Review Aria Restaurant - Brisbane

I visited the famed restaurant, Aria in Brisbane today. It was really good place to enjoy the dessert and course meals and you can see storybridge through the window!😆 I had souffle and chocolate parfeit and spiced pumpkin cakes and honey macadamia caramels. Souffle had a nice blend of creamy flavour and jammy rubarb. Chocolate parfait had awesome layer in it and it was well-matched with sherry jelly. All of the dessert’s colour and flavour and texture combination was absolutely incredible! I’ll try some cocktail and course meals next time 😋

Couldn’t fault a thing. Impeccable service, view and dining experience. We enjoyed the 4 course meal with complimentary appetisers, palate cleansers and dessert for our anniversary. Definitely pricey but worth it for special occasions. View of Story bridge would have been much nicer had the restaurant been on the second floor - without people walking past and looking in.

Beautiful food, wonderful location and amazing staff, all priced well too. Our food was absolutely incredible. Every dish that came out was beyond tasty, and the presentation in incredible. ALL of the staff were informative, friendly and always catered to our needs. Price was a lot cheaper than expected as well.

Simply superb! We had dinner to celebrate our 5th anniversary Saturday 24th. Everything about Aria lived up to or well exceeded expectations. We were looked after very well by Nicole who was our server for the evening; she was a delight and definitely an asset for Aria. The food was superb; king fish entree and snapper main for me; the king fish was superb and sea urchin took it to another level. My partner had the smoked lamb entree and Trevalla main also both to die for. The tasting dishes offered between courses were also delicious. The views out to the river and Storey Bridge were amazing even though we weren't seated right next to the window (and we both had a view!). Altogether an amazing night; just the thing for a special occasion!. Photos are the chocolate passionfruit desert; a chocolate "special" desert which was like a black forest cake on steroids and the celebration "desert" plate they brought for our anniversary.

We have dined here for 4 out of our last 6 wedding anniversaries. The food is fantastic, the staff are friendly and helpful, everything you would expect from a classy establishment. We will definitely be back.

Simply amazing! Took my parents here for their last day visiting me and they loved it as well. The food, service and atmosphere was perfect. Will definitely come back again!

Went here for Riverfire and had a seat by the window. Fixed menu of three courses and plenty to choose from for each course. The oysters, snapper and panacotta were superb. Service was excellent.

Really nice food here. Every dish blew us away. Service was very quick and attentive despite it being a crowded weekend dinner.

Have bookmarked Aria for awhile, however quickly made a weeknight reservation for my partner and I when we learnt that the final service for this iconic Matt Moran restaurant would be the 15th June 2019.<br/><br/>We chose the '10 year tasting menu', which celebrates iconic dishes over the past ten years of Aria. There was a complimentary amuse bouche of sesame cheese, and bread from Teneriffe's 'Danny's Bakery'.<br/>Each dish was flawless - textural, clean flavours, well-prepared/cooked. A quick run-through of the items included:- goat curd cigar, kingfish tartare, fried brussel sprouts, scampi, confit pork belly, duck and pea pie, sirloin, toasted rice sorbet, banoffee, and chocolate and honeycomb. The ten courses were a good selection and, for us, it was very filling.<br/>Following dinner, we were also given complimentary madeleines to take home.<br/><br/>Smart ambience with views of the Story Bridge and river. Prices on the high end (our ten-course degustation cost $185pp without drinks). Service was a little slow and a little "sterile" to begin with, which was unfortunate as it would have otherwise gotten five stars from me.<br/><br/>Overall, food meets fine dining expectations.

ARIA Brisbane, located on the Eagle Street Pier, provides the quintessential Brisbane dining experience, with striking views from the restaurant of the Brisbane River. Owned by chef Matt Moran and restaurateur, Peter Sullivan, ARIA boasts a well-balanced seasonal menu, featuring local and Australian produce and an award winning wine list, served in an elegant dining room with stunning views. "If it's fine dining you seek, in a split-level expanse of understated elegance that affords sweeping city views, this sibling to Matt Moran's southern star ticks the boxes. Add a stellar cellar selection, with a thoughtful nod to Queensland wineries, plus accomplished service and you've hit the right notes, particularly for corporates and lovers of occasion. There's obvious skill, attention to detail and quality produce on show from opening chords to final flourish. Succulent pork belly has perfect golden crackling, while plump duck dumplings, abalone and mushrooms swim in a Peking duck consomme. Kingfish baked in cedar bark has its wrapping set alight en route to the table, adding a welcome smokiness.

2.5 stars<br/>I thought it was strange when this proclaim award winning restaurants had multiple sessions time still available on the night for booking. Should have know that meant 2.5 stars<br/>We walked in to a nice dimmed light room with our table in front of the window for the river view as requested (✔️)<br/>As we just sat down and was given the menus, a few second later the waiter came and asked for our orders, I said 'sorry we just sat down' he replied 'I know you did' (if you knew then give us more time?) and right at this moment I knew my night was gonna go sour if he was my waiter for the night, and he was :( his attitude, his incompetent observation and questions to our order, just did not pair well with an award winning restaurant.<br/><br/>Now to the food, oysters ok, spanner crab was nice! Steak was ok, asked for medium rare and got med. Cod was salty af, we tried to finish it asap to get out of that place cause it was just a buzz kill to our night. For the quality and price of this place, it is not worth it.

