The Burrow West End

After what was to be a day and night at the cricket, the abomination that was an almighty Australian defeat, left us without plans at 6:30 on a friday night.

My friends Ms C and her partner Cap'n J, who are fantastic recommendeurs of Brisbane culinary hotspots, suggested The Burrow at the West End.

We arrived between 6:30 and 7 hoping to get a table, but they were heavily booked. Fortunately for us, a 2 seater table was free, and all three of us could fit in.

The restaurant is a renovated Queenslander, with plenty of open space, breezy open windows and a casual indoor/outdoor feel.

photo courtesy of www.weekendnotes.com

The drinks menu is extraordinary, with craft beers I had never heard of, from all around the world. Check this out! I started out with a Hoppy Easter, a delicious, hoppy, fruity American style IPA from Denmark. $12.

We decided that we were going to get two pizzas to share between the three of us and an entree to share also.

Our orders were taken promptly and we drank and chatted as the restaurant filled with hungry patrons.

Our entree order was from the 'To Share' menu and was the 'Moons of Neptune', pork belly, scallops, celeriac puree and apple jelly. The words alone start me salivating.

The starter took around 30 minutes to arrive, which felt like a life-time without bread to sate our hunger. When it did arrive, it looked beautiful, actually top-tier restaurant beautiful. BUT... The scallops were tiny. Everything on the plate was luke warm, and between us we all felt like the dish lacked any actual flavour. Individually, the pork belly was lovey, and very delicately flavoured, but unfortunately- 4 very delicately flavoured ingredients do not made a full flavoured plate. Also, I'm not entirely sure the volume of this dish is adequate enough to give it place on a 'To Share' menu.

BUT we had the pizzas to come I had heard about the Big Voodoo Daddy, the pizza with pulled pork, jerk chicken, cajun sausage, red onion, bbq glaze and topped with coleslaw. Just think about that for a minute... yum. $22.

Our other pizza choice was the Barbarossa. Lamb, red onion, capsisum, mushroom, tabouleh and yoghurt. $24.

We ordered more drinks, this time I went for a 'Matsos' Mango Beer from Broome, Western Australia. It was fruity without being overly sweet, still tasted like beer. It was utterly delicious. And perfect for the balmy Brisbane evening. $8.

We waited for our pizzas, one time mentioning that we hadn't received them yet. We waited a little longer, and the mentioned it had now been almost an hour and a half since ordering out food. Our food arrived very shortly after this, and received and apology and offered a discount for our wait. So that was appreciated.

The pizzas were actually very beautiful , thin, crispy bases, wonderful colour, they looked a treat!

The Voodoo Daddy was a favourite amongst us all, meaty and cheesy, the spicy sausage would sneak up and surprise. The base was was thin and crispy and more than just a base, it added a flavour to the pizza. And the coleslaw was a revelation, a freshness at the last.

The Barbarossa was also really lovely, but a close second place we thought. The lamb was beautiful moist, tender and seasoned perfectly. The mushrooms were bursty and delicious and a great complimentary taste. And I am a big fan of yoghurt sauces on spicy pizzas. YUM.

For me, a big eater, and having only had a bite of an entree, one of these pizzas whole might be enough for me. But sharing two between three was not enough. I think one per person would usually be just about right.

Ms C and Cap'n J saw a friend of their after dinner, he mentioned that he frequented this place and said the food was amazing but the service was always sh**. This pains me. I noticed that the table beside us who only ordered hot chips, had their empty dishes sitting at their table for over an HOUR after they had finished.
Ms C said they had come when it wasn't busy and the service was to spot on. Even as the night went on, the service got better and better as it got quieter and quieter.

This leaves me uncomfortably confused, I hope the manager is aware of this and is currently amending, because it seems such a shame. A lovely atmosphere with a perfect drinks menu and wonderful pizza really needs good, even if it is casual service.

I think I would go back, at a quieter part of the day, and who knows, in time maybe again on a friday night.

DO go for the amazing beers and pizza.
DON'T go at a busy time.

Where it’s at

37 Mollison St, West End. QLD 

Open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Tue->Thurs: 8:30am till late
Fri->Sun: 7am – late.
Mon: Closed.

Phone: (07) 3846 0030
Email: info@theburrowwestend.com.au