marigo13

I am staying with friends on the Gold Coast and would like to treat my host family to a really nice meal in Brisbane. They like seafood. Where should I take them? The most important consideration is GOOD FOOD, followed by place and price.
Thanks.

Bokhara2

I like Pier Nine www.piernine.com.au
It's right on the river, contemporary, excellent service.

It's been Qld's leading seafood restaurant for the last 15 years according to the Courier Mail's Qld Food & Wine Guide.

They usually have a good range of oysters and it's a great opportunity to sample the subtle differences with a few from each region on your plate.

marigo13

Thanks for the suggestion. I took this same family to Pier Nine last year and we all agreed it was one of the WOREST meals we ever had. We sent the soup back - it was a bowl of soyasauce. Our waiter apologised and said something went wrong in the kitchen and the replacement soup was no better. It was down hill from there. However, this same restaurant keeps coming up in my food research. I just wonder whether it was the chef's day off when we were there.

Bokhara2

That's a shame, Marigo.
Maybe it was just one of those days/nights.

I was there in late January for dinner and we had a great night.

However,given your prior experience with these guests, you'd probably prefer to try somewhere else.

Initially I was going to suggest Gambaros which always had the premier reputation, but I haven't been there for quite some time and thought it may have been a little less contemporary than what you were seeking.

I just googled "Seafood Restaurants - Brisbane" and came up with this selection.

Marriott Brisbane - www.marriott.com - (07) 3303 8000 - 65 reviews

B. Gambaro's Seafood Restaurant - www.gambaros.com.au - (07) 3369 9500 - more

C. Bretts Wharf Restaurant - www.brettswharf.com.au - (07) 3868 1717 - 14 reviews

D. Oxley Wharf Restaurant - www.oxleys.com.au - (07) 3368 1866 - 12 reviews

E. Customs House - www.customshouse.com.au - (07) 3365 8999 - 1 review

F. Pier Nine - www.piernine.com.au - (07) 3226 2100 - 5 reviews

G. Waterline Restaurant - www.fridays.com.au - (07) 3832 2122 - 2 reviews

H. Chinahouse Seafood Restaurant - www.chinapier.com.au - (07) 3216 0570 - more

I. Armstrongs Restaurant - www.armstrongsrestaurant.com.au - (07) 3832 4566 - more

J. Golden Crown Seafood Restaurant - maps.google.com.au - (07) 3366 5421 - more
More results near Brisbane QLD »

Unless you're planning to surprise your friends, why not ask them which is their favourite Brisbane restaurant? Or somewhere they've wanted to go but haven't yet. If they live on the GC, they probably have a few on their Wish or Favourite list.

I've also had some lovely meals at Il Centro on Eagle Street. www.il-centro.com.au (Hardly dare make any recommendations now (LOL))

Someone else is sure to pop up with some spot-on recommendations for you shortly. Do let us know where you end up going & what it was like, won't you?

traveljunkie28

We ate at Pier Nine and found the food good, not fantastic as we are foodies but it was fine. Sorry to hear about your experience marigo13. Must have been a bad day.

Diamantina

Whenever my husband and I travel to a new city, he absolutely has to go to a seafood restaurant. He has to have one of those big seafood platters with a selection of deep fried, sauteed, grilled and boiled items. So I indulge him, as this is usually way too much for me. Anyhow, when we were in Brisbane about four of five years ago, we went to Gambaro's. It looked like a big old fashioned Italian restaurant, where families go for a special meal. The menu was pretty standard. No, it wasn't very contemporary or modern looking, nor did it have a jazzy menu. But the food was good, the service excellent, and the selection of Australian wines superb. I think the price was fair, given the quality and amount of food and good service we got.
Like Bokhara, I think it would be a good idea if you asked your host family where they would like to go That's the safest thing, no?

marigo13

Thanks everyone for your replies, especially to Bokhara2 for the list of possibilities.

I shall ask my host family if they would like to go to Gambaros. I also did some research and came across Lure Seafood at Coro. According to their website they were "Best Restaurant" in 2005,2006 and 2007.
Has anyone been to this restaurant or heard any reviews?
Thank you again.

wlzmatilida

Margo,

Last year I was with a group of agents attending a convention in Brizzy and they had a cocktail party for us at "Il Centro" @ the Eagle Street Pier. I was standing with a guy (who's father is a former Escoffier chef, btw) when a waiter came around with a little dab of "Sand Crab Lasagne" in a paper cup.

We both took a bite, looked at each other and ran off after the waiter to get more! It was AMAZING - so amazing that I went in the back where the servers were and got the receipe!

Hope this is helpful & if you take them there, please let me know how everyone liked it!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist