Australian Gourmet Traveller - (11)November 2020 (1)

QUEENSLAND

Agnes

OpenedAugust 2020

WhoBenWilliamson(chefandco-owner), Tyron Simon, FrankLi

andBiancaMarchi(co-owners)

VibeA darklybeautifulvenuemannedbya teamwithtalenttoburn.

VerdictExpectmyriadgrillthrillsandplentyofdry-agedcarnivore

treats.ButAgnesis waymorethanjusta “hotcoals,goodtimes”

kindagal.Considerthesnacks.Smokybonitosandwiched

betweensoftroundsofwhitebreadanddialledupwithcreamy

white’ndujawitha tangywhitestrawberrysalsa.Orscarlet

prawndoughnutsampedwithVietnamesemint.Thismoodilylit

warehouseconversion,withitshiddenal frescorooftopterrace

andwell-stockedbaris 2020’ssurprisepackage.On fire.

22 AgnesSt,FortitudeValley, (07) 3067 9087,

agnesrestaurant.com.au

SK Steak & Oyster

OpenedDecember 2019

WhoKelvinAndrews(chefandco-owner), Simon Gloftis

andTheoKampolis(co-owners)

VibeGlamorousdiningwithgrown-upservicein a venuetailoredtoimpress.

VerdictEnsconcedinthecapital’smostfashionablehotel,

SKSteak& OysterfeelslikeBrisbane’sultimatevirtualgetaway.

Anescapeportaltobettertimes,abettedbya tome-likewine

list,white-jacketedstaffandanevocativefit-out.It’sbrightand

airybydayandflatteringlylow-litbynight.Soaringceilings,

plushbanquettesandlinen-nappedtablesprovidea cosseting

backdropforthelushlikesoflobsterrisottoandoysters

finishedwithfrothingBillecart-Salmon.Orperhapsjusta $32

wagyuburgeranda Martini,orthree. A contemporarytake

ontheUSgrillthat’sbecomeaninstantinstitution.

TheCalileHotel, 48 James St, Fortitude Valley, (07) 3252 1857,

sk-so.com

Same, Same

OpenedNovember 2019

WhoBenBertei(chefandco-owner),TyronSimonandFrankLi (co-owners)

VibeHigh-octaneThaiprettilyelevatedtosuitupscalesurrounds.

VerdictStrikingdigswithpaleoaktimberdetailing,gracious

curvesandtropicalplantsmakethischicsuccessortothe

owner’swildlypopularLongtimea feastfortheeyesaswellas

thebelly.Anon-trendwinelist,mainlyorganic,is compellinglyput

together.Kickoffwitha signatureG&Tandsnacks– prawnlarb

tacosandbetelleafmiangperhaps,thenseguetosmokygrilled

prawnsdaubedwithpickledchillibutter,ora signatureyellow

curryofBundabergBaybug.There’sa cracking$65banquet,

too.It’sloudandit’sfun.Butit’sdefinitelynotsame-same.

AdaLane, 46 JamesSt,Fortitude Valley, (07) 3188 1418,

samesamerestaurant.com.au

EDITED BY FIONA DONNELLY

68 GOURMET TRAVELLER

PHOTOGRAPHY

KARA

ROSENLUND

(LOUIS TIKARAM)

& JAMES MOFFATT (YOKO DINING).