Tillerman Seafood Restaurant — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Few restaurants in Brisbane capture the essence of contemporary seafood dining as gracefully as Tillerman. Nestled along the Brisbane River with an uninterrupted view of the iconic Story Bridge, this elegant restaurant effortlessly combines refined cuisine, warm service, and a serene riverside ambiance.

The wine list is exceptional—well-curated, comprehensive, and thoughtfully designed to complement each dish. Their red wines, in particular, pair beautifully with Tillerman’s signature seafood creations.

But the undisputed star of the menu is the Moreton Bay Bug Dumpling. Each dumpling is filled with sweet, delicate bug meat, wrapped in a silky casing and finished with a fragrant bisque-style sauce reminiscent of Thai seafood soup. Topped with caviar, it’s a symphony of luxury and balance—one bite transports you straight to culinary paradise. This dish alone is reason enough to visit Tillerman.

Before moving to the other highlights, it’s worth noting Tillerman’s exquisite Caviar Presentation. They honor the traditional serving style—with Buttermilk Blini, Crème Fraîche, Chives, Cornichon, Egg White, and Egg Yolk—creating a refined tableau of flavors and textures. Each element enhances the purity of the caviar, inviting diners to savor its natural elegance in the most classic way. This thoughtful presentation not only celebrates authenticity but also reflects Tillerman’s deep respect for culinary tradition and precision.

The scallops and oysters are also superb, elegantly plated and served with three distinct sauces. The oysters, presented in their natural shells, highlight the restaurant’s commitment to detail and aesthetic sophistication.

Service at Tillerman is nothing short of outstanding. The staff are gracious, knowledgeable, and genuinely attentive. From start to finish, guests are treated with warmth and professionalism. The restaurant also provides an elevator for guests with mobility needs, reflecting its inclusivity and care for every visitor. Combined with the sweeping Story Bridge view, Tillerman offers not only exquisite food but also an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates both hospitality...

I will preface my review by saying that I'm not a foodie, so I have more experience reviewing suburban restaurants than fine dining establishments like Tillerman.

I was really excited when my mum said she booked a table for my immediate family to dine here as a special treat for my birthday, and the menu looked great. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was lovely and clearly a lot of thought has gone into the decor. Our waiter was prompt and attentive, and I appreciated her patience while we were ordering.

The wine selection is good, but if you are trying to drive home afterwards, keep an eye on how much you are served because the staff are very enthusiastic with top-ups. The beer selection is equally good but overpriced, and bottles of wine offer the best value.

The down side of the experience is the restrictive menu. To order a banquet, all guests at the table must order the same banquet. Even numbers of guests can't order separate banquets. Getting six people to agree on the same banquet is no easy feat.

The menu is also designed such that guests have to spend more money. Several of the main courses are not meals (e.g. the swordfish is a dressed fish steak on its own); and require a side to be ordered for a full meal. The waiter said that the menu is designed to be share-plate/tapas style, but with the prices, this makes a meal exorbitant. Other fine-dining restaurants I've been to have their "mains" as a meal by itself.

I think Tillerman would be an excellent choice for a special occasion as a couple, or if you have a lot of money to spend.

I'm very grateful to have had this experience with my family, but overall it was an experience I appreciated for the company I was with rather than the restaurant. I wouldn't be sad if that was the only time I went to Tillerman.

Sidenote: plan where you will park in advance, as the Wilson Riverside car park is a nightmare on a...

Arrived to our booking for 8 people at 12pm and wanted to order the $69 Banquet. Once seated we were informed we could only order the $99 menu, $30 more. Great start...

We had two ladies with new born babies and two prams and the staff refused to aid them up the stairs. They were told to go around the back and up the elevator - which was barricaded shut.

The food started to trickle out, SLOWLY. We were up to the second course when the incorrect food came out. To which the response from the waiter was 'oh that was meant for another table', and then looked at us like we needed to give it back after we had already eaten half. She then SEVERAL times asked if we would like to just have that food instead of our next course (and simply skip the food we had ordered and were paying for). After the third time she asked we said to just bring out the food WE HAD ORDERED.

Two hours go by and we have still yet to receive any of the two main courses. After reminding them and getting them to hurry up they said they would 'put the order through' - why was that not already done!?

Waiting even longer now and nothing had been offered to us... you would think a drink would have been offered by now.

3+ hours go by and we had finally eaten the average food that was served to us and we were still hungry. One of our group members was allergic to the last meal which was prefaced at the beginning, which they of course forgot about. They then proceeded to serve her the SAME course that we had prior.

McDonalds on the was home it was!

At the very end, we were informed that our first round of drinks was paid for on the house. When I asked how those of us who did not drink would be compensated they said: "well we can charge you less for not drinking, but that just means we will charge your friends more, for the amount you didn't pay".

I just told them to forget it. I will...