Lock ‘n’ Load Bistro

This place had been around for quite a while on Boundary Rd, while others, come and go, this one has been a rock. Food and service is really good and of course heaps of beer and cider on tap.

There was nothing we could complain about our dinner here last night!
Not even something we could ‘mmm and ahhh, maybe’ about it. I made the booking half an hour before we got there, and they were very accommodating. Mea was as graceful a hostess as she is beautiful, and her recommendations were nothing short of perfection. The venue itself is also gorgeous, beautiful mismatched reclaimed wood open veneer at the entrance, and all timber interior with funk phresh, inventive decorating. Ladders, chairs and wooden scissors adorn the wall and compliment the overall warm and inviting feeling of the entire establishment.
The meat-​eating guests ate the Chef’s special Pork Belly Appetiser which they said was absolutely delightful, while I had some of the polenta and mushrooms with herbs that was easily the best polenta dish I’ve ever eaten. It was silky smooth and perfectly balanced with butter and garlic without being overpowering.
For my main, I had the Pan Seared Atlantic Salmon and salad, which was divine. The salad was composed of lentils, cabbage and what I think was barley but I can’t remember now — all I recall is that it was absolutely perfect. The salmon was melt-​in your mouth goodness with a perfectly crisp row of skin on top. To accompany, I had their tropical juice — nevermind your basic bitch Cotties/​Just Juice mix I’d normally be served as a non-​drinker, this was fresh and stuffed with mint and fruit. Outrageous.
My boo had the lamb shoulder, which was so tender that when he merely caressed it, it would fall apart and glisten with flavor. The biggest meal of the night was the Pork Belly main, which my mama couldn’t finish as it could probably have easily fed two — also described as perfect. The fourth meal, the Barramundi was consumed with such speed and gusto I didn’t get a chance to see how it looked, but papa said that it was delicious.
¹⁰⁄₁₀ — will definitely come back again. Super stoked to have this place as my 100^th Review. Thanks guys!!!

Not even worth one star. Worst customer service I’ve experienced in a long time. Wait staff were very rude. Water was spilt all over my friend by the waitstaff with barely even an apology.

We ate here for lunch on a hot sunny Summers day. The air-​con struggled to keep the place cool and sitting outdoors wasn’t an option.
The menu had lots of gluten free and vegan options (one of our diners was a vegan) so we were happy with the range.
The wait-​staff were super friendly and lovely, and despite our meals taking a long time to come out, we enjoyed our lunch.

Had been to Lock’n’Load a couple times for drinks but never dined in, but after seeing the one for one deal in my entertainment book I thought it’d be nice to try out their food.
Went for an early dinner on a Tuesday night, so the restaurant area was fairly empty, service staff were very friendly.
We ordered the Buttermilk Chicken & the Lamb Medallions and were very impressed by both dishes!
If you’re just here for drinks I also recommend getting one of the beer/​cider towers, great value!

It’s been a while since we ate here (brekky), but the one thing that stood out was the very long wait for food. The brekky itself was stylishly prepared and pretty tasty. Water refills required flagging down.
The area out back is an obvious highlight and comfy. So unless you like it dark or are here for dinner /​beer, make sure to pass by the bar area and head for the patio.

For a long time Lock ‘n’ Load was a very respectable pub-​fare watering hole and occasional breakfast place, back when they still served a decent breakfast sans kale and «moon dried tomatoes». These days you have to dig past the weird South-​American-​fusion-​with-​a-​Mediterranean-​Americana-​Pubfare-​twist thing they’ve got going on just to find your poached eggs and bacon.
Maybe they decided trying to compete with The Gunshop Café, or Jam Jar (now closed), which is not an ignoble endeavour but does require a fair amount of je né sais quoi to pull off. Along with a certain level of culinary skill I have yet to see from any of the meals I’ve eaten there in the last 5 years. C+ for trying guys but the current train wreck of a «shepherd’s pie» they’re serving indicates they’ve got a long way to go until they unify their aspirations with their output. The mishmash of influences leads to a confusing menu and confusing palette when you eventually get your plate in front of you, and the huge variances in serving sizes do nothing to help the feeling that the place is trying hard to be something it’s not.
You can still get an okay burger and chips, but $ 9 for some olives shoved in the oven is a bit over the top, even for West End standards. Maybe one day they’ll find some clarity and decide exactly what they’re trying to offer the customer but for now I guess they’re still working it out.

