Review Verve Cafe - Brisbane

Hidden away in the Johnny Ringo upstairs, my top picks were the chicken and mushroom and beef ragu would recommend this place the sauce was so creamy and tasty ! Service was really good and the food came out pretty quickly ! One of my favourite pasta places would recommend 10/10, we will be back !!

This was a back up plan on a recent trip to Brisbane and we were very happy with both the food and service. It is hidden away upstairs at Johnny Gringo’s. Well worth a try if you are after quality well priced Italian. Best endorsement is that we will go back again.

Food was fantastic.. the dining seating area could do with a makeover. You can keep the heritage look but I think you need to maintain its look for it to feel pleasant. Felt dirty to be honest.

Positives were portions were big, prices were reasonable and service was prompt. I know the current venue is only temporary (upstairs in Johnny Ringos) but it felt really dingy and dark, the chairs were uncomfortable plastic chairs, there wasn’t any pictures hanging on the wall, it was just quite a grim location. While I appreciate it’s only temporary, as another reviewer said below it felt ‘dirty’, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to hang a few pictures or put up a few fairy lights or plants to make someone have a bit of character or atmosphere. Food was good but the location was really offputting.

This was a surprise find in the city. It feels like it is hidden away, more exclusive. It has a lovely feel to it. The service was exceptional and the food was amazing. You couldn't ask for much more. We all had a good time and were free to hang around as much as we like. Some places would move you along to fit in the next group. Overall it was a great night.

Amazing food. The pork belly was fantastic. Only reason I have it 4/5 is because the staff that day wasn’t very friendly. She seemed like she wanted us out quickly and wasn’t friendly.

Food was really good. Steak and Crab Linguene was beautiful. The Tasting Platter fresh flavourful. Arincini great. Service was good. The Place is a little run down.

Such a great atmosphere and the cider and food was delicious (I especially recommend the goats cheese gnocchi and the key lime cider - they were both awesome). We tried the cider flight and Adam was absolutely brilliant, he gave us an awesome selection and also gave us a taster of their house-made mulled wine, which tasted like Christmas in a glass. Thanks for the great experience all round, we'll definitely be back!

Given the high reviews for this place, I was a little disappointed. Firstly I wasn't a fan of the atmosphere. Its very loud underground and the red dark lighting strained my eyes a little. The service was amazing 👏 I started with the bruschetta which was absolutely delicious but the bread a little too thin and hard. My main was gnocchi and though the gnocchi itself was beautifully soft, the sauce was so extremely salty (not helped by the huge amount of olives, which I usually love). The flavours were there and I can see why its a popular place, however I think the new Italian, Olive and Angelo, 200m down the road, is a better option.

Cool atmosphere and location. The food was nice and good serving sizes. The chilli garlic bread we had could have been a little lighter in the bread and a focaccia bread may have made it a little fancier. But in all a nice meal.

My first 5 stars for this year. I’ve asked the restaurant manager what do you recommend? he said “Blue Cheese Risotto. It’ll change your life mate”. So I’ve ordered the risotto and it was so awesome, it changed my view on the city. Brisbane is now the place for foodies. Gone are the days of no where nice to dine. In summary, Brisbane now has fantastic restaurants, bars and clubs. Two thumbs up. I give this place the first 5 bears for 2020.

The pasta and pizza was good but the service was very bad. I understand that a busy Friday night can mean service is not as attentive but it’s just not acceptable when it’s rude. I don’t think I will come back again.

Great atmosphere and outstanding food quality!!! Love love love it and will be back again.. also price range is very friendly!! Everyone should visit here if you love<br/>Italian~~

Good variety of interesting pasta which you can’t find in other places -such as chili crab pasta. Tastes good! Will certainly go back again to try other dishes on the menu.

One of the best Italian places in Brisbane. Period.<br/><br/>It’s hidden away ... make sure you don’t actually end up in the theatre next door. But once you find this hole in the wall, and walk in the dim lit basement, you will find Verve.<br/><br/>Lots of good alcoholic beverages on tap which is nice.<br/><br/>But the food was amazing. My girlfriend is so mad because the last time we went... she wanted her spaghetti with meatballs ... but somehow I “Basic Shamed” her and persuaded her to get some other dish??? Moral of the story is despite how good the other food is... they cook a divine Spaghetti with Meatballs that you should not be ashamed of ordering each time you come here (I am not writing this under duress).

Great lively venue with outstanding food. Staff are always chilled and friendly. I just wish I could replicate the gluten free gnocchi at home!

Fantastic selection of food and the food itself was amazing. Generous portion sizes for the price. Biggest selection of ciders. Great atmosphere and staff were very attentive. Very effective and quick service.

Down to earth Italian restaurant tucked away in a cosy basement in the city. Great value for money compared to similar restaurants by the river. They do a lovely goat's cheese gnocchi!

You know the feeling when you go out and almost hurt yourself because the food is soooo good. That is Verve. The service was excellent and the food magnificent. You have to try the Bruschetta. It was as good as we have had since Italy. The mushroom entree was pretty freaking good as well. The Pork Belly was amazing. And to top it off the place was really cool.

Cool joint. Down in the basement. Doesn’t look like much from the outside. Service was quite good. Food was nice. Arrancini balls were a little soft and soggy but still good. Sweet potato chips were also good. Meatball linguine was fresh and the meatballs were moist and flavoursome. Definitely worth going to for a quick meal or pub like feed.

Trendy décor and a live atmosphere in a cozy environment. Personally I found it a bit too loud for my liking but I'm sure it won't be a problem for the majority.<br/><br/>The service was prompt, friendly but without too much pleasantries. The drinks menu offered a nice selection of alcoholic drinks including cider. The braised meatballs were fantastic and a must try. The Beef Ragu Pappadelle as commented by someone earlier was definitely too salty and I would recommend diners to try another pasta. The saltiness made it very difficult to eat the shredded beef as they are completely covered in the sauce. The overall flavor was good but the saltiness was definitely a letdown.<br/><br/>The menu reasonably priced and the portions are decent and I believe a return is well justified.

The menu board at the entrance caught our attention and imagination earlier this year, but tonight was first opportunity to visit. Amazing food, wine, and the waiter provided excellent service. We ordered bruschetta to start; the aroma was stunning and the tastes and textures were as well. Olives and breads also great. But then our main meals came out (chilli crab spaghetti and pescatore tagliatelle). Exquisite. We have decided this is our favourite restaurant. <br/>

I had organized surprise birthday dinner in Verve last night for a group of 6, all of us are first timers in this cosy Italian restaurant. Adam was very helpful and attentive to my request. Overall waiter and waitresses are friendly, efficient and attentive. We are very happy with all of the food we have ordered, just that I find Carbonara Gnocci a bit too salty for my liking. We have ordered Chicken Tortellini, Beef Ragu Papadelle, Pescatore Linguine, Carbonara Gnocci, Roasted Pork Belly and a tomato based Fettucine which I have forgotten the name of the dish. Price wise is pretty allright, portion is decent. They have very unique and artistic paintings on their wall for sale. They also serve wide range of Cider. I tried one of the draught dry cider and it’s pretty good. Thanks Adam and team for the great service and food, would love to be back next to try other food especially pizza.

Service is outstanding.<br/><br/>Food is fast to arrive, authentic, generous and delicious - I had the chilli crab spaghetti and just thinking about it makes my mouth water!<br/><br/>This place has a cool underground vibe and can get a bit loud but is nice for somewhere different to go and you want to feel like you're not in the middle of the city.

3 gluten free diners and one who also had a dairy intolerance and they made such an effort! So much choice and the kitchen was very accommodating. Food was fantastic and the service was excellent. We will be back for sure!

The service was friendly and very efficient but I didn't really like the dark ambience or the hard orange seats.  I ordered the beef papardelle and found it over salted. I will not recommend this restaurant to others.

The Garlic Loaf is fantastic and I highly reccomend the Meat Balls Linguini. A little dissappointed they wouldnt allow changes to the pizzas and makes me wonder if they are pre prepared! Overall great vibe and excellent food.

I created a Zomato account purely to take a massive dump on this restaurant. Booked a table for Friday night because it would allow me to get a seat at a busy time - Wrong. As soon as we arrived, the host/head waiter/maitre d' (??) - larger guy asked us how many our table was for. I replied that I had for a reservation for 3 under ***** name. He then told us to go to the bar and he would find us when a table was available.<br/>30 minutes later and we still weren't seated - Even though I received a reply by email saying my booking was confirmed. After 40 minutes, we decided to eat elsewhere, as we were starving. <br/>As we were about to leave, I asked the larger guy how long it would be to wait for a table and he gave a snarky reply and told me to look around and see how busy they were.<br/>Don't take damn reservations if you aren't going to even have a booking sheet present during your service.<br/>From one hospitality worker to another - The head waiter guy should find another job that doesn't involve communicating with other humans. Maybe he would be better suited to toilet cleaning or grave digging.

Great find for a great meal. A bit noisy but this can’t be helped I don’t think given the space. <br/><br/>Great service and food. A gem of Brisbane dining for sure.

A Beautiful dining experience! Fresh Pasta, fantastic service and a great atmosphere...I highly recommend the "Bread Platter ($5/person for 4 people)" absolutely Delish. I had the Pork Belly Linguine and it was Devine! Tried my friends Spicy Chorizo Gnocchi and Gnocchi Carbonara...Wow! I can't recommend this place more highly...YUM! @

Updated review (September, 2019): Rating of 3.5 if it was possible. Went here for walk-in dinner with the partner.<br/>We ordered the specials of the night including (i) chicken, lime and pistachio linguine ($25.90) and (ii) sicilian styled pan roasted barramundi ($32.90). Both dishes were faultless - good homely flavours, pasta al dente, good portions.<br/>Casual ambience - dimly lit, however too cramped (one way shuffle between tables and chairs; several times did chairs pulled out into me as I was walking past, or elbows knocking as people walked past) and too loud (needed to shout at my partner to hear him, and could easily hear other conversations around you). Reasonable service (albeit there was some confusion about our table number). Reasonable prices for portions of food.<br/>Overall, yes for the food but a definite NO for the ambience.<br/><br/>May 2017: Went here for a late lunch with a friend.<br/>We ordered the trio of dips as a shared starter. Lovely flavours of dips, and plenty of toasty crackers - this could have easily been shared amongst 3-4 people in the end. For mains, I had the spicy chorizo gnocci. The gnocci was well-cooked with a nice bite to its texture. There was plenty if scrumptious sauce (not too spicy) and chorizo within the plate.<br/>Reasonable prices for very good portions of food. Staff were very friendly and efficient.<br/>Will go back to try their other scrumptious-sounding Italian dishes.

We read this was one of the must visit casual dining restaurants in Brisbane so we booked a table on the day, no problems. When we arrived at the entrance I was having second thoughts, it looks a bit like a rough old pub, we had our 9 week bub in tow. We took a deep breath and plunged on into the dark underground. Dimly lit, moderately loud 80s classics, spacious, arty pictures, raw brick, huge wooden Floor beams above. Relaxed, friendly and very helpful waitress. Huge, informative cider menu, we ordered mushroom risotto ($19) and the special, crispy skin Sicilian barramundi ($27.90), the wait was pleasingly short. The flavours were stunning, particularly the fish. We finished off by "sharing" a brownie, once again there was very little delay and it was yum. My wife is currently eating it all, I'd better wrap up this review!

