Naked for Satan

After Sarah and I had lunch at Mandalay Bay we dropped into the studio of the mad millinery genius Richard Nylon, viewed the Tutankhamum Exhibition (which I might add was beautifully curated as there were a number of signage points and you could travel the entire circumference of each display. However I was a tad disappointed that there wasn't the opportunity to view the death mask, sarcophagus or board a fun park ride. Seriously, hear me out. As the initial entry started with a short film and a verbal introduction in a fully enclosed room, I was expecting to be startled by a faux crisis and shuffled into a little red cart ... but alas I was wrong.) and made the decision to board a tram back to the hotel and freshen up. But we made a minor miscalculation, so we spent the next hour cruising the inner city streets of Melbourne on a City Circle Tram, until we were back at Brunswick Street and entering the coppery light of Naked for Satan.

As your eyes adjust, one of the first thing you will spot is the main bar's steam punk inspired copper drums. These drums are infusing a number of flavoured vodka's onsite and fit into the bar's back story of a Russian immigrant bootlegging in the nude. Though Naked for Satan appears to be quite small, continue walk up the stairs to an expanse of tables, hidden nooks and wait staff serving you drinks and gorgeous pintxos. Pintxos cost no more than $2 each and it's the perfect concept or a bar as the bread fills you up and as you pay per tooth pick, it means no squabbling over the bill! I'm not sure how much Naked for Satan loses on dishonesty but each guest gets their own little shot glass to place their tooth picks and all you have to do is take them to the counter when you are done.

Though there are a number of vegetarian options, the Naked for Satan pintxos bar concept really suits those who like meat, cheese and carbs. As I like all of these things, drinkies and a touch of naughty, I'd be more than happy to return there. Hope you get naked soon!

Rating: 4 out of 5.
Address: 285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065,
Open: Sunday - Tuesday: 12pm - 12am. Wednesday - Saturday: 12pm - 1am.
Phone: (03) 9416 2238
Price: Pintxos: $2 each.

Spanish Garden Steakhouse

The Breakfast Creek Hotel Steak is a Brisbane icon and you can enjoy it in two ways: The Staghorn Beer Garden or the Spanish Garden Steakhouse. The Spanish Garden Steakhouse basically consists of breezy courtyard (perfect in Summer but rug up if you dare to enter this icebox in winter) and full table service. For a few dollars more you receive the same Breakfast Creek Hotel Steak. We started our meal with some bread and I was disappointed to find the garlic bread was cold. Also disturbingly I found it difficult to determine what was actually on the Italian Bruschetta.

I decided to order a rare Petite Eye Fillet, with mushroom sauce, traditional coleslaw, bread roll and an idaho potato. The steak was just perfect, fresh, cooked perfectly and I enjoyed it immensely with a dab of mushroom sauce. The traditional coleslaw, however needed a little more dressing. Though it wasn't a bad experience, I didn't view the Spanish Garden Steakhouse as a highlight either. If you want to enjoy this icon, then the Staghorn Beer Garden is the way to go.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Address: 2 Kingsford Smith Drive, Albion, QLD 4010.
Open: 7 Days a week. Licensed hours: 10am - 2am.
Phone: (07) 3262 5988
Price: Entrees: $6.50 - $29. Steak: $32 - $40.50. Desserts: $7.50

The Jubilee Hotel

Unless I've been called away by work or am dying from Ebola, you will find me on Monday nights at the Jubilee Hotel waiting to inflict audiences with my bumbling brand of humour. The Speakeasy is ImproMafia's free theatre-sport style comedy show and allows new improvisers to refine their craft with a few seasoned performers to keep things moving along nicely. Since the start of the year I've watched the Jubilee Hotel attempt to shift their offering to something more upmarket with items like Salmon Rissoles and provide more choices than you could poke a stick at. Luckily the Jubilee Hotel kitchen has seen the light and returned to focusing on good, ample pub food and are now offering 10 meal choices for $12, all day Monday to Thursday. Miss Amy and I can attest to the fact it's good, the Beef and Guinness Pie (pictured above) is large enough to feed two and comes served with creamy mash potato and a puff pastry lid. The beef is moist, flavoursome and perfect rainy weather cuisine.

