Joseph Alexanders Restaurant & Piano Bar

Ph: 3368 1200; Coronation Dr, MILTON 4064 www.josephalexanders.com.au

Modern Australian, $$ +, * for Food
Open Breakfast 7 days from 7am lunch: Mon-Sat noon-3pm dinner 6-9pm 11gh tea 11am-3pm 7 days; Licensed, BYO, Corkage groups of $8 and under,; AE DC MC V EFT
Chef Pierre-Antoine Rey Du Boissieu (17-06-08) Owner Fel Bevacqua (17-06-08)

Mietta's Review
Joseph Alexander's is a paradox. Is it a fine dining restaurant or a cafe with pretentions and why doesn't the piano bar have a piano instead of loud inappropriate music which is piped through all the dining rooms. It's housed in a grand Victorian mansion overlooking the Brisbane River which has been converted to a 160 seater restaurant. But are you sitting in a grand restaurant or a glassed in verandah? The service also confuses - it comes across as badly trained hotel service that is polite but a bit dysfunctional. However, the food is good. It's all very puzzling but they must be doing something right as there aren't too many other restaurants doing 300 dressed up diners on a busy saturday night. In 06 mains averaged $36.

Other published opinions

Courier Mail Lizzie Loel, 17-6-2008 Score: Food: 14 Wine: 14 Service: 14 Ambience: 15 "Restaurateur Fel Bevacqua - who also runs Vroom cafe in Fortitude Valley and has just sold Felix on Felix to Russell Armstrong - took over about two years ago. The place now opens for breakfast, brunch and also does colourful high teas daily between 11am and 3pm. Lunch is a smaller and more casual menu than dinner, straddling the light meal/cafe thing to cater for those who prefer their lunch without the bread overcoat. ... Service is friendly, and looking out over to the river is very pleasant. Now that winter has hit, the fireplaces within the heritage-listed terrace are blazing."

Courier Mail food and wine guide Queensland 2008 Score: 14/20 "Two great assets, lovely river views and a gracious terrace-house setting, create a warm and romantic venue. Effort is made to provide a superior experience, mostly with good results, although the service is slow on occasion - and the square-rimmed soup bowl is unlikely to catch on"

Brisbane News Dining Out Guide 2007 "There's been a restaurant on this corner for decades, and its recent incarnation upholds a tradition of fine dining in a heritage-listed building"

Courier-Mail Goodlife Restaurant Guide 2006 "The view of the river from the dining room at Joseph Alexanders on Coronation Drive is a major selling point of this chic restaurant. The glassed-in veranda affords largely unobstructed water views while protecting diners from the relentless traffic noise."

Brisbane News Eating Out Guide 2006 "Award-winning customer service and panoramic river views from this tastefully decorated, heritage-listed building bring in the people, and the inspired menu keeps them coming back."

Courier-Mail Goodlife Restaurant Guide 05 "The view of the river from the dining room on this Coronation Drive landmark seems to get better and more expansive on every visit. The glassed-in veranda affords largely unobstructed water views while protecting diners from the relentless traffic noise."

Gourmet Traveller Australian Restaurant Guide 2005 "Chef Benny Loh's contemporary Asian dishes, in which local seafood and poultry feature prominently, are combined with his takes on modern Australian numbers like garlic crusted rack of South Australian lamb."

Brisbane News Dining Out Guide 2004 "One year into opening their first business together, and David Moore and Mark Kennedy picked up an award for best new restaurant. Their success has continued as more people frequent their elegant two-storey noshery, and take advantage of the breath-taking views of the Brisbane River and the live music in the well-appointed piano bar."

Courier Mail Good Life 31/7/04 Lizzie Joel "The glassed-in veranda affords the largely unobstructed water views while protecting diners from the relentless traffic noise. The interior of the heritagelisted terrace house has been sympathetically modernised where necessary, and the upgrades blend well with the ornate, original features of the rooms. ... The menu is still evolving since chef Benny Loh took over the reins and a strong Asian influence was evident in much of the food on our recent visit."

16/9/03 won the RCAs Award for Best New Restaurant Brisbane News, Restaurant, Alsion Walsh, 25 June-1 July 2003. Seafood is the primary menu item, and it is done quite well. The staff are very efficient and the wine list is fairly good.