Southbank is one of the nicest parts of Brisbane, especially in the evening when all the trees light up. Next to the river, the strip full of restaurants was the perfect place for us to stop for a meal before heading off to see the Fijian Flying Circus on Thursday night.

I had a few different restaurants on my list to try, but we landed at Vici after our walk from the bus. At 5:30pm, it was busy already, and the woodsmoke ovens were firing as we walked through to our table.

Sitting outside, the winds were chilly, but it was otherwise a very pleasant night. September has a way of being both scorching and freezing in Brisbane, so I was glad that I dressed warm. We ordered straight away, to our server’s surprise, and settled in to enjoy the meal.

The order:

• Carbonara ($33.00) + Chicken ($7.00)
• Polpetta al Sugo ($23.00)
• 2x Hugo Spritz ($19.00 each)

We didn’t want anything too heavy or large, so the starter and pasta were perfect.

The drinks came quickly, and the servers were lovely throughout the evening. I’ve never been much of a spritz fan, and Aperol’s are not for me, but I haven’t had a bad Hugo Spritz before. Mum was pleasantly surprised by the drink, and decided she liked it too. That’s always a great feeling, when people enjoy your recommendations!

Then the meatballs arrived, served in tomato sauce with a sprinkling of cheese and a side of focaccia. Delicious. The meatballs were so smooth, and perfectly complimented by the sweet and tangy sauce. The bread was fantastic, and there wasn’t too much of that or the sauce.

When the pasta arrived, Mum got to try if first, and I think she was in love from the first bite. The sauce was fantastic, so thick and creamy, and the poached chicken was so soft.

For a quick meal before a show, this was excellent. A little on the pricy side, but I suppose that’s expected in this area. All in all, I was happy with the meal, and Mum loved it.

We finished up, paid for the food and began a scenic walk along the river to the Piazza, where our show was waiting. Honestly, and rather sadly, I don’t get into the city as much as I would like. It’s beautiful here, and it wasn’t as busy as I was expecting for an evening. This night was another reminder of my mission to keep exploring this lovely city I get to call home.

Until next time! x