Fortitude Valley meets northen Italy on Brunswick Street.
First, there was La Costa Bar and Cielo Rooftop at the end of 2020, then came La Valle wine bar at the start of 2021, and now the fourth and final piece of the La Costa puzzle has arrived with La Costa Restaurant—the food-focused addition to the historic Brunswick Street site now repping northern Italy in Brisbane’s own Fortitude Valley. (Featured image: Supplied)
The restaurant is inspired by the Italian Riviera and is subsequently fitted out with seafoam-green and white decor, woven basket light fixtures and European oak table tops. The space is filled with light and the white walls contrast well against the exposed brick columns.
However, you will be coming to La Costa Restaurant, like its three siblings, for what’s on the menu. At La Costa Restaurant, seafood is the focus with a few other plates showcasing a range of local meats, cheeses and fresh produce to boot. There will also be eight woodfired pizzas to tuck into and a number of pasta dishes as well. This is an Italian restaurant, after all.
Before you get to the mains, though, you’ll most likely be tempted by the arancini of the day and beef carpaccio with parmesan shavings, pine nuts and truffle oil. If you’re not, then who are you? From there, mussels with white wine, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian sausage and toasted sourdough will surely pique the interests of many.
If what you’ve come for is the pasta, then take a look at the fresh truffle tagliatelle or the Moreton Bay bug spaghetti with shellfish broth. And if you’ve still got room for dessert, then round out your trip to Liguria with the tiramisu bomboloni.
When it comes to drinks, La Costa Restaurant follows the path laid out by La Costa Bar, which takes its lead not only from the world’s most welcoming bar but also Australasia’s best bar in 2020—Sydney’s Maybe Sammy. So, you just know that the drinks list is going to be fine as fine can be (and loaded with specially curated cocktails, champagne, Italian wine varietals, local craft beers and boutique spirits).
La Costa Restaurant will be open for dinner from Wednesday to Sunday and lunch from Friday to Sunday. Doesn’t matter much if you arrive early or stay late as La Costa Bar (open from 7am W-F and 8am on weekends) perfectly complements the restaurant as a spot for pre or post-dinner drinks.
Now that the puzzle is complete, take a symbolic trip to the northern Italian coastline.