La Cache A Vin
Spring Hill
La Cache a Vin is the jewel in the crown of Brisbane’s French restaurants, found tucked away in a Spring Hill laneway in the old St Pauls Tavern basement.
Established by renowned Brisbane chef Thierry Galichet (and now owned by esteemed French restaurateur Dan Arnold & manager Romaine Maunier), La Cache a Vin is one of the city’s true hidden treasures – a splendid cavernous dining room featuring rock walls at the rear, leather banquettes, a marble bar and a French wine cellar just inside the entrance, where diners can purchase a bottle of what they’ve enjoyed at the restaurant to take home.
The delectable menu offers traditional dishes drawn from the regions of France, preceded by ‘Temtations’ such as Roquefort Brulee, Foie Gras with peach compote and toasted pain de campagne.
Entrees include Millefeuilles aux Escargots (snail ragout with creamed spinach on puff pastry), Souffle with confit onion, Gruyere cheese and delicate kirsch veloute or Coquilles St Jacques (grilled with in shells with tomato coriander butter).
For Mains (Plats Principaux) there’s Cassoulet Toulouse (hearty white bean casserole with confit duck leg, Toulouse sausage and smoked pork belly), Poulat au Vinaigre (baked spatchcock with apple cider vinegar sauce, heirloom carrots and turnips) and Poisson de Jour (with sautéed leek, fresh black mussels and light vanilla bean), while Sides include Sauteed potato Lyonnnaise and Salade verte.
Save room for Dessert with choices such as Classique Flan Parisienne aux Rum et Raisin, delice de Pommes (caramelized cooked apple in puff pasty with whipped white chocolate ganache) or Entremet de Chocolat Truff (classic chocolate cognac ganache with crème Anglaise and strawberry coulis).
There’s also a great selection of artisan cheese plates to choose from, showcasing some of the best cheeses France has to offer.
The wine list at le Cache a Vin is also strictly French, derived from France’s leading wine-making regions and you can also purchase a bottle on the way out from the wine room by the entrance.
Meanwhile for afters diners can sip on classic French Digestifs such as cognac, armagnac and calvados.
Good to know - Also a wine bar, La Cache a Vin welcomes those who want to take a seat at the bar and enjoy a glass or two of wine with a light bite.
Need to know - La Cache a Vin is locate to the rear of and underneath the old St Pauls Tavern on the corner of St Pauls Terrace and Wharf St. Look for the neon signs at the rear laneway and you'll find the entrance to the left halfway down.
The menu may have changed since our visit.
A full list of the best restaurants in Spring Hill HERE
More of the best things to do and see in Spring Hill HERE
