UPDATE: MARCH 21, 2020 — E'cco Bistro has launched a new takeaway menu, allowing customers to enjoy its a la carte dishes — such as parmesan and fior di latte arancini ($10 for four), gorgonzola potato gnocchi ($25) and 12-hour braised beef cheek with sautéed mushrooms and truffled mashed potatoes ($25) — at home. Call the restaurant to order, with meals available Wednesday–Saturday from 12–3pm and 5.30–8.30pm. You can either opt to collect it yourself — and call E'cco again when you get there so they can bring it out to your car — or make a delivery order via Deliveroo, with UberEats orders launching soon.

For 22 years, E'cco Bistro wasn't just a place to eat in Brisbane — it was one of the places to eat. In 2018, however, it said goodbye to Boundary Street and hello to Newstead, reemerging with a progressive menu, more casual fit-out and a Brazilian charcoal grill to boot.

That might sound like a considerable amount of change for the classic haunt, but it's still an absolute must-visit. Keeping everything fresh and simple is on the menu; think a pared-back version of the restaurant's longstanding strawberry and raspberry cheesecake or the new pastrami brisket, an update of the pork belly version. When it comes to the new fit-out, it's all about limestone and brick floors, a marble bar and kitchen benchtop, American oak detailing and subtle patterns — plus elements of the original E'cco, too. Locals might notice that the new banquette seats have details from the old circular seat-backs, so it's basically a part of Brissie history.

Images: Atlanta Bell.