However if you're looking for something a little more naughty, my pick is the pan fried Chicken Schnitzel served with mushroom sauce, thick cut chips and salad. There is ample space to dine, plenty of free parking if you enter via Gregory Terrace and best of all there is free comedy on a Monday. So roll up! Roll up! Enjoy some ample pub food and watch me openly embrace and full frontal snog failure on stage in the face.

Rating: 3 out of 5.
Address: 470 Saint Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006.
Open: 7 days a week, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Phone: (07) 3252 4508
Price: Entrees: $5.50 - $9.00, Mains $12 - $28, Desserts $7.50.

Panama Jack's

"Oh sorry about that," said Amanda cheerfully, as we wandered through the halls of the Bracken Ridge, past the topless barmaids Tarven to have dinner at Panama Jack's. I have to admit I hadn't even notice the topless ladies and it wasn't until we left that my eyes confirmed there were indeed ample blonde ladies serving patrons. But that's a tangent ... we're talking about Panama Jack's. Panama Jack's an expansive no fuss, gaming parlour style restaurant nested behind the Bracken Ridge Traven's Rum Jungle and features indoor and alfresco dining areas. The menu features wide range of enormous meals, so ensure you come with an empty stomach.

Orders are taken at the counter and meals are delivered to your table. Amanda ordered the Garlic and Cheese Pizza Bread with Aioli as a starter and it was lovely. Light, cheesy and the aioli provided a nice creamy lift.

But I think the stand out meal for me was the Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks. The shanks had a great colour and were melt in your mouth soft, served with creamy potato mash, vegetables and a rich jus. To me comfort food with good company is the ultimate way to spend your evening.

Amanda decided to order the fish special which was a Macadamia crusted Barramundi fillet served with vegetables and a green curry sauce. We were a little lost the macadamia crust went but Amanda informs me she enjoyed her meal. If you're keen to come down to Panama Jack's for dinner I would recommend booking as the restaurant filled up quickly. Bracken Ridge Rewards members are given 20% off Wednesday and Thursday is steak night with a chargrilled rump steak, cooked to your liking for $16.50.

Rating: 3 out of 5.
Address: 154 Barrrett Street, Bracken Ridge, Brisbane, QLD 4017
Open: 7 days a week. Lunch from 11:30am and dinner from 5:30pm.
Phone: (07) 3269 7011
Price: Entrees from $5;90. Mains: $19.90 - $33.

The Chalk Hotel

Once regarded as a "dive" the renovated Chalk Hotel has come of age with two restaurants, eight bars and seven function areas which makes the Chalk an intriguing venue. It is easily accessible by public transport and for the teetotallers amongst us there is even free parking space.

Trading up to 22 hours a day this eclectic beast offers everything from the early morning breakfast, fine dining, live music and encourages individuals to host functions in one of its numerous space. On Saturdays the venue is transformed into a Farmers Markets and these open from 6am.

Chicken Schnitzel with salad, fries and mushroom sauce.

The venue loves to boast about its paddock to plate approach to food and I was genuinely interested in seeing what its steak offering was like. I rarely say no to a good steak and feel it sets the benchmark for any pub. Thus I ordered, a rare 250g Eye Fillet with Vegetables and Beer Battered Fries and my goodness was it ample! The fries were beautifully light and the steak was well seasoned and melted in my mouth. The only thing that detracted from the meal was the mushroom sauce which reminded me strongly of Gravox but it was still an enjoyable meal. The Chalk isn't my favourite venue but if you're after a pub lunch, a drink and in the area, the Chalk isn't a bad spot.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Address: 736 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD 4102
Open: Monday - Friday. 7:30am - Late.
Phone: (07) 3896 6565
Price: Starters and light meals: from $3.50. Mains: from $16.00.

Mirasoul

Located next to Brisbane institution Gambaro's is the cocktail bar Mirasoul. Owned and run by Craig, Matt and Steven, the Mirasoul experience is described as, "more satisfying than a bar, less formal than a restaurant, the ambiance and excellent service reflects the essence of Mirasoul." It's an eclectic space that contains a small alfresco dining area out the front and depth that allows for the venue to be easily sectioned off. Mirasoul also has an extensive cocktail menu and range of tapas including items such as 'Spanish Meatballs with Tomato Chutney' and 'Crispy Salt and Pepper Calamari with Tequila and Lime Aioli. My recommendation is the 'Sesame Duck Crepes with cucumber, coriander and mint'. This dish is a more filling tapas dish or a great light meal for one. The duck is flavoursome and beautifully offset by the freshness of the cucumber, coriander and mint.

