Review Cicada - Brisbane

Short visit for the first time inside CICADA for a quick light snack & one Cappuccino, service excellent & friendly manager with a brief conversation. Menu choice are reasonable prices.

Currently closed. Doesn't say when it will reopen. Good service and it was nice to be able to sit down for a meal in covid-19 times. The service was great!

Great spot in the CBD for brekkie and coffee. Food comes out quickly and is of high quality. I do miss the breakfast skillets which unfortunately are no longer on the menu, but still plenty of delicious choices. Staff are super nice and friendly, especially Alex. Highly recommended!

I love it here! They do not disappoint. I've been a few time now for both breakfast and lunch, and I can say that their sizing is generous, the food is delicious, coffee was great, and the staff are very friendly. I highly recommend giving this place a try, you won't regret it!! I recommend the Potato Benny (to die for 🤤).

Nice little place, I like the decor, it's pretty cool. Staff was very friendly and professional. Food was pretty good, though they char grill the buns and when the bread is bitten into without having any other fillings it is a little too charcoal for my liking and doesn't taste too good. Sweet potato fries were pretty good, steak on the sandwich really good.

We went to this restaurant with a Groupon deal for two courses. The entree - calamari and garlic bread - was tasty. The calamari was juicy and tender. The main menu for us was salmon and steak. The salmon was crispy, but I had a fishbone ☹️ Steak was alright, but the chips along with the steak were horrible. It was so hard to chew 🙄 We got the drinks during their happy hour. We got this separate from the Groupon deal. It was a great price for good beer.

Came here for brunch, food is amazing and coffee made to perfection! Also tried their smoothie Popeye, it is so refreshing and perfect for hot humid summer!

This place is a real Gem, the food is EXCELLENT , very friendly staff ( especially John) - The Calamari is sensational! The beer was really cold as well. Best to enter off Adelaide st - I will definitely be going back soon.

Great food and coffee at Cicada! It’s my second time trying out this restaurant and it never disappoints. Friendly customer service and atmosphere is great for gatherings or functions.

Had their signature cocktail - tropical lunch and it’s so refreshing! Loved the atmosphere in this restaurant and the staff were super friendly so it made the whole experience enjoyable!

My day starts with a ritual morning coffee hunt and l came across Cicada. It looked quite busy so thought why not. Service was nice enough but unfortunately my coffee wasn't. I get concerned when my coffee gets made super fast. I don't mind waiting for my coffee if it's done right. Super fast service isn't important to me. Quality of my coffee is. Just wish people understood that. Anyway, my coffee was horrible and even had a weird taste to it. Not sure what but l absolutely hated it. It wasn't hot either which makes sense since it was made super fast. Bad start to my day when l have to go find another coffee.

I’ve visited this cafe several times now mainly for my informal meetings. It’s quiet enough to meet and greet. Today we had light meals there. I had a haloumi and pesto sandwich which was tasty and fresh. It would be nice to add more vegetarian options. <br/>Service was really good and the staff were very attentive.

3.5<br/>Obviously cicadas are far superior to dung beetles but they’re still not butterflies amirite? Pitch your expectations at this mid level & you’ll have a good experience here, as I did, without reaching great heights. Which is entirely acceptable for a weekday lunch. Fine atmosphere, good menu with daily specials, friendly service overall & not too long a wait on food. Most noteworthy part for me was the excellent company. <br/><br/>Incidentally, first time using the EatClub app today which worked a bloody treat & bagged us a sweeet discount. <br/><br/>With Mandy Bernadette

Selected Quantity beverages, there are sine skilled and reputed chefs presenting diligent meals. It is at convenient location, great place for catch up. Also there are TVs showing in demand sport games.

I had visited here for the first time with my sister a couple of months ago. I was impressed. So, I thought I'd give it another try, flying solo before a business meeting this time. I wasn't overly hungry, so I ordered the every so humble and often maligned croissant. This one came with ham, cheese and tomato croissant with a pot of English Breakfast tea with my obligatory soy milk. At a price of only $6 this has to be one of the best quality bargains I've had in a while. And for a true tomato lover, I was stoked to see the inclusive of tomato in the croissant. The croissant was very generously loaded with really good quality aged cheddar cheese, extra lean smoked ham and popping full of cheery tomatoes. Quite simply, it was the best croissant I've had at any eatery here in Brisbane. Usually, they are filled with very little 'plastic' type cheese and poor quality ham and definitely no tomatoes on offer! And similarly, they normally arrive soggy. This one arrived well toasted. In terms of service however, that would be my only mildly negative feedback. The wait staff weren't overly welcoming. But, I came for the food; and it ticked all the boxes for quality, price, quantity and of course freshness.

