Il Centro - Brisbane

Re-visited this one-hatted restaurant last Saturday for my birthday celebration. Well, it was as busy as usual. Our table was allocated near the front entrance... read more Re-visited this one-hatted restaurant last Saturday for my birthday celebration. Well, it was as busy as usual. Our table was allocated near the front entrance so we enjoyed the river view while we were having our dinner. We were greeted and served by very professional wait-staff. Other than that, it may be my high expectation, overall dishes were only average to somewhat below my benchmark. Entrée of quail and daily chef recommendation seafood soup did not ring the bell. Quail was bland and fortunately the whole dish was saved by the taste of polenta, figs and crumbed walnut, otherwise the negative impact would be quite high. Seafood soup was done with good taste and enough seafood but the presentation of the soup was not that great. Mains of their signature Sand Crab Lasagne and risotto gained back some marks. However, I would prefer the presentation of the lasagne as the same as their advertising picture with crab shells; having said that, the quantity of crab meat and the texture of pasta deserved thumb-up. Risotto came with generous amount of king prawns, rice of the risotto was done spot-on but the king prawns were slightly overdone. At last, we ordered the daily special banana soufflé, which was good but still has a big gap from the soufflé that I had at Vue De Monde. Overall, ambience 4/5, Service 4/5 and food 3/5 so review mark 3.5/5.

Re-visited this one-hatted restaurant last Saturday for my birthday celebration. Well, it was as busy as usual. Our table was allocated near the front entrance... read more Re-visited this one-hatted restaurant last Saturday for my birthday celebration. Well, it was as busy as usual. Our table was allocated near the front entrance so we enjoyed the river view while we were having our dinner. We were greeted and served by very professional wait-staff. Other than that, it may be my high expectation, overall dishes were only average to somewhat below my benchmark. Entrée of quail and daily chef recommendation seafood soup did not ring the bell. Quail was bland and fortunately the whole dish was saved by the taste of polenta, figs and crumbed walnut, otherwise the negative impact would be quite high. Seafood soup was done with good taste and enough seafood but the presentation of the soup was not that great. Mains of their signature Sand Crab Lasagne and risotto gained back some marks. However, I would prefer the presentation of the lasagne as the same as their advertising picture with crab shells; having said that, the quantity of... read more

Thumbs up for Il Centro! For entree, we ordered fresh crab and avocado salad with gazpacho. To be honest, this dish is a bit salty, but the crab is super fresh,... read more Thumbs up for Il Centro! For entree, we ordered fresh crab and avocado salad with gazpacho. To be honest, this dish is a bit salty, but the crab is super fresh, and its texture just goes perfect with avocado smash. For main, we ordered sand crab lasagne with crustacean sauce, osso buco with pappardelle pasta, and barramundi with celeriac puree, char grilled octopus with potato salad. The crab lasagne is absolutely spot on. The sauce is so creamy and flavorous, but it won't cover the flavor of the crab lasagne. You can still taste the freshness of the crab. Osso buco with pappardelle pasta: I should say I love the pasta better than the osso buco. The osso buco is with little sauce, so it is quite dry. However, you can tell the osso buco has been cooked for a long time, as the veal can be teared apart easily. The pappardelle pasta is yum! Barramundi with celeriac puree, char grilled octopus with potato salad: the barramundi is a bit overcooked, though the skin is yum but not quite crispy. The octopus cooks well, quite soft. The puree is good but lacks some flavor. I don't like the potato salad. The potatoes are just too watery. For dessert, we ordered strawberry soufflé. It is definitely the highlight today. The soufflé is so fluffy. When you dip in that fresh soufflé, and eats with a mouthful of crispy skin and soft underneath base. You just feel like it all deserves. So must-try dishes: strawberry soufflé, crab lasagne

I could easily write paragraphs extolling the virtues of Il Centro. Its location along the riverfront in Brisbane is stunning, not to mention the elegant ambian... read more I could easily write paragraphs extolling the virtues of Il Centro. Its location along the riverfront in Brisbane is stunning, not to mention the elegant ambiance and top-notch quality of the food.

This seafood restaurant is excellent and located within the Eagle Street Pier area, right by the Brisbane River. The spacious, open layout features outdoor seat... read more This seafood restaurant is excellent and located within the Eagle Street Pier area, right by the Brisbane River. The spacious, open layout features outdoor seating that is sheltered from the elements.