Elevator Restaurant

LOCATION
In the centre of the CBD, between Adelaide and Queen Streets, close to George Street.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
In many ways, humble little Elevator Restaurant hidden down Burnett Lane is the future of dining out in Brisbane. Unremarkable in many ways, it seems this combination downmarket pan-Asian eatery and bubble tea bar inspires Spartan-like loyalty among its regulars. Offering a prolific menu of Asian street-food favourites, all around the $7 mark, and an equally prodigious range of the now-ubiquitous tapioca pearl drinks, this restaurant has long been patronised by a mix of students from the nearby university, business suits looking for a quick, cheap lunch and smug people taking their friends to their new discovery.

This place is called Elevator because there is an elevator in the middle of the restaurant. And they are not even trying to be cute – the restaurant has been built into the disused foyer of an office building. From tofu to braised beef, shredded chicken to pork chop, if you want it in a bowl of noodles, Elevator can assist you – quickly and cheaply. The service is of the table variety and dishes are ferried swiftly, but while you wait you can enjoy the latest in Canto-pop music videos on mounted televisions.

Nicholas Wong