The reason I've given Cicada a rating of 3/5 stars is due to the varied quality of food I have received in my 4-5 visits. When I first visited Cicada, the breakfast was fantastic. However, since then, the quality of food has varied every time. If you're looking for a place to have a Friday-drink, Cicada is quite cheap for a pint ($7), compared to my local Pig 'N' Whistle ($10). Cicada is definitely worth a visit, I just hope you experience the same quality as I did my first time.

The food is lovely - I haven't had a bad meal here. The service is a bit of a let down though, the waiters always seem rushed. Twice on separate occasions, I approached the same waiter for napkins and she made me feel like the biggest inconvenience both times. Won't stop me from going here but if the service matched the food, I would have given a slightly better rating.

Great ambience. The service was also quite good. There was nothing from the dishes that stood out though. 'Pleasant' is probably the word to describe the experience but nothing more.

Went for lunch with colleagues. Instead of ordering from the menu, just ordered from the available options, where I choose pork belly with tuna pasta and my colleague choose fish pie with the same pasta. Pasta was above average, fish pie was also tasty and the pork belly was well cooked as well. There only missing part was that it was all cold, may be a bit warmer food could have added more flavors.

This place has a very cool vibe about it whether it's during the day or night. The food is always of high quality and tasty and the service has always been exceptional

My first time at Cicada was for breakfast. Really enjoyed it here!! Got asked if the table (of 5) was okay and everything was fine a lot. Staff very atentative. Meals were tasty and well presented, a tad smaller than expected but still enjoyable. Would eat here again.

Went to Cicada located near King George Square with a group of friends on Friday night at around 8pm, not a great spot for dinner since it was quite bare inside in the sense that you'd expect more people to be inside, (99.9% sure we were the only people inside) and a bustling atmosphere... (like going into a club and there's just one dodgy DJ with a matching adidas sweatsuit yelling "PUT UR HANDS UP IN DA AIR" and lazer lights are flying across the room but there's no ppl there) but nevertheless, great outdoor area for a drink and affordable food prices near the CBD with prices around $11-$25.

Went with a group of friends on Friday night, not a great spot for dinner since it was quite bare inside but nevertheless, great outdoor area for a drink and affordable food prices near the CBD.<br/><br/>Ordered the angus burger ($18), was not the best but it was nicely presented and was very big and filling. The service was a bit iffy.

I just had dinner for a friend's birthday. The food was nice, I ordered a barramundi dish, the fish was nicely cooked, and the citrus beurre Blanc sauce was tasty and creamy. Good portion of dish too, it actually filled me up. The price was okay arrange from 17-30 for a decent dinner dish. Definitely going back for another round. Beautiful presentation of food and nice atmosphere, very spacious and industrial interior<br/>

Being foodie, as you know, we eat out A LOT. Like almost every night of the week...Due to this we often get asked "Are you rich? You must be to afford to eat out so much." And sadly, I always have to answer:. Maybe one of these days  (PLEASE GOD) I'll be like.....'Girl yasssss actually I'm worth millionzzzz' but until that day I'm always on the hunt for quality, affordable meal deal....Much like the one I bring you today.

Service with a Smile. Was in Brisbane last week for business, and spent some time in Cicada as most of my clients are in the 275 George Street buildings. I had consistantly good food, kale and mushrooms very nice, great coffee and brilliant service with a smile every morning I was in. The breakfast waiter was always very welcoming , professional and friendly. I never had to wait long for a table, my coffee or breakfast no matter how busy you were, On leaving Cicada I was always farewelled with a smile and a thankyou<br/><br/>Will be back