Moroccan pizza: lamb, baba ganoush, haloumi, mint and olives.


Mirasoul is a happening place any evening but my recommendation would be to book a table on Thursday when Brisbane collective, The Jericho Project plays and it's all you can eat tapas for $27.50. Salt and Pepper Calamari, Smokey BBQ Ribs, Vegetarian Risotto Balls, Honey Soy Wings, Spanish meatballs, Chick pea salad, Herb and Cheese Bread and of course the amazing Hand cut fries with house spice, served with aioli and a roast chilli sauce, which I've pictured above for your visual pleasure. So what are you going to do on Thursdays? Heading to Mirasoul of course.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Address: Ground Floor, 55 Caxton Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000
Open: Wednesday - Thursday, 4:00pm - late. Friday, 11am - Late. Saturday - Sunday, 4pm - late.
Phone: (07) 3367 1333
Price: Tapas from $10. Cocktails from $15.

Kerbside

Stepped out this afternoon with the lovely Renee of Pantry Review fame to check out a new Brisbane laneway bar called 'Kerbside'. Tucked behind Fringe Bar, this eclectic space just oozes creativity and charm and offers simple lunches and quality beverages. My Hot Chocolate was warm, light and went down a treat on this rainy afternoon. Kerbside is a lovely space to indulge and worth checking out.


Address: Constance Street, Fortitude Valley
Open: Wednesday - Thursday: 9:30am - 3pm. Friday: 9:30am - 5pm. Saturday: 4pm - 5am. Sunday: 1pm - 1am
Phone: (07) 3252 9833
Price: Light meals from $3.50.

Lab Bar + Restaurant

For the last few years I've shared Christmas Eve Eve dinner with friends at the Lab Bar and Restaurant (The Lab). This normally involves great company, a glorious meal, before braving the sultry Queensland heat to marvel at the Myer Christmas Windows. However this year, Summer has been unseasonally cool and filled with days of rain. It seemed almost wrong that I was dressed in winter silks, stockings and patent leather shoes but it complimented the European feel of restaurant and the robust menu set out by chef, Craig Betteman.


After being seated, we were faced with the tough decision of making a choice from the menu. Some of the main options included:

• Potato gnocchi, celeriac, lemon, beurre noisette.


• New Zealand lamb, beetroot, mint, pea, hummus, yoghurt.


• Veal scaloppini, crab, asparagus, desiree potato, hollandaise.


• Roasted spatchcock, herb stuffing, vegetables, gravy.


• Braised beef cheek, bacon, mushroom, red wine, onion, potato.

Choices, choices, choices. Though I would have been happy with almost anything off this menu, I decided to select the Veal Scaloppini and wasn't disappointed. The veal was tender, the potato was perfectly balanced by the glossy jus and the hollandaise had enough zing to provide lift to the rich dish.


After the wide choices of main I must admit I was a little dissappointed with the limited dessert selection. The choices were:

• Assiette of a contemporised classic pumpkin scones, cream and jam.


• Rice pudding, coconut, kaffir lime, lemongrass


• Lab trifle, pedro ximenez, sponge, custard, seasonal fruit.


• Ice cream and hokey pokey.


• Rhubarb and apple pie, chestnut, cinnamon, icecream.

Was this menu designed for men? Ample range of cheeses, but what happened to the chocolate? Lucky for the Lab my palette tends to gravitate towards citrus and I selected the Rhubarb and apple pie. Mmmmm, behold the food porn. I believe this dish will speak for itself.


So should you go there? Absolutely. The staff are friendly and attentive, the restaurant has an old world charm that only rich timber can give, the the food was generous without being excessive and I had a fabulous evening catching with friends.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Address: 12/15 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000.
Open: Daily, 9am-10pm.
Phone: (07) 3306 8647.
Price: Entree: $16-$26. Mains: $28-$39. Desserts: $12-$14.