Been a while since visiting Verve. Not sure why and it won’t be so long till the next visit. Took some USA friends along, they raved! <br/>Busy Saturday night but Shane and Team, as usual, handled the crowd with professional ease. <br/>Doug M

Not sure why this place is so highly rated on Zomato. My group left quite disappointed. For starters, the service was all over the place. The waitress came to our table twice with food that wasn't ours and for the third time she came with Arancini balls (which we didn't order). Told her we didn't order them, she left and then came back with them and told us to just have them. They were actually the best part of our meal. We got the carbonara gnocchi, chilli crab spaghetti and meat balls linguine. Gnocchi tasted like uncooked and flavourless thickened cream. The chilli crab dish was below average. Not enough crab or chilli. Just lacked flavour. The meat balls linguine was average too. Very acidic. I do give them credit for the generous portions but the quality/flavour was just not there. Other than that, the venue itself has a very New York City vibe, underground, red/dark colours.

I decided to come here on Saturday with my boyfriend after reading some Zomato reviews.<br/><br/>The food here is seriously tasty! I ordered the brandy tomato tortellini, the flavours in the sauce were so rich and tasty. The tortellini is self was nice also. <br/><br/>The only down side was we had to wait quite a while for our food, but it's busy Saturday night so I guess that's to be expected. <br/><br/>The ambience in the restaurant was pretty causal, and there was lots of interesting art works for sale on the wall. <br/><br/>All and all really tasty food, and friendly service.

We have been coming since inception by Brett Munro thirty years ago and then Shane for the last 17. Fantastic as usual today. Resurrected the shaved cuttlefish linguini fantastic.<br/>Garlicy chili and al dente pasta. Intimate yet busy and friendly and what a cafe should be.

Great food! Great drinks! Very New York style underground hidden gem. Can be very noisy though. Love the risotto and pizzas. Only serve pizzas 2-5 so no late lunches

Dine mid week in a fairly empty restaurant but one group made the place extremely loud. Service was good but both my partner and I thought a gnocchi were over cooked. Will be back to try some other dishes as I have only heard good things from friends.

Not one for the claustrophobes. But I've always enjoyed the dank basement darkness of it...because that's how I mole. <br/><br/>Lunch choices today were: <br/>▪️truffled mushroom risotto;<br/>▪️scallop & bacon risotto;<br/>▪️spicy chorizo gnocchi;<br/>with complimentary warm bread to start (nice touch).<br/><br/>These dishes were great comfort food: shroomy truffle goodness in my risotto & tender scallops in the other - both a beautiful creamy consistency & served piping hot. The gnocchi lived up to its spicy description.<br/><br/>Sadly pizzas are temporarily off the menu due to a kitchen expansion & will be back in about a month. But calm the farm, there's still plenty of options in the meantime.<br/><br/>Staff are unfailingly jovial and service is friendly & efficient.<br/><br/>If you're after a fun casual Italian meal, feed your nocturnal soul & venture down the stairs. You'll like it, I swear.

One of my top 3 favourite restaurants... have always had an awesome night here. It does get a bit loud down there and there is definitely no lack of good atmosphere.<br/>Value: 5/5 ($20 avg main, bottle of house red as cheap as $22 which actually tastes pretty good)<br/>Service: 5/5<br/>Food: 5/5 (blue cheese risotto kicks ass)<br/>Ambience: 5/5 (underground cellar feel, which is loud and a lot of fun with big groups)

Delicious food (I throughly recommend the prawn pizza to those who are inclined towards such a dish. It was utterly incredible!), great dining atmosphere for a casual social get together. Fair prices and friendly staff. A satisfactory wait time on our meals too. Very happy with the experience on the whole.

Loved it! The staff was very friendly and the food was amazing! Fast service and reasanoble prices.<br/>The restaurant itself was a little bit dark, some candles would have been nice.

I've been here a number of times and have always loved the food and cider/beer menu. The service is excellent and while it's always a bit noisy because of how popular it is the food and drinks never disappoint. This time I had a 1/2 1/2 pizza, one of which was spicy bacon and the other Margarita style. Both were delicious but the Margarita was the best one I'd ever had with melted boccocini and fresh tomatoes, basil and more. The arancini balls for an entree were great and previously the trio dips were excellent. It's great to find a good Italian place and verve hasn't disappointed my partner and I yet. Highly recommended!

I have been here a number of times now and everytime the food has been delicious and fresh. The beers and ciders are on another level. You must try moose drool brown ale. Can be a little bit loud but great atmosphere and service.

Customer service was excellent! Friendly and lively staff! The food was also amazing! Would definitely recommend. Will be back again for sure :)

In all the years I've visited Metro Arts, I had absolutely no idea that there was a restaurant tucked away beneath the theatre. Entry to the restaurant is just inside the foyer of the Metro Arts building and Verve immediately transports the guest to a basement bar worthy of the Melbourne underground food scene. Think exposed brick walls, concrete floors, work from local artists on display for purchase, and an effortlessly cool vibe.<br/><br/>This place was apparently Brisbane's first underground bar and they proudly claim to have the largest underground range of cider in Australia. They're not wrong - the cider list is huge! I'm not a huge fan of fizzy, carbonated drinks but I was pretty tempted by some of the sweeter cider options available. Husband splashed out on one of his favourites - Royal Jamaican Ginger Beer. Full-bodied ginger flavour and super more-ish. I ended up sticking to my comfort zone with a lovely Pinot Grigio. <br/><br/>As we were celebrating a friend's birthday, the group decided we'd share a plate of the mixed olives with lemon, garlic, rosemary & vodka marinade - OMG these are amazing! The marinade and flavour were fabulous, great balance with the acidity and sweetness. I had to pass the plate as far away from me as possible or I would have scoffed them all. Delicious way to start the meal.<br/><br/>For main, I ordered the beef ragu pappardelle. This was quite a large portion size for me. The beef was tender and yum, the sauce was tasty and coated the pasta well, and the pappardelle was cooked beautifully. I found the sticky balsamic drizzle a bit out of place, but it did lend a little extra sweetness to the dish. <br/><br/>While I really enjoyed the underground vibe that Verve has, its biggest set-back was the noise. We were admittedly one of two large groups of diners but the combination of conversation, music, metal chairs, exposed brick walls and concrete flooring was pretty deafening. No one likes to spend an evening yelling across the table. <br/><br/>The service was friendly, however a little haphazard. Again, lots of yelling and reaching across tables to serve drinks and food. Most of the food came at the same time, however there was a delay with a few of the plates. <br/><br/>All in all, good food with good company. I'm tempted by some of the other menu options so would give Verve another visit in the future.

Finally made it here! Great entree platter with flexible helpful amendments for children. Superb beef cheeks, pork belly linguine, caesar salad. Broad wine, beer and cider menu, and fine desserts. Love the art on the walls, and the relaxed efficiency of the staff, particularly Grace. <br/><br/>See you again soon Verve.

Great food! Reasonable prices. Portion sizes are correct! All in all...this place does a great job. <br/>Tasty food and many options done at a reasonable price. Truffle mushroom pizza;)

One of my favourite spots for dinner with a chilled beverage. Service has always been good, the wine list is substantial for a small venue and the meals are very high quality and on point for serving size vs cost. <br/><br/>I commonly recommend Verve to friends and colleagues whom are visiting the cbd and looking for a place that's different to the norm.

Wandering down the staircase from street level to Verve transforms the bustling modem city scape into what feels like a hidden underground club. The low light levels, exposed pipes and brickwork gives an element of industrial grunge yet still feeling comfortable and cosy. Immediately I was approached and seated by the friendly, humorous and slightly overexcited staff. Seating is an arrangement of tables with orange plastic chairs which further add to the vibe. Closer to the bar are some high tables with stools.

I passed by Verve today & noticed before the red door there was a cute coffee bar. So in I went for my coffee hit. Only coast me $3.2 for a flat white & it was quite good, pretty good on strength too. Oh almost forgot to mention that great painting on the ceiling so don't forget to look up!!

Verve has always been there, tucked away behind that bright red rustic door. So you might miss it if you don't look carefully for it but when you do open the door, you are taken into an underground restaurant with dim lights so when you do try and take pictures, you might just need extra help with your phone's flashlight. Dishing up different types and interesting combinations of pastas and pizzas, everyone's tastebuds will be fixed upon their menu. If you would just like a drink or two and nibble on some snacks or even just have a dessert, then do come down and try it here.. You might just be surprised.

Excellent service. The people are friendly and genuine. The pasta was delicious! The the chicken fettuccine which was great and my cousin had the scallop linguini which was even better! Definitely coming back to try more dishes.

I've always liked this place. For the last five years or so, the food has been consistently good except for the last time I ate there; I got the chicken fettuccine which I thought could have been better, it was a little watery and the sauce looked a little grey. In saying that, the pasta and risotto dishes are usually flawless, the pizza is good too but there is better out there in my opinion. The staff here are always friendly and warm and the service is quite good considering how busy they can be. I would  recommend the meatballs linguine and pancetta and mushroom risotto.

Was excited to try Verve after reading all the great reviews but was left feeling quite disappointed after trying it last night (a tuesday night). My boyfriend ordered the Scallop Linguine while I ordered the Pancetta & Mushroom Risotto. Firstly, the scallops in the linguine were not fresh. They were tiny little scallops around the size of 5c coins, and although there was a lot of them, it did not make up for the fact that they tasted like they were cooked from frozen. The rest of the meal was oily and the only flavour I could taste was from the bacon. The mushroom risotto was better, but a bit too salty for my liking. Also got a bit sick of it halfway through. <br/>Service was efficient and food came out quickly.

Every dish was complete. Like nothing was missing. We ordered artichoke pizza and that was probably the best veg pizza we had it in Brisbane. I got one pork belly linguini and it was cooked with perfection. The best part was that they served us free garlic bread for the entree. It may not be a very expensive one to boast about, but definitely a very friendly gesture. If you want to go for a fine dining with a beautiful view than its not the place, but if you wanna have quality food, definitely stop by.

Amazing food...the chef was kind enough to do a ratatouille for me, which was brilliant. Writing the review as I am enjoying the leftovers for lunch.<br/><br/>The  servers were great, very helpful and friendly..also dropped by to check on me a couple of times, even though they were very busy.<br/><br/>Taking away 0.5 for the chairs, which were a bit uncomfortable.

