New Brisbane restaurant to serve Australia’s most expensive spritz

An upcoming Brisbane restaurant is sure to get tongues wagging with this eye-wateringly expensive gold-trimmed cocktail.

Would you pay $299 for a cocktail? The team at soon-to-open Italian restaurant Ovello sure hope people will, with the new South Brisbane ­eatery preparing to launch Australia’s most expensive spritz.

A twist on the classic Venetian, wine-based cocktail, the almost $300 tipple known as “The Duchess” will feature French rose ­liqueur, Dom Perignon Champagne, imported volcanic soda water, pashmak fairy floss and authentic Turkish delight coated in gold lustre.

Guests who order the extravagant drink will also receive two complimentary gold-filled gin balloon glasses and a pair of gold cocktail picks to take home.

Charlie Van Wyk at the new Ovello restaurant with The Duchess cocktail which costs $299.

“We don’t envisage selling multiple ones of them each ­service period, but we hope it gives people a bit of allure and lustre to the whole experience,” Ovello general manager Adrian Lampe said.

“With Valentine’s Day coming up, we expect to get one or two across the bar.”

But it won’t be just adults indulging in spritzers at the new South Bank restaurant under the Mantra on Grey St.

The venue will offer 18 versions of the sipper, including four non-alcoholic children’s options that come free when parents order a kids' meal.

“There’s a Snakes and Ladders one adorned with Allen’s snakes and popping candy and that sort of stuff, we also have a baby ­limoncello version with filtered sparkling water with fresh lemon so there’s both options for the parents, they can either go sugar-loaded or traditional fruit-based,” Mr Lampe said.

The bubbly and bright drinks are designed to complement ­Ovello’s light Mediterranean-inspired menu, which will run from burrata and calamari fritti to ­spaghetti vongole with handmade pasta and fish of the day.

All seafood used will be sustainable, with the restaurant taking part in the GoodFish program, which aims to preserve our ocean ecosystems for future generations. Pizza will also be a focus of the menu, with head chef Lachlan Howieson bringing with him a 37-year-old starter to make the mostly traditionally topped stone-fired doughs, as well as focaccia, which will be part of the breakfast offering.

With the venue open from morning to night, there will be multiple seating options, with two indoor dining rooms alongside a Tuscan-style outdoor courtyard.

And if the $299 cocktail isn’t enough to lure in guests, perhaps an illuminated prosecco cart might. The drinks trolley will be rolled out on Friday and Saturday nights with the bubbles on tap.

Ovello will open February 9.