Honest, genuine, passionate service may just be the secret recipe to Bianca’s success. In the glamorous Calile Hotel precinct, this cosy, modern trattoria brings together the sleek, sophisticated style for which Italy is known with the charm and hospitality it is synonymous with. The menu is designed to be shared: antipasti to be teamed with the standout puffy, woodfired bread; a clutch of pastas and a quartet of oversized mains. This is an upscale trattoria made approachable and welcoming. Shop AM5, 46 James St, Fortitude Valley QLD. biancarestaurant.com.au

From the warm, cheerful welcome and the on point bistro food to the comfortable, bustling vibe, this is an outfit that brings its A-game day after day. Situated in the heart of the under-construction new town centre of the Sunshine Coast’s Maroochydore, Market Bistro offers a broad yet tightly themed menu. Start with snacks, breads and oysters, entrees including duck liver parfait, a delicious mushroom and onion tart or house-made pasta. Prices are reasonable, and portions are generous, while the wait staff are knowledgeable and jovial without overdoing it. Supplemented by an adjoining bottle shop where diners can make selections, the drinks list is strong. Market La, Maroochydore QLD. marketbistro.com.au

There are chefs who talk about letting the produce speak for itself, then there’s Alex Munoz Labart. At his modern European restaurant in Burleigh Heads, top-notch ingredients – many sourced locally and others representing the best from across Australia – are the undeniable stars of the plate. Each dish served in the cosy, elongated room is respectfully pared back to the basics, with precision technique employed to let each element shine. ust as thoughtfully refined is the wine list – a European and Australian melding of mostly popular varietals at approachable price points designed to complement the cuisine; alongside a hefty list of mainstream and boutique spirits and classic cocktails. This is a restaurant of refined elegance and commitment to produce. 2a/8 West St, Burleigh Heads QLD. restaurantlabart.com

Innovative dishes that celebrate pan-Asian flavours are what have propelled this Burleigh restaurant to institution status. Settle beachside, the restaurant’s kitchen is led by head chef James Brady who focuses on fresh, locally sourced produce. While well worthy of stopping in for a drink alone thanks to its unrivalled view, it would be a crime to not nibble on at least one of Rick Shores’ famed Moreton Bay bug rolls. 43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads, rickshores.com.au.

Locale is hard to spot, tucked away at the southern end of Hastings St just where it bends to head to the National Park. But step inside the low-lit Italian diner and discover that this is no shrinking violet on the plate. The menu works its way from tastes such as ricotta and mascarpone-filled zucchini flowers, through raw items like oysters and wagyu carpaccio to antipasti. There, grilled lamb ribs with sheep yoghurt and lemon, blueberry and buckwheat crumb are chunky and appealing, and Fremantle octopus with chargrilled eggplant puree, ginger and chilli dressing is a winner. Service is adept and the wine list is massive, with an emphasis on Italian selections, listed by region. 62 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD. localenoosa.com.au

Celebrating its 10th birthday, Middle Eastern culinary hangout Gerard’s, just off Fortitude Valley’s fashionable James St, is still up and about, refusing to rest on its laurels. From tiny seafood tarts to a light, hot potato bagel teamed with a spicy muhammara dip forged from walnuts and roasted capsicums, to the drum-beating noise of tender Longreach lamb collar matched with Turkish pepper paste and garlic yoghurt, or roasted crisp-skin Murray cod with almond hummus, the kitchen delivers plate after plate of quality fare. Service is laidback and staff get the job done with a side of charm. Diners are still coming for a reason. 14/15 James St, Fortitude Valley QLD. gerardsbistro.com.au

This new 20-seat restaurant in Boonah, an hours’ drive from Brisbane in the Scenic Rim, has caused a sensation since opening late last year. The set, multi-course menu is $95pp, with a few add-on options. Menus change but might include a starter of iced consommé of tomato and lemon verbena with just-picked basil leaves. Each dish reveals skill and a serious intent with stunning, intensely distilled flavours. Chunks of smoky zucchini, and spelt cannoli filled with savoury custard and showered with Towri Sheep Cheese’s pecorino are noteworthy. 5 Church St, Boonah QLD. blumerestaurant.com.au

Chefs working in the open kitchen, diners scraping plates and bowls clean and a pumping playlist form the cacophonous soundtrack at this hugely popular Thai restaurant inside an arched, ultra sleek Richards and Spence-designed temple. Start with snacks, a chicken burger on an ethereal bao-like bun, the poultry fried until the exterior snaps and juices spill from its heart; or a red prawn tartare with a chilled coconut and crab relish ready to be scooped up with bubbly crab crackers. Just be sure to finish with an unexpectedly light chocolate dessert with a mascarpone and yoghurt custard apple ice cream delivering sourness and refreshment. Shop AM3 Ada Lane, 46 James St, Fortitude Valley QLD. samesamerestaurant.com.au

On a cold night, with the orange flicker of flames along the back wall of the kitchen, wood-fired restaurant Agnes feels like the ultimate dimly lit burrow in which to settle in. The restaurant, which opened to acclaim in 2020, is still one of the most difficult in the city at which to grab a dinner reservation, with waits of weeks for eager diners. The menu continues to evolve though, with starters such as charred cucumbers with peanuts, green garlic and bright pops of finger lime. Slightly larger dishes run to grilled tiger prawns with chilli shoyu and mandarin vinegar, or koji-brined eggplant, flavoured with macadamia, seeds and agrodolce and crowned with a thick thatch of sweet potato leaves. Finish with grilled fig encircled by white chocolate cream, and topped with burnt honey ice cream at a restaurant with quality service, a cracking drinks list and a kitchen bristling with confidence and elan. 22 Agnes St, Fortitude Valley QLD. agnesrestaurant.com.au

When Dan Arnold returned after seven years in France working in Michelin-star restaurants to open his own venture in Fortitude Valley, the concept of no-choice set menus was a little out there. But Covid changed all that and now he can fill his 45- seat dining room on a weeknight with guests simply choosing from three ($100) or five ($150) course menus or a chef’s selection ($200). Included in all menus is a stunning line-up of complimentary amuse-bouche; three types of house-made breads with two butters; a pre-dessert and petit fours. Throughout all this, service is on the ball and knowledgeable but far from stuffy. Adjustments have been made to add warmth to the interior as well as bigger tables, enhancing the enjoyment of the work of a gifted and generous chef. 10/959 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD. restaurantdanarnold.com