This place has the worst service I have ever experienced. Turn up at about 7.45am on a Sunday. There were about 4 staff on that I could see, about 5 people already seated and dining, and about 20 free tables. We walk up to the «please wait to be seated» sign. None of the staff acknowledge us. So we wait. And wait. And wait. About five minutes pass and the girl behind the till notices we are getting annoyed. She tells us her colleague will be with us in a moment, she couldn’t seat us because she didn’t know what was happening with the reservations so she didn’t want to seat us at a reserved table… She saw that I wasn’t thrilled with that response so went off to find her colleague who was in charge of reservations. This took a few more minutes. The girl finally came back with another girl who finally got us seated. This whole saga took about 15 minutes… Really should have just left then. The food took ridiculously long, and when it did come out it was below average. Not fresh and not cooked well… Hard poached eggs… No thanks! We got up and left by about 9am… And all the tables were still free? Not sure what the issue with seating us and dealing with reservations was when obviously it wasn’t busy? Really unimpressed.

Saturday morning is always about, relaxing, hand in hand shopping, lazy thoughts and defragging from a busy week, unless of course if you are in the ever mad world of hospitality.
So deciding to venture to West end to explore the amazing culture that makes this very groovy area what it is, electric, unique, cultural and creative all things I enjoy and are passionate about in life.
Before Sunnybank, Tenneriffe, Newstead and The Valley became the «Über ’ social hub of Brisbane West end was the place for great multi cultural food, markets, aspiring artists and eccentric characters who to put it mildly were very individual.
There were fantastic cheap, Asian, Indian, vegetarian well before Kale was hip and all we used it for was food displays on buffets and the trouble I used to have to get supplies of Kale and they would virtually give it to me for free.
Coffee spaces, littered with milk crates adjourned the streets, buskers, artist showcasing talents and wares of sometimes, chemical infused creativity.
It was a fantastic hub for live music and had a wonderful vibe, the markets showcasing the cottage industry well before we has these so called farmers markets which are mostly full of opportunist stalls who drive to rock lea markets on Friday and buy all the seconds and repackage in $ 2 bags which equate to sometimes 30% more than what you can buy in a supermarkets! but the public love the thought of buying direct.
So now Westend is still unique, but a little more commercial and some great favs like the Gunshop, 3 Monkeys are still rocking along although many have changed hands along the way, we walked the strip and settled on a fav bar and live music spot «Lock and Load»
We decided on a tipple of my fav at the moment Stone &Wood pale ale, love Byron Bay and this is one of the best exports from this very popular spot.
We settled next to the people show, showcasing a steady pass by of the Saturday crowd listen to Geoff a regular who I am sure auditioned for both «» «swamp people «and «Australia’s greatest bogan» a wonderful character committed to both the Broncos and the Missus «Shaz».
A wonderful creative list for wines by the glass from all regions, great selection of both tap and bottled beers, enhanced by the retro look which is starting to fade but still popular enough for this icon to still keep rockin!
We asked to sit and having dined here a few times were excited to be placed in a queue awaiting safe passage to the back for a courtyard table, showcasing a beautiful sunny and mild Brisbane winter day.
Time passed as our perhaps a little unhappy host settled accounts whilst our line of hungry patrons awaited their culinary journey.
We waited… Finally we were shown to our table, now those of you who enjoy the exploration of human biorhythms, mind sets, attitudes and behavioural patterns will understand the need for a social alpha male like myself to be in a seat of which I can survey the landscape, protect my lady and enjoy all the wonderful vibe of a busy hospitality venue.
So here I am seated against a cupboard, looking at rat traps, old kegs and back facing the whole world which immediately raises alarms for me, being a man who has travelled the world many times, I always place myself where I can see who is where, who is what and if any danger is about, having seen many Loud, Americans rolled in Naples for their Rolex, witnessed vesper driving bag snatchers and poor souls waiting for their items to be wrapped only to return to their hotels with a box which should contain a video camera, only to be home to a very polished rock identical in weights and size.
With all this in mind we peruse a great menu, the famous ham hock cakes, eggs Benedict only on the weekends ???) and of course the famous fully loaded a must if you enjoy a refuel after a long and busy week, showcased by a Friday night «bigger than Texas»
Sides are affordable priced unlike some which charge incredibly to the stage of where a main course for breakfast hit $ 30 Which is insane !!!
Alas my natural tendencies do not make me comfortable and we decide to vacate and try another of the fine establishments on offer, a shame, seating and making your customers happy is far more important than settling accounts, Hospitality is about exceeding customer expectations and making a sale if someone wants your product, ensure you deliver your product with passion, professionalism and love to keep them coming back.

