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Brisbane's Restaurant Two to close

Callan Boys
Callan Boys

Restaurant Two was one of the first modern Australian restaurants in Brisbane.
Restaurant Two was one of the first modern Australian restaurants in Brisbane.Supplied

One of Brisbane's most respected fine dining venues is calling it a day.

After almost 18 years of tasting menus, weddings, anniversary dinners, long lunches and Good Food Guide hats, Restaurant Two will serve its last buttermilk panna cotta on Christmas Eve.

"I've loved every minute of being at Restaurant Two but the time feels right to close," executive chef and owner David Pugh said in a statement.

"I want to leave on a note where the restaurant is still something that my family and I can look back on fondly and can be proud of. I'm 60 years old next August, still in the kitchen every day, and I'm also aware that there are other areas of life I've missed out on while spending six days a week here."

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Pugh was one of the first chefs to bring modern Australian cooking to Brisbane when Restaurant Two opened in 1999.

Since then, the Edward Street restaurant has received almost as many awards as it has seen marriage proposals in its Botanic Gardens-facing dining room. It currently holds one hat in the Brisbane Times 2017 Good Food Guide.

Pugh is not retiring, but "slowing down the pace a little" to spend more time with his grandchildren (he'll have three by next year). "After 40 years in the industry, I'm ready for a more family-friendly business venture," he said. "Better late than never, right?"

It's business and trading hours as usual at Restaurant Two until the final service on Christmas Eve - a special occasion dinner including a glass of sparkling to toast on arrival ($115 per person).

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Callan BoysCallan Boys is editor of SMH Good Food Guide, restaurant critic for Good Weekend and Good Food writer.

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