Cicada - Brisbane CBD. Part of a five-way partnership of the Cicada Group in the heart of Brisbane City Central, at the base of the Telstra Building Cicada certainly shows a whole lot of popularity. That might not be the key reason why at any waking hour that Cicada is either full or at least has a lot of people dining there, but you got to sometimes remember, location, location, location! It should not come at any surprise that the quality of the food also helps, by both bringing back clientele and also in tow, other associates to show how good the restaurant is. <br/><br/>In all honesty, I have been eying off here for longer than I can recall; with walking from a previous workplace to the nearby library many times, I have bypassed it numerous times and the aesthetic looked really appealing. It was all in how I would eventually get to it, if ever. That day managed to come in the form of a belated birthday lunch. <br/><br/>I was meeting a friend in the city for the said lunch, and it was to her choice for where to go turning the big 2-5. While she was asking if there was anything in particular I was going for, I stood by the fact that it was her choice being the one that had the birthday that the lunch was for. I altered the usual spot in which to meet her, which led both of us to near King George Square. Nearby was the Cicada Group, and after a bit of discussion (although I was easy as always, I did give a mention that to me the food being thermally hot is the non-optional aspect), she settled on this place; other choices she was considering happened to be Cicada Group restaurants as well. <br/><br/>It is one of her favourite places to eat at, and I can easily see why. This bistro has an air that combines the best aspects of sophistication while keeping a generally casual atmosphere. What also makes it work is how diverse the seating is from casual al fresco, to a very picturesque inside - fancy gold, black and grey tones are coupled with copper wall hangings and practical, comfortable furniture for eating. This is where you can go for drinks afterwards, a meeting or even a date. From an architect's point of view, this would be a fantastic marvel. <br/><br/>So, on to the meal and what else to start off with but drinks? Being fairly predictable by now, it was bound to be a coffee for me. I opted for the usual double shot cappuccino. Additionally, when they are using Toby's Estate as their blend, you know that you are in for a great cup of coffee. Fortunately, Cicada has managed to recruit talented staff for the coffee machine as well. This is a usual oversight of high-end restaurants. This coffee had it all: it was strong, and very flavourful. The style had the foam of milk on top with a modest dash of chocolate powder. <br/><br/>There was that plus the usual water. Now I am not one to review water, as it is essentially just water. However, they keep up appearances with how the water is served. The water that was ordered for the table came in a vodka bottle; and even from a teetotaler's perspective the aesthetic and look of the bottle is sometimes impressive. <br/><br/>What to order for the meal is a tough decision at any time of the day here. Admitedly, this is coming from someone who is often indecisive about what to eat at a restaurant. I must have changed my mind half a dozen times with what dish I was going to order; the mind changing even extending beyond where I had closed the menu upon deciding. There is a great selection of options, all made from high-quality ingredients. This is one place that proves you can have brilliant quality fare without having to break the bank; even better, the range is diverse and focused enough to please everybody. They do all this within only one page of options - much kudos for that. <br/><br/>The service varies depending on what you want to order. Seeing as there is a bar there, if you want something from the bar you have to go up to it. Apparently, ordering from the breakfast menu is counter service and the other parts of the day a member of the waitstaff will come to your table. The menus were placed on the table for perusing. After some time, I attempted to get the attention and started making a beeline for the counter; after a few steps the waitress from previously realised that she had yet to wait on the table and was pleasantly apologetic for it. <br/><br/>I ordered the pappardelle, a kind of pasta. This dish came with a slow cooked lamb shoulder in a mixture of cream and pine nuts topped off with black pepper. My friend got the baked field mushroom stack, which I managed to get some asparagus, beetroot and the titular mushrooms off of; part of the reason for this was down to the usual role of being a hoover. <br/><br/>The pappardelle pasta was amazingly delicious. The combined mixture of cream and pinenuts made a rich, slightly buttery texture that hugged the thick, al dente pasta. They were generous with the amount of lamb in the meal, and this was meat that had obviously been cooked for a long time and pulled. In short, it was a delicious dish that was well-prepared and substantial. <br/><br/>From the bits and pieces I managed to score from hoovering, my friend's meal was also good. It is obvious that it was lighter, and possibly healthier (i.e. less cholesterol) than my choice. From it, the different vegetables were robust and distinct in both flavour and texture. This was the only vegetarian option from the lunch menu, so not much choice for vegetarians; however they are not left in the dark for quality and flavour here. <br/><br/>This meal out was not complete without getting a couple of sides, and each being for only a few dollars more it is not bad incentive. My friend is a big fan of fries, so that was a given that she was going to be ordering them. It made it a little easier to decide for me. Having a pasta meal, I went with the most apt side - a type of bread or toasted sourdough. This came with a garnish of watercress and a really generous pat of butter. It would often be a worry that there was not a knife on the side, but the pat of butter was soft enough to spoon out onto the bread. It was really tasty, and the bread helped melt the butter further. The fries were shoestring and very crispy; I could not believe the size of the serving provided. On the side was the usual aioli. <br/><br/>It is definitely more the fault of the diners than the staff; all of this that was ordered cramped up the table. Not that that is a complaint, since close to everything was finished off eventually. They have managed to get the perfect portion size in relation to quality. You can appreciate the quality of the food and how it is cooked, enjoy the flavours and ingredients that it contains, then be finished up satisfied with the amount that was served as well as how tasty the dish was. At the end of it all, there was no room for dessert which is a pity because some of what they offer does look really good. <br/><br/>Cicada is a big step up in numerous ways from a number of the options that surround the city. It is really good quality, has a finer, more comfortable dining atmosphere, showcases all sorts of well-prepared dishes and the wide spread of clientele it attracts can show its appeal. All I say is this was a great choice and I absolutely enjoyed the food.