What a pleasant surprise this bistro is. It’s not a bit like a pub. There is loads of atmosphere, the staff are friendly helpful and efficient. The chef can cook and there is an interesting variety of food on the menu. I had the pork, crispy and sumptuous. The beer is cold, Coopers Pale on tap and the wine list is good also.

I came here a long time ago and loved the meal I had, and it was suggested we come here for a drink tonight.
Lovely, quiet ambience of a Monday night, and when we got hungry from the smells coming from the restaurant area, it was no trouble getting seated right away. No doubt booking might be a good idea on a busier night.
My dining partner had the gnocchi and loved it. My rib fillet was also delicious. Even the beans were good, and trust me, I don’t like beans. If I was to have a complaint, it was the size of my meal. An hour later and I could still sit down and eat an entire meal.
I was tossing up taking this to 4 stars. It really is quite good. The food is great, the staff were friendly, the ambience is lovely. But one of my pet peeves is coming away from a meal hungry. I’ll admit I didn’t have dessert, but unless the desserts were giant (they weren’t on my first visit a long time ago, and I know the meal sizes were most definitely bigger then. We went in hungry and came out full), I’m thinking I’d still be hungry.

I just had a TERRIBLE experience at Lock ‘n’ Load and had to share. There needs a recent update on review to this venue as well.
It’s my birthday month and I am a VIP member of L’n’L. When you’re a VIP member, they send you a really nice email telling you to book dinner and they will send you a complimentary bottle of bubbly! Yeah, right?! It’s nice unless your bubbles go to a table of four Asian girls. Disclosure– I am Asian as well but my party was for two and it was my male friend J and I. I am not sure how you can mess that up other than not paying ANY attention at all your guests and at the birthday reservation. That is straight up carelessness and not being professional. That makes me feel NOT VIP at all and question why they even have this membership. First strike.
Then, we ordered a cheese platter and two mains. The cheese platter comes after a decent wait time but our mains NEVER come. I’m talking– two other couples are seated and have their mains before us and we arrived before them. One couple even finished before we received our main. Is that acceptable?! I think NOT!!! Strike two.
Our mains seriously do not come and the table of four sitting next to us leave after eating and enjoying their dinner. A waitress comes up and tells us that they just served a party of 50 and our meals went in RIGHT after theirs and that they would be out soon. I told them how I saw how the other two couples were seated after us but were served before us and she explained that it was because they didn’t order an entrée! Is that even a valid excuse?! No it is not. They say that our meals will be right out.
After waiting even longer, our waitress brings out two dishes and she goes, «Falafel???» to which I reply we had the gnocchi and the pork belly. She places the gnocchi in front of my friend J’s and then goes, «Right, pork belly…» SERIOUSLY?! You just made us wait for like an hour and didn’t even bring out the right plate. Strike three.
I would have given them one star had it not been for the saving grace of the meal. I liked my meal but was it worth over an hour’s wait? No. The complimentary bubbles were a 30 minutes wait in itself. If this is how you treat VIP members, I am really questioning why I am even a member.
They did not even apologize for the ridiculous wait or offer any compensation. The area where we were seated was NOT full. If it was completely packed, I would have some understanding (maybe) but for a quiet birthday dinner, it was a horrible experience. I felt neglected and not special in ANY WAY. I don’t plan to go back because that’s not how you treat any customer, birthday celebration or not. I will not be recommending this place to anyone I know and felt terrible for my friend as it was his first experience as well.

Lock and (sorry, n) Load has changed since last I was here. But since I didn’t have a review already written I guess there’s no update, just this.
This chilly August morning needed a nice warm breakfast, so off we popped. Unfortunately I could not spy a heater and while sitting inside I still felt frozen. Not to worry though, fellow Unilocalers, I had a jacket in the car.
Ordered some coffees as we sat down and started to peruse the menu. Said menu has changed. The 7 item long list includes «green eggs & ham» which are basically eggs Benedict and «French toast» which reads more like croque Madame.
After twenty minutes the person who seated us took our order. He was nice enough. A bit awkward, initially walked away without indicating we were to follow him then stood directly in front of my seat. But no worries he was nice enough. As he took our order I asked about our 20 minute late coffee. He seemed as concerned as we were and took off so fast he forgot to grab our menus.
30 minutes of alone time with my lovely lady later and our coffees came, along with apologies and the offer to take them off the bill. Trying hard LnL? Keep it up. I give props to the staff member taking our orders, well handled situation.
French toast for me, bacon and egg bagel for my lady. Food was fine. Everything was fine. Nothing was great. I do think they were having an off day though with sick staff. They also do dinner so it might be different, and it also might be better suited to someone else’s tastes. A couple of parks out front, all street parking.

