BarSoma Restaurant

Ph: 3252 9550; 4/ 22 Constance St, FORTITUDE VALLEY 4006 www.barsoma.com

Tapas, $, * for Ambience
Open Wed-Thu 5.30pm-late fri 4.30pm-2am Sat 5.30pm-2am Sun 5.30pm late; Licensed; AE BC DC MC V

Mietta's Review
Down a little side-street in a vast ex-factory is BarSoma Restaurant which, as its name suggests is both bar and restaurant. The multiple levels and the courtyard out the back provide spaces for the restaurant, lounges, pool tables, multiple bars and an area for live music. Martin Anderson's food is much better than than the night-out-in-the-Valley setting would suggest. Also available is an array of bar snacks and platters. One of the city's better bars.

Other published opinions

Courier Mail Food and Wine Guide 2009 Queensland "An eclectic mix of industrial lines, plush decor and dramatic mood lighting set off the contemporary cool of this tucked-away bar and restaurant"

Courier Mail food and wine guide Queensland 2008 "Friendly staff are something of a rarity in Valley nightspots - maybe that's because they all seem to be working at Barsoma"

Brisbane News Dining Out Guide 2007 "This bar is doing interesting things in tapas"

Courier-Mail Bar Jason Davis 28/2/06 "The three levels are red-light bohemia meets warehouse, with a cool Brave New World "soma"' reference chucked in for intellectuals. Some of the patrons sport expensive suits, another guy arrives on a skateboard. All urban tribes are invited. It's a murky midweek evening, so there's room enough to swing a cat or two amid the sofas. Several couples are polishing off dinner on the ground floor to a dance mix disc playing in the background, but I camp at Lush bar on the middle level"

Courier-Mail Goodlife Restaurant Guide 2006 "A little off the beaten tracks of Ann and Brunswick Sts is Barsoma, a venue which targets a more sophisticated market."

Brisbane News Eating Out Guide 2006 "This comfortable, loft-style space has made its mark on the Valley scene. Chef Martin Anderson (who helped BarSoma win Brisbane's Best New Restaurant 2004) creates roasted duck breast on caramelised citrus and pine nut couscous with brandy cream reduction"

Courier-Mail GoodLife Bar Nick Bray 5/7/05 "IT'S Valley Fiesta time, a weekend when the crowded nightclub hub becomes even more congested, but there's one drinking hole which always remains a beacon of civilisation - Barsoma. That's partly because it's a little off the beaten tracks of Ann and Brunswick streets and partly because the owners target a more sophisticated market."

Courier-Mail Goodlife Restaurant Guide 05 "Tucked away n a skinny one-way street, you could be forgiven for thinking Barsoma is just a hip new watering hole to the burgeoning crowds of Fortitude Valley. But this is a bar that is so much more, especially when it comes to Andreas Nielsen's food."

Gourmet Traveller Australian Restaurant Guide 2005 Best bars "live music and the lounge upstairs, and a good restaurant downstairs"

Brisbane News Dining Out Guide 2004 "The chic industrial design here marries well with the minimalist menu of chef Andreas Nielsen. Try his grilled scallops with chorizo, potatoes, fennel puree and lemon pepper dressing."

The Courier-Mail,goodlife,4/5/04,Food 15/20,Wine 14/20,Service 15/20,Ambience 15/20,'This is an atmospheric venue with lots of points of interest including live music and a bar atmosphere at times and an intimate little restaurant at other times.The passion and energy of the Hethorns and their team at Bar Soma seperates it from other Valley bars in larger venues with less soul.'

Brisbane News, 3-9/12/03, Alison Walsh