Anise

LOCATION
In the heart of New Farm; 10 minutes’ drive from the city.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
Nestled among the diverse restaurants that line Brunswick Street is Anise, which is a great addition to the already thriving array of restaurants that make this part of the city truly unique. Anise is distinctly original in its own right, with an intimate setting that seats patrons around the bar, where they can choose from around 300 wines and from the mains and tapas menus. The restaurant is incredibly popular and regularly booked out, so it is best to orchestrate your timing to avoid disappointment. Anise has been established for eight years, which is testament to its alluring character and ambience. Alongside the comprehensive wine list, which is one of the largest in Brisbane, there are a number of tempting aperitifs to cleanse the palate before dining.

The menu at Anise will certainly not disappoint and for a reasonably snug venue there is much on offer. Anise has recently launched a brand new menu which certainly complements its designer style. Those after taste sensations will be tempted with dishes such as a plate of Anise’s famous figs. For mains choose from one of the five well-presented meals such as the double-roasted duck with William pear, accompanied with a frisee and poached egg salad. Those who would prefer to experience the whole hog can dine on a five-course degustation menu. Whether your palate is traditionalist or contemporary, the flavours and techniques combine terrifically to ensure that no tastebud is left bereft.

Ben Upton, January 2009

DETAILS
Anise is testimony to the fact that good things come in small packages. Don’t be fooled by the size of the room, Anise has a great big personality.
Blink and you’ll miss it. Anise is wedged between to bigger Brunswick Street restaurants and the entire shop front spans around three paces. Inside, the room is long and narrow and the star feature is the fabulous wide wine bar that runs down the middle.

The fact that everyone sits together along the bar means you’ll always find yourself at a dinner party. Of course, Anise is a fabulous spot for a dinner party with friends and seats up to twelve. This of course means you can be pretty much guaranteed of having the place to yourself. And it’s a good thing really, with an ever-changing wine list like this. Start at the top and work your way through it.

In addition to one of Brisbane’s best wine lists (about which we clearly cannot go on about enough), some really excellent French- inspired food comes out of the kitchen. You'll come across fresh slants on rare favourites, such as the entree of French snails with autumn mushrooms and absinthe.

Open for breakfast on the weekend from 7am, for lunch from Tuesday-Sunday and every night until 1am. The kitchen stays open right up until midnight.