Harvey's Bar & Bistro

Harvey's Bar & Bistro, an upmarket bistro in a cool, summerhouse-style setting, is something of a James St institution thanks to its eponymous chef PJ McMillan.

Whether it be for a lazy weekend breakfast or late night dessert after a film at the Palace Cinemas, Harvey’s dishes up reliably high calibre fare from the freshest of locally sourced seasonal producers.

Among the delicious breakfast items available is the spiced mince tortillas (served with poached egg, avocado and sour cream), the popular potato & feta roesti (served with the yummiest creamed corn, herb salsa and poached egg) and the ricotta buttermilk pancakes (with caramelised banana and honeycomb butter), and the portobello mushrooms with spinach and lentils (served on sourdough with grilled haloumi and lemon).

For a mid-afternoon pick-me-up that's best shared with friends,  you can enjoy something light from the snacks and charcuterie menu.

For lunch and dinner, a solid selection of mouth-watering entrees and main courses, complemented by a handful of sides are available.

Picture the likes of seared Hervey Bay scallops (with pancetta, potato gnocchi, sage brown butter and Reggiano), perfectly grilled quail (with parsnip puree, pine nuts, cavolo nero and spicy nduja butter) and prawn and fennel risotto (with chilli and lemon), just to name a few.

Desserts and cheese are yours to finish off the experience, and can be paired with a dessert wine, or a tea or coffee. Coffee on-pour is 'Harveys Blend' by Merlo, and loose leaf teas are by Yarra Valley Tea Company.

No matter the time of day, when you look at the wonderful menu choices combined with an interesting and carefully selected wine & drinks list, it's easy to see why Harvey's Bistro is regarded by many as one of Brisbane's favourite restaurants.

Whilst walk-ins are totally welcome, we recommend booking a table to avoid disappointment. 

Nice to know - If you're planning a small function, you can reserve the private Garden Room for gatherings of up to 30 people.

Images by Danella Perrins

Menu items may have changed since our visit.