Alfred & Constance

Hidden in the backstreets of Fortitude Valley, Alfred & Constance has plugged right into the idea of a hipster venue away from the high street. Diners can enjoy the cool night air, sitting on an eclectic mix of furniture on the deck between two 19th-century Queenslanders among ephemera collected from around the globe by local designer Alexander Lotersztain. The wood-fired oven offers succulent, whole roast yearling pigs and organic chickens (don't be surprised to see a whole cooked pig on display by the kitchen window waiting to be torn apart by hand, shredded and heaped on silver platters), while generous platters made for sharing come complete with ample servings of roasted vegetables, or salad. However, true pork lovers would be wise to request crackling (it's not always guaranteed) as well as an extra gravy pot. Sizeable beef steaks are charred over a black Josper oven that burns Brazilian charcoal. Old favourites, including the banana split and chocolate chip sandwich, make for a playful dessert menu.