With an international visitor in town, on a cold winter night and feeling the need for some good italian, I did a quick search on Zomato and Verve came up with a great rating. A quick phone call and they were happy to find us a table in a couple of hours - all good!<br/><br/>Firstly I have to say I absolutely loved the Melbournesque feel of the place (anyone who reads my reviews, knows that Melbourne is my spiritual home) so in an old building, down the stairs to the cellar to find a warm and welcoming restaurant, about half full on a Tuesday night.  Seated with a smile, water to the table quick smart and shortly followed by the waitress to take our drink orders - a couple of nice bottles of Shiraz.<br/><br/>Then it was down the serious issue of menu choice.  We shared between five of us the trio of dips, chilli cheese pan and herb bread - this was way too much and we struggled to fit it all in.  The dips were delicious served with warm pita bread, the herb bread was spectacular with a great herby crusty topping and such a generous serve.  Then there was the chilli cheese pan - this was seriously spicy - almost on the side of being too spicy, but we enjoyed it washed down with water/wine and I would most likely order it again.<br/><br/>For mains we variously went with the chicken fettucini, pork belly linguini, calamari, pork belly main and I had the goats cheese and chicken gnocchi.  All of us absolutely loved our mains - my gnocchi was superb, plenty of chicken, mushroom and pumpkin and the most creamy and comforting goats cheese sauce.  The gnocchi itself - perfect - not too stodgy, but rather light and very filling.  I also tasted hubby's linguini and it was amazing, he was blown away with how good it was - he's not the greatest lover of pasta dishes - so that's a huge compliment.<br/><br/>Our other guests also enjoyed their meals and whilst we we were all filling up fast, I don't think anything was left over.  And to top it all we managed to share the two deserts on the menu - a decadent brownie and a truly fabulous sticky date pudding.  We all managed a spoon or two each and I think there was one bite of brownie left on the plate that none of us could tackle, we were so full.<br/><br/>So a great find - I loved it and it has now been added to my list of great places to go when you need some good comfort food.

Excellent food and customer service. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner. The food arrived quickly and it was tasteful and nicely done. The staff were very pleasant and they made sure everyone had a nice evening. Will be back again.

Yum! Tasty Italian food? Yes please! This place never dissapoints. Fresh, delicious food and a lovely ambience to enjoy a meal with friends. The only thing is my friends and I once made the mistake of eating here before a night out. Don't do this as after eating here you will be in a food comma and dancing will be the last thing you want to do. Also the toilets are a bit creepy. There up some rickety stairs out the back of the reasturant which freaked us out a bit but that's just me being picky! Overall great food, wonderful atmosphere and can't wait to go back!

Excellent value for money - large portions and delicious food. The garlic pizza bread makes for a good entree and the chips are an excellent accompaniment. We usually stick to the pasta dishes but the pizzas look fantastic as well

I don't usually think of cider and Italian/pizza going together, but it works at Verve.  I've been here for lunch and dinner a couple times and everyone has come away pleased on each occasion.  We have a few vegetarians in our close circle of friends and Verve is an easy yes from everyone.  I particularly like the Camembert & Chicken Risotto.  My wife enjoys the cider!  The stairs can be a bit challenging...

As many diners will likely expect, Verve, like every other edgy below ground restaurant, has a rustic layout with exposed beams and walls, and a low ceiling. However, it's open floor plan and basement-esque construction mean that the restaurant is very prone to noise. Service was prompt and polite and our table water was topped up three times which, as an avid water drinker, was a nice touch. Our table ordered the blue cheese chicken risotto which appeared too runny for a risotto and, despite not being finished, left me feeling a bit ill. We also ordered pizzas which were adequate though unmemorable. The mushroom pizza was an exception that, despite our expectations and its boastful namesake, bore what appeared to be just a single heavily-sliced mushroom. This struck me as both odd and ironic given the pizza's theme and the relative price of mushrooms. Although overall pleasing and worth a passing casual visit, Verve is mostly unremarkable. For most patrons, it is likely doomed to becoming a faint memory able to stir up only the vaguest recollections of indifference.

Not what it used to be. Too brightly lit. No funky music or ambience. Wait staff were prompt but abrupt. Food was fine. Charged $5 for a glass of soda. Terrible art on the walls. I used to love it here and have been going for 15 years but I think last night will be the last time I'll bother.

Nice place for gathering/ dating. Pasta is definitely worth a try. Seafood is delicious/fresh. Nice alcohol/ beer choice. Good service. Would recommend

Working in a large office invariably means that corporate lunches are a frequent occurrence. My readers would know that we've had a recent obsession with gastro pub style restaurants, due to their variety and proximity. However, on this instance, we decided to try something else, and a colleague recommended Italian, and after much research, we opted for Verve Cafe Bar, along Edward Street in the CBD.

I love Verve, tasty and reasonably priced food. Try the croquettes of the day, last Friday they were pulled pork, they were fantastic. I had the meatball linguine, sauce was delicious but the meatballs didn't seem to have enough binding them together and fell apart.

Really good service here and very friendly staff. Very accommodating of our group. I had Beer Battered Fries, Garlic Pan, Pork Belly, and Affogato. Food was delicious and had lots of flavour. Very reasonable prices and portions are generous.

Gosh golly, that blue cheese risotto is the bees knees! Seriously, some craft beer and that amazing risotto will make anyone's dreams come true. What a feed. A bit more ambience in the place and Verve is unstoppable.

Couldnt fault a thing...the service, atmosphere, music, temperature was all great....oh and the food was amazing! The goats cheese and chicken gnocchi was delicious and very well priced! I will definitely be back with a big group so we can share and try lots more foods!

One of my favourite places to grab some pasta and by one of the best i mean top of the list. I brought a dish with gnocchi but could not keep of my friends plate. Staff are all so friendly and the place has a lovely environment but you better be quick because the place is always filled with customers.

Have been here a few times with family and friends, amazing food! Generous portion sizes, so come hungry! Extensive cider menu. Only complaints are the toilet location, can get really hot and noisy down in the restaurant in summer. Other than that, great food and drinks! Wouldn't hesitate going back.

First time trying Verve last night. Recommended by a friend who dined with us. Couldn't fault service or quality. <br/>We had the special pizza which was great, the special pasta which was also great and three starters. The calamari was amazing and the dips and olives were tasty. <br/>Large range of drinks (especially cider) to choose from. <br/>Definitely recommend. Great casual place underground!

I've only been here once and had the creamy sauce ravioli with chicken. The food was delicious and the potions were large. The sauce was a little bit too saulty but I enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend this place for well priced hearty meals!

Very friendly, clean, hassle free, one of the best coffee I've ever had , fresh home and handmade pasta comma free focaccia to start with and free nice entree little cup of pumpkin soup.

Verve has great potential. The location is great, the underground warehouse-y feel is great; but the styling and decor is equally as disappointing as the atmosphere. Myself and two friends went here on a Saturday night, we were seated in an area with a low ceiling with a number of other people. The noise echoed and was amplified and we could not hear each other to the point we requested to be moved. The orange plastic chairs and cheap pub tables added to the cheap vibe first felt by the poor choice in art work. The restaurant is located beneath an art studio/theatre and you would expect that to be inspiration enough. We shared three pizzas that were quite nice but let down by the watered down tap cider. The staff don't wear a uniform and this, though potentially groovy, made it difficult to distinguish between waitstaff and patrons. <br/>The toilet location is also very inconvenient and dirty. All in all; very disappointed and would only recommend take-away.

I have been here multiple times and each time I have loved it! The service is friendly and accommodating to big groups as well as couples. The calamari at this place is pretty amazing, one of the best I have tried in Brisbane. Prices are slightly high but well worth it for the great flavours, I'd definitely recommend the pizzas and beer battered chips! Would return- but it is quite pricy

The menu reads really well & defiantly comes through! However it's over priced for what you get. Service is always average if you're lucky enough to get it.

FOOD = 4.0<br/>SERVICE =3 5<br/>FOOD CONSISTENCY = 4.5<br/>CLEANLINESS= 5.0<br/>Good food.<br/>Great deserts.<br/>Lots of options and desert is great. Book ahead Friday to Sunday.

Great service, great place and great food. Held a birthday party here and the staff helped a lot. I had the snapper and crab risotto, really tasty and as one appetiser get the squid, so good.

Great venue and friendly staff. The food was amazing, nothing to fault. We were told the blue cheese was risotto was amazing and it lived up to the hype. The chicken and goats cheese gnocchi was perfectly made. Garlic bread was a great starter. The only negative was the drink prices. A little dear for house wine. Otherwise a marvellous night out for dinner. We will definitely be back

Tried Verve for the first time and boy was I blown away. Loved the funky set up they have going (so underground) but the food was to die for. Love having a large choice for cider too which you don't get a lot elsewhere.

This place is my love, if i crave for italian food, and a drink, this is the must go if i am in the CBD. but since the very first time i had the blue cheese risotto, i am kind of cling to it EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Verve Restaurant, Bar and Cider House in Brisbane's Central Business District has been one of the most popular places for a meal for many years, and continues to be doing so. Maybe it is the food, or if there is something in the air of it. Whatever it is, there is definitely a draw to it and I knew I would eventually see myself here reviewing it. Lots of places I don't exactly see why they have their reputation, but this is one in which it is well deserved and apparent. <br/><br/>I was meeting a friend of mine in the city during the mid-week lunch rush, just for the usual catching up. After meeting with her, there was about a minute of aimless wandering done with the usual back-and-forth of asking "what do you feel like for lunch"? For once, she didn't really have anywhere in mind and it was up to me to think of somewhere. What was just so happening, was that the wandering got us half way to here, with the sign in view; therefore, I suggested maybe some Italian could do well. When someone has been working in the city for long enough - really been employed long term - it seems more or less this gains its reputation. With my friend, it was no different and she thought yes. <br/><br/>One of Verve's strengths comes from its uniqueness both in terms of location, and in terms of aesthetic. That term is easy to overuse, but for once it is really the only way to truly describe it. This is right in the heart of town, within the basement of the Metro Arts building. From a street view, it gives a few clues that it is inside - one sign that juts out into view of sidewalk pedestrians and several other signs describing the day's specials and a general menu. If that entices you, just walk in the door and head for the stairs going down into the basement . This is another place that gets the rare trifecta of great food, atmosphere and aesthetics all done really well. <br/><br/>It is hard to get two types of aesthetics and atmospheres done right together, much less be able to fuse them simultaneously, but by golly have they managed to do it right here. The seating has the casual red chairs often associated with lower-end Italian eateries, and you have the contrasting design of the exposed brick walls matched with modern art decorations adorning the wall all around the perimeter of the eatery. <br/>You simply could not have the time to list all of the quirky details found in each nook and cranny.  <br/><br/>You could definitely go there on a romantic night, and it would certainly be one of the best places for a first date (it has that low light that some find intimate). It is also a place that has one of the most relaxed atmospheres in Brisbane, like actually being relaxed. You can get the vibe to just stay here a while and take your time eating (and/or drinking) your order due to its low key nature. To get that desired drink order of yours, they have a big bar right at the end of the restaurant for which you can travel to between times. <br/><br/>Rounding it all up is the service. With such a warm cosy atmosphere to the place, it would only make sense for the service to be warm and welcoming. That perfectly describes the service that the two of us had here; the way he spoke to us you could imagine that we went to that place of a semi-frequent to frequent basis. It doesn't just end with the waiter being pleasant, he is also really capable at his job. In case you missed the day's specials from when you decided to walk in the door, he can rattle them off easily at the top of his head. It probably depends on how busy the place is (and it can get really packed, deservedly so) but it was somewhat sparse at this time, so the food was delivered in a timely manner. <br/><br/>Verve's menu is fairly to the point. It is mostly Italian in influence, but not a big shining example of the cuisine as a whole - many of the choices are merely inspired and go the more experimental route. Instead, you have the selection of pastas and risottos and a modest selection of pizza. There is a small selection of the bigger, meat-based meals as well, and salads. However, most of the rest of the menu is dedicated to a tapas style dining, of various snacks to share. As well as that, they have a big drinks menu of many wines and ciders and a good value banquet deal. They have caught onto their popularity in a really astute manner. Going to another strength with Verve, you are guaranteed to be given a generous serve. <br/><br/>Starting off, it was the drink orders. By now, it is apparent what I order: this is an Italian place, they do coffee, and even so I go for coffee anyways - doppio! Presumably, the coffee is made by Di Bella - the same beans in which they use for the espresso bar in the foyer. The coffee here was done absolutely correctly. It was hot, quite strong and had a range of sweet, fruity notes to its taste. It came with a small cookie on the side, which was a good touch. This was a sweet, caramel flavoured shortbread. <br/><br/>Going for the main order, I went with a risotto. Looking through the menu, which again, it is hard to know what to order, thus I looked for a small while about what looked the best. In the end, it was seafood that won out and I ordered a sand crab and snapper risotto. And as for the glue that ultimately sticks a place together, the food was phenomenal. Risotto is one dish that is hard to make well, much less perfect. Seafood as well, is a difficult food to cook well as it has a lower margin of error for cooking. Combine these two, and you have a tough act to follow. They managed to do really well. This dish was a fantastic mixture of roma tomato being mixed with cream, lemon and parmesan cheese, and it had quite an amount of seafood in it - tender, sweet, succulent seafood. The rice was very hot, molded into a good, cheesy mixture and infused with the flavours of the aforementioned ingredients. This is how you make a risotto - through honesty. <br/><br/>On the side, I sneaked in an order of beer battered fries (one of my friend's weaknesses) to share. Even though this was a side order (.....okay, it was listed as a starter) even between two people it was a fairly generous serve. These beauties were served with sides of aioli, and tomato chutney, then drizzled with a glaze of balsamic syrup. I was a bit in different to the tomato chutney - it was a bit watery for being a dip - and aoili is always a good choice, however with the balsamic drizzle over the fries I reckon that the two sauces are unneeded. The balsamic adds its unique flavour to the fries, which in themselves were cooked perfectly. They were really hot, crispy and well seasoned.<br/><br/>There's a very good reason as to why Verve has continuously been held in the same regard that is has over all of the years. Few people would consider eating in a basement on an inherent basis, but with the way it has been prettied and spruced up it is almost like you would not want to leave. If you live in Brisbane and somehow have not gotten to this place, stop what you are doing right now and make time to head there (or if you are a tourist, this is one of the highlights of the city). Let your time there speak for itself.

