I bloody love lunch and what I love even more, is a top notch lunch with friends or my partner (when we can find someone to watch the little legends!). It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I like to enjoy it.

Now these spots are probably just as good for dinner, however as my family have this running joke that I don’t leave the house after the sun has set and “Lauren is only available until 5pm”, I always opt for a lunch because it means I’ve had that little break in the day to enjoy a boujee meal and a glass of wine, then get the kids, pop my trackies on and enjoy a movie with them on the couch. Foolproof plan I reckon.

So all of that being said, here are some of my favourite lunch spots to head to in Brisbane, sans kids:

Hervès, Albion

Hidden away in the industrial streets of Albion is this absolute ripper of a restaurant that is up there in my top 3 spots. I’ve now been here twice and experienced WONDERFUL service and the food got even better the second time around, and yes I ordered exactly what I did the first time because it was so bloody good.

As I am a lover of seafood, I went straight for my favourite dishes: Scallops Coquilles St. Jacques and the Rock Lobster Ravioli because I will never let my partner’s shellfish allergy stop me from enjoying my own life, however we always get the Handcut Steak Tartare to share and it’s always a bonding moment between us.

As I mentioned, if someone asks me where I’d like to go, this is generally my first pick and I cannot wait to head back there in the future for round three.

The toilet facilities are also quite fabulous.

Mosconi, Fortitude Valley

We randomly booked here one Sunday for lunch when Coopy asked to go to his G-ma’s and who were we to argue.

Mosconi is a cute little spot nestled just off of James St that reminded me of Melbourne and by golly, this random booking was a goodie.

Now I know since we visited that the menu has changed, however I do remember that we had a steak tartare (we choose it if it’s on the menu wherever we are), plus a pasta dish each that did not disappoint. I’m always happy to take on a recommendation from our waiter and she chose so well and the service was so wonderful that tipping just seemed like the natural way to say thank you.

A cute little date spot.

Mai Gai, Everton Park

Thai food is my jam and this is absolutely up there in my top faves. I had heard my sister rave about it for ages and as my partner has allergies, it’s not one that we could ever go to together, so it’s an absolute winner for a lunch with the girls OR I have taken the kids here to try their first ever bao buns and they absolutely LOVED IT.

It’s hard to narrow down my favourite dishes because I’d honestly inhale the entire menu if I had the opportunity to because everything is absolutely bloody delicious. From the Kingfish Sashimi (top left of that photo there) to the Mushroom Fried Rice (YUM), the Bao Buns to the Brisket Massaman, I’m salivating just writing this.

Drinks wise, they have some amazing cocktails on the menu and the kids enjoyed a watermelon lemonade that definitely enhanced their bao bun experience.

All I can say is, please wear a loose fitting dress or elastic waisted pants to allow room for the goodness you’re about devour.

Anyone for Thai?

Rita’s Tequila Taqueria, Teneriffe

Now if you’ve known me for 5 minutes, you’ll know that tacos are my favourite food group. I honestly haven’t met a taco I didn’t like and hopefully I never do.

My friend found this spot nestled in the woolstores district of Teneriffe and we went on a Sunday for the bottomless brunch which includes unlimited tacos and margarita jugs for 2 hours and by golly was it absolutely epic!

When it comes to tacos, the flavours and combinations we experienced at Rita’s was insane. With amazing flavours such as Crispy Miso Eggplant, Morcilla and Hashbrown and Crispy Pork Belly, these tacos are different to what you’ve probably had before and that is in the best way possible - believe me when I say that I had no intention of ever eating eggplant but it turned out to be my FAVOURITE taco. I shit you not.

The margaritas were delicious too, however I was so involved in the tacos that I spent most of the 2 hours focusing on which flavour I was going to order next.

Take the crew, coz these tacos are a vibe.

The Royal, Nundah

The Royal is somewhere the kids and I (it’s also a spot my sister’s and I love to go for lunch with the kids) have visited many times throughout the years as we used to live down the road, however they just had a makeover and I’m not mad about it.

Gone are the days of a fully Italian menu, they’ve replaced it with a fresh, new, smaller and absolutely delicious menu that we just recently popped out to try. The place has had a fresh paint job, the terrace has been more spaced out so there’s more room (which helps fit the pram if you’re going with the fam!).

We started with the Char Grilled Beef Skewers (that are topped with crispy Rice Bubbles and of course, my favourite thing in the world: miso) and then I ordered the Pan Seared Barramundi (absolutely delish) and Chris ordered his usual, a parmy that was the size of his head.

The fresh dishes accompanied with the terrace vibe on a Sunday is what I love about Nundah and it’s the perfect spot to chill.

Definitely worth a re-visit to try the new menu out!

Now I could keep going with this list, however more often than not I keep my phone away so I can be present and enjoy myself, but I’ll see that as an excuse to head back to some of my other faves again so I can compile another list for you.

For now, bon appetit, cheers, eat up and enjoy yourself, coz you deserve it!

Lauren