Delicious. 100: The Wolfe, Brisbane, claims No. 1 in People’s Choice

THIS Brisbane restaurateur has won over Queensland diners with his two restaurants taking out No. 1 and No. 3 in the delicious. 100 People’s Choice awards — a massive jump from the judge’s list. See the People’s Choice Top 30

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BRISBANE restaurateur Paul McGivern has won over Queensland diners with his two restaurants taking out No. 1 and No. 3 in the delicious. 100 People’s Choice awards.

Mr McGivern’s East Brisbane casual fine diner The Wolfe took the top spot, while his South Brisbane wine bar, La Lune Wine Co, came in third.

“I don’t know what to say, I feel strange,” a humbled Mr McGivern said when told of the news.

Owner and chef Paul McGivern of The Wolfe in East Brisbane, which was voted No. 1 in the delicious. 100 People’s Choice awards. Picture: AAP Image/Josh Woning

The votes were based on The Sunday Mail’s delicious. 100 food special a fortnight ago, which crowned Queensland’s 100 most delicious restaurants as voted by a team of the newspaper’s specialist food reviewers.

The list was then put out to the public online to elect their favourites, with their votes bumping the top seeded Rick Shores at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast to No. 2, and lifting The Wolfe from No. 7 to No. 1, and La Lune from No. 18 to No. 3.

“I was blown away with seven and 18 — I was like, ‘We’ve done it’. (But to be No. 1 and No. 3) I’m just shocked,” Mr McGivern said.

The news was even more surprising for McGivern given La Lune is less than a year old, but he said the result was due to the immense hard work put in by his small team, including his partner Bailee Dewes, who runs front of house at The Wolfe, and drives service across both venues.

The People’s Choice poll received about 9000 votes, with the public able to push restaurants up or down the list.

Rick Shores was bumped from No. 1 in the food reviewers’ list to No. 2 in the People’s Choice list. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Other big movers included Fortitude Valley’s Gerard’s Bistro, which was lifted from No. 12 to No. 5, Noosa Waterfront, which the punters lifted from 20th to 12th, and Videre on the Gold Coast which moved up a whopping 30 spots from 81 to 51.

Queenslanders seemed to agree with the critics for remainder of the list, with restaurants either staying the same or moving just a few spots.

1. THE WOLFE

(up from No. 7 in food reviewers’ list)

989 STANLEY ST, EAST BRISBANE

3891 7772

thewolfeeastbrisbane.com.au

Must-eat dish: Spanner crab with corn and fermented shiitake

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$

Open: Lunch Wed-Fri; dinner Tue-Sat

Instagram: @thewolfe_eastbrisbane

Paul McGivern, of The Wolfe, said he was happy with 7th place in the original list, let alone moving to No. 1 in the People’s Choice awards. Picture: AAP/Josh Woning

2. RICK SHORES

(down from No. 1)

43 GOODWIN TERRACE, BURLEIGH HEADS

5630 6611

rickshores.com.au

Must-eat dish: Fried bug rolls

Cuisine: Asian

Price: $$$

Open: Tue-Sun noon until late

Instagram: @imrickshores

Jessie Phillips-Lee delivers bug rolls to customers at Rickshores. Picture: Adam Head

3. LA LUNE WINE CO

(up from No. 18)

3/109 MELBOURNE ST, SOUTH BRISBANE

3255 0010

lalunewineco.com.au

Must-eat dish: Kangaroo tartare

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Open: Tue-Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu-Sun noon-midnight

Instagram: @lalunewineco

4. ESQUIRE

(down from No. 3)

145 EAGLE ST, BRISBANE

3220 2123

esquire.net.au

Must-eat dish: Semi-dried tomatoes with burnt butter, macadamia milk

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$$

Open: Lunch Tue-Fri; dinner Tue-Sat

Ryan Squires, restaurateur at Esquire. Picture: Mark Cranitch

5. GERARD’S BISTRO

(up from No. 12)

14/15 JAMES ST, FORTITUDE VALLEY

3852 3822

gerardsbistro.com.au

Must-eat dish: Coal-grilled octopus, green strawberries, butter, almond, chilli and smoke

Cuisine: Modern Middle Eastern

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch Tue-Sun; dinner daily

Instagram: @gerardsbistro

Wagyu brisket at Gerard’s Bistro.