Amazing food and huge portions! They are always really busy but you never wait long for your food and the service is great! Will be back! :)

Awesome underground restaurant. Partner and I went on a busy Thursday night and the waitstaff were attentive. Drinks were really fast and the food we could not fault. I'm usually very picky about venues from working in the industry but even the manager was friendly and helpful. I had the spicy chorizo gnocchi and my partner had the pork belly.

Decent Italian food. Great atmosphere and interior. They probs have the coolest location for their toilets. The price is a bit above average but then it isn't too expensive. Good customer service.

A pretty cool little underground restaurant and bar. Great selection of drinks and the pizza is awesome. Would happily have it again or try some pasta next time. Highly recommended if you're looking for something a little different. <br/>

Amazing food, whether it's pasta or pizza! Starters and ciders (plenty to choose from) are really good s well. However, the atmosphere is not so great, too dark and too loud for my liking! Plus, chairs and tables are not too comfortable, they'd be suited at caffe rather than a restaurant. <br/>

Interesting atmosphere (quite dark) and would be great for events like birthdays.. Except not so great for events like business lunches. Food here was okay, quite average. Paid nearly $20 for a salad. Had questions for the waiters but they don't even seem to know their menu. Not sure if we would be running back here, but maybe every once now and then!

Great CBD restaurant. I had a birthday celebration with friends and family from out of town recently and I couldn't of been more happy with the service and quality of the food we we're served at Verve. The food came out quick and was absolutely delicious! Plus we had an extremely charming and handsome young waiter which definitely made the birthday girls night!

Absolutely delicious. Quick service. Risotto's were to die for. Yum yum yum.

This place is AMAZING. I've been here just twice so far but holy hell it's awesome! The best Gnocchi I've ever had and the Blue Cheese Risotto is perfect!<br/>Great service, food and atmosphere. Thank you Verve!

Swerve into Verve for delicious serves of Risotto. Hidden in a uber dark and dingy basement, it is surprising that a bar like this would serve Italian meals, such as Pastas, risottos and pizzas. The Sand Crab & Snapper Risotto ($22.90) was deliciously cooked in a rich zesty creamy sauce with diced roma tomato, thyme and parmesan. With generous serves of crab and snapper, it was certainly deliciously memorable. Sand Crab & Snapper Risotto ($22.90) The Pescatore Linguini ($22.90) with scallops, prawns, roasted bell pepper, olive and fresh basil was significantly less enjoyable. There was too much olive oil which overpowered the flavours of the seafood, yet the linguini still felt sauce-less and dry. But keep in mind that I really dislike olives so that is probably why I didn't like it much.  Scallops were abundant but they were teenier than 5c pieces. Pescatore Linguini ($22.90) Verve also offers a limited selection of desserts: Nothing beats a Warm Chocolate Brownie with Peanut Butter Ice-Cream ($8) so that is what we ordered. The separate elements, when eaten on their own, tasted delicious - the brownie was fairly chocolatey and I liked the subtle flavours of the peanut butter ice-cream. However, the tart raspberry sauce clashed badly with the peanut butter ice-cream and the combination of flavours was super weird. Let's just say the Epic Brownie from Jamie's Italian was a lot more satisfying. Warm Chocolate Brownie with Peanut Butter Ice-Cream ($8) Verdict While it's not the best Italian food available in Brisbane, it's definitely worth a try. I like the dim ambience - it's friendly, casual and not pretentious. It's always super popular so make sure you book before you swerve by.

Finally we found amazing Italian in Brisbane. My husband and I dined at Verve on Sat 21 March for the first time. We loved it. The service was fantastic. The wait staff are very attentive and helpful. We ordered for starters the bruschetta and chilli cheese pan, wow the flavours were amazing very yummy. For mains we ordered the pancetta and mushroom risotto and bavon lovers pizza with added salami. My risotto was a large portion and as much as I wanted to I was unable to finish it (probably because i ate the starter) very flavoursome and with the squeeze from that lemon wedge that accompanies it made it enhanced the flavours even more. My husband is a massive pizza fan and big critic. He said it was the best pizza he has ever ordered from anywhere. The base was perfect and whilst there are lots of flavoursome toppings it doesn't feel heavy. So good. We'll be back for sure this time I will make sure I'm starving so I try the chocolate brownie with peanut butter ice cream. Thank you Verve for a wonderful evening!

Verve Restaurant. Our group of 14 went to Verve on Saturday night and I must say (and everyone agreed) it was fabulous! Amazing funky place with an awesome atmosphere, incredibly friendly staff, but most of all absolutely amazing food! Such reasonable prices including bar prices. The Pork Belly Risotto was definitely a favourite! Will be returning again! (Only 2 little downfalls, the hike to the toilets and not enough bar staff - but that can be forgiven!)

Believe the ratings ...... We went here purely based on the ratings, and weren't disappointed. This is a great pasta/pzza/salad venue. It's dark and grungy and reminds me a bit of inner Sydney (which isn't a bad thing). Three things to look out for. 1. Get a seat in the middle towards the front. The back areas are a bit like a cellar, and very cramped. 2. If you order their fiery pizza, it's really not as hot as you may think. Let them know and they'll give you some extra chilli 3. Their extra chilli is blow-your-head-off rated and will have you gasping for breath. Other than that, several visits in, and one of my favourite CBD venues!

Spicy Chorizo Pasta. The Tomato flavour was too overpowering for me to enjoy this dish

The best eye fillet in brisbane by far. Delicious!

Skip the restaurant - true cider to be found. Head straight for the bar at the back and strike up a conversation with the friendly bar staff. They know their ciders. None of this commercial "cider" rubbish that's flooding the market. Give your tastebuds a wake up call.

Decided to try out Verve after reading the great reviews and I wasn't disappointed. The restaurant itself has a very cool basement vibe and the staff were really friendly and helpful. The food was delicious, I had the stuffed mushroom salad and I must say it was one of the tastiest dishes I've had in a long time. We also tried the chicken and Camembert risotto and the sticky date dessert and it was all flawless. And to top it off it was very reasonably priced, we'll definitely be back.

Don't judge on the decor. Excellent Food!!!. Walk down into the basement and don't be afraid. It looks pretty rugged with the eclectic art and graffiti décor. Opened with garlic and mozzarella pan. Their take on cheesy garlic bread in a pizza form. I ordered the spicy chorizo gnocchi. The sauce was similar to an arabiatta. Flavorful and hot but in a good way. Not so spicy that it was uncomfortable to eat. Gnocchi were good as well. My date ordered the pancetta and mushroom risotto which was again very tasty and not at all gooey. The herbs were all fresh in the dishes and balanced perfectly.

Good. Ate here at the weekend all very tasty and enjoyable

Surprisingly good. Attended on a saturday night with four picky diners including two proud italians and we were all completely blown away! We ordered the special prosciutto pizza, the goats cheese and chicken gnocchi and the pork belly and they were all sensational! Couldn't get enough so we ordered desserts all round. On top of that, killer cider menu- only thing I could say is perhaps more variety of ciders on tap. Will be back!

The service is sensational the food is unbelievably consistent I've been there tonnes of times and never ever had a bad meal it's the bomb!

Fantastic. We ate here on sat night with our 2 kids(5 & 7) and had a fantastic time. Great staff, perfect mix of great food and good vibe. Felt comfortable here with kids and staff went out of their way to provide kid friendly options. The kids enjoyed the interesting trek to the toilets, all part of the city experience we were aiming to find! Would come here again and recommend to friends.

The place is nice, but the food is average.

We had a great late lunch on Monday. First time here. The decor is vibrant but set to mood. Lighting, art and bare brick walls were pleasing. The young women who was our host was polite and sweet. I had a chicken fettuccini. It was lovely and creamy but not over powering. My partner had a scallop and prawn linguini, the flavours were tasty but the seafood was a bit over cooked. We shared a bottle of $14 wine that tasted more like $30 and had a amaro Montenegro digestive afterwards that was a great finish. Will be back again!

Food always good... I see what someone else has written about staff avoiding eye contact.. so true.. we always go to verve but the service is always a bit haphazard. like they dont have enough staff and everyone is running around. However the food is ALWAYS great. and the peanut butter ice cream is to die for!

Nice and busy on a Monday night in the cellar. Decent food, pleasant experience

Verve Restaurant and Cider House is amazing!!! We walked in on a Tuesday night thinking it would be easy to get a table, we were wrong! However, the staff quickly found us a spot to sit, which was lovely. The Risotto's are amazing and the food came quickly. I found the only downside of the place was that it gets really noisy.

