying to order). The food was edible but mediocre and in no way worth the pretentious and incredibly audacious price tag (pro tip: forgo the “roasted potatoes” as they are nothing more than undercooked and overpriced wedges; oh and fair warning if ordering dessert be prepared for the largest spoons known to humanity). To top it off the “multi-sensory dining experience” promised online where guests can “immerse themselves in the warmth, sight, sound, smell and taste of cooking” actually meant watching one of the chefs repeatedly cough into his open hand and carry on cooking our food. Give this one a miss and go on down the road for paper wrapped...

Walking into The Arsonist feels like stepping into a fine-dining experience straight from Melbourne or Sydney, right in the heart of stunning Manly. The space is elegantly modern, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Once seated at our table for four, we were promptly presented with an impressive drinks menu, boasting a fantastic selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.

As someone with food allergies, I always review a menu beforehand to ensure I can eat safely, minimize any inconvenience for the staff, and avoid unwanted attention.

What happened next was unexpected. The Venue Manager approached our table and inquired if anyone had a food allergy. I confirmed I did and mentioned I was prepared with my EpiPen, jokingly adding that I had even brought my own nurse. To my surprise, the manager then demanded to see my EpiPen. His tone and approach left me feeling uncomfortable and shocked. I tried to lighten the mood with humour, but the interaction felt tense and intimidating.

Ordering food proved to be challenging. The restaurant was quite noisy, and our waitress spoke softly, making it difficult for us to hear her clearly. When it came to my order, I found myself with very limited options - even the bread was not an option. I chose a Mooloolaba Prawn for $9—flavourful, but just one prawn! I could only select two other dishes from the menu: the Kingfish and the Heirloom Tomato Salad. As for dessert, out of the entire selection, the Crème Brûlée was the only option for me—delicious, but again, quite restrictive.

While the menu does include a page about food allergies, it doesn’t provide specifics on whether individual dishes contain gluten, lactose, sesame, or tree nuts. Had this information been available, it would have made the ordering process smoother and avoided the need for the waitress to repeatedly check with the chef.

On a positive note, the waitstaff's attention to detail was exceptional. They managed our table discreetly, keeping it clean and ensuring our drinks were never empty, all without being intrusive. I would give them 5 stars for their attentiveness.

However, what detracted from the experience was the undue focus placed on me due to my allergies. I was made to feel like the centre of attention, which was uncomfortable and unnecessary.

Overall, The Arsonist is a beautifully styled restaurant with a great atmosphere and top-notch service. However, if you have food allergies, I wouldn’t recommend dining here. But if you’re looking for a drink before heading elsewhere, it’s a...

So good I went two days in a row! I am so grateful that I got to dine here over the weekend. I have been dying to come here for a really long time as I have heard so many great things about this place.

The Arsonist is a real gem and one of the best restaurants in Brisbane! Everything is cooked over the fire, so you can taste beautiful smoky flavors through everything!

Over both days, although there is an al a carte option, I opted for the $79 feasting menu which honestly leaves you so full, you need of a siesta afterwards-but is so good you just have to go for it! There is so much food that it will satisfy any hungry person, followed by a food coma😂

Although the dessert was a bit too rich for my palate and needed some lightness to break it up, I couldn't fault anything! Some of my stand outs were:

🌟 Fish of the day which was a locally caught Mahi Mahi with a Cashew butter dressing with wilted spinach and hazelnut oil. YUM! 🌟The slow cooked smoked stockyard brisket with xo sauce topped with local kind prawns. YUM! 🌟BBQ Chicken skewers- I would be happy to come back and order this on it's own for lunch in the large serving with come scallops and Oysters just for me! 🌟Roasted potato with spiced brisket fat aioli- I mean how can you not love potatoes?! These were amazing!

The have a full vegan and vegetarian menu, and are so happily able to cater for any dietary intolerances, which was so lovely to hear as I often want to take my family and friends to all of these wonderful places, but can't because not all restaurants are able to accommodate.

Staff were EXCEPTIONAL from start to finish, and I can quite confidently say that they have one of the best teams in town!

Please do yourself a favor, and come and support this...