6. URBANE

(down from No. 2)

181 MARY ST, BRISBANE

3229 2271

urbanerestaurant.com

Must-eat dish: Mushroom tortellini

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Open: Dinner Thu-Sat

Instagram: @urbanebrisbane

7. GAUGE

(down from No. 5)

77 GREY ST, SOUTH BRISBANE

3638 0431

gaugebrisbane.com.au

Must-eat dish: Mackerel brandade, cracker, sumac

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$

Open: Brunch & lunch daily; dinner Wed-Sat

Instagram: @gauge.brisbane

Gauge restaurant was rated No. 7 by readers.

8. GOMA RESTAURANT

(down from No. 4)

GOMA, STANLEY PL, SOUTH BRISBANE

3842 9916

qagoma.qld.gov.au

Must-eat dish: ‘The sky is falling chicken’

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch Wed-Sun; dinner Fri

The chicken three ways at Goma Restaurant.

9. THE LONG APRON

(down from No. 6)

68 BALMORAL ROAD, MONTVILLE

1300 252 380

spicersretreats.com

Must-eat dish: Beeswax sorbet dessert

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch Thu-Sun; dinner Thu-Mon

Instagram: @spicersretreats

10. WASABI 15

(up from No. 14)

2 QUAMBY PL, NOOSA SOUND

5449 2443

wasabisb.com

Must-eat dish: Braised lamb belly

Cuisine: Japanese

Price: $$$

Open: Dinner Wed-Sun; lunch Fri & Sun

Instagram: @wasabi_noosa

The nraised lamb belly at Wasabi. Picture: Lachie Millard

11. ETSU IZAKAYA

(same spot as delicious. 100 list)

2440 GOLD COAST HWY, MERMAID BEACH

5526 0944

etsu.com.au

Must-eat dish: Pork ribs

Cuisine: Japanese

Price: $$

Open: Dinner daily

Instagram: @etsuizakaya

Etsu Izakaya stayed strong at No. 11. Picture: Nigel Hallett

12. NOOSA WATERFRONT

(up from No. 20)

142 GYMPIE TCE, NOOSAVILLE

5474 4444

noosawaterfrontrestaurant.com.au

Must-eat dish: Spice-crusted tuna

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch & dinner daily

Instagram: @noosa_waterfront_restaurant

13. NU NU RESTAURANT

(up from No. 16)

1 VEIVERS RD, PALM COVE

4059 1880

nunu.com.au

Must-eat dish: Red curry of wild ginger pork belly

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$$

Open: Breakfast, lunch &
dinner daily

14. BLACKBIRD BAR & GRILL

(down from No. 9)

RIVERSIDE CENTRE, 123 EAGLE ST, BRISBANE

3229 1200

blackbirdbrisbane.com.au

Must-eat dish: Rabbit ravioli

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch and dinner daily

Instagram: @blackbirdbrisbane

15. PONY DINING

(down from No. 10)

18/45 EAGLE ST, BRISBANE

3181 3400

ponydiningbrisbane.com

Must-eat dish: Pork jowl

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch and dinner daily

Instagram: @ponydiningeaglestreetpier

The pork jowl at Pony Dining. Picture: Peter Wallis

16. OTTO BRISBANE

(down from No. 15)

LEVEL 4, 480 QUEEN ST, BRISBANE

3835 2888

ottoristorante.com.au

Must-eat dish: Gnocchi ragu

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch Mon-Fri; dinner Mon-Sat

Instagram: @ottoristorante

17. STOKEHOUSE Q

(down from No. 13)

SIDON ST, SOUTH BANK

3020 0600

stokehouseq.com.au

Must-eat dish: The Bombe

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$

Open: Lunch and dinner daily

Stokehouse chef Richard Ousby sprinkling lemon myrtle over Tuna Cerviche with native succulents and grapefruit dressing. Picture: Mark Cranitch

18. SPIRIT HOUSE

(up from No. 29)

20 NINDERRY RD, YANDINA

5446 8994

spirithouse.com.au

Must-eat dish: Duck green curry

Cuisine: Modern Thai

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch daily; dinner Wed-Sat

Instagram: @the_spirithouse

19. KIYOMI

(up from No. 21)

STAR CASINO, LOBBY LEVEL, 1 CASINO DR, BROADBEACH ISLAND

5592 8130

star.com.au/goldcoast/restaurants/kiyomi

Must-eat dish: Ocean trout tataki

Cuisine: Japanese

Price: $$$

Open: Dinner Mon-Sat

Goma street dessert at Kiyomi.

