Sprout Cafe

Forgot to check-​in but worthy of a review. Lovely little French bistro in a quiet seemingly affluent suburb not too far from the cbd (~10 min can ride). Offers a range of traditional French dishes with a twist in an unpretentious way. Daily menu varies based on available produce — the macadamia encrusted barramundi was fabulous. Definitely worthy of a subsequent visit!

I used to dine a Sprout quite a lot 10 years ago when I lived close by. Went for a birthday dinner there last night and it was OK, but not as good as it used to be. I had the tempura sand crab entrée. Although crispy, the crab had absorbed a lot of the oil and was a bit too greasy for my liking. The barramundi main was very tasty, but I do feel my meal was overpriced at $ 55 for 2 courses.

Atmosphere:
I really love the décor here, it’s a bit eclectic, but still a bit fancy!
Beverage list:
Sprout is BYO.
Food:
I love their food options, it’s either a 2-​course menu or a 3-​course at set prices. I think it’s perfect for organising a dinner party.
We took the 3-​course menu option and were very very happy with what we got! The food is a a French-​Asian fusion with loads of flavour and colour. We were definitely very full by the end. Their menu changes fairly often, so I don’t want to tell you exactly what we ate, just in case you can’t get it when you go. But their duck was absolutely delicious and their tarte tatin was to die for.

I’m afraid this place is trying to be a fine dining establishment, but doesn’t quite get it right. I went there for dinner recently and nothing about the experience was particularly special; for $ 70 per head (for a 3-​course meal), one expects quality. Whilst friendly, the wait staff seemed inexperienced: one entrée was forgotten and came out late, we had to ask for spoons to be brought out for our dessert and we had to remind one waitress that we were waiting on a tea.
As for the food, the entrees were good. I had the escargots, which were flavoursome and presented nicely in little pots covered in puff pastry. Mains were fine. I had the scallops and they were cooked beautifully, but my partner had the duck and it was a bit dry and came served on a bed of cubed, fried potatoes. Dessert was a major disappointment. While one member of our party had the lavender crème brûlée and really enjoyed it, three of us ordered the profiteroles, which came out frozen in the middle. Even if they’d been defrosted properly, I don’t think I would rave about them, as the flavour combination seemed a bit odd. Covered in chocolate ganache, they were served with a scoop of strawberry and szechuan pepper sorbet, a strange combination in my mind. They were returned to the kitchen and replaced with cheese platters, which were fine, but garnished bizarrely with bits of lettuce, as some of the mains were also. My partner had the fine apple tart which was dry and lacking flavour. Again, it was served with a sorbet that wasn’t well suited.
Even the décor in Sprout I found didn’t quite resemble that of a classy establishment. They have turned what is a beautiful light and airy space into one overfilled with paintings for sale, plastic dining chairs and red velvet soft furnishings. The dining tables are wooden and rustic-​looking, but unfortunately their beauty is ruined by the other décor.
The menu is as confused as the décor, full of formatting errors that immediately undermine the restaurant’s quality.
Whilst the food at Sprout wasn’t terrible, I wouldn’t eat there again, as there are plenty of other restaurants in Brisbane that charge similar prices and get it all – food, service and ambiance – just right.

I instantly warm to any restaurant which grows its own produce, so Sprout’s backyard veggie patch and native bee hives instantly piqued my interest in the place as soon as I caught wind of them.
Venturing into the unassuming Auchenflower restaurant/​café I found plenty of other reasons to like the place. First there’s the warm welcome and enthusiasm you’ll receive from the owner, Richard, who’s often found in his restaurant or pottering in the garden.
Then there’s an inspired French-​influenced modern Australian menu (written in French but mercifully with English subtitles) that will blow you away. It’s altered every eight weeks but certain favourites tend to remain as fixtures. One such dish is the ‘tempura whiting fillets with ginger prawn mousse, Asian vegetable salad and wasabi mayonnaise’. It’s conspicuously Oriental in nature but executed with a care and nuance native to all Sprouts dishes.

Cute name, right? The restaurant itself is equally endearing with a simple exterior that welcomes you into a small, but cosy café.
I’d recommend going in for breakfast because you have a great choice of cooked brekky versus pastries, fruits, and grains. You have the choice of very high-​class delicacies from salmon, blueberry and ricotta pancakes through to tartines served with jam. The jam has real fruit bits in it, so I have to commend Sprout’s authenticity and lovely taste.
It’s a quaint place to stop if you pass it by, located up past busy Baroona Road on a small hill in the back of Auchenflower. It’s a nice, small place to go if you want some privacy and an ok cup of coffee.