Great service and consistently delicious. I go here all the time for brekky and the other day they forgot out order I was a bit miffed and asked if we could be compensated = brekky on the house. Which is exactly how clients should wish to be treated. Love this

Cicada is worth considering for those who just want a quick bite without breaking the bank. Most nights they seem to have a special or two on offer which makes it an attractive option. Overall Cicada comes recommended for mid range dining.

Yum!. There's no better breakkie spot in Brissie! Great service with a smile (who doesn't love a cute waiter with an English accent). Dion (Restaurant Manager I assume) visited our table to check in which made us feel warm and welcomed. One of us ordered a drink that wasn't on the menu and they were happy to oblige. Great food, great vibe...thoroughly recommend!

Slow service, dry seafood linguine. My family had pre-ordered our lunch and it still took half an hour to come out once we had all arrived. The shellfish linguine was terrible - the shellfish was ok but the the linguine was dry and tasteless and had little, if any sauce. I left the pasta in the bowl and was still hungry. I asked the waiter to let the chef know I was disappointed with the food and that the chef should taste the dish. I got the feeling my comments wouldn't be passed on.... so we won't be going back.

Continually terrible service every time I come. The orders as always incorrect. Some staff are friendly, others are very rude and ignore you when you point out an issue. Been here many times as it's downstairs from work, will not attempt again.

Brilliant service. Deon and Natalie make my morning every day !<br/><br/>On every occasion even during the most busiest times, I am greeted by name and my ordered remembered. Both of these staff members consistently provide me with exceptional service at all times.<br/><br/>Cicada is true customer service coupled with great coffee and good food.

Delicious. Dean the manager squeezed us in during a very busy function and took great care of us. Had the tuna with watercress, presentation was amazing and was the perfect lunch option. Definitely heading back, for both food and service.

We were horribly late and came with less people than originally purposed and yet Deon made our night!!!!!!! The food was DELICIOUS!!!!! The staff were awesome.. I this is our new hangout :) THANKS TO DEON FOR PUTTING UP WITH US

A few of my friends and I went to cicada after work for some drinks and nibbles.Had some great cocktails and some quick food of the bar menu,the ribs were very tasty.Although under the seemed to be very busy The guys behind the bar seemed to have a great night and the floor staff were very accommodating and friendly .Nice to see staff enjoying there work on a friday night.will be back.

Don't bother. Worse lunch I have had ever, poor service, poor food and absolutely no customer service. Long wait for getting orders actually right and to the table.

A great spot for lunch. Friendly service, a relaxed environment and good food. We ordered from the hot box which meant it was also excellent value. I'd definitely recommend Cicada.

I ordered from the counter, had a nice chili cheesy tuna bake and side salad.

I was dining at cicada for lunch last friday.i have had some experiences of slow service or lack of service in<br/> the past,however I was pleasantly surprised this time. We were warmly greeted by the manager and he quickly led us to our table.The food was tasty and customer service efficient and friendly.we were then were givin a nice warm thankyou by the manager when we left.<br/>pleasantly surprised.

Goats Cheese Omelette is INSANITY. I love Cicada however it has a bit of a reputation for lazy staff and slow service. Lunch is simple and great, however, it's my breakfast hub of choice within Brisbane. The baked Spanish eggs are genius, as is the Goats Cheese Omelette - it's a testament to less is more. Simple and fulfilling.

