Cafe Portofino
650 Brunswick Street
New Farm
(07) 3358 4002
Picture this.. its Sunday and close to lunch time and my better half wants to do some furniture shopping. Not my favorite past time and definitely not something to be done on an empty stomach. I remember that I picked up some Grabone.com vouchers for the place which entitled us to 2 pizza's. Perfect.. I rang and made the reservation.
The restaurant is located on Brunswick Street in New Farm. As it was Sunday afternoon and the weather was pretty crap, parking on the road was easy. I was a bit surprised to tell you the truth, but maybe it's normal.
The actual restaurant is a real cafe setup. Judging by the opening hours, a large part of their business is breakfast. They have a small outside undercover seating area facing onto Brunswick and a larger indoors section. It was very quiet, and looked like there was only 1 other table. That's fine by me, just means my food should come out a bit earlier.
Being a cafe, I am a bit suspicious of the quality of the pizza we are going to get.. so expectations are low at this point.
Upon arriving, we were promptly seen to by staff who got our table outside. Water was placed on the table before the menus (I like that.. nothing worse than waiting for a drink)
Now, I have 2 kids with varying fondness for variation in their diet - but they both love Tropical or Hawaiian pizza. I know what you're thinking - real pizza's don't have pineapple, but that's what the kids eat, not me.. and if they have a mouthful of pizza, they are not nagging us.. get the picture.
So, the menu does not really include any "kid friendly" pizza's aka "pizza with pineapple". I ask and was told they have no pineapple. So my suggestion is that if you're planning on bringing kids and they are a little menu challenged, this may not be the best place.
Most of the pizza choices are not traditional in my opinion, but they are not obvious "gourmet".. you know, the pizza's with exotic ingredients just for the sake of it.. the items seemed to have a premium but traditional feel.. that's important because I like traditional.
So we got the Salami pizza (salami, chilli) and the kids got the Prosciutto pizza (prosciutto with rocket which we removed and ate with the salami pizza).
It took a bit longer than I would have expected given the number of people in the place and I'm not sure what it would be like if it was busy.. maybe the staff were scaled down for Sunday. The wait was not unbearable though..
The pizza's had some of the best bases I have had in ages. The underside of the crust looked like it had been cooked in a wood fired oven, and if not a really hot one. The sauce base was tasty, but not overpowering. The cheese was a bit on top, but not overdone.
Size wise, they were a large portion, I would say a standard large and enough for 2 adults.
My son was not having a bar of the prosciutto regardless of how many times I told him it was just ham. My daughter got right to work. I still think they prefer Eagle boys.
At the end of the meal, we chose a couple of small biscuits from a large selection of Italian cakes and sweets and both were OK. I was almost tempted to have a coffee, but I am a massive snob when it comes to that and didn't want to taint my pizza memories with those of the coffee.
So, what's the verdict.. Look, it's a nice place, would love to check it out for breakie, but again I feel like the prices are too high for a pizza. Our pizza's would have been normally $19 (Prosciutto) and $18 (Salami). At $12-$14, I would definitely go back to try some of their other pizza's, but at the current prices, it's really a special occasion place, and it just doesn't seem to give that vibe. The service was great and attentive without being overbearing.
Pizza: 7/10 - excellent bases, toppings premium but traditional, on the pricey side
Service: 7.5/10 - great service without being overbearing, pizza was slow to come out
Monday, January 10, 2011
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
My adventures in Brisbane pizza to date
I really love pizza, but there is something about Brisbane lacking the kind of pizza that I crave. Ever since I moved to Brisbane over 10 years ago, I have not really managed to find pizza to my taste. I grew up in Melbourne so maybe I have been spoiled for choice and didn't realize how good I had it.. I look forward to trips to Melbourne so I can score some pizza down there.
So in the last 10 years, how have I been getting my fill?
Well I now have kids and budget constraints so the obligatory Domino's/Pizza Haven/Pizza Hut/(Insert name of crappy pizza chain here) pizzas have been a fixture in my house. They are an easy cheap source of food but less than satisfying in terms of taste.
As for real pizza places, below are mini reviews of where I have been spending most of my pizza dollars. This is not a complete list. There are the one offs that I have had over the years but they were so bad or unmemorable that I cannot remember them now. One I do remember many years ago that was really bad was Lucky's Pizza in the Valley. Not even sure if it is still there, but it was definitely bad.