I was so disappointed by Aria hence why l have avoided giving it an average review for ages now. I found the whole experience average. Not what l expected from a fine dining restaurant. Really felt ripped off the whole time and felt l had wasted my date night. I just didn't think we could go wrong with Aria but we did. The food was soo blend and tasteless in my opinion. Didn't have any wow factor at all and yes l expected wow especially for the price tag. I also didn't think the service was there as well. Bordering sobbish and not interested in serving us. Anyway very average!

Possibly the finest dining experience I have had in Australia, most definitely in Brisbane. The attention to detail and the combination of flavours in the tasting menu were sensational. Highly recommend for an anniversary or special occasion

I love Aria. OK so it’s a bit wanky and elitist but every dish I have had here has been absolutely delicious. It’s one of those places where you absolutely have to do three courses at a minimum, with the four course tasting menu for $135 being ideal for us. Their menu is usually quite heavily seafood influenced and as I don’t eat seafood, the staff are always helpful in finding me another option.<br/><br/>The highlights on our most recent trip was the Kingfish, lamb and shortbread soufflé. <br/><br/>Our tip * bookings essential – and keep an eye on the special events. They regularly host wine tasting nights etc which are great value and really enjoyable!

Once upon a time a great restaurant. Just not competing with the other fine dining restaurants in Brisbane. It's a shame as it is a great location, and Matt Moran is a talented chef.

Staff are very friendly. View is nice. Food is only average to my liking. Very small portions. Bit over priced. Overall was ok. Wouldn’t recommend others.

If one were putting together a fine dining destination list for Brisbane, Aria would certainly be on it. It has a slew of hats and awards from assorted food and travel guides. Our expectations were, therefore, high, when we went there to mark a special occasion. Aria is one of a number of restaurants in the Eagle Street Pier complex, providing a panoramic view out to the iconic Story Bridge. If you haven’t been there before, it does take a bit of wandering around to find it, as you won’t stumble across it walking past on the ground floor (it’s upstairs), and there aren’t obvious signs pointing to it.

Came here for a birthday dinner celebration, ordered the seven course degustation and the food was lovely. I was disappointed in the size portion of some of the courses when it is quite pricey ($175 and $255 with matching wines), especially the Moreton bay bug and smoked kingfish (left me more hungry and wanting more) but the whole ambiance of the restaurant was very romantic with a great view of the Story Bridge (perfect for date night or people who enjoy fine dining). <br/><br/>The service was average (a bit of a wait between each course) but the staff (especially the Sommelier) (wine steward) was very friendly and very acknowledgeable (you can tell that he knew his wine well) and he was very open in answering questions and sharing his opinions with his knowledge (he was not a robot in only saying what he was taught to say for his job). The staff also were very nice in asking us what the occasion was after the 5th course in order for them to write a special “Happy Birthday” message for the dessert course.<br/><br/>Overall, it was an interesting degustation experience. The food was unique in flavours with a lot of different elements within the dish but the portion size could have been better. The staff were lovely and the environment of the restaurant was beautiful (much prettier at night). <br/><br/>Recommended for special occasions or if you want something different rather than your average dinner.

Excellent service and delicious fresh food. However I had higher expectations for the presentation and innovation. I'd definitely recommend for a special occasion, just be prepared to pay the price tag.

I would recommend this if you like fine dining. The service was excellent, food was amazing. The view is good also. The samples are pricey but delicious and well portioned!

Service was elite with great wine suggestions, food was exceptional especially the duck meal, broard range of food,classy restaurant with detailed food

Amazing story bridge view, great service and atmosphere, steak and lamb cooked perfectly, just the presentation of the two steak dishes way too simple, no side dish at all, need to order separately, chocolate dessert very tasty, passion fruit coconut dessert very very sour.

As chefs this is somewhere myself and my husband dreamed of going. We had the degustation menu and it was very basic. Things weren't seasoned and lacked taste. Customer service was great, the only downside was they were all foreign and were hard to understand! We aren't usually hard to please but considering the $450 we spent I think it's fair to voice an opinion. I thought it was just plain rude that the waiters ask for a tip after paying so much. We aren't in America.

Quiet and intimate, Aria is perfect for those special dates or if you want to impress the in-laws. I had the beef brisket and beetroot chips (main) and it was amazing. Service is impeccable, the restaurant is contemporary but cosy with a sophisticated appeal. Couldn't fault anything. From the dining menu, fresh sourdough, wine pairings/recommendations and the macarons after dinner it's a great place with a great view.

Went here on Saturday night and would definitely return. Yes, it's "expensive" but you get what you pay for. Excellent service; excellent food. They were able to cater for food allergies and everything was delicious and perfectly presented. Definitely recommend this place for special occasions.

Made a last minute decision to grab a late lunch. We'd been to Aria many years ago and I remember it being outstanding. Unfortunately our lunch was very disappointing, the service was fine but the dishes lacked finesse. Portion size was very small considering the price.

This was easily the best dining experience I have ever had. The location is breathtaking, the service is incredibly impressive and the food is some of the best you will ever have.

