Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

GREAT DEALS ON DINING 229
132 Alice St. (between Albert and George sts.), Brisbane, QLD 4000. & 1800/672 726 in Australia, or
07/3853 6000. Fax 07/3853 6060. www.mirvac.com.au. 91 apts. A$350–A$370 (US$228–US$241) 1-bedroom
apt; A$430–A$450 (US$280–US$293) 2-bedroom apt. Extra person A$30 (US$20). Ask about special
packages. AE, DC, MC, V. Valet and self-parking A$8 (US$5.20). Bus: Downtown Loop. Ferry: Edward St. (Inner
City and Cross River Ferry); or Riverside (CityCat), then a 10-min. stroll. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; outdoor
pool; Jacuzzi; 24-hr. room service; concierge; business center; valet drycleaning or laundry service. In room:
A/C, TV with in-house movies, kitchen, minibar, laundry, hair dryer, iron, safe.
4 Great Deals on Dining
There are plenty of places to eat well at a reasonable price in Brisbane. For cheap
meals, head to the stylish Merthyr Street bistro strip in New Farm, the cafes of
Given Terrace and Latrobe Terrace in Paddington, the Asian restaurants around
the intersection of Vulture and Boundary streets in West End, and the cheap and
cheerful cafes huddling shoulder to shoulder in Brunswick Street Mall in Fortitude
Valley. Fortitude Valley is also where you’ll find Brisbane’s Chinatown.
There are also moderately priced restaurants on Park Road in Milton, though
few of these are BYO. In the city center you’ll find cheap, lively sidewalk cafes
along Albert Street.
A cluster of affordable good restaurants has mushroomed in the unlikely location
of Baroona Road and Nash Street in Rosalie, an otherwise sleepy suburb
next to Paddington.
IN THE CITY CENTER
Explorers Café Value CAFE FARE After 6 years with one of the best-value a
la carte menus in town, this basement restaurant under the Explorers Inn (see
“Accommodations You Can Afford” above) continues to offer great value, with
all meals under A$17 (US$11). There are soups, pasta, seafood, steaks, and
chicken dishes, with a choose-and-pay-at-the-counter format but with table
service. There are vegetarian and gluten-free dishes on the lunch and dinner
menus.
63 Turbot St. (near corner of George St.). & 07/3211 3488. Fax 07/3211 3499. www.explorers.com.au.
Reservations recommended at lunch. Main courses A$10–A$17 (US$6.50–US$11); breakfast A$3.50–A$10
(US$2.25–US$6.50). AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 7–9:30am and 6–8pm; Mon–Fri noon–2pm. Train: Roma St. Bus:
Downtown Loop.
Palace Café Value CAFE FARE It’s designed for the backpackers upstairs (see
“Accommodations You Can Afford” above), but you don’t have to sleep here to
dine at this airy, colorful cafe. The menu is the same for both lunch and dinner,
a simple mix of burgers, steaks, grilled chicken, and so on, along with a A$5.50
(US$3.60) salad bar and daily specials. A TV, magazines, and two computers
with Internet access give a homey feel.
In the Palace Backpackers, corner of Ann and Edward sts. & 07/3032 5740. Main courses A$8.50–A$13
(US$5.50–US$8.45). No credit cards. Weekdays 12–2pm; daily 6–9pm. Train: Central. Bus: Downtown Loop.
Pane e Vino MODERN ITALIAN/CAFE FARE A laid-back attitude
attracts a mixed lunch-set to this contemporary open-sided cafe on a busy street
corner. Sit inside in the mod decor of polished concrete floors and sleek timber,
or choose a sidewalk table. The simple but sophisticated all-day menu boasts
things like grilled King snapper on creamed zucchini with tomato, olive, and
basil butter sauce. There’s also a wide variety of lighter risottos and pastas, huge
focaccias, and tasty panini (say, prosciutto, mushroom, onion, and provolone).