You know you are somewhat bored, when one types this up during dinnertime, with four white walls, a table, and six chairs for company. Well... 5 really, cause you're sitting on the sixth.
It's a week on since my trip down to Brisbane: to attend the bi-annual Optometry trade expo known as ODMAfair 2013: the Optical Distributors & Manufacturers Association expo. I remember attending the previous expos as a student in their traditional hunting grounds of Sydney (ODMAFair 09 and ODMAFair 2011), but is closed for renovations this year - so up they come to Brisbane. Yippee! Just my luck: only a 2hr drive from Toowoomba.
So I'm not going to bore you with the exploits of Optometry, and get down to what's important: the FOOD!
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MOS Burger (Queen St Mall)
Now coming down to Brisbane usually means I meet up with friends, both past and present. And naturally, our usual apathy tends to digging out our iPhone/Samsung Galaxy S3 or S4 to seek a spot to nibble.
To me, Mos Burger seems to be the equivalent of Asian-McDonalds: order, wait, and eat your burger. Instead of skinny fries and a Coke, one gets fat chippies and an iced tea. =Asians=
=) The Menu
My choice was the last: Fish Burger for $4.45.
Slightly bigger than a Filet O'Fish, and more tang to the sauce... seek your own opinions. The one above are my friend's choice: Seafood Okonomi set with rice-cake inside your burger!
The choice is yours, younglings!
Value - on par with elsewhere
Varieties: Asian-ified - and enjoy!
Mos Burger (Brisbane CBD)
250 Albert St
Brisbane, QLD 4000
How to: Go down Queen St Mall to Albert St, turn 'up' towards King George's Square, and it'll be on your left
A Japanese-started rendition of a hamburger joint that has quite a number of locations in Hong Kong!
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Jojo's Restaurant (Brisbane CBD)
First MOS Burger for afternoon tea (well, we were slightly peckish after two hours of sitting still and laughing at Mike and Sully on Monsters University)... then dinner with another friend-from-long-ago. This time ABOVE Queen St Mall!
The entrance escalator is tucked on Queen St near the intersection with Albert St, and one ascends into a glossy, fluorescent-lit world away from the bustle and noise of Brisbane Centre. This Bar x Diner blend takes some getting used to at first, as you look around and admire how posh everything appears. The blend comes across in their menu as well: a confused debacle of steakhouse fare with Thai and Italian options as well.
Drink orders first: Number 8 Cocktail ($16, above) is a mix of passionfruit pulp, vodka, Vanilla Galliano, cherry juice, mint and lime and other thingamies too. Sip. Sip. and keep sipping.
Chocolate milkshake ($5.50, below): The usual fare for the faint-hearted.
Mains:
Penne Pollo ($25): Chicken breast on penne in a rose sauce with mushroom, spinach and avocado, with a touch of bacon. A fair sized main considering price and location and rather filling.
Eye fillet 275g steak with Dianne sauce, topped with greens in a mix called "Greek Salad" ($35). Cooked well, done well, and considering I haven't sliced and diced a hunk of meat in months... YUM!
Overall: I can't say I loved this place - the food is on par, but nothing to get excited over. Considering we spent $40 per person, then I'd peg this in the 'overpriced' category.
Jo Jo's Restaurant
Cnr Queen St Mall & Albert St
Brisbane, QLD 4000
Location: along the main aspect of Queen St Mall near Albert St, and look up until you see the diners along the balcony.
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Brew Cafe (Brisbane CBD)
Cosy little cafe that takes forever to find! If you follow Google Maps, it'll point you down Burnett Lane - but that's the WRONG WAY!
Assuming you were a confused tourist like us, and spend forever wandering into Burnett Lane... STOP! ABOOOOOOUT TURN!
Lower Burnett Lane is where it's situated, and down a little ramp near the 7-Eleven, you will be accosted by a defaced wall mural that guides you to this secreted lil'Paradise.
The main eating section is tucked underground into the Basement, and might be a challenge for those over 6 feet above-ground! Little wooden box tables and soft lighting give this place a trendy feel... and not to mention the hipsters and retro folk who pop in to set the tone.
Breakfast consisted of an hour-long chat and grumble about Optometry life, served with Hot chocolate and a coffee ($3.50 ea), Poached eggs on toast ($9) with a blueberry cake ($5) filling our mouths and stomachs for the morning.
I'd score this place a 7/10 simply for the ambience. Food was warm and filling, and $13 for noms and coffee isn't bad, and the service is good as well. Docking points for being hard to find, though =P
Brew Cafe & Wine Bar
Lower Burnett Lane
Brisbane, QLD 4000
Location: See above and read!
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Chilli and Spice (Brisbane CBD)
This place wrapped up my adventure: after spending the morning with my Perth friend at Brew, we walked around exploring with the aim of killing time - her flight left that arvo at 5. So up and down Queen St, then Charlotte St and Adelaide St we went, then gave up and went for a game of tenpin at Wintergarden Strike Bowling.
Lunchtime soon came around: in the mood for Thai! So whipping out the good ol'Urbanspoon, this place popped up as a reasonable suggestion... and only a block from our hotel! If only we had found this place sooner... *sigh*
The pictures speak for themselves: one Chicken Pad Thai and one Massaman Chicken with rice later, we were bloated and much satisfied.
The cynic in me will admit that I wasn't completely blown away, but it was close - I really enjoyed the food here =) A strong 8 (maybe a weak 8.5) from 10 from my noodle-loving stomach!
Chilli and Spice (Brisbane)
128 Charlotte St
Brisbane, QLD 4000
Location: walking from Queen St Mall, down Albert St, turn left onto Charlotte and it'll be to your left, opposite Sebel Suite Hotel.
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Well, that's all from me for now - end of my first Brisbane adventure =)
Hope my next faring will be more interesting than this!