Took my mum here for her birthday and was expecting much more. The value for money was quite appalling. Main prices for entrees that were extremely small and mains the size of entrees. The service was very lovely. Would have liked a better table considering the occasion. Wouldn't recommend to others.

This is probably the best service I've ever experienced in all my dining life and never have I felt more pampered as a customer. We received a complimentary appetiser a delicious carrot soup which was a lovely way to tickle the tastebuds and begin a delicious meal. We also enjoyed some complimentary artisan chocolates which were served with the dessert we ordered. Best of all were the complimentary macarons we were given in a little box as we were leaving as a take home treat. Mr Moran sure knows how to excite and delight the customers! My dining companion argued that all these freebies were irrelevant given the pricing but I found the entire experience absolutely beautiful. The view was fantastic, the food was sensational, the plating was stunning and everything was of such as high standard you don't begrudge the price point. It's certainly not an every day dining destination but perfect for a special occasion. Extremely impressive

Faultless! Their understanding of respecting produce and allowing them to shine is what Aria does best. Their level of service is inline with their hatted status, their staff are simply wonderful and make the atmosphere a pleasure to dine in.

Went with my husband as we had been given a gift voucher, it's not the sort of place we would usually go to as the menu's pretty mundane but I was really looking forward to the cheesecake souffle. The service was OK but definitely not what I would expect from this kind of restaurant. I had to chase someone down a few times - one to order drinks and one to ask for seasoning once the meal arrived. I was nearly finished my main before someone came and asked how it was that I had an opportunity to remind them about the missing salt and pepper. When the souffle came it was pretty ordinary - bland and eggy not fluffy and cakie. For that kind of price I wouldn't recommend it and wont be going back.

Excellent service which was just right, not intrusive and excellent food. We booked unsure of hat to expect as there had been mixed reviews. The only positive common thing in all the reviews were that the steaks were good. Bearing that in mind, we decided to order ala carte so that we could have steak. We started off with complimentary amuse Boucher of crispy rice cracker, spicy pork and seaweed. It was a very nice start to a great evening. A choice of rye bread or white bread was offered with butter. We ordered entrees of octopus with Jamon and the seared scallops . Both were good but we preferred the octopus as we liked the flavours better . For the mains , we had the rump cap Waugh steak and the slow cooked beef short rib. We were impressed by our waiter, Christine's knowledge as she told us exactly where the cut of meat came from. She also recommended that we have the Wagyu served medium rather than the medium rare to allow the fat to melt. After she had done this we did remember eating at another restaurant wagyu beef which we had asked to be cooked medium rare and it did not result in the best outcome. With her recommendations, we enjoyed the wagyu steak at its optimum. Of the two mains , we couldn't pick which we enjoyed more. However, if we had to pick one I would have the wagyu steak again as the condiments were so good, particularly the Bernaise sauce and the chimchurri. We had sides of beetroot and radicchio and truffle mash which was really smooth and rich. The sweet beetroot and slightly butter radicchio went really well with the mash and steak. We were too full to have dessert and we're delighted to be given complimentary truffles to finish. The blueberry cheesecake soufflé served at a neighbouring table looked very good. It was well worth celebrating our wedding anniversary late as we were here as visitors from WA.

Fortunate enough to have been here a few times...with a large gap between the last time and this.<br/>When Aria first came to Brisbane it was exceptional in food, service and atmosphere...but it evolved into another expensive, average, fine dining Brisbane establishment with nothing to rave about.<br/>The food during this last visit was back to fabulous. Perfectly cooked and presented and worthy of the Aria name and price tag.<br/>The staff however are definitely NOT fine dining. There is little attention to detail, they are not allocated specific tables and as a result continuity falters...everyone seems to do a bit of this and a bit of that.<br/>Empty water glasses go unnoticed. There is no offer of more bread before plates are removed. Serviettes are not re-folded on the table when a bathroom visit is required.<br/>It all works okay...but there is a lack of warmth and passion amongst the staff-they are doing a job...and it comes across as just that...

nice location, with a view, smart and sophisticated, unpretentious atmosphere, very good food and wine pairing, waiters sometimes take a bit more time to return to the table but you'll feel at home chatting with your friends

Came here for a three course lunch with a work colleague. It was exactly what I expected for a fine dining restaurant. The staff and service were great. The food was beautifully presented and tasted amazing and the salted caramel and pop corn dessert was exquisite. I haven't had a chance to dine here for dinner but I'm definitely considering it.

Went there for a piece of salmon. it was rather salty. I thought i can cook it better than them, or am i dreaming...........not overly impressed for the price i paid- what's the point of difference ?

Celebrity chef Matt Moran’s flagship Sydney restaurant ARIA has a twin at the edge of the bustling Eagle Street pier precinct, the aptly named ARIA Brisbane. Its sleek stained timber furnishings of the reception area, bar and main dining room and the sweeping views of the waterfront all add as perfect ingredients to was a fantastic fine dining experience.

Aria is hands down my favorite fine dining restaurant. Every dish is devine. The duck consume and kingfish would have to be my standouts. The matching wines are a great option, even though I'm not a fan of red wines the ones they select blew my mind. I can't rave enough about Aria. Service is phenomenal too, the servers really know their stuff! Must visit!

