This is for a function dinner, so take into account there were 30+ in our group on a reduced menu (but still 3-5 choices per course), and almost all prepared to let loose for the night (as much as a group of corporate bunnies varying in age from 20-60 will).
Ambience *****
George's makes good use of it's top level Eagle St Pier tenancy with floor to ceiling windows and balcony to capture the nighttime romanticism of the Brisbane river. There is a perfect view of the Story Bridge, and you can spot the Kookaburra River Queen down on the dock below. The restaurant is tastefully decorated for Christmas, with silver, white and blue hangings meshing well with the blue and white decor (normally a no-no for me unless at the local fish and chip). Tables are spread adequately apart and place settings are neat and elegant. The bar is circular and visible from any angle in the restaurant and the decorating is done well here, too; it's not hard to ruin the look of an inner dome, but they've done some smart and stylish decorating there.
Service ****
The service was GREAT. I love a restaurant with drawling French waiters and swift, attentive staff who have learned their profession; little things easily passed over, or only found in function venues, like how to properly serve wine, which side of the customer to place the plate, and laying napkins. Love it. On the other hand, a young waiter tipped my glasses off my face putting one of the plates down and then had a giggle about it with an equally young waitress about three feet from where I was sitting, so that put a dampener on what would have been a 5 star service review. But the older staff (and I mean the ones who weren't born post 1980) were fantastic. Spot on, there.
Food ***
I had heard about the food being amazing and so was expecting amazing things, but ended up a little disappointed.
First up was a starter of garlic bread served with shared plates of garden salad. This was quite good - the garlic was too heavy for my preference, I could taste it on my tongue the rest of the night, but the bread was soft and crunchy where it should have been and the dressing kept the salad light and fresh.
Entrees. Now bear in mind I am not a lover of seafood and ordered a seafood medley (one of those 'first' moments; heck if I'm going to do something new, better at a place known for seafood, right?) Well on first sight, I palmed off the oyster - blech. What remained was half an avocado, in the empty pit hole of which had been smartly placed a mussel, prawn (bug eyes and all), scallop and unidentifiable bite of fish which might have been barramundi as it wasn't very flavoursome. The plate was presented well, the scallop I think wasn't seared properly, there was no discernable fry-marks that I could see: it might have been braised for all I could tell. The mussel and prawn tasted like what I expected prawn and mussel to taste like.
Mains was an improvement - I was back in my comfort zone with a non-seafood eater's safety food of eye fillet mignonettes, mushies, mashed taters and bocconcini. The meat was a relief, cooked med rare and yet crunchy on the outside - typically accompanied by red wine jus. The mash was too salty but I put that down to the whole 'seafood' atmosphere. Quite a few people had ordered a barra and bug mix for their mains and the bugs just didn't look as impressively BIG as I recall them back in my kitchen hay-days. The waiter took a while to come around offering cracked pepper; maybe he was doing the rounds on the whole restaurant?
Dessert was a better affair; I had ordered pav, but somehow ended up with the sticky date pudding, and surprisingly enjoyed every bite. The pud was smooth as silk, the quinnelle of vanilla ice-cream accompanying, smoother. The portion was perfect after all the food beforehand, and I only left what looked like a cream gun squirt of whipped cream on the plate. If it was hand piped, which it very well could have been, I think the chef should have used a different nozzle than what's typically found on a cream gun.
I might have brought the food rating lower for the time it took for it all to come out, but I don't know whether the hold up was because we were in a big group and started late (go for entree was 7:40pm-ish) so I'll leave it as is. But it just seemed to take forever to get it all out to us and in the correct order; I believe we were served dessert around 10-10.15pm?
Overall, I gave the restaurant a 4 star review because I would go another round here, but in a more intimate group of friends and during a weekend lunch, rather than a weeknight dinner. Per person we ended up spending ~$100 each, though that's drinks included so I've left the price range at $$$ because a more casual sitting would no doubt be less. read more