Blockhouse
Nundah
Blockhouse is Nundah’s hidden gem – part coffee house and part small bar - in a gorgeous white weatherboard cottage-like building that was once a motorcycle workshop.
Serving brunch until 2.30 and with a share dinner menu that kicks in from sundown, Blockhouse is divided into two sections, with a charming polished floor arcade of pocket-sized shops down the middle and a deck to catch the sun rays out front (with a backyard courtyard on its way).
No matter what time of day, diners and drinkers can pull up a leather-padded stool, dining chair or seat at the wall banquette and partake in what is amongst Nundah’s best food and coffee or boutique wine, champagne, beer or cocktail from the gleaming black-tiled bar.
On the brunch-style ‘Toast and Oats’ menu choices range from Banana Bread, Chia Pudding and Granola with Fruit and Yoghurt up to deliciousness like Scramble with green onions, herbs and Parmesan on baguette, or the highly recommended Ham Hock, green puree, poached eggs or melt-in-the-mouth Beef Cheek with pickle, Chimmi Churri and Rocket.
To accompany the in-house coffee from Single Origin Roasters in NSW is brewed close to perfection and also available as Cold Drip or Cold Brew. Otherwise try the refreshing Iced Hibiscus Tea.
Come dinnertime there are unique tapas-like Small Shares to start, such as Fried Whipped Potato, Duck Cracking with Mandarin Marmalade or the Cognac Glazed Pork Sausage (in sizes up to 1m) with pickled walnuts, Dijon mustard and baguette.
For something more substantial, the Protein to Share dishes include Blackened Beef Brisket with corn salsa, Duck and Le Puy Green Lentil Pie and Whole Baked Fish, brendade and white bean puree.
Not just a great place to eat, Blockhouse also punches above its weight with the bar drinks it offers.
Champagne and wine takes pride of place on the bar menu, with a carefully curated list that takes in wine regions from around the world and offers organic and unique tipples not found anywhere else in Brisbane.
House champagne is Collet, from France’s Ay region, with NV Brut, Art Deco, and Vintage 2004 Brut available while Sparkling Wines include Collevento Prosecco from Italy, Pipers Brook Kreglinger Brut Rose from Tas and Huia Vintage 2009 Brut Organic from NZ.
White wines hail from the California’s Napa Valley, Spain, France (Alsace), Portugal and Austria as well as a smattering from New Zealand and Australia.
The selection of reds, many of which are organic, come from Spain, Uruguay and France’s Rhone Valley and Oz and there's Rose from Chile and SA.
As well as 3 beers on tap, beer drinkers will find James Squire, Hoegaarden and Matilda Bay’s The Ducks by the bottle.
Blockhouse also does a mean house cocktail – the Killer Bee espresso martini, which is based on their in-house espresso.
Need to know – Whether dropping in for a coffee, cocktail, brunch or dinner, punters can help themselves to a seat in both sections of Blockhouse.
The menu may have changed since our visit.