Love coming here with my partner!! Best food 😊😊😊 really nice staff. I've been here twice and definitely coming back for a 3rd time!! Food was served fast, cocktails were amazing.

A delightful experience accompanied with excellent food, service and ambiance. The Wagyu Steak and Truffle Mash are definitely winners. We had a table of 8 diners and not one person could fault their meals.  Staff were wonderful, polite and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend for a great night out.

Went to Aria for my partner's birthday. The service was impeccable and the food was absolutely fabulous. The steaks we had were beautifully cooked and reasonably priced for such a fine dining experience. It is definitely one of the best restaurants in Brisbane.

Dined at Aria last night and had the winter degustation with matched wines. <br/>After wanting to eat at aria for quite some time I was really disappointed. <br/>The food was ok but nothing stood out. I enjoyed the wine more than the dishes. <br/>Service was fantastic every team member that came to the table was helpful and friendly.<br/>The gentlemen who matched each was was great, very knowledgeable about the regions and flavours of every wine poured.<br/>Atmosphere was nice and cosy, the view of the river and Story bridge at night is lovely however the decor of the restaurant needs to be updated. It feels a little old and daggy. Carpet is so busy that it throws you off, needs to be clean and simple. When you're paying $200 per head it's nice to have the right atmosphere complete the experience.<br/><br/><br/>

Lunch was fabulous but I found that our glasses of sparkling WATER was charged @$10.50 per glass. <br/><br/>Petit Fours with the Coffee was a total of $8.50! Although we never requested for the petit fours. <br/><br/>The 3 courses was @$72 per person. We had no issues with that. We would suggest increasing the price to include the Petit Fours and also the water. <br/><br/>It's ridiculous to pay $10.50 per glass for water!!

We went there today because last year it was very good, good good and good service. But today, the experience was awful. Because my parents went there before I do, and they cannot speak English, they offered still water( without mention the price) which terms out to be $21 for just two glasses!!! Also, the size of the dishes are worse than last year. And I can see the service are worse than last year as well. I wonder what happened to the restaurant...... <br/>Think I will not go there again, and stop recommending to my friends.

Good ambience in a good location with good views (depends on the table you get), I've been here a few times and the food was always good, especially the dessert. When you start comparing the prices to other comparable restaurants, I think that's when people might think twice, but I would recommend a try and see for yourself. It's certainly a good place to impress someone.

ARIA Brisbane opened with much excitement and fanfare in the Eagle Street Dining precinct a few years back. Home to the much loved Cha Cha Char, Il Centro, Sake and Pony Dining; expectations of ARIA were high.  Therefore is comes with some confusion that my foray into Matt Moran’s Brisbane venture did not quite hit the high note that I was enthusiastically expecting and I take some of the responsibility for that.

Aria is one of my wife's favorite restaurants in Brisbane.  Nice ambiance, good service and above average food for Eagle Street Pier.  The pork belly was a bit disappointing (and small), but the Wagyu beef was quite nice.  My wife was very pleased with the champagne recommendation, a Vouette & Sorbee Fidele (about $200 from memory).  Great for date night, but be prepared to splash out a bit.

I took my boyfriend here as a surprise. He's been a chef for 14 years and is always very honest with me on his opinions on places. We both left very happy, content and relaxed. The ambience was great; as were the waiters and service staff.

Aria is definitely one of my favorite fine dining restaurants in Brisbane. I have been here many times over the years and the food and service never disappoints. It's always a pleasure to dine at Aria. Delicious food, great atmosphere and a wonderful view. They have definitely earned their reputation. Keep up the good work guys!

Amazing food, beautiful location and friendly service. We went all out with the seven course degustation and matched wines. The meals were incredible; a fantastic combination of flavours and textures. I was surprised by the wine list - too many international options when there is a good opportunity to showcase some fabulous Australian boutique wines. The sommelier's explanation was that they couldn't guarantee supply from local producers since they keep the same menu for a season. That sounded like a lazy excuse as there are such a range of Australian wineries from very small batch to global operations. The wines selected weren't always the best match either. The service was prompt, friendly and informative when they stuck to their script. Some staff had difficulty with even the most basic follow up questions - King George Whiting from off the Sunshine Coast! More training and confidence needed.

Over priced, under flavoured, ill conceived, uninspiring, underwhelming, disappointing. Moreton bay bugs when burnt destroy a dish. XO sauce is more than just soy sauce. Banana soufflés lead you to expect some taste of banana, honey cake is not crushed up ginger biscuits. <br/>The steak can't be faulted, lovely steak. The sides were oilier and greasier than bike chains.<br/>The prices were outrageous for the low quality and crimes against decent produce.<br/>The staff and service were wonderful.

We have been here a handful of times. The restaurant is in a great location. The service is always great and the food is very good. A fav local restaurant of ours.

Went to aria March 2016 for partners Birthday I must say it would have to be one of the best dinners we have had . We had starters of pork belly this was to die for .then I had the fillet it would have been the best I have ever eaten .my partner had the duck which she raved over . Will definitely be back

When in doubt, a meal at ARIA is always a solid option, be it for a business lunch to impress a client, a fabulous rendezvous to wow your date, a nice catch up with a good friend or if you simply want to treat yourself just because. ARIA is my fail-proof dining venue in Brisbane; I know that the impressive food (and equally impressive wine list) is always paired with impeccable service.

