Grill’d & Bravo Trattoria, 11 Dec 2009


After chancing upon Grill’d whilst in Brisbane, Monsieur Poisson and I took the opportunity to try a much more local outlet in Crows Nest with Mistress one Friday evening. At no stage was the place full but there were a steady stream of people coming and going throughout our time there.


In keeping with their store themes, this one is decked out in the exact same fashion as the one we were at in Brisbane. Lots of sketches of cows, sheep and chicken in funny situations adorn the walls with witty dialogue bubbles. I also like it because there are splashes of red everywhere but this is a personal bias.


We order at the counter and decide on the chunky ‘Herbed Chips’ to share along with three burgers – ‘Baa Baa’, ‘Tuscan Delight’ and the impressive-sounding ‘Almighty’. The chips arrive first in their paper bag alongside a small tub or herbed mayonnaise. The chips are evenly seasoned and a lovely shade of golden but not as crispy as I’d like. We have a few chips left over at the end of the meal but the creamy herbed mayonnaise is cleared long before that.


How can you come across a burger named ‘Baa Baa’ and not order it? Of course, it’s not only the name which ropes us in but also the enticing combination of a grilled lamb pattie with avocado, cheese, salad, relish and herbed mayonnaise billed in the description. We have this on a white burger bun holding the juicy pattie, tangy relish and generous dollop of fresh green avocado.


Next up is the ‘Tuscan Delight’ ordered on a panini roll. There is grilled chicken breast with smoky bar marks sandwiched with roasted capsicum, basil pesto, cheese, salad and herbed mayonnaise. The basil pesto is the standout feature of this burger – it is fresh, herby and has a bucket-load of texture through the plentiful incorporation of nuts. The pesto reminds us of a basil and cashew dip available in the supermarkets.


The ‘Almighty’ is your Aussie burger minus the sometimes tropical addition of pineapple. This burger we have on a wholemeal bun enclosing a grilled beef pattie, cheese, bacon, fried egg, beetroot, salad, relish and herbed mayonnaise. Although the egg is not runny, the beef pattie is thick and juicy and the tart beetroot works well with the sweet and tangy relish.


After dinner and in need of a sweet fix, we wander up the road and around the corner to, where else but, Bravo Trattoria for some gelato. Except by the time we get there, Mistress and I are both distracted by the prospect of cannoli that we forget about gelato altogether! I leave it up to Monsieur Poisson to cover the gelato department and he orders cookies and cream as well as choc-mint. The choc-mint is not your usual lurid green but a pale, milky shade of chocolate instead. However upon tasting it, there is no mistaking the awakening flavour of mint.


Our cannoli also do not disappoint and are crispy, although this does make them a little hard to eat without shards of pastry flying everywhere! And while Monsieur Poisson and Mistress wash down their desserts with a caffe latte each, I opt for an affogato so that I can indulge in a bit of gelato as well.


57 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW
Tel: (02) 9436 0699

Opening Hours:  Sun-Thurs  11:30am-10pm
Fri & Sat  11:30am-11pm

Grill'd on Urbanspoon


6-8 Falcon St, Crows Nest NSW
Tel: (02) 9906 6630

Opening Hours:  Mon  CLOSED
Tues-Thurs  12pm-12am
                        Fri & Sat  12pm-1am
                        Sun  12pm-12am

Bravo Trattoria and Gelato Bar on Urbanspoon

happy eating!

12 comments:

  1. Mmm, I like the look of the Chicken burger too. I don't think there is any crime in eating a burger and ones made with care with quality ingredients are definitely satisfying.

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  2. I don't mind me... I am drooling on my keyboard as I type.

    I love a real mean burger, the kinds that are giant and with everything. Just like the ones you were lucky enough to sink your teeth into. The only problem I have is that I am tiny and delicate, eating one of these is a very funny sight to see :)

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  3. I love the look of the avocado in the Baa Baa. Quite like the name too, I can understand the difficulty in resisting it!

    I had quite disappointing choc mint gelato last night. Not enough choc, not enough mint, all the effort seemed to have gone into the green colour. Glad one of us got some choc mint satisfaction.

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  4. you are a woman after my own heart - burgers and ice cream!! :) beleive it or not - we were meant to go to Grilld today but ended up at SIL's house where we had burgers anyway... but i'm still keen to go and try it out :)

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  5. Yum Rita! Reminds me of an american diner. Hey did you get a new camera? Your pics are very good!

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  6. Gotta love those wall "graffiti"! I'm not really a burger person however I'll take the cannoli anytime!

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  7. Mmm! That cannoli looks fantastic! What's that sprinkled on top? I love a good, crunchy cannoli!

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  8. Those are some mighty fine burgers!

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  9. Hee hee the Baa Baa is my fav at Grill'd! I love their chips as well and mmm affogato is so win-win

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  10. Those burgers look so tasty! I'm so keen to try Grill'd

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  11. i've been to grill'd in melbourne but have yet to make my way to the one in crows nest - the crows nest store does look a lot bigger though. and of course, a dinner in crows nest needs to be followed by dessert at bravo's!!

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  12. Hey Mark, love a good burger esp when it's billed as 'healthy' =p I know there is such a thing but it's also a psychological soother!

    Hey Amy, haha, there's something so comforting about burgers! And I look funny when I eat larger ones too because I have a small jaw =p

    Hey Conor, so much squishy, creamy avocado! Not the same can be said for artificially green mint ice-cream though...*bleurgh*

    Hey Joy, the combination of burgers and ice cream is almost childlike =)

    Hey Trissa, yes, husband got me a new camera just before Christmas! However, you will still see occasional dodgy photos from my phone when the camera is forgotten at home =p

    Hey Trisha, the walls are so cute and funny! Mmmm, yes, cannoli...

    Hey Lorraine, if I don't remember wrong each end of the cannoli was dipped into crushed nuts and biscuit crumbs. Light as a feather filling too!

    Hey SK, go have a try when you get a chance =)

    Hey FFichiban, the name 'Baa Baa' is just too cute! Helps that the burger tastes good as well. Affogato is always what I go for when I can't quite fit in dessert AND coffee =p

    Hey missklicious, try Grill'd and The Counter across the road.

    Hey Panda, when in Crows Nest there's just no avoiding Bravo's gelato!

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