Terrible service and mediocre food. I want to make this short because I'm still fuming and could write an essay about how terrible last night's experience at Verve was.... <br/><br/>7:35pm..... Arrived at Verve and wait to be seated (had a phone booking for 7:30pm).<br/>7:50pm..... After numerous staff walking past us avoiding eye contact, we joined the line of customers waiting to pay.<br/>8:10pm..... Get to the front of the line to be told there are no seats available & to wait at the bar.<br/>8:15pm..... Order ciders from an indifferent barman who then proceeds to roll out the red carpet for two young females who arrive after us, giving them numerous samples of high-end ciders, again without looking twice at us.<br/>8:30pm...... Finally seated.<br/>8:45pm...... Wait staff finally take our drink orders (but don't hang around long enough to take food orders).<br/>8:50pm...... Food ordered.<br/>9:10pm...... Meals arrive at table - wrong main arrives (more waiting ensues).<br/><br/>Food was passable, but nothing to write home about. But never have I seen so many indifferent, unengaging stafff. Admittedly it was busy for a Tuesday night, but there are no excuses for how we were treated.... and the barman's shallow behaviour was the icing on the cake.<br/><br/>Never again.

Loved it. Great food, great service and great price . We had a table of 15 and all our meals came out together and everyone loved their meals. I got the rissotto and was the best i have had . Another plus is that they split the bill

Yum. Great vibe and food reasonably priced! The chicken risotto was awesome!

Love this place!. Great atmosphere and quality food! Nice place to come with friends for dinner and drinks!

Creative Italian-inspired food and lots of cider. Don't let the grungy atmosphere put you off - the food at Verve is definitely much better than the place looks. As a vegetarian, I really appreciated the creative options for non-meat eaters. I had the vodka and artichoke risotto, and it was one of the most interesting dishes I've had in a while. Paired with a nice rocket salad and a cool strawberry beer, it was a very pleasant meal. I had their version of Eton Mess for dessert and it was quite nice, too. Verve serves interesting food and heaps of cider options, at reasonable prices - definitely recommended.

Reliable and Tasty. This is my go to place for great pasta and risotto. I have tried a lot on their menu and their specials. I would recommend their gnocchi and the sand crab & snapper risotto. Been there many times, never had a bad meal. The only downside is their pork belly linguini, it looks interesting on the menu but is only average.

Great Place!. Verve Restaurant Bar Cider House is one of the best places I've been in a long time. When I went, I got the Stuffed Mushroom Salad and was absolutely thrilled that it wasn't so much a salad as three huge mushrooms stuffed to bursting point with a delicious risotto filling, resting upon a majestic bed of leafy greens. I was recommended a cider from one of the wait staff because I was so caught up with their many paged cider menu, I couldn't choose for myself. <br/>Absolutely delicious, a great place with a great atmosphere, I would definitely recommend!

Great food, went here with a gluten free friend and so good to see pizzas can be made on gluten free bases and the pasta can be gluten free. Awesome pumpkin pizza and the special chicken, truffle and mushroom risotto was delicious. Very good value.

Perfection. Love this place! Went there last night with my partner and the pork belly linguine is to die for! as are all the desserts, especially the tira misu!<br/>Will definitely be coming back soon

Love this little hidden restaurant. We always have the goat's cheese and chicken gnocchi & the pumpkin pizza. The gnocchi is soo soft & the sauce is sooo creamy. For the pizza i love roast pumpkin & just goes down my belly soo good. Always comin back for more!

Love it!. I love this place so much. Try the camembert risotto-you won't be disappointed.

Great Italian restaurant! Good vibes and good food. Can't complain! The vanilla parfait was to die for.

A group of us (30) went here for a work lunch. Complimentary bread came out. Then food not long after! Had the pancetta & mushroom risotto. Sooo tasty. Large size. Very happy!

Cider and pasta: what more could you want?. I haven't tried that many dishes from Verve because time and time again, I go back to the gnocchi - absolutely delicious. Have also had the pork belly linguine which was yummy but you kind of get over pork belly after half the dish. <br/><br/>The cider selection is amazing, love that they offer multiple Rekordelig flavours! <br/><br/>Service has generally been good - sometimes the staff get overwhelmed when they are busy and the restaurant, being underground, gets a bit too noisy to have a proper conversation with your dinner mates. The toilet is also in a shoddy location out the back - though I should be grateful there is even a private toilet at all in the city I guess.<br/><br/>All in all, a great little place when you need that pasta and cider hit.

Poor food, great atmosphere.. The atmosphere in Verve was amazing, however I wish I could say the same about the food...Pork Belly linguine was way too salty and the chilli overpowered everything (minus the bag of salt that was included in my meal). My friend ordered the Meatball linguine, which was disappointing and quite frankly we would have had a nicer pasta at fasta pasta.

10/10. Absolutely love this place. Verve is an Italian kitchen which serves primarily pasta and risotto. I've had several things off the menu all of which were good. The menu is well priced and the portions are generous.<br/><br/>Verve also provides space at their well priced bar to have a drink. They have a massive range of ciders, a couple of beers and rotating beer tap.<br/><br/>Great place for couples.

Love it. Great food. Awesome wines and ciders. Service was a little bitchy but mostly fun. Will be back.

Our favourite spot. Love love love Verve. Awesome staff, heaps of cider, freaking awesome food in a cosy and bustling space. Full of character.

One of the Best in BNE. Pro: great pasta, great range of ciders, and good service.<br/><br/>Con: it is always full in the weekends due to popularity.

I have been to Verve a number of times. The food is great the waiters are helpful. The manager or (boss of that night) is disgustingly rude. On the last two times I have visited here we have been kicked out once the clock hits eight. Never mind we still haven't finished dinning. It's get up and get out. Rudely making comments for us to move out of the way as we waited to pay the bill. Safe to say that tip jar was not getting a penny and I shall never dine in such a toxic place again.

Our must go whenever we can Modern Italian. Everything is excellent; the food, the service, the atmosphere. 10 out of 10. The pork belly linguini is my favourate.

Fantastic restaurant, located downstairs like your going into a basement. food was delicious we had tips to share a main each. My gnocchi was cooked perfectly and the sauce had a bit of spiciness which was an absolute winner. We shared the warm brownie for dessert which was extremely rich but balanced when eaten with the salty peanut butter icecream. Overall great experience 7/10

Great pasta. We had a table of 6, everyone liked their meals but everyone agreed the pork belly pasta was best. My parents had trouble hearing due to how loud the room was, so we didn't do desserts. Staff were efficient and good but busy. Will recommend it definitely.

Highly Recommend this place ! Pasta & Pizza taste absolutely Awesome !

Always a good time. We love this place. Each time, the food is fantastic and the service is good. Love the cool underground vibe to it.

Went with my colleagues last night for a farewell dinner & drinks but was thoroughly disappointed with the service we received. We booked ahead but were placed under a leaky air-conditioning vent. Asked our waiter to change (there were many empty tables then) but she said rudely that there's nothing she could do. Really?! Not only is it uncomfortable to have dripping wet arms but it's is just plain unhygienic to serve food under a leaking ceiling! Not happy about the service considering we planned ahead & spent lots to only be treated with such poor service.

Best risoto ever !! :))

The pork belly pasta gets me everrryyytimeeeeeeee

Really impressed. Turned up with group of six adults and seven kids on a busy night with no reservation. Tables were quickly arranged, orders taken, delicious food arrived promptly (loved the pork belly pasta) and they even let us split the bill. We're from Perth and despair at how much better service and food are in the east.

Not bad..... We've been here before for drinks and the atmosphere was good - jazz playing - it was something different for Brisbane. We went back for drinks and dinner last night (again on a Friday night) and the atmosphere was a bit lacking. No music (that we could hear) and the back door behind the bar was closed making it feel hot and stuffy. We then found our table in a little alcove, which was okay - but smelt a little damp, and we both were 'stuffed up' by the time we left..... weird. Not sure if there's rising damp in the place, but it is underground. <br/><br/>The food was good - pan bread to start (which was gone within 10 seconds, so good)! My husband had the pork belly linguine - which he said was really good, and I had the bolognaise - which was lovely. Good serves too.<br/><br/>We'd go back to try the pizzas - but sit somewhere else.<br/><br/>A lot of big groups eat at Verve, making it a pretty loud place.

Good service, unpretentious wine list which is cleverly paired to the kitchen. Best choices, pan bread, calamari fritti, chicken and squid risotto and pork belly! Outstanding food, Intersting decor!

Great atmosphere and even better food will definitely be going back.

After reading the reviews for this place I was impressed. I rang at 1pm to see if they had a booking for 3 at 8pm. I was told by the person that I spoke to that it appeared to be ok but he had to check and that he would ring me back to confirm. I mentioned that it was ok if they were full, that I needed to know so that I could make other arrangements. At 4pm I called to check and was told that they had nothing until 9pm. Very poor service Verve. Simple courtesy so that other arrangements can be made. Now its late on Friday afternoon and I have to book somewhere to take my last minute guest from overseas

I was at the Verve yesterday for Lunch. I can honestly say 9 out of 10. Helpful staff, good food. Thumps up

Beautiful venue! Great menu, spoilt for options. Friendly staff. Pasta was delicious & plentiful. Can highly recommend this one!

Best pasta I've had in Brisbane so far. Verve is one of my favorite restaurants. It can get a little noisy, but it's decor is trendy and the food is absolutely delicious.

Winner winner chicken dinner. The chicken and blue cheese risotto is straight up amazing, every time.

Great Place. I had the lasagna it was really good! It came with heaps of sauce just to my liking!

Fantastic food and service. Best dining experience I've had since... I don't know when! The food was fantastic - simple meals with great flavours and came out within 10 minutes of us ordering. But the real highlight was the fantastic service - the waiters were so friendly and genuinely welcomed us. Thanks guys!

I am in two minds about this place. It is kinda cool and the staff are really nice and friendly but I just found it far too loud, claustrophobic and a very smelly around the bar and the tables at the back!! The food was good, not fantastic, but just good. Maybe I am just getting too old :(

Clearly I have been living under a rock not to have been here before - what a fun establishment!!! Great vibe, great food and great ciders.

Some of the best pasta I have had. I tired a prawn pasta and a mushroom one, both amazing. This is not a standard pizza and pasta place it is on a level of its own. The pumpkin pizza was great and they made a special kids pizza for my son that wasn't on the menu. The waiters were very friendly apart from one who seemed a little nervous and spilt half a small bottle of champagne on the ground while trying to pour a glass for us. He then wasn't comfortable enough to offer us another or give us the other half on the house, he seemed to shrug it off and blame us for distracting him. None the less the place was great and he was lucky he didn't pour it on someone who was more likely to complain and make a scene. Food is great, cider list is ample. Defiantly worth a try.

Perfect. Great atmosphere and fabulous food. The chicken and blue cheese risotto is a must!

Atmospheric. A trendy, underground joint that has plenty of charm. A wide range of Ciders are on offer from around the world. My Chorizo Gnocchi dish was great and perfect on a cold night.

Nice. Went there with a friend on thursday night - initially thought it was a smart choice since most reviews complain about the noise level, however as soon as it stroke 7pm the place was so full!!! and they have reason to be - the service is laid back and chilled, food is delicious and generous. we shared a trio of dips, pork belly linguine and sand crab + snapper risotto. all delicious and i'd be happy to go back again to try other things on the menu!!!

