Being in the "catbird seat" is the way you'd describe someone who's "sitting pretty" and with its quaint Parisian-inspired fitout and generous European menu, The Catbird Seat Bistro is indeed in an enviable position. The chic dining room is set in East Brisbane, a stone's throw from the Gabba. A raised open kitchen allows diners to see the chefs at work on high-end European ingredients like peck, sauerkraut, poussin, duck neck and the kitchen smokes, bakes, pickles and cures everything in-house.
Bare-bones dish descriptions are effective teasers for the menu at this European-inspired bistro. Sure, the stylish 30-seater run by owner-chef James Guldberg and wife, Erinn Jordan (who oversees the floor), has a steadfast local clientele. But it's also a venue worth making a trip across town for, particularly for the bargain prix-fixe lunch. Try the turkey liver parfait with plum preserve and buttery brioche, maybe, or the kangaroo tartare with macadamia bread? Cape Grim sirloin comes paired with a leek and potato hash that boasts enough punch to hold its own against richly flavoured meat, and is a standout, and adventurous diners can eat nose-to-tail with the aptly named "Best Bits From A Pig". The dessert offer is short but sweet, especially if you order "Lots of Chocolate", a creative dish featuring rich marquise, bubbly Aero, chocolate jelly and crumbs. A glass of something tawny from a mainly Australian wine list is the perfect foil.
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