In the middle of the busiest area in the city is Rothwell’s Bar & Grill, the latest restaurant to make an impression among Brisbane’s culinary cliques. This restaurant calls to mind visions of sophisticated bistro dining popular in London or New York.
Dan Clark of 1889 Enoteca in Woolloongabba opened Rothwell’s Bar & Grill as an homage to egalitarian dining but with a more accessible and cosy vibe. During his travels abroad, Dan could never forget his dining experience at The Savoy Grill in London or Balthazar in New York City and considered bringing a similar concept in Brisbane.
But he needed the right place to bring his idea to life, as well as the right chef who will create a European menu focused on French cooking techniques. After securing the space inside the heritage-listed Rothwell’s building on Edward Street and partnering with head chef Ben Russel, the Rothwell’s team got to work and opened in November 2021.
The restaurant’s fit-out has been extensively overhauled to the perfect detail, resulting in a foyer bar with 40 seats, a dining space with 90 seats, and a downstairs private dining area with 50 seats. Leather, timber, copper, marble and brass make up the interior’s palette, creating a sense of class and glamour, which has been accented with luminous chandeliers from the ceiling.
In the kitchen, Ben, one of the most notable chefs in Australia delivers the ideal bistro fare with dishes like tagliarini with sea urchin, caviar, butter and chives or a chicken liver parfait with cornichons and toasted brioche. Its signature dish is the beef Wellington for sharing, highly recommended for pairing with red wine.
Rothwell’s Bar & Grill has a well-curated drink list from its bottle cellar, ranging from budget-friendly to premium quality bottles sources from Europe. The bar’s cocktails are strictly classic mixes.
Check out the restaurant’s current menu on its official site and follow Rothwell’s on Instagram for updates. Table bookings can be easily filled out online as well.
“From the moment you walk in you feel as though you’ve been transported into a completely different dining experience. What Ben , Luca and the rest of the team have done is amazing. The vibe – think New York ,think leather smells deep rich wood , think classic dishes that are accessible to anyone that just hit the spot. If I was you I would be booking my next meal here. The service was outstanding quality of the food – phenomenal; I can’t wait for my next dining experience. They have also paid homage to the history of the building and its shows from the uniforms right through to the decor. Thank you to the team for a lovely experience.”
Pedzi
“This place blew my mind. I was NOT expecting the experience I had. The atmosphere, the ambience, the leather (booths and menu’s), the staff, the welcome and…. THE FOOD!!!! Oh my goodness, The. Food. Every course, every dish we had was spectacular. Honestly, it is only Day 3 of opening and they did not miss a beat. I’ve had lunch and dinner in Cities like, Sophia, London, Los Angeles, Adelaide (yes, their food is amazing), New York, Athens, Stockholm and more – Rothwell’s rivals them all. Great job by the owners. We met two of the three owners, Luca & Ben. Outstanding restaurant gentlemen. Pure Brilliance. Thank you for setting up such a place in Brisbane.”
George
Fabulous meal. Everything was absolutely first class. Service, ambiance, food. My husband and I shared the Beef Wellington (this was quite possibly the most delicious thing we have had in a while. The beef was cooked perfectly). The wait staff were very attentive and kept our glasses full during the meal – Try the Martini. We cannot wait to come back and try other items on the menu, and to have a little bit of luxury in the Brisbane CBD.
Ambrozi