Very rude male waiter serving drinks at the bar this evening - if you can't handle a groups drinks order without getting obnoxious you should not be working in customer service.

Best coffee option in this corner of Brisbane. Cicada sits alongside three other venues that all serve coffee - Firefly, Green Grocer and Chocolate soldier. At first appearances, it looks like the last option for day time coffee but manages to outclass the other venues with their better coffee.<br/><br/>Ignore Chocolate Soldier and go here instead.

Food was nice but the waitress I had this morning was downright rude. She clearly didn't want to be at work. I asked if I could order our food as we'd been waiting for a while and she rolled her eyes and got annoyed with me. Ridiculous. The food was good but after that service we received not good enough to come back.

Oh so painfully slow service. go elsewhere is my advice.

Fresh and healthy bfast. Spanish eggs: asparagus, spinach, tomato relish, two poached eggs, shaved cheese and a alice of sourdough toast.<br/><br/>Pretty groovy - felt full without being stuffed. Poached eggs were pretty cooked all the way through.. could have gone a little easier on them.<br/><br/>Coffee was good and latte done with the right amount of milk.<br/><br/>Service was acceptable.

Amazing place great for breakfast lunch dinner and after work drinks

Great place for lunch. I have been here a few times for lunch and my meals have always been delicious and exactly I expected. I would recommend this place to anyone.

Great open steak sandwich cold beer and prompt service

A regular place for work lunches, consistently good food and service, really love the rib fillet open sandwich and the lamb souvlaki.

Excellent food n service. Good variety on the menu. 8 out of 10

Great loved it went for a special mid week lunch for a birthday had salmon and salad and wine. Prompt service for a lunch break great tasty food partner had the schnitzel which was recommended also.

Enjoyed the table service, food was great but not anything I feel I couldn't get at a similar place. Great atmosphere, reasonable with prices.

I would go back. Staff were really professional and were so calm in dealing with lots of drunk people! The place was packed so I guess that says it all. Ordered the fettucine slow cooked beef - the serving size was massive but the flavour was a big let down. The sauce was good but the beef was almost overcooked, not enjoyable at all. The staff were good in handling my complaint. I would definitely go back that.

Pretty good. I have been there twice. The service is really good. The food is yummy. I have eaten there for breakfast and lunch. The croissant i had for breakfast was tasty. The lamb rump skewers for lunch were cooked to how I ordered and they tasted great. The steak sandwich my friend had was a bit poor though. The break was quite caracoled.

Our table ordered 3 orders of the skewered lamb kababs. Regretfully, they turned up quite under done and far from a blushing medium and had to be sent back. Overall, very pricey for the very small portion size along with the meat being quite tough.

Great food. Great coffee. Very friendly staff. My number one place to come with friends and colleagues for a meal.

We went on a Thursday around lunch – super busy! Even so, we were promptly shown to our seats and service was quick and very attentive. I did not expect to be checked on so many times, so that was nice! The seating and decor both inside and outdoors were varied but lovely – catering to all sizes of groups, whether for meals or just to have drinks.

The dish was well presented with a large piece of well cooked salmon fillet sitting atop a bed of bean puree and white beans, with a smattering of orange pieces and pickled beetroot quarters. While the salmon was a perfect medium rare, it really needed some extra seasoning to bring out the fish flavour and the skin was not really crispy, it had gone soggy. A couple of the flavours really worked well on the plate, with the orange complimenting the fish nicely, with the pickled beetroot adding some real zing to the plate.

My meal arrived promptly and it was very tasty. Crispy calamari with creamy and perfectly garlic infused aioli was balanced well by a fresh light salad. It was a perfect portion size for a not too heavy mid-week lunch!

I ordered the Tasmanian salmon, crispy skin, new potatoes, steamed broccolini w' dill sauce ($25), which turned out to be a great dish. The skin was indeed crispy and yet the flesh was cooked perfectly - flaky and soft. To top it off, the service was quick and efficient, just want you need for an express Friday lunch out of the office.

It’s downright beautiful inside: little candles; gold, black, and grey tones; chunky, new modern furniture; and cool copper wall hangings. There’s lots of seating and it’s a popular place for after work drinks. Outside is simple but pleasant, and has a lively vibe.

Cicada remains open for dinner on Fridays which makes it a great location for after work drinks or perhaps for after late night shopping dinner!