Dirty Sultan - Fortitude Valley

After work drinks and snacks on a Friday afternoon with some coworkers and we decided to venture a little further than our usual at Jade Buddha, opting instead to go further out into the valley to try out Dirty Sultan on Constance for their Turkish themed drinks and snacks. 

The bar opened at 5 and we were one of the first groups there. Being a rooftop bar, views were quite wonderful but we weren't able to get a window seat as these were reserved for larger groups.

Aside from a cocktail menu, there were a selection of Turkish themed share plates which were all very reasonably priced. Service was fast and friendly.

 

For our first round of cocktails, I had the Farah which was their take on an espresso martini with Turkish coffee, spice blend and cappuccino froth. It tasted very much like the espresso martinis that I am used to but mixed with chai spices that added a warmth to the cup. My colleague had the Yasmin, a turkish delight drink with citrus hints. Trying some, this was very sweet and not very strong.

 

For our first round of food, we tried out the trio of dips and the trio of fries. Initially we were keen on trying out the trio of breads but it turns out that it didn't come with any dip, whereas the trio of dips did come with Turkish bread. The bread itself was extremely tasty and soft with a warm fluffy interior. The dips were all variations of hummus but the flavours were quite light and even the spicy one wasn't very spicy. The trio of chips were probably some of the best chips I have had in a long time. I particularly enjoyed the double fried potato chips which were served hot and had a good crunch to them. These also went well with our excess dips. 

Next round of cocktails was the Hira, a peach and apple tea with tequila. This was quite sweet and fruity with very strong hints of peach and apple whilst not being very strong in tequila. The portion size was good to share among small groups.

 

This was the three cheese cigars with mozzarella, feta and cheddar wrapped in flakey filo pastry. This was extremely crisp and the layers were light and delicious. The cheese in the middle was stringy and mildly flavoured, I would have enjoyed it with a bit more tasty cheddar.

Our final share plate was the Turkish Pide with slow cooked lamb, red pepper, tomato and fresh herbs. Compared to all the other dishes we had that evening, the flavour hit was intense. The base was thin and doughy with a nice crust on the outside. The spices on the lamb were very intense and I especially liked the tomato flavours which permeated not only the lamb but also the crust. 

 

Our last drink of the evening was the shared Taylan with plum and berry infused with vodka and gin. Like our previous drinks this was very sweet and fruity. The plum taste was definitely highlighted whilst the berry was a little understated. I would have preferred it to be a little less sweet, but it was still quite enjoyable.

Price Range: $50 - $70pp

Taste: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Environment: 9/10 

Burrito Bar - Coorparoo

Visiting our friends at Coorparoo again last week and decided to get some food delivered. With a craving for Mexican, we opted for Burrito Bar at Coorparoo for some quick sustenance. 

This was a large serve of Pulled Pork Nachos. The corn chips were still fairly crisp when we got them and the topping was fresh and enticing, however the serving size was quite moderate to be labelled as large. The topping to chip ratio was fairly good and we were not short of any sauces, but there really wasn't too much pulled pork to go with the dish.

We also ordered a crunch wrap with grilled chicken to share. This was very similar to what I previously had at Taco Bell, and was fairly tasty with well seasoned ingredients, but for the price it was most definitely not worth what we got. Will probably not be back given the other Mexican options nearby.

Price Range: $20 - $25pp

Taste: 7/10

Value: 5/10

Service: N/A

Environment: N/A

 

Kubo's Bar and Grill - Coorparoo

Having gone around Coorparoo several times to visit a friend there have been multiple instances where we walked past Coorparoo Square in the afternoon and were captivated by the extremely fragrant scents of grilled meat from Kubo's. With this in mind, I mentioned it to a few friends and we made immediate plans to book a table. It was actually very important that we did because it books out extremely easily and for more popular dishes, we were even recommended to order early to make sure that we could get a serve. Arriving 10 minutes before opening time, there was already a queue of people lining up to get in.

 

There were quite a few traditional Filipino dishes along with some more localised dishes adapted for Australian tastes. We opted for the more traditional options. Service was friendly and fast but our food did take a while to come. 

First to arrive was the signature Crispy Pata, which was a crispy skin pork knuckle served with cabbage slaw and a light vinegar soy sauce. It was surprisingly very similar to German pork knuckle that I've previously tried. The meat was not very strongly marinated, but it was moist without being oily with a very crispy skin. The dipping sauce was also lightly flavoured but refreshing.

 

Another traditional dish we tried, this was the Adobo Chicken with a serve of rice. With a sweet soy sauce base and spring onion on top, it resembled Taiwanese three cup chicken, especially when served with rice. Wholesome and delicious, albeit a bit sweet, it was quite enjoyable.

My favourite of the meal was the BBQ pork and chicken platter. With a selection of chicken and pork skewers as well as a bbq half chicken. The skewers were delicious and also covered with a honey soy glaze akin to those we've had from the Noodle Night Markets in previous years. They could be enjoyed alone or with rice. The BBQ chicken was one of the best I've had in a while, with a very charred fragrance which I enjoyed. Would definitely come back, but next time we'll be sure to grab some more vegetable options to balance out our meats.

