When The French Food Shop first emerged in Fortitude Valley in 2016, it was with the intention to showcase the best elements of French cuisine beyond frites and foie gras. Over two years of operation, Ghislan and Selma Pourbaix earned a loyal following, but gradually came to lament the lack of space their venue offered and the often-fickle whims of The Valley’s lunch crowd. Eventually, Ghislan and Selma desired more room to showcase the true breadth of French-inspired dining, deciding to find a new location once their lease ended. After scouting out some possible locations around Brisbane, the couple decided to take over the space formerly occupied by Olivier Boudon’s Sprout Cafe. Falling in love with the venue’s home-style charm and leafy locale, Ghislan and Selma decided to set up shop, giving the space a lick of paint, a new bar and some new furnishings before opening to the public as Eiffel Restaurant 2.0 in early April.

With more room to move comes more room to make magic. As chef de cuisine Selma has full control over the menu, which currently boasts a collection of dishes from France and across Europe, imbued with Autumnal colours and hearty flavours. With a greater focus on fine dining over the tapas-style bistro offering of the Fortitude Valley incarnation, Eiffel Restaurant offers entrees, mains and desserts, with five choices apiece (soon to be seven). Quintessential French choices include escargots with garlic-parsley butter and Burgundy truffle butter, blueberry country terrine with red onion pickles, eye-fillet with a tomato Béarnaise emulsion and potatoes Macaire, and decadent parfaits, fondants and crème brulees, but expect the menu to change as we approach winter. The restaurant is fully licensed (BYO wine is also available), with French and Australian wine and beer available to pair with your choice of dish.

For more opening hours and booking information, find Eiffel Restaurant in the Stumble Guide and bon appetit!