With polished concrete walls, soft ambient lighting and elegantly minimal furniture, Brisbane's Snack Man gives off the kind of vibe you might hope to find in a retro-fitted New York warehouse — with someone playing sax in the corner and room full of movers and shakers. The atmosphere is slick, very slick, and with an enormous back bar with hundreds of bottles of wine staring at you, you know you're going to get a good drop.
The wine list focuses on bottles from small producers across relatively unknown regions of Europe, while all the big names also get a look at. Snack Man changes it up daily if you're after a glass, so be sure to ask the staff what they're pouring that particular day. Beyond wine, it's got a good range of beer, and the bartenders can whip up all our classic cocktails.
For food, the menu takes its inspiration from China, with dishes showcasing all the major regions. Think pork and chive pan-fried dumplings from Hong Kong, prawn wontons with soy and chilli oil from Shanghai or pan-fried pie with pork floss and green onion from Beijing. There are chicken ribs from Taiwan and a mint and tofu salad from Yunnan, while larger dishes include a delicious crispy chicken with Sichuan sauce — prepare for a big hit of spice with this one.
If you're after a dessert, try the custard tart with flaky pastry from Macau, while Australia gets a look in on the menu with deep-fried vanilla ice cream with salted caramel sauce.
The helpful staff will pair whatever you order with the perfect glass or bottle of wine, so don't worry if you don't know what you're doing on that front. Give yourself the whole night if visiting Snack Man in Brisbane —there's too much good stuff on the cards not to try it all.
