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Vaquero Dining
Review
About
Relaxed dining and cocktails in the heart of Albion.
Features
CUISINES
Bar, Pub, Australian
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
FEATURES
American Express
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Mastercard
Outdoor Seating
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Street Parking
Table Service
Visa
Wheelchair Accessible
Wine and Beer
Location
Street Parking
Is this a pub?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 4:30 PM
Sunday
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
4:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Wednesday
4:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Thursday
4:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Friday
11:30 am - 11:30 pm
Saturday
11:30 am - 11:30 pm
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4.5
122 reviews
Excellent
83
Very good
25
Average
7
Poor
5
Terrible
2
MrsShariP
Brisbane162 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
The first thing you notice when you walk in is the atmosphere of the place. It just puts you in the mood to wine and dine.... and that is exactly what we did.
They had a good drinks menu to choose from. I am a cocktail gal and I was very happy with their selection.
We were seated close to the kitchen so my husband and I were treated to a bit of a show watching the chefs prepare the meals, which only made us more excited to receive our own and we were not disappointed. We ordered an assortment of tapas to start, which were all very good (photo provided). I ordered the tenderloin and my husband ordered the lamb. They had, at the time, brussel sprouts which were done with smoke and cheese and were absolutely amazing. That with a side of potatoes completed the meal and sadly we couldn't fit in dessert, which was heartbreaking.
They also have a banquet option available if you're not sure on what to get or if you want to try a bit of everything.
Written 28 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alan A
Brisbane144 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
After trying to book an opportunistic dinner with a partner restaurant, I was directed to Vaquero which I am very thankful for. The service was friendly and attentive (thanks Kate), the food was inventive and delicious, and the wine list was interesting and well matched. We will be returning….
Written 18 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glen Bethel
Brisbane389 contributions
Aug 2021 • family
Vaquero never disappoint us.. we continue to come here every few months and love it every time . The banquet option is great if you want a small taste of many different elements and great for a small group
Written 12 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
40044327
Brisbane625 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
We have mixed feelings about this place. It looked so promising... We started off great - the meatballs were delicious, as were the croquettes. However, the brisket (which was apparently sous vide?) was so tough that when I tried to cut it with my knife, I thought that I was holding my knife upside down. The beans that came with it and the potato dish also lacked flavour. The worst thing really was the meat though. We were expecting super soft/can cut it with a fork meat with smoky bbq flavours. The smoky bbq flavours were there, but we felt it was not cooked well.
The other thing was the dessert. It was called a churros, but it tasted like very soft and moist French toast (aka eggy bread). I mean, it tasted nice but I have never had a churros like that before... So maybe it shouldn't be called a churros.
Written 19 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claude G
Brisbane126 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
This is a real local gem. Walking distance from our house (great start) it was our first visit and we were surprised what we found inside this little shop front! Innovative dishes which were delicious, well executed and presented. The dishes are wonderfully balanced, as is the entire menu. Rich and light can be combined to make a perfect meal. Service could have been better, as our waitperson was new, but she was charming and professional. The service received from the more experienced staff was on-point so this can be overlooked. The only hitch was the wine which is stored next to the kitchen. This would have been okay in winter but summer in Qld and the air-con not working to capacity... the wine needed to be cooler to be at its best but it was still an amazing Tasmanian Pinot. It rained while we inside (hurray) so an inexpensive taxi trip home was in order. We will return.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scudamore-Smith
Brisbane1201 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Vaquero is an inner suburban gutsy type restaurant with character. Vaquero in Spanish is a cowpoke or cowboy; so the food parallels nose to tail hearty country food fit for a hungry bloke. The fitout is rustic with the kitchen merging into the eating space. That hams and salamis and flitches of beef are hanging up conjures images of the real deal for cured meat lovers ; find them on the menu, sliced.
The starter was a top round mini-loaf of sourdough of crunchy proportions, cultured butter. Filling though ; I wondered about requesting some olive oil, my healthier butter replacement.