Oh, Lock’n’Load. You used to be so cool! You used to be the place where we chose to meet for breakfast. But recently, you’ve changed.
I popped in to see you this morning, you seemed a little aloof. I know it’s been a while, but you were a little cold. Your menu became pretentious, old favourites were gone. Replaced with silly names for regular dishes and a price hike on the sides.
We were left with menus and ordered coffee. Someone came back 20min later to tell us there was a special (but not what it was) and to pour out some water (but not take our order). Our coffee arrived after a 30 minute wait — but the friendly server assured us they would be taken off the bill (which it actually wasn’t and we had to mention it)
Our food arrived and I’m sad to say it was a little disappointing. Fried eggs were a bit cold and undercooked. Bagel was sitting on top of relish and had gone soggy. Hash browns were delicious which was lucky as I get upset when someone ruins a hash brown.
All in all I just feel like Lock’n’Load and I aren’t close the way we used to be. Even the little things — like soap dispensers in the bathroom had been replaced with mildly sexist alcohol related marketing.
We’ve spent some time apart and you’re just not the breakfast favourite you used to be. It’s not me — it’s you.

I had an afternoon in the West End the other day and we went to Lock’n’Load for lunch. They have quite an extensive menu of Mediterranean fusion style food and I was certainly not disappointed by my lunch. Excellent food, good and quick service.
I didn’t have a drink there nor can I say anything about the place at night time but as far as food was concerned, fab!

Lock n Load is one of my favourite places to go for drinks with a large group of friends. My circle of friends is made up of people with lots of differing ideas on a good night out. Some like to drink at traditional pubs, others want to go out for a nice dinner, others like cocktail bars, and others want a venue with live music. Lock n Load is a crowd-​pleaser and is one of those places where anyone will have a good time. It has a fun, relaxed atmosphere and traditional beers and wine for your pub-​going friends, a restaurant section for your foodie friends, good (often live) music for your musical friends, and they have an interesting cocktail list for your tippling friends. I’m always surprised by how good the cocktails at Lock n Load are because they don’t really push themselves as a cocktail place, but believe me when I say you’ll find some quality cocktails there.
The atmosphere at Lock n Load is very cheerful and communal, and it’s one of those places that somehow encourages conversations among strangers. Often I’ve been sitting at Lock n Load with a group of friends and another group will be sitting next to us and before the night is out everyone has made a new friend or five. If you get hungry after your drinks, head out the back to the seating area and order some food. Another thing I like to do is have a couple of Mojitos at Lock n Load before heading next door for MExican at El Torito. Double the fun!
As one of West End’s longest-​lasting venues, Lock n Load is very popular (and like I said, suits anyone) so you might have to queue at the bar for a minute, but the service is quick and friendly and you’ll probably make a new friend in line!

I’ve had some seriously kick arse times at Lock ‘n’ Load that inspire me to say things like «it’s damn near the best place to get your drink on this side of the river». I’ve sadly also had just as many downright detestable times there which make me say things like «Lock n Load is where you’ll find the biggest circle jerk in town». The best and the worst of it is, both comments are reactions to the staff.
The key is to pick the right time, and by right time, I mean, right bar tender. MOST of the bar tenders are awesomely friendly folk who will give every punter the treat of their easy charisma. For the most part, they’re rad guys and gals who are easy to fool around with.
Sadly, there’s one or two bar tenders who work there who think they shit gold nuggets. They’re the ones you’ll see smashing shots behind the bar because «yeah? F**k you. This is my bar and I’ll do what I want. You can’t touch me.» They’re also the ones who don’t seem to be able to manage difficult patrons or adversity in a mature fashion. They’ll yell a long line of expletives at punters, rather than calmly showing them the door if the polite approach doesn’t work the first time around. You’ll be able to pick them because they’re also the ones who think a surly «F**k you and your needs» bar tending attitude is the way to win friends and influence people. As I said, it’s only a couple of bar tenders who are like this. They are easily avoided.
The alfresco area out the back is a fantastic spot for dining. The food isn’t bad either, but it’s nothing to write home about. The weekend brekky is the winning ticket, that’s for sure. Watch out if you’re a coffee snob, you may not be too impressed with your cup of joe.
There’s usually some great music there of a weekend. I’d say, the best time to go to Lock ‘n’ Load is a Sunday afternoon. Grab some friends in the twilight hours and go sink some piss to some great local tunes. If you do by chance have a run in with one of the surly bar tenders, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

