Mietta's Review
This restaurant is now really hitting its straps as Michael Conrad's front of house and David Pugh's food find their way into the hearts of Brisbane's business community. The food has a backbone of strong classic flavours but the few Asian touches are also done very well. The wine list is accommodating and there's a bar that one can adjourn to. In 06 mains averaged $38.
Other Published Opinions
QLD Good Food Guide 2012 May 01, 2012 Score: 15/20 "
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Gourmet Traveller 2013 Australian Restaurant Guide Score: 1 Star "A recent renovation has warmed this fine-dining stalwart. On the plate, it's business as usual, though, with rock-star ingredients in each dish standing centrestage. Hervey Bay scallops cede little to their accompaniment of warmed tomatoes and miso eggplant, though the stunning onion rings nearly steal the show"
Queensland Good Food Guide 2012 Score: 15/20
Gourmet Traveller 2012 Australian Restaurant Guide Score: One Star "Since its new fit-out. Restaurant Two has shaken some of its corporate feel and while the charcoal and white colour scheme may give it a more relaxed ambience, this is still one of the last bastions of formal dining in Brisbane, with prices to match"
Courier Mail Food and Wine Guide 2011 Score: 16.5/20, Two Stars "Pinkenba soft shell crab. Lirah verjus from the Granite Belt. Ocean King prawns. Landsborough zucchini. Channel country beef - the menu at this city stalwart reads like a roll call of Queensland's best produce"
Age Good Food Guide 2011
Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2011
Gourmet Traveller 2011 Australian Restaurant Guide Score: * "David Pugh's honest, technically adept dishes make a hero of fresh produce, as is fitting for a chef named the state's culinary ambassador. Zucchini flowers with a crisp tempura coating really require nothing more than their simple ricotta filling, but smoky baba ghanoush, fried basil and sweet-tart semi-roasted tomato don't break the spell"
Queensland Food and Wine Score: 17/20, Two Stars "Elegant and a little formal. Two is housed in an attractive heritage listed building at the river end of the CBD. It set a benchmark when it opened more than a decade ago, and continues to uphold a standard other restaurants aspire to"
Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2010
Gourmet Traveller 2010 Australian Restaurant Guide Score: ** "In a beautiful heritage-listed building with soaring ceilings, situated at the quieter end of the CBD. Two looks out to the restful green of the Botanic Gardens. David Pugh's menu is contemporary without any pointless airs"
The Australian A List, 50 Great Australian Restaurants, John Lethlean, Necia Wilden, 5-09-09 "After a highly successful business partnership lasting more than 15 years and spawning three restaurants, chef David Pugh and host Michael Conrad parted ways earlier this year"
Courier Mail Food and Wine Guide 2009 Queensland Score: 17/20, Two Hats "Simplicity and the calculated lack of fanfare is rare in a fine diner but chef! co-owner David Pugh has successfully mastered this while in no way diminishing the true specialness of this multi-awarded CBD restaurant"
Gourmet Traveller 2009 Australian Restaurant Guide Score: ** "They're one of Brisbane's most established teams and David Pugh and Michael Conrad have had much on their plates recently, making a foray into more casual dining territory by opening Three Bistro in Fortitude Valley"
Brisbane Times Score: 15/20
Courier Mail food and wine guide Queensland 2008 Score: 17/20, Two Hats "The successful marriage of the talents of frontman Michael Conrad and chef David Pugh is well known in Brisbane dining circles as one of competency and style"
Courier Mail Anooska Tucker-Evans, 22-9-2007 "LAST week it was crowned the 2007 Restaurant of the Year at the Queensland Restaurant and Catering Hostplus awards - and no wonder. Owned by chef David Pugh and front-of-house expert Michael Conrad, Restaurant Two is a divine fine-diner and a slick operation. From the moment you walk in the door, professional, friendly and attentive staff are on hand to service every need; the food is beautiful; and the wine list superb"
Gourmet Traveller 2008 Australian Restaurant Guide "Sitting across the road from the Botanic Gardens, on the edge of the city's financial district, Restaurant Two is a benchmark Brisbane restaurant"
Brisbane News Dining Out Guide 2007 "Chef David Pugh is on a constant quest to find the highest quality produce"
Gourmet Traveller 2007 Australian Restaurant Guide Score: ** "For co-owner and chef David Pugh it's all about the produce, and he works with and supports small producers throughout Queensland and beyond. Then it's about not smothering the main ingredient in too many flavours, relying rather on his classical training to build bases for roasted game birds, Casino veal or Hervey Bay scallops."
Courier Mail Lizzie Loel, 03-10-2006 Score Food: 17 Wine: 17 Service: 17 Ambience: 16 "Menus at Two change monthly so expect to see variations on these themes, but what does not change is the calibre of the wine list which is presided over by co-owner Michael Conrad. Extensive and encrusted with gems, it is something of a tome but Conrad and several other well-versed staff are always on hand to help. Wine to Conrad is food to Pugh and that is why, with the pair in situ, the synergy is obvious and the enjoyment factor high."
Courier-Mail Goodlife Restaurant Guide 2006 "There's nothing small about Restaurant Il, from the space inside the venue to its reputation as one of Brisbane's best restaurants. It has a large, interesting wine list and big flavours on the plate."
Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide "There is a wealth of experience, expertise and dedication in the partnership of Michael Conrad and David Pugh at Restaurant Il. It's a team that consistently produces results, with the restaurant now commonly regarded as one ofthe best in the state."
Brisbane News Eating Out Guide 2006 "Polished timber floors, high ceilings, mezzanine dining, views to the Botanic Gardens and an inviting bar make this spacious restaurant popular with diners who demand the best."
Courier-Mail Goodlife Restaurant Guide 05 "Michael Conrad and David Pugh are a formidable business twosome. For many years they've managed to please the most discerning of diners with chef Pugh's elegant repertoire of chic dishes, an expansive wine list presided over by Conrad, and highly skilled staff"
Courier-Mail Goodlife Restaurant Guide 05 Best business lunches "plenty of space between tables and always a great blend of corporate, judicial and movie types."
Gourmet Traveller Australian Restaurant Guide 2005 "One partner is passionate about food, the other about wine - Restaurant II, one of Brisbane's culinary landmarks, is in very good hands. In a gracious old stone building overlooking the city's Botanic Gardens, the restaurant is divided into two sections: the lower level acts as casual dining area and bar, the spacious upper mezzanine is the main dining section."
Brisbane News 08/04 Natascha Mirosch score 8.5/10 "Two is a reliable choice for fine dining - the service is professional, decor restrained and the classic, seasonal food prepared with a sure hand."
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Australia 2004, 3 Red Stars, Excellent wine list,'There's a buzzing bar downstairs in this CBD icon, but walk up the few steps that lead to the dining room and a calm descends-waiters glide and service is faultess...culinary style has come of Age in recent years-he uses his classical French training and adds a contemporary edge where appropriate...Eclectic and edgy wine list'
Brisbane News Dining Out Guide 2004 "This restaurant is first-class all the way, from the eclectic wine list and beautifully executed food to the chic interior and attentive service."
Brisbane News 2002 Eating Out Guide