The Plough Inn — Restaurant in Brisbane City

It’s no surprise that this place is always busy and has over 3,500 reviews, most of them positive. It’s in a prime spot on the popular South Brisbane dining precinct. There are multiple dining areas, inside, outside, downstairs or upstairs. There’s something to suit everyone. And of course, dining outdoors in Brisbane’s hot summer weather is ideal.

My friend and I lunched here on a very busy Thursday afternoon between Xmas and New Year. Thankfully we had booked ahead, so despite it being packed, full marks to the manager for keeping our table and even placing a little notice with my name on it, which I thought was a nice touch.

Being just the two of us, and not being big lunch eaters we stuck to a fairly simple ordering protocol of two beers and two main courses: a vegetarian burger for my friend and a falafel plate for myself. The food was fresh and tasty and nicely presented to the table on stylish white crockery. We both enjoyed our meals.

Despite the crowds, the staff are friendly, polite and helpful. The ambience, as you would expect, is lively, energetic and fun. Just come as you are; It’s all very informal and relaxed.

But what I didn't like about the P.I. was the slow service, and the dirty and limited toilet facilities.

As we were unfamiliar with the app ordering process we did it the old fashioned “order at the counter” way. So first up, I had to queue to get drinks from the bar. They clearly seemed understaffed and I waited ages just to order two glasses of beer. For some strange reason, they don’t serve schooners, only pots or pints, which I found a bit inconvenient, especially as I prefer schooners. I had no option but to order a pot for my friend, and a pint for myself, of pretty average local ale, and that cost a hefty 22 pesos. I then went back to order meals, but it seems that drinking is more popular than eating, as there was a much smaller queue at the food counter.

Now to be fair the menu does warn patrons of a 45 minute wait for meal orders, and they were correct almost to the minute and it did take that amount of time to bring out our meals. While I understand that the reason for the delay was the large number of guests that they were catering to, it was a bit of an endurance test to hang about making small talk for that long.

So to the toilets: By 2.00pm, they were dirty and in desperate need of a mid afternoon clean-up. Having only two cubicles in the gents is insufficient for such a large place.

The prices here are definitely on the high side. Just take a look at their online menu to see what I mean, with some steaks coming in at over 50 pesos. Again I understand that it's no fault of the entertainment industry that we’re now experiencing Weimar Republic levels of hyperinflation. For that we can thank successive governments and their crazy spending and a Res Bank that's more concerned about its reputation than managing the money supply responsibly. One has become accustomed to enduring continuously higher prices every time one dines out. Luckily I came armed with a freebie from the Entertainment Club, so we only paid for the most expensive main meal and the whole thing ended up costing 50 pesos for two beers and two meals. Without the voucher, it would have been 74. Imagine that: Two beers and two modest meals for 74 pesos. Cast your mind back, say even two or three years ago, and that would have been 50 or less. Just goes to show how governments have destroyed our money.

But, despite that, overall, it was a pleasant experience at the P.I., and I’m glad that I’ve tried it. But you do need to be patient here, expect to pay premium prices and, depending on the time, toilets may not be clean. It could be a bit hectic, for those who prefer a quieter and more sedate dining experience.

As for transport, I’m not sure what the parking situation is around here, but we took a relaxing ferry ride from our home base near Guyatt Park, got off at the South Bank ferry terminal, from where it’s an easy 10 min walk...

I was in Brisbane recently, and spent a brilliant afternoon at The Plough Inn, soaking up some of what makes Brisbane a great city to visit.

We took the CityCat into Southbank and after wandering through the precinct, we settled in at The Plough Inn to watch the footy, enjoy the acoustic live music, and some nice time with my family.

The atmosphere was great, it was busy but not crazy - there was a nice breeze, the sound of a musician playing laid-back tunes was great, and the big screen had the AFL and the NRL was on the other screens. It was exactly what we were after.

We ordered several rounds of hard lemonades as the afternoon turned into early evening and I ordered some snacks to share. I went with the pork belly bites and buffalo wing nibbles from the specials menu, and the Peking duck spring rolls with sweet chilli plum sauce from the Shared Menu. The food was nice and got cleaned up quickly by our group.

I liked the space, The original Plough Inn structure is a heritage-listed 1864 building that looks beautiful. We were in the well designed modern extension structure next door, that still feels somewhat connected but looks like a completely separate structure.

There was something charming and quirky, but equally considered and effective about the layout of this new space. It works well as a casual pub experience, beer garden meets sports bar, meets relaxed family space.

After a few hours, we wandered into the nearby South Bank night markets, chatting and laughing and as we waited for our cabs and Ubers to head home, we all agreed we’d do it all again soon. Whether you’re a local or just visiting South Bank, The Plough Inn is nice space to...

The Plough Inn has always been one of my go-to spots when I’m in South Bank. The food is consistently delicious, well-portioned, full of flavour, and clearly made with quality ingredients. The beer selection is broad and well-curated, and the cocktails are on point, refreshing, well-balanced, and served with a smile. The staff have always been friendly and attentive, which makes the experience feel relaxed and enjoyable every time.

However, I do feel like the downstairs area is starting to let the venue down. While the upstairs section has a vibrant, well-kept atmosphere, the downstairs outdoor space could really use some attention. The umbrellas over the tables are covered in bird droppings, so much so that it’s hard not to notice. There’s also bird mess on the ground, and the concrete floors just feel dirty underfoot. It’s not the most pleasant environment when you’re trying to enjoy a meal or a drink.

I completely understand that outdoor dining areas come with challenges, especially in a popular area like South Bank, but some simple fixes could go a long way. Regularly pressure washing the concrete, deep cleaning the outdoor furniture and replacing or at least thoroughly cleaning the umbrella canopies would really improve the overall vibe. Right now, it gives off a bit of an unhygienic feeling, which is unfortunate because everything else, food, service, drinks, and location is top notch.

Despite that, I’ll definitely be back. This place still has great energy, great food, and great people working there. I just hope to see the downstairs area refreshed so the entire venue lives up to the high standards...