Bar Monte Newstead | Must Do Brisbane

Bar Monte is Newstead's neighbourhood gem - a slick contemporary Italian restaurant and bar tucked in a laneway off Longland St and serving top notch food with an effortlessly casual yet chic vibe.

Diners can take a seat in the laneway or in the stunning retro-modern interior where features include a gorgeous backlit bar along the back wall, popcorn-textured walls, frosted glass windows, polished concrete floors and Bauhaus-style dining tables and chairs.

Bar Monte is the kind of place where you can stop and enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail with one of their exquisite snacks such as Ortiz Anchovy Toast with smoked tomato butter & lemon (must-try); Half Shell Scallops with charred corn puree & potato match sticks; and Mortadella Bun with pickled green chilli & limoncello aioli.

Entrees are equally delectable and include Yellow Fin Tuna (with pineapple, green chilli, lemon & Koji mayo); Burrata (with spicy nduja, cashew pesto, basil oil & grilled bread); Beef Carpaccio (truffle mayo, fried capers, shallots & Reggiano); and Shallow-Fried Calamari with balsamic mayo, leaves & lemon.

The selection of Pasta & Risotto dishes includes Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe (Pecorino Romano & black pepper); Paccheri Ala Vodka (Nduja & Stracciatella); Pappardelle Bolognese Wagyu Ragu (Parmigiano Reggiano & fried sage); and Risotto )peas, asparagus, zucchini, Stracciatella & basil oil).

And for Mains, there's a choice of Veal Cotoletta (brown butter sauce, fried capers & baby rocket); Barbequed Diavola Chicken (fermented chilli, bullhorne pepper sugo, salmoriglio); Bistecca (porcini rub, onion & marrow butter); and Pan-Fried Market Fish (Jerusalem artichoke, white anchovy, parsley salsa).

For Dessert it's hard to go past the Tiramisu (one of the best in Brisbane); while other temptations include Coconut Milk Panna Cotta; Chocolate Fondant Tarte with almond crumble & vanilla ice cream; or Polenta Cake with Limoncello syrup & whipped cream.

Bar Monte's comprehensive wine list features a curated selection of wines from Australian and European producers and there's also a small selection of Aperitifs including Amero Averna and Montenegro, Lustau Pedro Ximénez and Tommy's Limoncello. Meanwhile the cocktail menu features a mix of classics and house signatures.