Delizioso. Absolutely delicious. Excellent choice of both food and beverage. Very reasonable pricing and excellent, fast service. Anyone who is into cider will think they're in heaven; didn't realise so many ciders existed. Beer on tap was very drinkable/enjoyable. No filtered water but bottled water available. It's a <br/>9 out of 10 and on our must eat at when in Brisbane list.

Love this place! Have been here a few times and the food has been consistently good and fast! The chicken and camambert risotto is to die for. Great atmosphere too :)

Amazing rissoto!. Love their rissotos. The chicken and camebaert is delicious and creamy. So good. <br/><br/>Wish they had more ciders on tap though. <br/><br/>It's so small that if you are there for the 2nd seating, it is LOUD. Not great for if you wish to talk to anyone at your own table during dinner.

Brisbane CBD's hidden gem. You probably wouldn't even know if you walked past Verve in the city. It is hidden down some steps around the corner from the Victory Hotel. I have been here a few times, even came here for my birthday 2 years ago (great place to celebrate!). A dark, cool restaurant with low lighting but bursting with atmosphere. The restaurant is usually busy but the service is prompt. Your waiter/waitress takes your drink order upon arrival whilst you peruse the food menu. Verve is renown for their extensive list of ciders. This is where I first discovered Rekorderlig's winter cider (apple, cinnamon & vanilla) which I love! Some of my favourite menu items include the pork belly, the chicken & blue cheese risotto and the salmon cakes salad. The pork belly was huge served on a soft bed of fluffy mashed potato which soaked up the delicious jus from the meat. The crackling was to die for, I had to share it with my 3 friends who would not stop eyeing off my plate! The blue cheese & chicken risotto is very flavoursome, soft chicken and gooey cheesy rice - perfect combo! The salmon cakes were soft and delicious. Personally, I would've liked to have more but it's great if you're after a light meal. I could probably eat those salmon cakes all day! Love this place.

After being privy to rave reviews from fellow uni slaves and Italian enthusiasts, I finally had the opportunity to dine here. Oh man, nothing has ever been up to my exceedingly high expectations as much as this place! It excelled in every way. The restaurant had a grungry, yet quite atmospheric setting. Quite dimly lit, thus providing the premise for many romantic encounters, unfortunately not for me on my visit. The owner/ manager was very gregarious, welcoming and attentive. The staff are spot on and the food was to die for!! I am a vego, and so was another in my company. We had a nice array of dishes to choose from. I ordered the tortellini. Most probably the best of my life! Delectably soft and with plently of flavour. The brandy was a nice touch, quite subtle. Everyone from my party of four loved their meal. The cider on offer was impressively extensive. I cannot fault this place!! I'll be back soon :D

Delish Pasta. Dark, noisy basement - interesting atmosphere - love it or hate it. <br/>LOTS of cider choices!! <br/>Pastas are amazing!! Slightly pricey but worth it.

Down a little stair case we go to a dark load room... this must be good its full on a friday night, but we r mistaken... such simple food made hard by no passion, flavour or flare. .staff with no courtesy, a kitchen with no salt nor class.... maybe just have a cider where its opened on site not pulled out of a can or from a packet... bring ur own basil salt an light...... not worth the trip down

Amazing food - the gnocchi was amazing, the tiramisu was authentic and not over sweet, but if you are going to have the trio of dips ask what they are first!

The food here was very good for the price you pay. The fact that there were gluten free options was fantastic as I suffer from alot of allergies. The only criticism I have is that it is incredibly noisy, had to shout to my friends sitting opposite me.

Excellent pasta. The pasta is really rich and delicious here. I'm not much of a pasta person but it was enjoyable and everyone at my table seemed pretty pleased with their selection.<br/>I'm not entirely a fan of the dark ominous look of the place, but then again that's just my personal preference. I do think the menu is a little over priced but it's made up by the service. Anyway, anywhere that sells delicious cider is alright by me!

Really good! Best sticky toffee pudding I've ever had!

Good pasta. I have dined at Verve a few times over the years and each time I have enjoyed a lovely bowl of pasta. They get the flavours right and the wines are lovely too. Good atmosphere and a great place to head for dinner after work in the city. Nice to know there is a good place to get a nice seafood pasta.

It was ok. Service was good. Pretty laid back and a great atmosphere. I had the pork belly pasta which was overly doused in oil and had probably just a touch too much chilli. Would I come again - probably not.

After dining in at Verve three times now, I have been nothing but impressed. The first time, I had no idea what to expect, in regards to the food, the atmosphere and staff. All of which was very impressive. After dining in late on a Friday night, the place was packed! And the atmosphere buzzing! The bar was surrounded, aswell as the restaurant area, resulting in having to wait for an availiable table. Although that is not a complaint! After being seated and tended to, even on probably the busiest night of the week, there was little wait time for food to arrive. Starting with the Bruschetta as an entree, my standards on Italian style food has been lifted again. It is evident that the ingredients and also bread is fresh. Going onto my main, which was the Porkbelly Linguini. Absolutely amazing! The chilli that had been added to the dish gave it exactly what the dish needed. It became so vibrant and engulfing, it's the X Factor! <br/>Not having time to enjoy the desserts, I set off to the front counter. The staff dressed appropriately for such a scene and always very friendly. The prices are reasonable for what you get and wouldn't expect any less. After hearing great things about Chef Brett Munro, I have finally experienced what all the fuss is about and continue to return the the Restaurant.

Cosy dining place. Food well served and attentative staff.

Best risotto in town!. Good service, atmosphere and food. Verve is a nice affordable restaurant and perfect for mid week dining. The scallop and cuttlefish risotto is to die for, great texture, flavours and always a generous serve.

Yummy :). I'm always impressed by their yummy foods :)<br/><br/>It is definitely a great place to catch up with friends.<br/><br/>Not so much of a place for party as the spaces are quite little, it won't be a place you want to sit there for few hours for a chat coz the ppl who sit at the next table will be able to hear everything! that's how intimate it is.<br/><br/>love their steak, pasta, and risotto. AND the herb bread --> that's a MUST to order everytime, crispy outside crusts and soft inside. They sometime do good soup as well, great choice for winter. and it's not too expensive, quite impressed by it.<br/><br/>It may not be the most authentic italian foods I have ever tried, but it's definitely worthy for second visit.

I have not been to Verve in many years. I was in Brisbane and thought I'd grab a takeaway. The place was absolutely pumping. Great atmosphere and I wasn't even dining. Then I brought my pasta back to the hotel and it was by far the best pasta I have tasted in a long time. And I love Italian! I'll be back to done in on my next visit for sure. Keep up the vibe and the fabulous food!

Not the place to go in a large group! Situated in a boxy underground basement, it becomes a very noisy environment. It sounds like everyone is yelling even though they arent. I came here in a group of 13, and unfortunately could only have a conversation with the people of either side of me as the place is just too noisy! Forget about talking to the person opposite you! <br/>We ordered the banquet as well which was a huge let down. I didnt mind the dips at the start, or the pumpkin pizza (of which i only got 1 slice because they dont bring out enough), but everything else is average at best. Definitely not worth $30pp. Perhaps there are other items on the menu that are nicer, so if i do return, it will be in a very small group.. This however, will not be happenin in the foreseeable future.

Been here many times and the food and service can never be faulted. Barely a wait for meals or between courses and great atmosphere.

Friday Night Cider and Risotto. Great Risotto and fantastic Cider! For starters we ordered the Chilli Cheese Pan. Mains were Blue Cheese and Chicken Risotto and Chicken and Camembert Risotto, washed down with some Cider. Absolutely delicious!<br/><br/>The service was great and the menu is well priced. Given that this place is a bar it can be quite loud if you are expecting a nice quiet dinner. Will definitely return :)<br/><br/><br/>-----03 Nov, 2012-----<br/><br/>Fantastic!. Pancetta risotto was delicious! Their ciders are great! Left the place feeling very satisfied and wanting more.<br/><br/>Will definitely be coming back to this place. Be sure to make a booking as this place fills up quickly on a week night.

Delicious!. This was an unexpected, but delightful find. Funnily enough, I used the Urbanspoon "shake" app on my phone to find this place. I was a bit put off by the outside decor, as the sign gave the impression of a bar like Fat Louies...HOWEVER; how pleasantly surprised I was when I got downstairs!!! Great atmosphere, with heaps of people chatting away eating and drinking. We didn't have a reservation but were seated within 10mins. <br/>They have the biggest collection of cider I have ever seen in one place and the pasta was so damn good!<br/>Far surpasses my expectation of eating Italian in Brisbane (have been disappointed at Vapianos and Pane e vino) and brings nostalgia of eating at Lygon Street in Melbourne. I loved the vibe, very funky and just a little bit shady (felt like being at Brew Cafe, Brisbane) plus the staff are casual and friendly...although I can envision this isn't going to be everyone's favourite, especially those who want a quiet, classy eating experience.<br/><br/>All in all, a 9/10 experience.

Surprised. Thought I would check out the Verve because it was rated so highly on Urban spoon. Overall I was disappointed. The appetizers tasted great but everything else was not worth my time. The waitresses literally throw the food on the table and walk away. They are aggressive and strongly recommend that you order more than appetizers and drinks. I ordered a pizza that was worse than a dominoes pizza. My partners rissoto was decent. We then waited over 20 minutes to get our food packed up and our bill. Would not recommend.

AWESOME. I had a pork belly linguini and almost exploded because my brain couldn't handle how good it was. can't wait to go back :)

Love it!. Love the food here. let the pommy girl with the black and blonde hair pick out my dinner and cider and she did good! will be back soon

Verve -Extremeley overrated. Having spent a few years in Italy, and tasted REAL Italian food, my expectations of Good Italian food is that any restaurant pretending to be an Italian restaurant, can cook Like an Italian restaurant. But to do that, you need those inimitable Italian ingredients, not on par with say Woolies canned Tomatoes or flour + wood fired oven. Sadly, Verve whilst offering overpriced drinks and deafining music, did miss out on what they bill themselves as ... Italian cuisine. No diffrent to the Pizza Hut or any of the other fakes out there. If you are going there to talk to your friends, remember this is aplace for the young where they don't go out to be together and communicate, it is a great place to pull out your phone and communicate with anyone else in the world besides those you are with (preferably text, as nobody on the other end will hear you speak over the music...well, noise that is).

Love it.. This was awesome. I am gluten intolerant and the boss or owner made a special gluten free prawn pizza.

Amazing service, delicious food and funky environment. Worth a visit for sure

Great food, poor service. Great cosy venue with good food. However, we booked in for drinks at 5.15pm on a Friday and on arrival were pressured to order main meals despite advising the waitress 3 times that we only wanted drinks and entrees. While the waitress did warn us that we would need to leave our table by 7 we left much sooner due to the poor attitude.