Ribbetts at Dutton Park
167 Annerley Road Dutton park, Queensland, Australia, 4102
Ph: (07) 3846 3333
Generally a consistent, Melbourne style pizza. Maybe the base is a little too thick and the pizzas a tad overpriced (Family is $20) but generally the right quantity of cheese and toppings. There is often a battle to get a seat for eat in as everyone goes there for "all you can eat". Worth a try if your in the area.
Service 8, Pizza 7.
Neos Pizza at Highgate Hill
36 Gladstone Road, Highgate Hill Qld 4101
Ph: (07) 3844 4636
I used to have a lot of good things to say about this place, but my last visit there was really disappointing on so many levels I have decided not to go back. The weird thing is nothing has actually changed. Anthony Conias still makes the pizzas and the menu is pretty much the same, but it was just so sad eating in. The place really needs something for atmosphere. We used to love the calzone, but last time it was a flat, small pouch and the pizza's were really not much better.. and the inattentive staff.. I think they always had that but at least the pizza was good...
Service 5, Pizza 5.
La Porchettas at St Lucia and before that at Surfers/Broadbeach
Shop 10 225 Hawken Dve, St Lucia QLD, 4067
Ph: (07) 3876 1010
Melbourne people tell me that La Porchettas which is a franchise pizza place is like the McDonalds of Pizza places. Maybe this is true for Melbournians who have such choice when it comes to places to eat pizza, but for this sad Melbourne expat, it is the closest I have found to getting a Melbourne Style pizza in Brisbane. Like McDonalds, you can expect a fairly consistent pizza regardless of which restaurant you go to, which in my opinion is a good thing. They have good bases with the standard toppings in the right quantities. My only complaint would be that Brisbaners are being stung much more for the privileged of a pizza than their Melbourne cousins. It seems to be somewhere we go when at the coast, but we have been once to the St Lucia store and enjoyed it there. The owners even gave the kids free gelato which I thought was a great gesture and will definitely have me back if I can convince the family to make the great trip around the river from our southside home.
Service 8, Pizza 8.
If you have a favorite pizza place, please leave your suggestions in the comments and I will try to visit on my next craving.
So in the last 10 years, how have I been getting my fill?
Well I now have kids and budget constraints so the obligatory Domino's/Pizza Haven/Pizza Hut/(Insert name of crappy pizza chain here) pizzas have been a fixture in my house. They are an easy cheap source of food but less than satisfying in terms of taste.
As for real pizza places, below are mini reviews of where I have been spending most of my pizza dollars. This is not a complete list. There are the one offs that I have had over the years but they were so bad or unmemorable that I cannot remember them now. One I do remember many years ago that was really bad was Lucky's Pizza in the Valley. Not even sure if it is still there, but it was definitely bad.
Ribbetts at Dutton Park
167 Annerley Road Dutton park, Queensland, Australia, 4102
Ph: (07) 3846 3333
Generally a consistent, Melbourne style pizza. Maybe the base is a little too thick and the pizzas a tad overpriced (Family is $20) but generally the right quantity of cheese and toppings. There is often a battle to get a seat for eat in as everyone goes there for "all you can eat". Worth a try if your in the area.
Service 8, Pizza 7.
Neos Pizza at Highgate Hill
36 Gladstone Road, Highgate Hill Qld 4101
Ph: (07) 3844 4636
I used to have a lot of good things to say about this place, but my last visit there was really disappointing on so many levels I have decided not to go back. The weird thing is nothing has actually changed. Anthony Conias still makes the pizzas and the menu is pretty much the same, but it was just so sad eating in. The place really needs something for atmosphere. We used to love the calzone, but last time it was a flat, small pouch and the pizza's were really not much better.. and the inattentive staff.. I think they always had that but at least the pizza was good...
Service 5, Pizza 5.
La Porchettas at St Lucia and before that at Surfers/Broadbeach
Shop 10 225 Hawken Dve, St Lucia QLD, 4067
Ph: (07) 3876 1010
Melbourne people tell me that La Porchettas which is a franchise pizza place is like the McDonalds of Pizza places. Maybe this is true for Melbournians who have such choice when it comes to places to eat pizza, but for this sad Melbourne expat, it is the closest I have found to getting a Melbourne Style pizza in Brisbane. Like McDonalds, you can expect a fairly consistent pizza regardless of which restaurant you go to, which in my opinion is a good thing. They have good bases with the standard toppings in the right quantities. My only complaint would be that Brisbaners are being stung much more for the privileged of a pizza than their Melbourne cousins. It seems to be somewhere we go when at the coast, but we have been once to the St Lucia store and enjoyed it there. The owners even gave the kids free gelato which I thought was a great gesture and will definitely have me back if I can convince the family to make the great trip around the river from our southside home.
