Collective Kitchen & Bar

COLLECTIVE KITCHEN AND BAR HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED.

Collective Kitchen and Bar is an ambient al fresco eatery and bar overlooking Cathedral Place in Brisbane CBD, with the grand heritage listed St Martin’s War Memorial Hospital providing a majestic backdrop.

Despite its location in this lesser trampled part of Brisbane’s CBD (St John’s Cathedral is also a neighbour), Collective Kitchen and Bar happens to be well worth the trek as the food served here is superb.

Indeed the casual outdoor atmosphere and order at the bar policy belies the quality of what comes out of the kitchen, be it breakfast, lunch, bar snacks or dinner.

For breakfast there’s choices like Toasted Muesli (with poached rhubarb and honey vanilla yoghurt), Buttermilk Pancakes (with marscapone, banana, macadamia crumble and maple syrup), Smoked Salmon, dukkah crusted labna, poached egg, apple, pea and watercress salad or Collective Benedict (with potato rosti, streaky bacon, poached eggs, hollandaise, smashed avo and cherry vine tomatoes). While breakfast finishes at 11.30, 2 ‘Late Breakfast’ dishes are available all day till close – the ‘Breaky Burger’, with bacon, avocado, fried egg, cos and tomato or a king of big breakfast: Fried Eggs with little pork sausages, potato rosti, bacon, cherry vine tomatoes, mushrooms and sour dough).

When it comes to lunch, dinner and in between, diners can opt for casual meals such as Burgers (Angus Beef, Buttermilk Fried Chicken or Pulled Pork with condiments and fries), divine gourmet Pizzas with toppings such as Pancetta, talleggio, potato, leek and truffles; Spicy Pork Nduja with olives, buffalo mozzarella and broccolini or the Must Try BBQ Lamb with crispy eggplant, artichoke and rocket (this one is literally melt-in-the-mouth).

For something light (Start, Share or Snacks) amongst the options are oysters with dipping sauces, Crispy pork belly bao with chilli jam and Thai basil, Beef Tartare with crispy egg and crispbread, Soft Shel Crab Tacos or Chargrilled Cuttlefish with green mango salad.

Large Plates are as creative and eclectic as the small plates, with choices such as Beef Cheek Massaman with fresh roti, Steamed Mussels with tomato, garlic and chilli, Crispy Fried Fish and Chips, Mediterranean style Charcuterie Plate, Fettuccine with leek, goats cheese, rocket, parmesan, pesto and cherry vine tomatoes, the highly recommended feast that is the Fish of the Day (crispy whole market fish such as barramundi with green papaya salad and chilli lime) or the Charcoal Roasted Lamb (1.2kg) to share with woodfired root veges, quinoa, cranberries, sumac, almond and whipped feta.

Or, if you’re in a group of 4 and can’t decide, let the chef put together a mini banquet style Chef’s Feast, drawing on his inspiration from the house favourites of the menu.

Desserts are also  a source of great temptation, with options such as Snickers Bar chocolate brownie with salted caramel sauce and praline ice-cream or Passionfruit marshmallow, lemon curd, raspberry and broken tuille.

The drinks list is as slick as the food menu, with a quality selection of boutique wines (and a small offering of Reserve wines), a wide range of spirits including White and Dark Rum, American, Scotch and Japanese whiskeys and Apperitifs. Craft beers, by tap and bottle are from a mix of local breweries Newstead Brewing Co, Green Beacon Brewing Co, Stone and wood and Fortitude Brewing along with Mornington Peninsula and Peroni Leggera. Meanwhile a cocktail list offers Espresso Martinis, Elderflower Mojito, Peach Bellini, Aperol Spritz, Old Fashioned and Cranberry Cactus Spritz with Pimms Jug and Collective House Punch to share.

Non-alcoholic cold drinks include Emma and Tom Juices, Milkshakes (Kids, Regular or Thickshake), House Made Banana Smoothie, Iced latte or soft drinks.

Coffee served at Collective is well-brewed Allpress and teas are from Teadrop.

Need to know – Breakfast is served until 11.30 and the rest of the menu, including ‘late Breakfast’ is available from 11.30 till close. Takeaway coffee and a range of breakfast pastries and filled baguettes are available at the counter.

Nice to know – Collective Kitchen and Bar is available for functions on weekends (when it is closed to the public).

The menu may have changed since our visit.

See our full list of restaurants in Brisbane CBD HERE