E’cco Bistro Marks Three Decades of Dining in Newstead
Newstead’s culinary landscape has a new milestone to celebrate as E’cco Bistro turns 30 years old this week. The award-winning eatery, located at 63 Skyring Terrace, opened its doors in 1995 in a restored historic tea warehouse on Boundary Street before moving to its current location in 2018.
According to The Courier Mail, the restaurant remains a constant in an ever-changing food scene, having recently secured the title of the first Queensland winner of the Australia-wide Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year Award in 1997.
A Legacy of Fresh Produce and Fire
The Philip Johnson enterprise continues to deliver a menu defined by pared-back dishes that let ingredients shine. Head chef Caua Melo now helms the kitchen, utilising Parilla and Hibachi grills to prepare everything from wood-fired broccoli to charred octopus.
As reported by The Courier Mail, the current offering includes a three-course choice menu priced at $79 a person, available for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays and dinner from Wednesday to Friday. This selection provides good value with decent portion sizes and the option to upgrade to the a la carte menu with supplements.
Highlights from the current menu include the signature potato gnocchi served in a velvety gorgonzola sauce with spinach and pine nuts. The main courses feature Coral Coast barramundi with crispy skin or slow-cooked lamb shoulder that falls apart at the touch of a fork.
Menu Details and Pricing
Diners can add a 300g Gippsland “Little Joe” graded sirloin for a $16 supplement or swap in Fremantle charred octopus for $8. The meal begins with a complimentary warmed sourdough baguette and smoked butter, which the reviewer noted as a welcome surprise.
The two-page global wine list includes popular labels like Shaw + Smith and Aix rosé, with the most expensive bottle reaching $290 for a Barolo. The restaurant also accepts BYO with a $35 corkage fee from Wednesday to Friday.
For those seeking a more structured experience, the tasting menu and lobster banquet are available alongside the standard a la carte options. Desserts range from an iced goats cheese and honey parfait to a berry pavlova with strawberry and basil sorbet.
Verdict on the Experience
A recent review by The Courier Mail awarded the venue 4 stars for food and overall experience, with 3.5 stars for both ambience and service. The reviewer described the atmosphere as comfortable surrounds where regulars know what to expect.
The restaurant is open Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm, with Friday and Saturday sessions running from noon to 2.30pm and again from 6pm. You can find more details on their website at eccobistro.com.au.