First wine was a bright and fruity warm area Tempranillo from Spain in sync with the hispanic bent around me.
The sole dish was tortellini; inside pesto and ricotta, yellow pasta pouches, thick; just six of them in a tomato broth (clear but tomatoey); driplets of green oil from the basil infusion. In sync a Piedmontese barbera was poured.
A good restaurant; excellent menu geared to hearty, warming winter food, though its 30 oC + outside. Menu is inventive, some local supply sourcing, and a friendly place to be. Would pump on the busy times.
Lunch rating: 15.5
The writer is an experienced wine and food tour guide.
Written 30 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GioHop
4 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
If you have a special night and you want it to be perfect, then this is the place to go. The food is varied, original, unique, delicious and it looks and tastes better than it reads. My daughter had the octopus for entree, you just wowed her. I had the sheep brains (not allowed to have them at home). God they're good. Ordered Spanish Rose and had pre dinner cocktails. Went on all the rides and loved every one of them. Thank you Vaquero!!
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick Gerry E
Ueno109 contributions
Jan 2020 • couples
From the penthouse to the sh”thouse. So so so disappointed - since this has opened it has gone from bad to average to good to tonight’s TERRIBLE!! Poor service and I mean really poor - poor food delivery and poor execution of food. Sorry we were loyal and won’t be back. Just crap!!!!!!!
Written 18 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sanchdog
Brisbane954 contributions
Nov 2020 • none
It is covid-19 time and I know that we have to register with QR codes, but we could not log in the whole table as one booking, nor could we log them in from one phone, each member had to get out their phone and register from their own phone. There were no menus - because of covid apparently - and we had to look at menus from our phones. The background music was so loud that we could not hear the waitress and she resented the fact that we couldn't hear her. Her impatience was not appreciated.
The restaurant had little atmosphere, in fact was quite sterile.
Instructions about the banquet meals were not clear. Food appeared quite quickly and quantities were quite good. Quality of the food was quite good but nothing memorable.
Overall, a pleasant evening but I wouldn't rush back.
Written 22 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeCarolandJames
Brisbane120 contributions
May 2020 • none
Great to be able to eat out at last and a big thank you to Vaquero for opening.Had 5 course set menu - all courses really good. Great service and atmosphere even though only 10 diners allowed. Highly recommended. Well done to all at Vaquero.
Written 20 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lisa110415
Brisbane Region1 contribution
Mar 2024 • friends
I booked the Terrace at Vaquero for a 40th birthday dinner. The food was delicious and very generous, the staff were helpful and attentive, the venue is charming. I’d definitely recommend it!
Written 9 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
knealed
Kidwelly238 contributions
Mar 2024 • business
Ate here with a friend for a business meal and the food was first class and the English girl server is excellent and had a lovely nature and way with customers I saw. We had three courses and they were all great, exceptional food and they suggested a great wine which worked a treat
Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stuart Anderson
Brisbane Region65 contributions
June 2023 • couples
Service and the ambiance of Vaquero was good however the dinner was truly disappointing.
From placing our order to food being placed on the table was less than five minutes.
It would have been impossible to cook and rest the steak in that time so had to be a reheat.
And this was bourne out by it being very dry and as tough as an old boot, and not very hot.
Most disappointing was that we mentioned this to the waitress and got little acknowledgment or apology. For a steak costing $45, simply unacceptable.
We will not be back.
Written 10 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MartynBush
Adelaide51 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
Just step in off the street and you are in another world.
The Menu is simply amazing; my tastebuds are still recovering from the experience.
Written 27 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glen Bethel
Brisbane389 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
We decided to come in after a long absence due to COVID and we opted for the banquet set menu and we were blown away with how good it was, right down to the last mouthful of amazing Apple n fennel donuts and the amazing dolche caramel.... stay this good guys and we will simply keep coming back and back
Written 14 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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