Friday lunch at Aria is delightful - great service, wine list, food, views and value. I thoroughly enjoyed the Aria experience and 2 courses for $58 is fantastic value for such high quality cuisine. Make sure you don't miss out on this dining experience. The freshness and innovative food is delicious!

Most amazing dining experience. Food was very well presented and tasted amazing. The wine selection was abundant and the knowledge that the waiter had of what wine to have with what meal was a great bonus. Definitely going back!

My first stop for set lunch menu when in Brisbane. Whilst the view here is no match for their Sydney restaurant, the food is equal to it. What Aria Brisbane has in spades is value for money with their lunch set menu. Hubs reckons he goes there for the chips alone.

I have been here 3 times now all all just as good as the other. The food really is on another level with so much attention put into the flavours and presentation. The service is very professional and friendly, and the wine list quite extensive with good options by the glass to match the food. The only downside is the larger than average bill at the end of the night, however you do get what you pay for. Highly recommend it to try

A really enjoyable experience. The view of the story bridge was matched with excellent service. We decided against the degustation to try more dishes and it was a good decision. The scollops were the standout for the entree but it was hard to choose with the mains.

While food service and ambiance were very good we were rushed in the service of our food because of their 2 sittings. This happened while there were empty tables around us. My steak was disappointing and the duck consisted of 2 small slices of duck breast. The wines were excellent but service of the wine was slow so we were still drinking wine for the entrees when the main courses were served in the rush to get us out. Our main course wine arrived when we were almost complete. Very disappointing given the prices and not fine dining; more like fast-food service.

Aria was everything I'd hoped for! Excellent food, extraordinary service and beautiful ambiance. All the dishes were well-prepared and absolutely delicious! My favourite dish was the sea scallops with black pudding. I have never liked black pudding until I tasted this one. The desserts were all beautiful, and because it was a birthday celebration we also had a great surprise!

Nailed it on all fronts. Service, food, wine, location, atmosphere - all outstanding. Made for a very special wedding anniversary. Easily in the top 3 Brisbane restaurants.

Amazing food. Oysters and fish were perfect. Fantastic wine list. Dessert was the low point but unfair to compare against the first two dishes. Great experience!

Aria is definitely one of Brisbane's finest restaurants. It is an experience in itself and the food is absolutely exquisite! I have personally been here 3 times and one of these were lunch. Each time has been fabulous and mind was blown each time. Be prepared to spend at least $200pp here. Yes it's not cheap. But compared to some of the other high end and hatted restaurants around Australia, this is in fact great value and it has been worth every penny.

Have eaten at Aria a few times and each experience has been a little different. The first time we went was flawless - the menu, food preparation and delivery, staff, wine, deserts, coffees etc were all to the highest level. The portion sizes were pretty muh spot on for the richness of the food. An expensive evening but worth every dollar.<br/><br/>The second time felt less polished overall (But the staff have been excellent on every occasion). The mains portions lacked a little in generosity when paired with the flavours and the combination of menu items wasn't as satisfying as our previous experience. Still a professional and expressive food experience but some of the experiments/risks in the menu and delivery didn't quite work for us. The wine was still good and the deserts were delicious. This was one occasion where the sizeable bill at the end of the night didn't match our expectations and experience.<br/><br/>The third time was another great evening. Took the time to have some cocktails before being seated and they were delicious (but overpriced IMO). The menu felt more connected and less experimental - which translated into a satisfying and rewarding eating experience from start to finish. I understand how challenging it must be running a high level restaurant where you have to balance stable simple flavours with new experiences and creative innovation and it is logical that this works better on some occasions than others. <br/>This is not a cheap evening by an means but a great experience with excellent atmosphere, absolutely thorough staff who are trained to a very high level and consistent food quality.

Very good service but below average food. Been here twice and both times it was a let down. First time I thought i may have ordered the wrong dish however going again just proved i was wrong. Way to expensive for what its serving. I would pay $50 max for 2 people with the quality of food.

We've been a couple of times and even though it is a lot dearer than we usually like to spend, it is always totally worth it. Every bite is dreamy and the little extra complimentary bits and pieces makes it worth that big bill at the end.

Flawless. <br/>Divine food, service that makes you feel like royalty, an amazing view... what else do you need in a restaurant? I am a bit sad we didn't run into Matt Moran, I was keeping an eye out!

Food: 10/10, roasted pork belly was melt-in-your-mouth on point, wagyu and lamb were cooked perfectly, and ice cream was delicious. Atmosphere: waiters were pleasant and helpful, we enjoyed complementary snacks in between main courses, the view of the Brisbane river and a bit of the Story Bridge was fantastic, and parking underneath Eagle St Pier was convenient. Final note: we received complementary macaroons upon paying the bill - this place is as much about service as it is about food.

