Diamante’s Brasserie – Forest Lake, Brisbane

The first time I ate at Diamante’s Brasserie was well over a year ago on my last visit to Brisbane to see the folks. Geez has it been that long since I ventured north of the border? Forest Lake Village, where it’s located, is your typical suburban estate shopping centre with a sparse scattering of eateries – a few cafe’s, a tavern, a Thai and a Chinese.

Diamante’s slogan screams “A taste of the Mediterranean” and when you sift through the menu past such items as nachos, tandoori wraps and Thai beef salad you get the impression it has the desire to be a little bit more. I get more of a pub vibe than a Mediterranean brasserie in suburbia.

The breakfast is your hash browns on the side variety and has gloriously fattening North American offerings like pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. For lunch I asked whether the salt & pepper squid was fresh or frozen and changed my mind when it was confirmed being the latter. Mum and I somehow decide on having the same “On The Top” menu option – the nefertiti – toasted bread topped with pumpkin, rocket, capsicum, grilled eggplant (that was actually pickled) and haloumi. The size of the nefertiti wedge was comparable to a slice of pizza (ie: small) and I wonder if the short-order cook thought the use of mizuna instead of rocket wound go un-noticed.

Stepping aside from the average nefertiti I found the curly fries were great, especially with the XXXX Gold ($6.5). I could have sat there all afternoon munching on these crispy curls with runny garlic mayo while sipping on the local brew. With the all the rain outside what else is there to do, other than eat?      

Tagged as: Brisbane, Travel