Jost 154

LOCATION
On the walk from the city to Westend, Melbourne Street.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
I’ve had my eye on this place for a while, it’s newish and instantly striking from the leafy city side street and like all such things, on closer inspection it offers much more than meets the eye. Classic inner city, skirting Westend, this venue is perfect throughout the day; open for breakfast, lunch and dinner most of the time. The contemporary interior is artfully interrupted by sky-high wrought iron maze walls and towering strips. The lengthy bar suits the after-work crowd while relaxed outdoor dining is perfect for the summer that seems to linger in Brisbane for most of the year. Mornings begin with anything from homemade banana bread and fresh take-away coffee to a sit-down omelette with roasted peppers, crispy prosciutto and chives covered with a classic grilled goat’s cheese.

As versatile as the area requires, lunch can be a simple gourmet sandwich or a more elaborate dine-in business or friendly affair. Meals are meal sized; you know those rare kinds that won’t leave you searching your hand bag for a stray packet of something-or-other. A tasty salad – spinach, bocconcini, roasted beets, pine nuts, onion and roasted sweet potato tossed in a sweet balsamic and olive oil dressing – is perfect for a light start. The regularly changing menu is one step ahead of fresh local produce, using the pickings of the season; something it shows off in its “risotto of the week”. A fillet steak comes served on fresh toasted Turkish bread with lettuce, tomato, roasted beetroot, cheese and a mustard mayonnaise, served with a big side of chips. It’s nice to see new places doing great things.

Katharine Chapman