Service 8, Pizza 8.
If you have a favorite pizza place, please leave your suggestions in the comments and I will try to visit on my next craving.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Zio Mario's at East Brisbane : Aussie style
1 Mowbray Terrace, East Brisbane, QLD, 4169
Ph: (07) 3393 1033
Its Saturday night and its my son's 7th Birthday. He is not in a great mood and my wife does not want to travel a great distance for food, plus it's late. I remember a friend at work has told me about a place her dad goes to in East Brisbane that he thinks is OK.
The location is surburban, and if you sit outside you can get highlights of the city. The setup is very promising - looks like a traditional Melbourne Pizza parlor from the window. The lady who immediatelly attends to us at the front door is very friendly, and it almost feels like you are going into her home.. its that kind of place. Everyone seems to know you..
Then I get the menu... well I don't know about you, but anyone who charges over $20 for a large pizza needs to deliver something pretty special. And at this point, I think it's a shame because the prices would preclude you from coming regularly, or getting takeaway..
Our order is taken by a middle eastern lady who again was friendly, but seems to have problems conveying the types of soft drinks available. I had their Italian beer Menabrea which was quite nice.
Now, the pizza.. well lets just say that it was not to my liking. To give you some background, I am from Melbourne and I like Melbourne style pizza. Its generally a fairly thin base with a good coverage of stuff on top with the tomato and cheese base.. not to much of anything on the pizza.
This pizza was a cheese lover pizza. Both the Americana and Capricosa pizza's were overloaded with mozzerella cheese on top, smothering all the ingredients. The base was nice enough and thin but it was very plain with no hint of spices at all.. And at $22, I felt ripped off. The americana didn't seem to have enough salami and the capricosa not enough mushrooms.
The kids had their Tropicana pizza. Again, overloaded with cheese on top and included chicken! OK, this is strange and I would be ok with that, but people who eat Hawaiian pizza's do not like surprises and that includes my kids. They spent most of the meal disecting and removing the chicken chunks.
Overall, I am giving 8 for service and 6 for the pizza. Nice enough place, but the Pizza just didn't cut it for me..
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Ph: (07) 3393 1033
Its Saturday night and its my son's 7th Birthday. He is not in a great mood and my wife does not want to travel a great distance for food, plus it's late. I remember a friend at work has told me about a place her dad goes to in East Brisbane that he thinks is OK.
The location is surburban, and if you sit outside you can get highlights of the city. The setup is very promising - looks like a traditional Melbourne Pizza parlor from the window. The lady who immediatelly attends to us at the front door is very friendly, and it almost feels like you are going into her home.. its that kind of place. Everyone seems to know you..
Then I get the menu... well I don't know about you, but anyone who charges over $20 for a large pizza needs to deliver something pretty special. And at this point, I think it's a shame because the prices would preclude you from coming regularly, or getting takeaway..
Our order is taken by a middle eastern lady who again was friendly, but seems to have problems conveying the types of soft drinks available. I had their Italian beer Menabrea which was quite nice.
Now, the pizza.. well lets just say that it was not to my liking. To give you some background, I am from Melbourne and I like Melbourne style pizza. Its generally a fairly thin base with a good coverage of stuff on top with the tomato and cheese base.. not to much of anything on the pizza.
This pizza was a cheese lover pizza. Both the Americana and Capricosa pizza's were overloaded with mozzerella cheese on top, smothering all the ingredients. The base was nice enough and thin but it was very plain with no hint of spices at all.. And at $22, I felt ripped off. The americana didn't seem to have enough salami and the capricosa not enough mushrooms.
The kids had their Tropicana pizza. Again, overloaded with cheese on top and included chicken! OK, this is strange and I would be ok with that, but people who eat Hawaiian pizza's do not like surprises and that includes my kids. They spent most of the meal disecting and removing the chicken chunks.
Overall, I am giving 8 for service and 6 for the pizza. Nice enough place, but the Pizza just didn't cut it for me..
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