Worst service in Brisbane. These guys really need to re-evaluate their no sitting at tables policy and teach their wait staff some manners. We booked a table here on a Friday night and were initially really impressed with our venue choice due to the great decor and long list of ciders. We got there about 5.15pm and ordered drinks. The blonde waitress then tried to push us to buy mains at about 5.20pm, stating that if we didn't order main courses we would have to go and drink and eat our tapas at the bar - even though there were at least 15 empty tables. I have never been spoken to so rudely by a waitress before, she actually turned and stormed off half way through barking orders at us. She then went and told all the other wait staff about the encounter who proceeded to all give us the 'stink eye' until we left. We would have been more than happy to continue paying $14 per cider for several rounds and would have eventually ordered food, however, I can safely say I will never be returning and will be spreading the word about this awful experience. I am truly shocked that they currently have an 84% rating. I'm certain it must be all their horrible staff writing fake reviews in an attempt to retain their jobs - they certainly would never be employed anywhere else!

Was looking forward to a meal -but 'no tables' despite only a few tables having people at them. Don't try if you want a table for one!

Not a happy customer. We had booked into Verve on Friday night at 7.30, I had confirmed the booking with them at 6pm, all okay. We turned at at 7.40 only to be told very rudely that our table had been given away. When I questioned why he said you should have rung if you were running late...10 mins come on and why didn't you try to contact us if there was a problem! Where's the service here..he was so arrogant and rude. We will never go to Verve again, we went down the road to Palettos and they bent over backwards to ensure we had a great service and food.

An underground gem. For anyone looking for lunch in the CBD where there is atmosphere, brilliant service and great food, look no further than Verve. <br/>I recently went for a work lunch, we booked at short notice and the staff accommodated a table of 10 very quickly. The place was packed when we arrived, humming with conversation and busy waiters. We were seated and served within 20 minutes - no mean feat for a large table during a hectic lunchtime. <br/>Our waitress was friendly and efficient and the food was delicious. <br/>I thoroughly recommend Verve for a meal, a drink or just to check out the owner. (Get him to rap for you if you have a chance....)

I love this place!. I was really impressed with my experience at this restaurant. <br/><br/>First of all, the waitress I had was exceptional. I was slack in booking my table but she went to great lengths to see that I had enough room, even when I had to call up to rearrange seating. Not only that, but she offered some great suggestions for the menu and wine list, which we really appreciated. It was encouraging to have such a pleasant waiting staff who seemed really happy to be at work and to help people out! <br/><br/>Secondly, the food was incredible. Our table had three risotto's and one pasta and we all adored our selection. I had the Pancetta Risotto which was rich and delicious but didn't leave me feeling heavy or over-indulged. My friend had the Eggplant Risotto, ,which had large chunks of eggplant throughout it and a tomato based sauce. We then moved onto the desert and I had the Brownie, which was really interesting and positively drowned in sauce and ice-cream, which was great! We all left really overjoyed with our experience and made plans immediately to go back and try some more of the selection.<br/><br/>As far as the finer details go, the meals were very reasonably priced. A quite respectable sized portion of Risotto was about $18-20, which seemed like a pretty consistent price. If you have been to Vapiano's, up the way, the contrast between the quality of the establishment is really emphasised by their portions, quick service and great tasting choices. A glass of wine was about $6-10 dollars and averaged at about $8, for both red and white. All deserts were $8 and very liberally portioned, which was great, so if you aren't quite up to a big serving, sharing would do well for something like the brownie or coffee ice cream. <br/><br/>Overall, I am exceptionally pleased with my experience at this establishment. I'll be really disappointed if I don't get to go back soon. It really is a great taste of Italy in Brisbane!

Best pasta in the City. Whenever I have a craving of anything Italian, Verve is the place to go! They have a variety of pastas and pizzas and I'm not scared to bring friends who are coeliacs, because there are low-gluten pasta and pizza bases available! The cider fridge is absolute heaven, you tend to aim to have at least one different cider each time you dine in! Love the Pescatore Linguini and Goat's Cheese & Chicken Gnocchi!

My new favourite!. I've come here a few times and enjoy it more everytime. Every meal has been great and good value.<br/>Staff are all very warm and friendly. I love cider and this is the place for cider lovers! Get there, you won't be dissapointed! Enjoy!

A secret paradise. Verve is a hidden gem, for sure. It is a funky cavernous cellar with THE best array of beers, ciders and whiskey in all of Brissie. I had the blue cheese risotto and my wife had the pork belly. Both dishes were superb and excellent value for money. The place was practically packed on a Thursday night dinner shift and the service was fine. Certainly recommend it.

Feels like home. The staff, food and atmosphere of Verve Restaurant Bar Cider House rock. Consistently good, I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a relaxed dining experience in the heart of BrisVegas. Remember to book though - this place is so good it hasn't remained a secret amongst the locals ha.

Average at best. Verve had been recommended to me by a work colleague so I decided to check it out on Wednesday night. I didn't make a booking thinking it wouldn't be overly packed. Unfortunately for me there was a "big party" coming so we wouldn't be able to get seat straight away, despite there being several empty tables. We were given the option either to leave or to walk around the city and wait for half an hour. We made a third option of sitting in the bar and having a drink while waiting for our table (kind of odd they offered for us to leave before offering us a seat in the bar?). We noticed other people in the bar ordering food so ordered our entree with our drinks. After half an hour we had eaten our entree and gave up on being seated at a table and ordered our main meals from the bar. When the pizzas came to our table the waitress didn't ask who was having what she literally just thew them on the table and walked away. The pizzas were nice (we ordered the pumpkin and pinenut and the chicken pizzas) they weren't any thing special and were quite expensive for the size and quality we recieved. As we were paying our bill I noticed that the tables that were empty when we arrived were still empty when we left and had been empty the whole time but we were not offered a table even though when we arrved we were told we would have the next available table. We paid our bill at the counter to someone who had to look up the prices on a take away menu, he then made the comment "you can tell im the owner of the place, I dont know how to do anything". This was the same person who had initially turned us away from the restaurant then failed to deliver on a table, not really the attitude or actions you expect from the owner of a restaurant. The dining experience wasn't awful but didn't really give me a reason to return.

Highly Recommended. I've been coming here for a few years and have never been disappointed. Great for a quiet, intimate drink or dinner with friends. The risottos and pastas are definitely more flavoursome than most Italian restaurants you'll visit in Brisbane. The underground venue, roars of laughter and dim lighting make you feel as though you've walked into a secret hideaway, known only by a select few. Definitely check it out.

Been coming here for years...always the best tasty food! Highly recommend this awesome restaurant!

Yummy. It's loud and casual. The pasta and risottos are always nice with lots of flavours. This is a great place for an after work dinner with some girlfriends.

Great atmosphere, fantastic risotto and the most impressive cider list I've seen. Friendly and knowledgeable service, particularly at the bar, tops off the experience.

BEST PASTA I'VE EATEN. I arrived late to dinner with friends and quickly ordered the Sand Crab & Snapper risotto. I was incredibly hungry, it arrived quite quickly and OH MY GOD it was GOOD! Cheap and great atmosphere. Definitely a favourite.

Great atmosphere. We really like the atmosphere of this restaurant and the food and service compliment it nicely!! alot of my friends are vegetarian and the menu is very accomodating

Now this is a restaurant that belongs in a city known for cuisine, such as New York. Great food, great value and amazing ambience.

Brilliant!. This is a fantastic, good value for momey, fantastic vibe and unpretentious little nook that serves up good home cooked style, unpretentious, explosive flavours. And the clientele are always up for a chat.

I don't see the appeal. Personally I do not see the appeal of Verve, I went there for a meal and after work drinks with a friend, and was made to feel a bit like a burden. The athmosphere is that of a underground pool hall and the food was nothing special. I don't think I will be returning any time soon.

Everything great about this place. I wanted to try something new, so we went to verve. I usually hate service in Brisbane. But it was good! Food was creative and yummy. Lived the blue cheese and callifliwer soup! Herb bread is amazing! Loved the sticky date pudding! The only downfall is that's Its too Noisy!

Great casual spot. Fantastic decor, fast and unpretentious service, and GREAT pasta. can't fault it. I wasn't expecting a whole lot from the food considering the pricing, but wow we were pleasantly surprised. And as the name suggests, if you don't like cider then I think you're missing out on a big part of what Verve has to offer! It was so much fun playing around with that list of theirs..

Always great. All I have to say is that I love verve. I have been here on multiple occasions for drinks and dinner or just a snack and it is consistently good. The prices are great, the staff are wonderful, and I would like to especially commend the bar staff who do so well running the drinks for a bar and a restaurant when they are busy. Try the brandy tortellini, it's amazing!

Our party of 5 had 5 different meals: 3 pastas & 2 risottos. Everyone was happy. My eggplant risotto had a very generous serving of olives and a tomato sauce and was delicious. Service was attentive. Our only complaint was that it was very noisy which made conversation difficult but I still love this place and would happily return.

Goats cheese gnocchi, best E.V.E.R!

8/10. Whether I'm catching up with a friend after work over dinner or having some drinks before heading out on the weekend, it's always good. The food is pretty good, staff are very friendly and it's a very cool little place. Have experienced some delays with meals before but apart from that, no complaints.

Good value and tasty!. Cheap and cheerful Italian. And by cheerful, I mean really cheerful. I love interacting with the quirky staff here. Service can be a bit variable in terms of promptness but the staff are so fantastic you forgive them instantly.<br/><br/>The risottos are to die for. The ingredients are unusual but it completely works.<br/><br/>Pizza is passable but not a strength. Stick to the pastas.<br/><br/>Ambience wise, this place can get really LOUD, even if you're tucked away under the stairs, which is unfortunate as the place is quite funky and the ever-changing art is a nice touch. A good place for a large table, less so for an intimate affair.<br/><br/>One last tip - walk-ins can be difficult for lunch and on weekends, but here's it's always worth a try as staff are very accommodating and on the ball. You can always sit at the bar and have a beer or two from their impressive selection.

Had the meatballs with linguine and whilst the pasta was lovely and hot, the meatballs were cold in the middle. My friend had wanted their pork chop special of the night and even though we were one of the first set of customers for the night, they had already run out. Atmosphere was cosy but with many tables in such a small area combined with the music, it became quite hard to talk/listen.

Not sure how we stumbled across Verve as its tucked away in a basement on Edward Street. <br/><br/>Really nice cafe style food. Thumbs up for the pizza and lasange! Well priced too.<br/><br/>Groovy art work around the place and excellent service.

Slow-cooked beef cheeks...YUM!! Good service & they let you pay separately. Tends to be noisy though. All in all, a fun place for lunch or dinner with friends.

Highest Possible Rating. I have been going to Verve for years now, have never walked away not impressed. Its amazing how many people rave about this establishment, without myself (a notorious promoter of Verve) mentioning it. The service and staff is exceptional always making patrons feel like they are getting star treatment. Food is always amazing and presentation great.<br/>Its very rare that a week will go by without someone saying, or me overhearing "have you guys tried Verve in the city".

Good!. To begin with, I love the atmosphere! Quite well priced, me and my friends, as uni students, could afford! Food was quite good, although I had the blue cheese rissoto, which I personally found a bit rich! I tasted my friends food and it was yummy though! service was attentive, bottles of water were constantly placed on our table when running low :)! A warning that it gets busy though! Am curious to try the espresso martini too!

