a day ago
Brisbane's newest restaurant might have the most breathtaking backdrop in the entire city
The River City is gunning for gold in Australia's dining scene, with a slew of world-class restaurants opening in recent months. But Brisbane's latest claim to fame? One of the city's newest riverside eateries, Supernormal Brisbane, was just named among the world's best new restaurants of the past year. And the city's culinary scene is showing no signs of slowing down, welcoming its latest dining venue, The Summit Restaurant, atop Mt Coot-tha last month.
Perched on the edge of Brisbane's highest peak, The Summit Restaurant boasts some of the most sublime views of the city skyline out to Moreton Bay. The multi-million-dollar revitalisation of the heritage-listed venue – including a refined dining room, a vibrant brewpub-style public bar and an expansive verandah – has been brought to life by Mantle Group, whose resume includes The Charming Squire, The Sound Garden, Babylon and Tai Tai.
At the kitchen's helm is Queensland hospo legend Kym Machin, who brings more than 30 years of culinary experience from top venues, such as Urbane, Bare Bones Society and Same Same But Different.
Sustainability and seasonality are at the heart of the menu, which traverses Queensland's diverse climates, regions and native ingredients. Diners are encouraged to journey through themed sections titled Sea, Air, Land, Earth and Garden, with small plates to start and sweets to round out the experience.
Machin said, 'When you're standing at The Summit, you can see for miles – from the city to the bay and out to the hinterland – and we wanted the menu to reflect that sense of scale and beauty.'
Bread is baked in-house daily and paired with cultured butter, smoked salt and honey harvested from The Summit's own beehives. Other standout starters, including Elliott Heads' spanner crab salad and ocean trout gravlax, are served with fresh herbs picked from the restaurant's edible garden.
Mains are best enjoyed as a share-style feast, with highlights including Moreton Bay prawns topped with native herb chimichurri, roast duck smoked over paperbark, almond-fed pork with pickled apples and pumpkin agnolotti in brown butter sauce. If you get decision anxiety, the kitchen can take the reins with two chef-curated tasting menus ($79 and $99). Or you can simply drink in the ripper views with a cocktail and a casual bite from the bar menu.
The opening of The Summit Restaurant marks just the first stage of this multi-million-dollar transformation at Mt Coot-tha summit. While still in the planning stage, the team hopes to deliver the full transformation ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – complete with a two-level Pavilion venue, a boutique gin distillery and a cultural tourism experience that honours the mountain's rich history and significance.