Price Range: $20 - $30pp

Taste: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Environment: 8/10 

Stanton - Brisbane CBD

End of week dinner catch up with some friends and we decided to get dinner at Stanton which opened a while ago atop Queens Plaza. I had previously gone with a friend to enjoy coffee there but have never tried out their main meals and there was really not too many reviews of it online. Bookings weren't available so we made it there early.

The dining area was very spacious and it was only about half full by the time we arrived. Service was fast and friendly.

The menu comprised of breakfast options, mains, pizzas and sides. Prices were far more reasonable than I would have thought from the outside.

At the recommendation of our friend, we shared two main dishes. The first was the Stanton Pie. This came with fries and salad. Apparently the pie fillings go on rotation so if we came back tomorrow we probably wouldnt get the creamy chicken filling we got today. The pie alone wouldn't have been enough for a main meal, but with the sides it was definitely more than sufficient. The pastry was light and flaky but also rich and buttery. The filling was creamy and meaty. I liked the shoestring fries which were crisp and the fresh salad for balance.

Having enjoyed a large lunch, our second main was the crispy chicken salad with avocado and bocconcini. Again serving sizes were generous. It came with four crispy chicken tenders, atop a large salad with avocado and bocconcini. The vinaigrette was light and tangy. Overall a really enjoyable meal and a definite place for us to return soon.

Price Range: $20 - $30pp

Taste: 8.5/10

Value: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Environment: 9/10

Hallowed Grounds - Mt Gravatt East

There have been quite a few brunch places which are a little out of the way that I have always wanted to go to. One such places is Hallowed Grounds. Last week we had an errand nearby and took the opportunity to check it out for a late brunch. 

Arriving at around 11 on a Saturday, the place was still quite full and we had a table by the window, thankfully in the shade, whilst there was still outside seating in the back. 

 

There were quite a few brunch classics on the menu. We didn't take too long to decide on what we want and put our order at the counter. Service was fast and friendly.

What really impressed me though was the still and sparkling water available on tap. Since Dr L likes still water and I enjoy sparkling, we were able to finally have the best of both worlds without either of us compromising. 

Drinks wise, he had the iced chocolate and I had the freshly squeezed orange juice. We found both to be them to be very delicious and refreshing. His chocolate milk was fairly large with chocolate that wasn't too sweet whereas my orange juice was surprisingly sweet and not too sour. 

Having already had a little bit of breakfast before we headed out for the day, I didn't want us to order too much by way of brunch, so we had a big breakfast with extra avocado to share. I was very impressed to have the big breakfast split between two dishes for us. The portions provided were definitely excellent value for money. 

All elements of the big breakfast were executed quite well. My favourite was the potato rosti which was shredded and far superior to supermarket hash that I often have at home. It was crisp without being oily. The bacon was also crisp and generous in portion. The egg was done well with a thoroughly cooked white but a runny yolk. The haloumi was also well caramelised. I enjoyed the wonderfully ripe avocado which also complimented the wholesome sourdough. Definitely will have to come back and try their other breakfast options soon.

Price Range: $15 - $25pp

Taste: 9/10

Value: 9/10

Service: 8.5/10

Environment: 8/10

Mac from way back - Woolloongabba

There are few more enjoyable albeit guilty pleasures than a good burger after a long week of work. With this in mind we went out to the newly opened Mac from Way Back at Woolloongabba last friday to check out their burgers. 

Arriving just after 12 it was definitely busy and we took the last table. There were also quite a lot of people milling outside awaiting their take away orders. The decor was simple and there were a few elements of graffiti on the walls but very little else. 

Ordering at the counter, the menu comprised of burgers, fries, mac and cheese and some customiseable add ons. Service was fast and friendly. We ordered a selection to share.

Dr L ordered a double smashie. This was well caramelised and had a good balance of meat to bread and he said this was very similar to the burger he had last time from Jee's. 

Not wanting to miss any opportunity, I had the Oaklahoma Triple smash burger. Comprising three smashed patties, cheese, onions, and pickles it was a sight to behold. As the patties were smashed, it meant that I was still able to eat it the burger without it getting too messy. Compared to Jee's the patties were a lot more crisp and caramelised, bordering on lightly burnt. The cheese was deliciously melted and glued the patties together well. The buns were soft and not too sweet which was enjoyable and the pickles gave it enough tang to ensure the burger wasn't too decadent.  

We also had a serve of feral fries to go with our burgers. Having been told before that the mac and cheese is a bit bland to have on its's own, we made sure to get it with bacon, ketchup and spicy mayo atop fries. These were unbelievably crispy and had a good amount of sauce on them which I really enjoyed. The mac and cheese was al dente and would definitely have been bland alone but with all the toppings it was wholesome and comforting. Glad to have this shop so close to home.

Price Range: $20 - $30pp

Taste: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Environment: 8/10