20. JULIUS PIZZERIA

(up from No. 22)

77 GREY ST/CNR FISH LN, SOUTH BRISBANE

3844 2655

juliuspizzeria.com.au

Must-eat dish: Polpette e polenta

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $

Open: Lunch & dinner Tue-Sun

Instagram: @juliuspizzeria

21. ARIA BRISBANE

(down from No. 8)

1 EAGLE ST, BRISBANE

3233 2555

ariarestaurant.com

Must-eat dish: Roast lamb loin, eggplant, miso

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$$

Open: Lunch Mon-Fri; dinner daily

Instagram: @ariabrisbane

22. HELLENIKA

(down from No. 17)

2235 GOLD COAST HIGHWAY, NOBBY BEACH

5572 8009

hellenika.com.au

Must-eat dish: 1.2kg classic baked lamb to share

Cuisine: Greek

Price: $$

Open: Lunch Sun; dinner nightly

Instagram: @hellenikarestaurant

Owner Simon Gloftis at Hellenika at Nobbys Beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson

23. PEAK RESTAURANT

(down from No. 19)

SPICERS PEAK LODGE, WILKINSONS ROAD, MARYVALE

1300 253 103

spicersretreats.com

Must-eat dish: Coconut parfait

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch Fri-Sun; dinner Thu-Mon

Instagram: @spicersretreats

24. DETOUR

(down from No. 23)

11 LOGAN RD, WOOLLOONGABBA

3217 4880

detourrestaurant.com.au

Must-eat dish: Coal-roasted broccoli

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$

Open: Lunch Thu-Sat; dinner Tue-Sat

Instagram: @detourrestaurant

Brisbane Chef Damon Amos pictured with his dish KFD at his restaurant Detour. Picture: Jack Tran

25. HARRISONS BY SPENCER PATRICK

(same spot as delicious. 100 list)

SHERATON GRAND MIRAGE, PORT DOUGLAS RD, PORT DOUGLAS

4099 0852

sheratonportdouglas.com/harrisons

Must-eat dish: Pigs’ ears

Cuisine: Modern European

Price: $$

Open: Lunch and dinner daily

Instagram: @harrisonspd

26. THE FISH HOUSE

(same spot as delicious. 100 list)

50 GOODWIN TCE, BURLEIGH HEADS

5535 7725

thefishhouse.com.au

Must-eat dish: Panna cotta

Cuisine: Seafood

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch Tue-Sun; dinner daily

Instagram: @thefishhouseburleigh

Coconut panna cotta at The Fish House. Picture: Adam Heads

27. RISTORANTE TARTUFO

(down from No. 24)

1000 ANN ST, VALLEY
3852 1500

tartufo.com.au

Must-eat dish: Carpaccio di Manzo

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch & dinner daily

Instagram: @tartufo_brisbane

28. SAKE BRISBANE

(same spot as delicious. 100 list)

45 EAGLE ST, BRISBANE CITY

3015 0557

sakerestaurant.com.au

Must-eat dish: Steamed prawn dumplings

Cuisine: Japanese

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch and dinner daily

Instagram: @sakerestaurant

Sweet soy braised pork belly with onsen egg and hot mustard at Sake.

29. LUTÈCE BISTRO & WINE BAR

(up from No. 30)

1/60 MACGREGOR TCE, BARDON

3161 1858

lutece.com.au

Must-eat dish: Moreton Bay bug gnocchi

Cuisine: French

Price: $$

Open: Lunch/ dinner Tue-Sat

Instagram: @lutecebistro

30. E’CCO BISTRO

(up from No. 34)

100 BOUNDARY ST, BRISBANE

3831 8344

eccobistro.com.au

Must-eat dish: Goat pastilla

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$

Open: Lunch Thurs-Fri; dinner Tues-Sat

Instagram: @eccobistro