Where to Celebrate a Milestone with a Long Lunch

At Lutèce, chef Romain Bapst — one of Brisbane’s finest — brings a slew of honed culinary skills to this gem of a bistro. Sticking to classics and doing them well is what Lutèce is all about, With rich, creamy flavours typical of French cuisine, the restaurant provides a menu of dishes perfect for warding off any winter chill. Plus, its got sweeping views to Mount Warning. Start with the buttery Alsace-style onion soup with house-made duck sausage, croutons and gruyere (with an accompanying baguette, of course). Then pair your free Tightrope Walker chardonnay with the signature sand crab lasagne with creamy crustacean sauce. Or, if you prefer red, the Last Horizon pinot noir with the roasted duck leg atop Alsace sauerkraut, pomme rattes and dried coriander jus is also a must.

Urbane champions the evolution and fusion of cuisines, refusing to be defined by country or style. It’s committed to seasonal, sustainable ingredients and uses a combination of traditional and modern techniques, meaning you’ll always get something dynamic and unpredictable. Even the menu itself is elusive, with two-word items such as ‘brioche/miso’ and ‘pelamide/herbs’ all that’s indicated. So, leave your inhibitions at the door and trust this award-winning restaurant will deliver, with both omnivore and vegetarian degustations available. As fine dining experiences go, this one has taste twists aplenty to pair with the free Under & Over shiraz or pinot gris. Take a chance on a next-level lunch that will blow your mind, without blowing the wine budget.

Allium serves up exciting Modern Australian cuisine in a relaxed New Farm setting. You can expect high-class fare from this award-winning restaurant, but with a less fuss, more fun approach. Serving comforting, familiar dishes that allow the ingredients to shine, Allium is a people pleaser. Pair the citrus notes of the free Mount Pleasant Eight Acres semillon with the Spencer Gulf hiramasa kingfish, cucumber, buttermilk, apple and dill. If it’s a cold Brisbane day, go for something richer, like the Black Onyx rump cap with roasted shallot, celeriac, horseradish and sour cream with some shoestring fries and the free Partisan Trenchcoat, a blend of grenache, shiraz and mourvedre.

With geometric wood interiors, purple detailing and its enviable river views, Otto sets a ‘cool Italian’ vibe for your lazy lunch. Plus, it’s got some really, really good bowls of pasta for when you’re hankering for some homey (but still fancy) fare. The menu combines seasonal ingredients with southern Italian influence and there’s a mighty nice wine list to go with it, naturally. A free Framingham Marlborough sauvignon blanc suits dishes as simple as ostriche al naturale (raw oysters) as well as the more decadent Champagne lobster spaghettini with garlic, chilli, white wine, shellfish stock and lemon butter. If you’re more of a red drinker, opt for the free Mount Pleasant Mothervine pinot noir to sip with the woodfire-grilled duck breast or the simple, delicious tomato-based strozzapreti. Sometimes you don’t need all the bells and whistles, just some heart-warming tasty food and a good vino.