Gemelli James Street
Fortitude Valley
Gemelli James Street is a slick contemporary Italian dining oasis on a prominent corner of Fortitude Valley's James Street.
With two siblings on the Gold Coast, this is the 3rd in the well-regarded Gemelli stable of Italian eateries, which are known for offering a well-priced casual dining experience for all ages in beautiful settings.
The restaurant features a covered outdoor terrace with designer furniture, terracotta tiles and pot plants while the sunken indoor dining space has an ornate wooden ceiling, a marble bar and a cabinet of aged meats.
The extensive menu offers a delectable range of traditional wood-fired pizzas, pastas, secondi. appetizers and desserts as well as an impressive Italian-dominated wine list.
Appetizers (antipasti) include bruschetta; garlic focaccia; pan-fried stuffed zucchini blossoms; grilled Qld calamari; arancini al funghi; wood-fired Qld king prawns with parsley, capers, parsley and chilli; or figs wrapped in 24 months prosciutto di parma with gorgonzola cream.
Delicious pasta dishes include rigatoni ragu; spaghetti alla carbonara; ravioli della casa (house made spinach and ricotta filled ravioli); risotto al funghi; gnocchi al forno or quattro formaggi; as well as the highly recommended spaghetti alla marinara and fettuccine tonno (Italian tuna, capers, Sicilian olives, tomatoes, chilli, rocket & Napoli sauce).
Secondi dishes include Bistecca; Vitello Saltimbocca; Melanzane alla Parmigiana (eggplant parmigiana); and Pesce del Giorno (NT Humpty Doo Barramundi Fillet or TAS Salmon fillet, both served with roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
There are also salumi and cheese platters while the delicious menu of desserts includes tiramisu; creme brulee; affogato; gnochetti (deep-fried dessert gnocchi topped with sugar, nutella and cinnamon); buddino chocolato (hot chocolate fondant and vanilla gelato) or vanilla bean pannacotta. There is also sgrappino cocktail (lemon sorbet cocktail).
Drinks-wise, Gemelli offers a couple of Italian beers on tap and bottled beers from various regions of Italy, a selection of traditional house cocktails with an Italian twist, as well as Aperitivi, Digestivi and Grappe, spirits, mocktails and Italian soft drinks.
Good to know - Gemelli is child-friendly, with high chairs for little tots.
Need to know - There is limited street parking available and some off-street parking just off James Street.
Looking for more great Italian restaurants in Brisbane? Then check out our list HERE.
Still hungry for more suggestions on where to eat out in Brisbane, head to our comprehensive Eat & Drink section HERE! Happy grazing!