Loved it. I went there with the idea that Verve was going to be a cozy environment with a few tables free for walk-ins. Guessing by the number of reserved tables I was a bit worried that I wasn't going to be seated right away. Fortunately one of the reserved tables was made free for myself and lovely companion as they weren't expecting the table to occupied till a lot later. <br/>The location was perfect, in the far reaches of the restaurant and somewhat secluded. It reminded me of my fathers wine cellar with a soft light. <br/>Before making our food choice I actually looked on urban spoon before deciding to dine at Verve and remembered the galliano prawn fettuccine was the special for the evening. <br/>Our meal consisted of two starters, trio dips and bread with garlic and olives on it, plus a hint of sea salt. (I apologise for not being able to remember). However, we both ordered the galliano special with a bottle of NZ savingion blanc. This combination did not disappoint. <br/>The attention to the customers was not intrusive and for the price of the food, the portions were enough. <br/>In all I spent $95 on whole dinner which without a doubt was worth it in every way. Unfortunately paying by the card didn't give me the option to tip - I will next time. <br/>I highly recommend Verve for anyone who enjoys eating out with a slight feeling that booking a table will assure you of a seat. <br/>The only set back is that you have to climb three flights of stairs to access the toilet.

Turned into pure pub grub. Meat and 3 veg. Fail.<br/><br/><br/>-----21 Jun, 2011-----<br/><br/>Absolute hidden treasure! Gorgeous Italian meals spot on everytime! Lunch had quick turn around so rarely waiting. Definitely recommend booking or if your lucky enough to catch the young blonde girl there daily, shes a great hand at squeezing you in! Always something happening down there, do it do it do it.

Great arty vibe, dreamy mood lighting, delicious food and dangerously more-ish cocktails! Highly recommend the chicken & Camembert risotto, pumpkin pizza and the espresso martinis!

I adore the vibe in this restaurant. Dimly lit, chilled out little underground space. Definitely recommend the Stuffed Mushroom Risotto and a bottle of Monteith's pear cider.

Delicious! Didn't make a booking but were seated within half an hour on a busy Friday night. Staff were quick to serve us and meals were great. Cool atmosphere, we'll definitely be back.

What took me so long?. Not sure why I hadn't visited Verve yet but hey a chilly Friday lunch time was as good a time as any. Special of beef cheek pasta was tender & cooked perfectly, my friend had the special risotto & also received the thumbs up. Service was quick, the bar was filling up nicely by 1.30pm which matched the great buz this venue has. Will be returning.

Great food!. I always enjoy the food at Verve but be prepared to wait for the staff as it gets so busy they never seem to have enough staff to service all the tables, we have on a few occassions missed out on ordering desserts because the waiter never came back to our table once clearing our plates away.<br/>The bar has one person working and there is always a huge line so recommend ordering your drinks via your waiter.

A horrible experience. Several of us ordered a "special" six hour slow braised beef cheek dish. It cost $28 a pop and it was truly awful. Tasted like it had been microwaved for 15 minutes and chucked on a plate, it was fatty, chewy and generally unpleasant. We all decided that seeing as it was so bad and so overpriced, we won't be going back.

Unfancy but Delicous. Went along for 'no frills' good hearty Italian feed.<br/><br/>Verve delivered yet again on good food, good service and reasonable prices. <br/><br/>Menu is predominately good old fashioned hearty Italian cuisine. <br/><br/>Had the Blue Cheese and Chicken Risotto and a pizza, to share between 2. Nothing fancy but well executed, with clean flavours.

Funky space. Quite an ecletic place, laid back and fairly easy going - pizza's were quite good aswell. Bar service could have been better as there was only one person behind the bar. Recommend for a casual evening meal.

Excellent First Experience. Went here on friday night as a spur of the moment thing with 2 other people. Got there at about 7.15 managed to get a table straight away. Within minutes we were being asked for drinks / entrees. A few minutes later they were out and we were being asked for mains. I went for the Lasange. Was great. The other two people who were with me ordered the duck risotto and the artichoke pizza. They were both happy with them. Service was very efficient and friendly and the place was busy.<br/><br/>Not quite as good as Pelligrini tho.

Terrible terrible pasta. Don't bother, they have no idea about food.

A favourite. Verve Cafe is perfect for a pre or post-theatre (at Metro Arts) drink or meal. Their food is delicious and well priced and the portions are generous. The pan bread entrée is a must! I recommend taking advantage of the Happy Hour drinks specials or ordering an Espresso Martini. Verve service is excellent and I always have fun.

Love it!. Oh I love this little place. It's kinda kooky but drink specials are awesome for happy hour, the pasta good and the seafood pizza was absolutely divine!

Cheap and good. Pretty cheap and the food is pretty good too. This place is good for a big group, but definitely not for a quiet dinner for two! Noisy and fun.

Fun little place if one can enjoy themselves sans natural light and breezes. Particularly enjoyable for those who don't want to hear anything their companions are saying. Food's ok and drinks are reasonably priced too.

Had the blue cheese risotto. Absolutely devine!! A bit noisy at times though...

Absolutely sensational! I took my date here last week and we both love the place. Food was fantastic and service excellent. I recommend the bluecheese rissotto or the chicken pizza. 5/5.

Friendly enthusiastic service. Food is good. Funky underground atmosphere. Bit of a tight squeeze for large bookings but we made the most of it.

Super Cafe.. Outstanding service, a jazzy ambiance, one of the best seafood pizzas I've ever eaten and coffee to die for. This place is just awesome.

Great flavoursome food. Wait staff relaxed and very knowledgeable. Atmosphere Friday nights great relaxing at the bar before dinner. Trivia mid week also was a good night.

Verve is a fantastic venue for a night out with friends, date night or for a celebration.  This popular cider house (with over 60 selections to try) is well worth the visit with a large drink selection (beer and wine included), fantastic food and reasonable prices.   Brisbane is in dire need of more restaurants like Verve:  centrally located, well priced and generous serving sizes.  Verve also has flair with its dark interior and in house art exhibitions. Having visited Verve several times – I’ve enjoyed all the meals.  Their dishes such as Goat’s Cheese and Chicken Gnocchi, Meat Balls Linguini and Sand Crab and Snapper Risotto display a commitment to rich flavour.  There is also vegetarian meals and gluten free dishes available including a delicious chicken and Camembert risotto.   Fructose friendly (and gluten free)? Yes. Yes and yes.  Tru

This is our where to eat and drink guide to Brisbane; incomplete and personally biased for the sort of food we like and what we consider to be ‘value for money’. We have decided to divide our restaurant preferences into occasions rather than areas. We find that generally, where you go depends as much on the reason as the suburb. You have favourite places for family dinner, for Sunday afternoon drinks and Wednesday morning breakfasts and you are happy to travel to get to them. If you want a complete guide for where to eat in Brisbane by price or suburb, visit Urbanspoon . You can read our Urbanspoon reviews as well. We hope you enjoy our recommendations as much as we do. Good anytime Foxy Bean, Wooloongabba – can’t say a bad thing about this place seeing as it was Birgit’s wedding venue, but it is good for any meal of the day. Kettle and Tin, Paddington – popular from brunch through to Tuesday trivia and birthday parties, it’s hard to go wrong at Kettle and Tin. Hoo Ha Bar, South Brisba

My pork belly linguine! I thought it was a little bland... a little too much oil but the pork was good and it had chilli but not to spicy for me. I should've went with the ol' lasagne. <br/>

The Verve Restaurant and Cider House is a very well executed dining experience, with a mood and ambiance that deserves a visit alone, augmented by outstanding service. The food was very very tasty, but the unfortunate over use of the salt detracted from the experience. Does it deserve the highest urbanspoon score for the Brisbane CBD? Yes, yes it does. 90/100

The Verve Cafe has been around for ever and has been a haunt for the denizens and citi dwellers to hang out and have a very reasonably priced meal in a uber cool setting.  Once you enter the Metro Arts building and venture down the stairs into the bowels of the building, it takes some time to adjust to the dark and dingy light, but once you do it becomes a great spot to hang out and enjoy a meal.  

They have a very extensive cider menu but we just went with Elk pear cider and Rekorderlig wild berry. JGirl ordered the Elk pear cider and had a second one later that night, she says she likes it due to its low alcohol content. The Rekoderlig was my choice and I didn't quite finish it. Here is the rest of their menu.

Verve has been one of my favorite [underground, literally] restaurants since landing in Brisbane. Their food is probably the most flavorful I've had in Brissy so far, and every item I've had has been great!...The herbs, pancetta, and cheese worked so well together, making each bite a "burst of flavor" - which was the only way I could describe it the first time I ordered it. I've since had the Pork Belly Linguini, and the Pumpkin Gnocci, and I've also tried the Meat Balls and Linguini...

The menu has a good range of pasta, pizza and risotto dishes - all at a comparable price for the city approx $22 each.

I was glad I took advice of fellow bloggers, after having read reviews with the avid advice of making a reservation. We arrived early for our reservation, but our table was all ready. The basement restaurant is very dim in lighting, which creates an intimate setting, however, it is small. The place was bustling with patrons throughout the whole time we were there. Water was provided, and we placed our orders with the friendly staff shortly after. We settled for Herb bread for starters, with Meatball Linguini and Sand Crab and Snapper Risotto. Customary LL&B were ordered too. The risotto was quite generous i

Who would have thought that the basement of the arts factory would make such great Italian food? Don’t let the dark and dingy space scare you because the food is phenomenal. My usual go-to dish is the poached chicken fettuccini in a rich creamy sauce with english spinach and roasted almond flakes stirred through. Be prepared for a food coma because most of the dishes are as heavy as they are delicious. Price: around $20 for a bowl of pasta

I love this place. Firstly the food is great. It's not expensive either. We were in a group and started with a few servings of the trio of dips. They change daily and so you're not really sure what you are going to get - but at only $9.00 for three dips plus a generous serving of warm bread, who cares!

There's a reason why this underground establishment is listed as the number one Brisbane restaurant on Urbanspoon. Their food is simply delicious.

Whilst deciding on our mains, we elected to munch on Verves pan bread ($6), topped with kalamata olives, fetta and basil. Unfortunately it was also topped with a substantial amount of salt, which we didn't feel was necessary due to the saltiness of the olives. Nevertheless, it was definitely good to munch on and helped to calm down our hungry stomachs.

I've been to verve before, once looking for a job, and another time to have a drink before a show upstairs at the Metro Arts centre. One thing is to be said of Verve and that is, it has the best grungy aest

It was the best Calamari I have ever eaten! It was cooked to perfection and melt-in-your mouth soft.

Overall, a decent place for a pasta or pizza and a beer but nothing that was really shining.

This is a place to spend some serious money in a lovely setting with a passionate waitstaff who loves to discuss the difference between toro and maguro with you. The sushi is pristine and the cooked dishes are inventive and expertly prepared. Though Jiro dreams of sushi, Fritos and Foie Gras dreams of 15 East.

Verve Café is a basement restaurant situated in Brisbane CBD; it is a relaxed, casual, modern Italian restaurant.

Verve is hidden in the basement of the Metro Arts Centre, towards the bottom of Edward St in the city. It is generally quite busy so bookings are recommended, although you can always hang around at the bar while you wait for a table.

A couple of weeks ago I had lunch at Verve Cafe with a few work buddies. Over the years I must have walked past Verve Cafe hundreds and hundreds of times. I even worked as a volunteer in the Metro Arts building for a few years. But I'd never eaten at Verv