Every now and again we like to treat ourselves and try out a really nice restaurant. With Rach starting a new job on Monday and with me securing a new job, and with Cath volunteering to babysit for Lauren, we decided to try out one of Brisbane's award winning restaurants last night.

We chose Il Centro in the CBD.

This is what I had:

POLPI E SEPPI SALTATI IN BURRO D’ OLIO E PREZZEMOLO CON CROSTINO
SAUTEED OCTOPUS AND SQUID IN GARLIC AND PARSLEY BUTTER WITH SLOW BRAISED VINE RIPENED TOMATO, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL AND CRUSHED OLIVE CROSTINO

SCALOPPINE DI VITELLO CON FETTUCCINE CARBONARA
PARMESAN CRUMBED VEAL SCALOPPINE WITH FETTUCCINE CARBONARA AND WILTED SPINACH

FRITTE TIEPIDO CON GELATO E SALSA DI CIOCCOLATO CALDO
WARM PROFITEROLES WITH CARAMEL GELATO AND HOT CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Rach had:

CAPE SANTE IN PADELLA CON RISOTTO GLI ASPARAGI E PROSCIUTTO
SAUTEED SCALLOPS WITH LIME CARNAROLI RISOTTO,ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO AND TARRAGON JUS

ANATRA CROCCANTE ARROSTO, PATATE CON SPINACI E RUCOLA
SLOW ROASTED CRISP DUCK BREAST WITH AMARENA CHERRIES AND BLACK PEPPER SALSA,DUCK FAT BINTJE POTATO, CREAMED SPINACH AND ROCKET

TORTINO AL CIOCCOLATO TIEPIDO CON GELATO E SALSA DI CARAMELLO
WARM CHOCOLATE TART WITH PASSIONFRUIT AND WHITE CHOCOLATE GELATO AND CARAMEL SAUCE


All in all, whilst the setting and service was excellent, the food was a bit of a let-down. Whilst no part was particularly bad, the food overall was a little bit bland - it didn't live up to the promise of the menu. Looking again at the website I can see that whilst Il Centro has won awards, it has been a number of years since the last one.

The total cost including drinks came to $215 (£90) which was about what I expected for a prestigious riverside restaurant, although in the end it proved to be slightly overpriced for the quality of the cooking.

We had a good night nonetheless. Especially afterwards when we watched England beat the Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup. I think I'm going to enjoy giving the aussies some stick next week at work!