Came here several times, love the view, the food n the service. Quite remember once we came here for valentine's day celebration....that really put me off...well as expected... is busy... they try to not take so many reservations i guess... but still staff weren't as friendly as it used to be, and it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Amazing experience, service was excellent, food was excellent, chilli and passion cocktail was yum! Definitely worth the money. <br/>We had pork belly to start, and then steak & duck. They also give complimentary an amoche bouche and a petis fous which were both great.<br/>

Good food, a bit pricy for what is delivered. Definitely more for the business meetings client lunch/dinner restaurant. Wouldn't go here for date night

Great location along the river, intimate romantic atmosphere.  The staff are attentive and professional with great knowledge of food and wine.  The food was fresh and well cooked with great flavours.  They even went out of their way to write happy birthday on my dessert plate.

Amazing service (as you would expect in such an establishment) from knowledgeable, attentive staff. <br/><br/>Each dish was cooked to perfection with fresh ingredients. Favourites of the night were the Morton Bay bugs (best I've had in a while) and the soufflé. <br/><br/>My only critic is the choice of ingredients. We had the flathead and wagyu neck for mains. Not the most tender or moist fish/cut of meat to start off with, so it's essentially a critic of the menu itself. <br/><br/>Beautiful decor and location. Even the bathrooms were elegantly decorated!

Honestly the best steak I've had so far! It may be quite pricey but it's definitely worth visiting! This is the Oyster Blade Wagyu + chips. We also ordered the Chuck Tail and Truffle mash! Since we didn't make any reservations, we unfortunately didn't get a window seat so we didn't have a view.

Sooooo disappointing. A couple of dished were decent thought quite tiny. The duck, beef tartare, and Morton bay duck were 7/10 but portions were soooo small. Everything else didn't rise above a 4/10. Matching wines were decent value for the price except a bizarre and awful sherry but for $300 per person inc s pre drink a huge disappointment. Shame

Second time around and superb as usual, had Tasmanian Oysters for starter (little small to be honest however can overlook that one), Moreton bay bug & Blue Swimmer for entrée, Oyster Blade Waygu & Duck Breast for mains. Steak was spot on at medium as recommended, well rendered & superb with Bearnaise & Truffle Mash, Duck was also spot on and a credit to the chef. Well thought out menu, well researched wine list, anyone who doesn't enjoy dining here is hard to please.

Totally<br/>underwhelming degustation-Dinner-25 July 2015<br/><br/>After spending a most enjoyable evening during last<br/>September having the 4 course degustation menu with wine, my wife and I thought<br/>we would bring back our friends to share the experience with us. What a<br/>mistake! Also keep in mind that the 4 course degustation with wine costs $175 a<br/>person.<br/><br/>First up our table was not ready-we did arrive about 2<br/>minutes early-and we were directed to the bar. After ordering 6 drinks for $80<br/>we were taken through to our table. It was a nice table, overlooking the river<br/>and against the window. After ordering the 4 course degustation, we were then<br/>brought a German wine that we were told is a palate cleanser and a Riesling.<br/>When one of our group made discreet enquiries pointing out that according to<br/>the online menu, the first wine was supposed to be a champagne from France, we<br/>were promptly brought a very nice champagne, without explanation.<br/><br/>The entrée was a blue swimmer crab dish but I could not<br/>taste any crab in it.<br/><br/>We then got the pork belly which was quite nice but the<br/>portions were not much larger than my thumb. This was also true of the other<br/>courses.<br/><br/>During the evening we had to keep filling up with bread<br/>as the courses were so tiny.<br/><br/>The Sommelier seemed a bit disinterested in explaining<br/>how the chosen wines would complement the food and the servings were about two<br/>table spoons full. He was also unable to pour the wine without spilling on the<br/>table. I would have thought that this is the first thing that they are taught in<br/>Sommelier school!<br/><br/>After some more discreet enquiries, the servings were<br/>increased but far from the extent of using one bottle on our group of six,<br/>which would only amount to 125 ml each, my idea of a glass of wine. Apart from<br/>the quantity, none of the wines blew me away.<br/><br/>The next course was duck and my wife swears that hers<br/>still had blood in it and was undercooked.<br/><br/>With the dessert, one guest remarked that he tasted rice<br/>Krispies in the ingredients.<br/><br/>We will not be back.

I had lunch here during the week and was very happy with the overall experience. Food was beautiful and the service was attentive without being over the top. I will definitely be back.

The famous Aria, which foodie doesn't know of this place? It been around for ages and known for their exceptional quality of both food & drinks in Brisbane CBD. Great service catering for all types of functions from small to big corporates. Their attention to detail within each dish is superb and presentation is amazing. Consistency of skills among the dishes may vary a little but nothing big & dramatic. Although there are ups & downs but which restaurant doesn't have their bad days. So far I haven't had any bad experience, hence I'm glad to give it a high score.

Exceptional food and service. We had an entree, main, side and dessert. Each meal was flavourful, complex and moreish and the presentation was beautiful. I especially loved the stone plates that came with the Morton Bay bugs. I appreciated the attentive yet relaxed staff because there's nothing more I dislike than going to an upscale restaurant and the staff are cold and unwelcoming. Aria is well worth the price.

Won't be returning. Very disappointed with the lack of flavour and inventiveness of the dishes. For the price tag, you expect something that keeps you guessing and wanting more (especially considering how small the portions are). This was not the case, in fact we kept hoping the next dish "would be better". Good service and a decent soufflé were the only commendations for the night.

