Close your eyes, click your heels three times and say "there's no place like Sydney." Or just take the CityCat to New Farm Park, because in a town where a good water view is generally accompanied by a surf 'n' turf smorgasbord, and where dining at a performing arts venue is something you previously only did after a matinee with Nanna, Bar Alto is dramatically removed from your Brisbane preconceptions. On the first floor of the Powerhouse Live Arts Centre, with the precinct's trademark graffitied brick and concrete walls, it's also about as unpretentiously chic as it gets (on a council budget, anyway). The spectacularly open kitchen means there's as much theatre in the galley as there is on the stage outside, but the real star here is the top Italian cuisine.
Why not raise a glass of Valpolicella to the folks aboard the Kookaburra Queen, exorcise your demons by devouring a voodoo-doll-like quail saltimbocca, or test your powers of strategy as you mobilise cutlery forces towards your partner's perfect goat ragu?
Open
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Breakfast
Lunch
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Dinner
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Late
Tue-Sun 11am-10pm
Italian
Entree: $12-$16
Mains: $18-$24
Dessert: $10
Payment accepted: MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club, American Express and EFTPOS
Licensed with bar. Wine is available by the glass.
This venue does not accept bookings.
Seats 80
Outside dining area
Wheelchair access
and wheelchair-accessible toilets
All reviews and ratings are the expressed opinions of our users, and in no way reflects the opinions of yourRestaurants, its staff and its affiliates.
Posted by:
Icecream65
|
11 April 2011, 10.15am
Overated
Set menu was organised for a large group celebrating an upcoming event. I felt the food was overpriced for what it was, the menu items I choose were dripping in oil and melted butter to the point where I could not eat the whole meal. The table service was slow and disinterested, however bar staff seemed good. We sat inside and due to the concrete floors and walls found it was so noisy we could hardly hear conversations at our table.
Food:
Visit: Sat 9 April 2011
Mealtime: lunch
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
grumpyS
|
2 August 2009, 12.31pm
meals
After a meeting the other night went with a dozen friends to Alto. Had been there before, not disappointingly but with the competition around New Farm being so strong hadn't eaten there all that much. But Thursday's meal! The lamb was perfect - no qualifications neeed. But the osso bucco was evven better, said the person on my right. Not so chimed in the diner on the left, the pork belly just couldn't be surpassed by lamb or veal. The sevice was okay which was all it needed to be and the conversation flowed with the red and ....... A delightful experience all around.
Food:
Visit: Thu 2 July 2009
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
Sloanranger
|
24 February 2009, 3.47pm
Did you say Goat?
Their Goat Ragu... which I believe due to popular demand is now a permanent on the menu is undeniably the best 'surprise' meal that I have ever eaten. Not knowing what to expect and feeling adventurous, I ordered goat! Not my usual safety net of lamb... but a not too distant cousin. The way the goat seems to dissolve in your mouth is amazing! Can't recommend this dish enough. Perfect with a nice glass of merlot!
Food:
Visit: Fri 5 December 2008
Mealtime: lunch
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
krystle2009
|
19 December 2008, 6.40pm
very average
I thought the food was terribly average and expensive for the quality, but that seems to be the general trend. I had gnocchi with smoked salmon and the two are not a match made in heaven. For dessert I had a hot chocolate cake filled with some sort of chocolate pudding. The view over the river was nice. Service was of low quality.
Food:
Visit: Tue 18 November 2008
Mealtime: lunch
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
Cloverleaf
|
22 September 2008, 2.50pm
A fabulous surprise!
We decided to go to Bar Alto for dinner as our show ran 15 minutes overtime, and as a result we were unable to get our booking downstairs at Watt. But we were so impressed with Bar Alto, that this will be our first choice for dining when we return to The Powerhouse.
The atmosphere was relaxed yet sophisticated and the decor was so funky. Our waiter greeted us and accomodated our late request with a big smile and was all to happy to fit us in. The restaurant was still busy just after 9pm when we arrived, but the staff were still wonderfully accomodating and offered us a great table. The service remained excellent for the rest of the night and the waiter's knowledge of the menu was fantastic! He sure knew his specials as well.
We enjoyed some ciabatta bread and olive oil for starters, followed by the ocean trout, which was the special and beef for mains. Both were absolutely delcious and my husband raved about the trout, which looked very tasty indeed. My steak was cooked perfectly and was so tender. I was very impressed.
We finished with the goat's panna cotta and the chocolate budino for dessert. Both were gorgeous.
Food:
Visit: Sat 20 September 2008
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
kristieo
|
12 March 2008, 4.43pm
Simply gorgeous
The atmosphere when we arrived at Bar Alto was just great, lively & fun yet intimate. Unfortunately it was a bit windy, so we had the pleasure of hosting our group inside a little separate alcove. The service was great, very attentive and helpful and the food... well! The ricotta crespelle with sage butter was the most delicious thing I have ever tasted and each member of our group raved about their meal. Very very reasonable pricing and great wine list. We will all definitely be back. Such a fabulous addition to the Powerhouse.
Food:
Visit: Wed 12 March 2008
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
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