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Restaurant

Essa Restaurant & Wine Bar

181 Robertson St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia

Recommended by 0 people

Updated

Find Essa Restaurant & Wine Bar

181 Robertson St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia

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+61 7 3177 1011
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:00 – 11:00 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 11:00 PM Thursday: 5:00 – 11:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Saturday: 5:00 – 11:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Essa Restaurant & Wine Bar

Tucked off Robertson Street into a dark, leafy corner of the Valley, Essa skips standard dining scripts for smoke, harvest, and fire. Diners in the know surrender decisions entirely to the “leave it to us” feast—a steady flow of wood-fired Moreton Bay bugs in bay leaf butter, sliced duck, and Black Angus rump cap with anchovy butter. Even the bread hits the mark, served warm with Tommerup’s Dairy butter. Midweek tables fill for the five-plate mystery menu, where the kitchen test-runs seasonal ideas at an easy price, while sommeliers pour unexpected bottles from Chinese vineyards alongside boutique Australian producers.

  • 'Leave It to Us' Tasting Menus: Features wood-fired Moreton Bay bugs, tender duck, and Black Angus rump cap paired with intuitive sommelier selections.
  • Sommelier-Led Cellar Discoveries: Pouring unexpected international finds from Chinese vineyards alongside boutique Australian labels.
  • Wednesday Mystery Dinners: A surprise five-course seasonal progression every mid-week offering test-kitchen experimentation at an accessible fixed price.
RestaurantModern AustralianRestaurantWine Bar

What's On at Essa Restaurant & Wine Bar

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Diners Choose Essa Restaurant & Wine Bar

From produce-driven blind tasting menus to unhurried Sunday feasts and unexpected global cellaring, here is why diners trust Essa.

  • Leave It to Us Tasting Menus

    Let the kitchen take the lead with multi-course tasting formats served in a dark, atmospheric dining room or directly at the chef's counter.

    Sitting at the chefs counter and allowing them to feed us was one of the truly spectacular dining experiences I’ve had to date.

    Elliot Pascoe

  • Curated Sommelier Discoveries

    Knowledgeable sommeliers curate tailored pairings that introduce diners to unexpected bottles and emerging international terroirs like Chinese vintages alongside boutique domestic labels.

    He even introduced us to Chinese wines, which was so unique!

    Ana C.

  • Wednesday Night Mystery Menu

    Essa's unannounced mid-week five-course format gives guests front-row access to adventurous, seasonal kitchen experimentation without ordering off the à la carte menu.

    Wednesday night 5 plate mystery menu was an excellent choice. Much more budget friendly than ordering from the regular a la carte menu.

    Simone

  • Accessible Fixed-Price Innovation

    The kitchen's inventive mid-week offerings present an approachable way to experience high-technique farm-forward cooking at a fixed $76 price.

    For $76, I think it’s a good value for money.

    Tony Ng

  • Sunday School Concept Dining

    The dedicated Sunday School concept transforms weekend dining into an unhurried, multi-course culinary journey designed around regional themes.

    The concept of slow grazing over many small courses is fabulous.

    Donna

  • Unpretentious Group Hospitality

    Front-of-house staff and kitchen teams pair precise execution with warm, down-to-earth hospitality that makes social gatherings feel comfortable.

    The service is brilliant and has a beautiful humour that puts you at ease.

    freya rutherford

Most celebrated dishes and tasting experiences at Essa Restaurant & Wine Bar

  • Sunday School Set Menu

    Sunday School at Essa was an amazing culinary experience and we WILL be back. The concept of slow grazing over many small courses is fabulous.

    Donna

  • Wednesday Night Five Plates Mystery Menu

    Wednesday night 5 plate mystery menu was an excellent choice. Much more budget friendly than ordering from the regular a la carte menu. Food was delicious, service great.

    Simone

  • Wood-Fired Moreton Bay Bug

    We finished the starters with the wood-fired Moreton Bay bug with bay leaf butter and sea herbs. Perfectly cooked, generously buttery and a luxurious way to transition into the mains.

    Dan R

  • Black Angus Rump Cap

    The rump cap & tomato with whipped tuna dish were some of our faves.

    Emma Tyrrell

Other favorites

Sides, cellar surprises, and sweet finishes that round out the tasting experience.

  • Bread with Tommerup’s Dairy Jersey Milk Butter

    Essa’s bread with Tommerup’s Dairy jersey milk butter followed, good structure, good flavour, and exactly what great bread should be.

    Dan R

  • Macadamia Sorbet

    macadamia sorbet , unbelievably smooth and creamy.

    Dan R

  • Fig Tart with Cardamom Cream

    beautiful fig tart, to close out the meal (the texture of the cardamom cream was unbelievable!).

    Ana C.

  • Chinese Wine Pairings

    He even introduced us to Chinese wines, which was so unique!

    Ana C.

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality nuances that elevate the dining journey—reserve your table and let the team guide the night.

  • Surprise Celebration Gestures

    Special celebrations are acknowledged with genuine warmth, noted by diners when \"the team even brought out a little extra treat for my husbands 40th birthday.\"

  • Attentive Dietary Adaptations

    Staff take dietary preferences seriously and adapt dishes seamlessly, such as arranging for vegetables \"to be cooked in a different way\" without fuss.

  • Unexpected Wine Pairings

    Sommeliers design adventurous pairings from unexpected terroirs, surprising guests when introduced \"to Chinese wines, which was so unique!\"

  • Engaging Chef's Counter Hospitality

    Counter seating brings engaging, unpretentious hospitality, where \"sitting at the chefs counter and allowing them to feed us\" is paired with moments where \"even the chefs, who are hard at work, crack a few jokes.\"

Before you head over

Insider advice on navigating tasting menus, surprise courses, and cellar pairings.

  • Wednesday Mystery Menu Strategy

    Embrace the surprise of Essa's mid-week test-kitchen format ($76), where dishes are unannounced until served. If you have a hearty appetite, consider supplementing the courses with an additional snack.

  • Trust the Sommelier for Rare Pours

    Rather than laboring over bottle selections, let the sommelier craft tailored pairings. The program frequently pours unexpected regional selections, such as rare Chinese vintages that balance the wood-fired dishes.

  • Plan Ahead for Slow-Grazing Sundays

    Sunday School lunch is structured as a leisurely, multi-course slow graze. Reserve your table well in advance and set aside unhurried time to fully enjoy the rotating daytime concept menu.

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