I never say no to good food, especially when it’s an invitation to taste the new Winter menu at Aria Brisbane. Aria has without a doubt remained as one of my trusty, never-fail-to-impress restaurants around town. I love the fact that its Head Chef, Ben Russell (whom, I may add, has the coolest haircut I’ve ever seen), always uses the freshest available ingredients to plate up delectable dishes that are extremely photogenic.

Good food but doesn't stand out for the price. Same for service. We walked in 20 mins early, the restaurant was half empty but we were asked to park at the bar. It took a couple of questions to sort that out and be seated.

Went here for a work lunch with a set menu. Whilst the atmosphere and service were first class, the food was overpriced for what was delivered.

I really don't know what is wrong with me that I always ignore this restaurant even I have written a lot of critics on its neighbourhood restaurants. As Brisbane "Top three" restaurant and indeed one of the three hatted, I could not find any fault on the foods. Service is good and attentive. Maybe, the night that I sat could not allow me to see the waterview and story bridge (it was blocked), which made me disappointed. All in all, through the culinary lens, I am happy with this restaurant and would say that it deserves for the awards. Thank you, Matt.

The restaurant is located on Eagle Street Pier overlooking the Brisbane River, with wonderful night-time views towards the Story Bridge.  We were welcomed warmly and led to a table which had fabulous views over the river. Our waitress quickly provided us with sparkling water, which was kept filled all night. My cousin and aunt were having plain water; the staff cleverly did not forget for one minute which was which. Gorgeous little wooden rounds were soon on our table, displaying the amuse-bouche. Sadly, I have forgotten what it was exactly, but there was a squid-ink element to the crispy prawn cracker base (?), and I can just say it was delicious!

The beef daube was falling apart with tenderness and was obviously well cooked- but to be honest- the cut of meat was a little too fatty for me.

Mr Consistency. Been here many times over the years. Consistently one of the most professional restaurants in Brisbane. I don't think the menu is life-changingly inspiring, just very solid. I now just order steak. I think this place cooks the best steaks in Brisbane. I use their steak as a benchmark for judging other establishments.

Love my food. Went in with high expectations - they were exceeded. We had seven tasting plates, each one was wonderfully different with incredible flavours. The highlight though (and I don't say this often) was dessert - a fresh, decadent vanilla parfait with mandarin featuring beautifully. Such a treat - would go back any time.

One of Brisbane's best. Service is always immaculate here. Food, top level stuff. Great view of the Brisbane river and a perfect place for a romantic night out.

Waitersfriend recently dined at Matt Moran's new Aria Restaurant in Brisbane. We had heard a lot about it before we went

Not really wowed. Maybe I expected too much of this place but I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the service was great, wine list impressive and entree divine. The $50 main however did nothing for me. I have had nicer and more decadent dishes for far less. Brisbane isn't the market for $50 meals unless it is exceptional, which this wasn't

Aria has a new set menu lunch on offer, with two courses plus wine at $59, or three courses plus wine at $79. For a top quality meal, these are some very, very good prices.

I mean, can you really go wrong with ARIA? Mention “fine dinning” to anyone in Brisbane and ARIA always without fail pops up. It is the quintessential dining experience in Brisbane. What are the secret ingredients to a well-balanced seasonal menu at ARIA? The freshest local and Australian produce, a stellar cellar selection, impeccable service and a passionate team, just to name a few.

Wonderful, flavorful food. We visited Aria for the first time for lunch. The entrees and mains were full of flavour and well presented. However, the dessert (at $23) was a disappointment. A small square of very ordinary caramel slice with a scoop of hazelnut icecream covered in plain popcorn. I was looking forward to seeing what popcorn ganache was but unfortunately I didn't find out. Otherwise a very enjoyable meal with a fantastic view and excellent service.

Pleasant surprise. My partner picked aria without consulting me. i was prepared for an overhyped mediocre meal, but was (very) pleasantly surprised by the very precise balance of flavors and textures. the entrees were the height of the meal, for me, but though the mains were short of excellent, the dessert (and the complimentary petit fours) lifted the dining experience yet again. i will definitely return even if i have to skip a couple of meals to afford it. (yes, it was that good)

Lovely service and a great out look. Having been to Aria on a couple of occasions, I do enjoy this destination and food is always lovely, well presented and staff are always attentive. The wine list is relatively extensive and there are a number of lovely wines by the glass. Great place for a meeting, long lunch or a great dinner for 2.

Excellent dinner. We went out to celebrate our wedding anniversary which falled on a Sunday - firstly I need to thank Aria for being just about the only fine dining restaurant in Brisbane open on a Sunday night!<br/><br/>From the moment we arrived until we left, our host waitress Gemma and the rest of the wait staff were exceptional - friendly and professional to the highest standard. <br/><br/>We chose the 4 course tasting menu with paired wines, all of which was exquisite. By the time you factor in appertisers, breads, petite fours and macarons to go, we had 8 delicious servings to enjoy! I especially loved the Tuna entree. The sommelier was terrific, giving us a description of each wine before it was poured, and every glass was wonderful. <br/><br/>When you book a restaurant with a reputation like Aria you hope it is going to be what you imagine, and for us it really, really delivered.

