Food wastage in the hospitality industry is a big deal, and anyone who enjoys eating out should at least know where their food comes from.
While we’re taking a hot minute to focus on sustainability this month, we thought we’d shine a light on Brisbane restaurants that are really stepping up their game when it comes to ethical sourcing and sustainability. Good food practices are more important than ever, and these guys are leading the Brissie charge.
Here are the best sustainable restaurants in Brisbane.
Grown
West End
Grown’s commitment to sustainability is marrow deep. Their purely plant-based menu is built around produce sourced by FoodConnect and other ethical suppliers, who all prioritise transparency, fair food systems and sustainable farming. Even Grown’s food waste is put to good use as compost in the Jane Street Community Garden, just around the corner, where it helps cultivate nutritious produce for the local community. Eat as much as you want here—it's all good for the environment.
Three Blue Ducks
W Hotel
With origins in Byron Bay, Three Blue Ducks is defined by sustainable living. To that end, they pledge a commitment to ethical farming and supporting local producers. No matter which location you visit (there's a few around town), you can bet that every scrap of food has been deliberately selected and lovingly prepared. Conscious consumption has never tasted so good.
ARC Dining + Wine Bar
Howard Smith Wharves
Operating under the culinary leadership of head chef Alanna Sapwell, ARC Dining makes a conscious effort to support the ethical rearing of animals. A huge part of that practise is respect for every part of the animal, which is why ARC Dining is a nose-to-tail institution. They order in whole carcasses and put every scrap to use—they're even one of the few restaurants in Brisbane that cuts and cures their own charcuterie. This makes their Wine Bar utterly unique, marrying house-cures with natural, low-intervention wines from organic producers.
Plenty
West End
The fact you never know what’s on the menu at Plenty is a testament to their sustainable ethos. Their focus on only using local produce means their daily offerings are dependent on whatever’s seasonally available, and they’re committed to doing as much in-house as possible. Exhibit A: the rooftop beehives where they source their honey, a butcher’s bench for breaking down whole carcasses, and a smokehouse for curing their own meats. They also make their own pickles and preserves (to make the most of a market haul), and yes you can buy some from their pantry.
Felix For Goodness
CBD
Burnett Lane’s resident cool kid, Felix for Goodness, is an unassaming haven, marked by conscious consumption and driven by a desire to do good. Billed as a hideaway, this inner city restaurant prides itself on taking steps to operate sustainably—that means minimum refuse, maximum reuse and sourcing all products ethically.
Flock Eatery
Redcliffe
Local, seasonal, sustainable. Those are the catchwords that guide Flock Eatery and inspire them to maintain an optimal balance of low waste and high yield. Their collective of suppliers include FoodConnect, Neighbourhood Farm and LOOP Growers, who provide a closed loop service by composting food scraps in exchange for fresh produce. The rotating menu is always delicious too, which helps.
Need food for the pantry? We've rounded up Brisbane's best bulk food stores.
Image credit: Urban List