After Archive, Lock ‘n’ Load is the second best place to have a relaxed drink in West End. The place is also a casual dining restaurant but I have never been here for that so my review can only focus on that.
The good thing about Lock ‘n’ Load is that it manages to keep that relaxed West End vibe minus the ‘dirty hippyness’. The place decorated in lots of wood and the outdoor area is decorated accordingly. When I come here, I prefer to sit outside as I find the indoors area can get a little bit too loud and cramped. What I like about the outside is that it is nice and shaded with lots of trees and greens.
Obviously, Archives is a much better option for beer drinkers and the the bar menu option is not incredible but it does include some of your «better» Australian beers such as Rogers and Coopers.
Overall, I am a fan of Lock ‘n’ Load. Before Archive opened, it is where I would go for a drink if I ever found myself in West End.

It’s not too much to ask for right?
A place you can go where you feel relaxed,
a not-​too-​loud band is playing something smooth,
the sun is setting lower, your friend’s start arriving
and to top off this perfect picture your wagyu beef burger is set on the table.
This could easily be you IF you make your way down to this great little bar’n’bistro.
Lock’n’Load has been a firm favourite of mine since I first started trawling through westend.
It has a really good backyard,
exceptionally friendly staff and service
and with the recent renovation’s it boasts a more authentic pub feel.
I’ve met some really good people at L’n’L
(and had some pretty successful dates here as well.)
If you are itching for a place to enjoy those long summer nights in,
check out L’n’L
you will not be disappointed.

Lock’n’Load (or ‘Lockers’ to some of the locals i.e. «Want to head down to Lockers for a sneaky cider?») was the brainchild of local dude Lachlan Bird, who saw early the potential of West End to become Brisbane’s new entertainment precinct. It’s only been over the last decade that the bar and club scene has really begun to take off south of the Brisbane river; before that any old local will tell you, it was all coffee and cakes on Boundary St.
The space itself utilises what used to be two adjoining shops, and you can still see a wooden seam where the divider wall once was. Upstairs is another dining space, used for overflow when the main room and courtyard fills up or for private functions. There’s also a verandah on the top floor overlooking the action of the main street. Anyone’s welcome to enjoy a drink or meal up there, provided it’s not booked out for an event.
Inspired by the best gastro-​pubs he saw during his twenty-​something travels, Mr Bird created Lock’n’Load to be a ‘gastro-​pub’, meaning a place where you can get a beer on tap at the bar or sit down to an epicurean meal (a play on the word gastronomic rather than gastroenteritis, don’t worry ;). Throughout its various incarnations the place has remained true to that vision, with a seasonally varying menus (including cocktails and wine) and a delicious selection of grazing platters served on authentically rustic wooden slabs.
The weekend breakfasts are also incredibly popular, with some people going as far as booking ahead for the privilege of enjoying one of their Fully-​Loaded (meat or vege) big brekkies on a Saturday morning.
They also offer live music four days a week. From intimate Tuesday night jazz sessions to rocking bands on the weekends playing anything from blues and rock through to funk, souls and reggae, the place really pulls a crowd on Friday and Saturday nights, making the venue feel decidedly cosy.
Recently, major renovations to the green, leafy courtyard (now a lot more spacious and still retaining a pleasant level of greenery) as well as redecoration to the interior and a raft of ancillary changes have given the place a slick new look for the 2000-​and-​teens. The menu is now called a «Complete Menu and Beverage List in Words» (no kidding, they spell out all the prices without numerals, perhaps a subtle mechanism for weeding out undesirable clientele who don’t pass muster?), the wait-​stations feature iPads and the wall-​paper is reportedly imported from Europe…
Never mind the window dressing though. Lock’n’Load will continue to impress as long as it stays true to its roots as an authentic local hangout offering everything from live bands, cocktails at the bar to a three-​course sit down meal.