Wonderful food.... I thoroughly enjoyed dinner at Aria this week. The food was just sensational and the service was perfect. I had the lobster for entree and the barramundi for main (no dessert). My husband had the scallops and the lamb. We also shared the broccoli and truffle mash as sides. Each dish was well cooked,presented and incredibly flavorsome. It was lovely to sit, overlooking the Storey Bridge at night, eating such wonderful food. I know a lot of people are skeptical of the 'celebrity chef' restaurant and its associated prices. While it is certainly not a 'cheap' place to go for dinner, it is really no more expensive than any of the other fine dinning restaurants on Eagle Street Pier or in Brisbane City. I would be more happy to go there again!

Unfortunately I was disappointed when we went to Aria. Had planned it for months and was quite unhappy with the food. When paying the prices that we did I was expecting my steak to be cooked how I asked (medium rare) and when it came out it was almost medium well. When paying over $50 for a meal I expect to get what I ask for, especially since I had heard such good things. Unfortunately we won't be back as many people can't afford $250-$300 per bill each time they go out, and to be disappointed by the end of the night.

Disappointing and over priced souffles. Raspberry souffle was eggy and a disappointment and the staff member executing breaking the top of each one at the table and pouring raspberry sauce on each souffle seemed over the top. <br/>I was expecting more from Matt Moran whose reputation lies on his attention to detail - the staff were friendly but 'hovered' around us which was annoying as were were celebrating an anniversary.

Great location and presentation but a little bland and overpriced. Aria is located in an inner city riverside position with great views at night in a busy restaurant/bar/office precinct. It is well fit out internally with a small funky bar out front with a handful of people in it. It definitely seeks to cater for the higher end dining experience and perhaps that special occasion. However, I found the mood lighting a bit on the dark side and it was surprisingly loud and difficult to hear.<br/><br/>The wine list is excellent, the menu good but somewhat un-adventurous, as in, there's nothing on there that you won't find in most other places. Overall the food is good, but not fantastic. My entree and dessert were very good, as was the wine, but the main course (I had the bass groper) was very bland. My companions had steak which was also rather bland. The service was reasonably good, definitely not bad or maybe we were just having trouble hearing. I might add, I do have excellent hearing but was really struggling a bit. It was a busy Friday night.<br/><br/>In summary it's definitely on the good side of Brisbane dining. What hampers the experience is the price; it is simply too expensive for the quality of food and dining experience. Because of its location and fit out the rent would be crippling so obviously they have to get it back somehow. I'm fine with that but the main courses really need more effort on flavour and perhaps less on presentation to justify the price. And do something about the toilets, they smell bad. Whether they need more regular cleaning or a plumber to check them out - just get it done. After a nice meal in comfortable surrounds you don't want to drop the ball over the line by having stinking toilets. It just makes the bill seem even less enticing.<br/><br/>I'm glad I went, it is good, but probably won't return. There are better options in the CBD for that price range.

Wagyu wagyu wagyu. Best steak my partner has ever eaten and much better than the steak at moo moos or Cha Chas. service was 5 star and best service in Brisbane. Entrees overpriced but mains and dessert reasonable for the quality. scallop entree was delicious and donut dessert was a great finish

Aria was the restaurant chosen for my birthday dinner in Brisbane and it was fabulous in every respect. From the moment we walked in until the moment we left it was a wonderful experience. I had previously dined at Aria Sydney on many occasions so I knew the formula and it was working just fine in Brisvegas too with its great view of the river, wharf and Storey Bridge in the distance. The food was superb, beautifully presented and the service from Jeremiah was outstanding a true service professional and although we did not opt for the tasting menu ( we had earlier had lunch at Goma) it felt like we had a mini version. Sumptuous amuse bouche, some oysters (3 each), a tuna to share then mains of lamb and scotch fillet. The tuna was mouth watering with 2 components, seared and tartare with radish, capers and anchovy mayonnaise, perfectly matched with the Italian Pinot Grigio. Our waiter had also organised for 2 separate plates a nice touch. The main of lamb, a roast rack with grilled neck, peas, shiitake mushrooms and spring garlic went perfectly with the burgundy available by the glass. All the waitstaff were brilliant, the food runners the sommelier, the FOH manager and barman all contributed in making our evening and my birthday, a memorable one.

Overall, Aria was pretty average. The bar area and the drinks menu was good (albeit a bit small and not much ambiance) but the restaurant itself was disappointing. The service wasn't great and that may have been due to it being a busy Saturday night but the main reason for going to Aria ie the food, was a let down. I was expecting so much more particularly for the price. You don't mind paying top dollar if the food is outstanding, but it most certainly wasn't. There's no way I'll be back as there's too any other great places in Brisbane to spend your hard earned cash.

Devine Experience. Overall both the food and service was excellent. The Aria team were more than accommodating for my complex dietary requirements and made every effort to ensure my experience was just as enjoyable as the other diners. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the pumpkin ice-cream and would have happily downed another plate!

I dined here recently and chose the 7 course tasting menu option. I have mixed feelings about my experience. Within the 10 minutes 4 different people came to out table to ask us about out menu choices. However once we got that sorted service was great. The wine expert was fantastic and the wine pairings were great. Only problem I have is that out of the 7 courses only 2 stood out for me, the pork belly and the salmon. The rest were very average and personally I felt it was dated. For the money sadly I didn't feel it lived up to the reputation I have heard so much about.