Pilloni
West End
Pilloni is a stunning Sardinian restaurant and bar perched on West End's Hardgrave Rd, serving exquisite regional food with impeccable service.
Enjoying city glimpses and district views from its gorgeous Mediterranean sun room style dining terrace, Pilloni also has a cosy interior brick-walled dining room alongside the open kitchen and a separate bar near the front for those who just want a drink and tapas.
The bespoke decor has a retro 70s vibe combined with contemporary quality finishings and a touch of old world Italy, from the combination of timber and tiled floors to the traditional paintings, wooden shutters, luxe curtains and modernist furniture.
The menu, which features traditional Sardinian dishes with a contenporary twist (many with a wood-smoked flavour from the open fire oven) that you won't find anywhere else in Brisbane, is a perfect match for the surrounds.
Start with a selection of snacks such as oysters with parsley oil, fermented carrot gel and bottarga dressing; Faine de Cici (chickpea crisp, pecorino cream, mushrooms & preserved truffle; or Salumi de Mare (selection of fish catch with smoked butter focaccia).
Entrees include the likes of Scallop Crudo (scallops with figs, citrus gel & fig leaf oil); Frattau (Carasau bread, tomato, egg yolk & pecorino); Polipo (charred octopus, potato foam, olives & pimiento; or Carpaccio (enber-seared Wague eye with fermented basil, peach & pecorino).
For Primi Piatti there's a choice of Spahetti Alle Vongole; Malloreddus Al Ragu Di Agnello (Malloreddus, lamb shoulder ragu & pecorino Sardo; and must-try Culurgiones (Sardinian pasta filled with potato, pecorino and mint with tomato sauce).
Mains for one include Maialettto Arrosto (slow cooked Schultz Farm suckling pig, snow peas, jus) and Kingfish (charred kingfish fillet with smoked heirloom tomato coulis, asparagus & bottarga) while to share there's whole Tasmanian lobster, whole market fish roasted on the ember; slow roasted lamb neck; and Porcheddu (1/4 Schultz Farm suckling pig, spit roasted for 5 hours) - which must be pre-ordered 24 hours prior.
Save room for Dolce (sweets) which include Seadas (Sardinian pecorino fillet-fried ravioli & honey); Meniar Blanc (milk-custard tart) and Sa Tumballa (Alghero style caramel flan with figs & cream).
The soft leatherbound drinks menu features an extensive curated selection of Sardinian and other regional Italian wines - by the glass, bottle or magnum, as well as a smattering of wines from Australia, France, NZ, Greece, Spain and Slovenia.
A selection of creative Italian-flavoured cocktails include Sardinian Iced tea; Mirto Sour (merto rosso, lemon & rosemary) and Negroni In-Chinato (gin, calamari, barolo chinato & vermouth) while beers include unique craft offerings like Cester Camillo; Ichnusa lager; and Wildflower organic table beer.
There's a dedicated list of Amaro Italian liqueurs including limoncello, noisetto, aspide as well as Vermouth, Grappa & Acquavite plus a selection of premium standard spirits.
Need to know - There is a limited amount of free parking out front and in nearby streets.
