ARC Dining

There’s a new greenhouse-like building on the banks of the Brisbane River this year and it’s cultivating an innovative addition to Brisbane’s restaurant scene.

ARC Dining Pumpkin Rottolo

Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary St, Brisbane City

07 3505 3980

arcdining.com.au

THERE’S a new greenhouse-like building on the banks of the Brisbane River this year and it’s cultivating an innovative addition to Brisbane’s restaurant scene. ARC, with its quasi-horticultural architecture, a giant potted fig as its centrepiece and a gabled glass front wall facing the river to capture stunning Story Bridge and City views, is making its presence felt in the booming Howard Smith Wharves precinct.

ARC Dining Howard Smith Wharves

Anna Spiro’s interior design reflects her signature mix-and-match style and offers a distinctive set on which to display head chef Alanna Sapwell’s food, which is like nothing else around town, backed by an impressive 400-bottle wine list. Start with lightly barbecued squid mixed with thin slices of preserved lemon, squid ink and saltbush; or maybe goose prosciutto with persimmon and macadamia-studded curd. Main courses might be beautifully cooked John Dory with lemon-buttered corn and crunchy wing beans.

House Cake, Prickly Pear & Finger Lime Sprinkles at ARC Dining.

Not to be missed is the crab pasta, silky pappardelle curling around chunks of crabmeat and topped with shaved periwinkle and a scattering of tangy “garden” gremolata. House cake is a brilliant dessert: layers of buttermilk cake soaked in lemon syrup interspersed with white chocolate and lemon mousse and prickly pear curd, with an outside coating of finger lime pearls. Like the rest of this creative powerhouse, it rocks.

• Opening hours: Lunch Wed-Sun, Dinner Wed-Sun
• Bill: E $16-$26 M $28-$123 D $14-$16
• Chef: Alanna Sapwell
• Wine: Licensed Yes

Vibe: mates/partner/parents

Region: Brisbane North

Vegetarian: No

Exceptional wine list: Yes

Outdoors: No

Child friendly: No

Wheelchair access: Yes

Takeaway/delivery service: No

Exceptional dishes: Goose prosciutto, persimmon, macadamia and fig leaf, crab pasta and house cake