Establishment 203
Fortitude Valley
Establishment 203 is a European brasserie-style steak and Italian fine dining restaurant and bar secreted behind a brick and glass facade in Marshall St, Fortitude Valley's newest upmarket dining precinct.
The steak-focused menu, created by renowned chef Ben O'Donoghue, is a showcase of Australia's best beef products, thanks to Establiehment 203's partnership with family-owned company Stanbroke.
The stunning interior of the restaurant (which used to be a night club), features dusky pink leather booths and banquettes, with glam old world touches like smoky mirrors, glass petititions and curtains with gold tassels.
The menu is a match for the setting, with cold seafood starters like caviar served with chicarrones, creme fraiche and chives; freshly shucked oysters with apple cider mignonette or vodka & yuzu grappino; or crudo such as tuna, heirloom tomato & anchovy garum.
For entree, diners can choose from the likes of seared wagyu-topped crostini with foie gras; wood-fired marrow bone, caponata and bruschetta; whipped buffalo ricotta, lemon and truffle honey; and Mooloolaba king prawns, zucchini trifolati, lemon and Calabrian chilli butter.
Signature diehs here are the fire- cooked steaks including Angus Dry Age Tomahawk and Bistecca di Fiorentina; Grassfed eyefillet; Wagyu (marble score 6) Rump Cap and Flat-Iron; and Wagyu Premium (marble score 10) Bone-In Eye Fillet or Sirloin. All steaks come with a choice of Bearnaise, Barolo-daise, Chimichurri or 203 special sauce.
Other mains include Live Southern Rock Lobster grilled with lemon and fresh garlic butter; Brisbane Valley Quail saltimbocca, prosciutto, sage and grilled radicchio; and Fish of the day, cooked over coals. There's also a selection of home made pasta dishes such as Classic spaghetti alle vongole; Tonnarelli alla Wagyu Sirloin bolognese; and Linguine agli scampi, limone, aglio, olio, peperoncino and basil.
From the bar there's an impressive selection of bespoke and contemporary Italian wines, premium Italian liqueurs and spirits as well as a mix of house cocktails, classics and others with a twist like truffle martini, pink americano, native old cuban and caprese martini.
Good to know - Establishment 203 has a lounge bar to one side of the entrance, the perfect spot for a pre-dinner apperitivo.
Need to know - There is one hour metered street parking in Marshall St until 7pm on weekends (free afterwards) or the nearest parking station is in Warner Street.
