Lennon's Restaurant and Bar @ Next Hotel

One of the revamps of part of Brisbane's Queen St in recent times is the Next hotel (formerly site of the Chifley) -- very noticeable as it's right next to and above the also recent Forever 21. 

Inside the restuarant

Walked past many times and you have to be intrigued by the hanging pendant lamps that seemed to be part of the very new, very industrial meets suburban loft decor through glass windows. Huge improvement to the gold and concrete that was there before. 

Decided to satisfy the curiosity and see if the restaurant offering has improved too--surely they couldn't have let the run down Chinese place stay? 

No Chinese in sight --instead you find Lennon's Restaurant and Bar with it's bar, open kitchen and the pendant lights you see from Queen St Mall. 

This place does the first impression right with the decor but it needs to follow through with the service and food. Surly waitress more intent on slowly punching in her docket to the computer than greeting us--we get you could be busy but at least acknowledge us. 

Seated to our table with a grunt and menus chucked down in front with a 'so and so should be with you soon'. No offers of drinks, not even water and yes we had to hail down a waiter to order. 

Menu is your standard 'modern Australian'--which is a nice way of putting meat and 3 vege and it's modern because you put spices and other not so common stuff on it. 

Entree was a stunner--when it was placed on the table it definitely lifted our spirits-- generous portions of pork belly and octopus and even hubby had to say 'best piece of pork belly he's had this year'--not so oily, nice texture and very flavoursome. 

Pork belly & octopus

Long wait between the entrees and mains--not surprising since when we got our mains they were luke warm. No grill marks on mine or my hubby's steak and it's hard to go past the streak of fat on my steak. Often you go to places where the chef seemed to have squandered an ingredient--in this case I think its the opposite where the chef had to make do with what's there. Meat flavour not up to par, greyish tinge and hey if you got something substandard why should you care about cooking it well. Highlight was the roast garlic on my plate. At least they didn't use the usual leaf mix for the side salad. 

eye fillet 

sirloin steak--note streak of fat

If Lennons wants to extend the clientele beyond the hotel guests who eat there for convenience and ignorance of other choices, food and service need to catch up to the decor.