Industry Beans - Review

Industry Beans?  What does it mean?  Dunno, but I do know that this is a Melbourne-origin business, who sensibly have opened up in sunny Brisbane also.  It's a purpose- built space, with a café, brew bar, a roastery and an open-plan kitchen.  And it's full of trendy 'grammers, taking lots of selfies inside and out.  Mr P. and I felt severely underdressed here:-)  Man oh man, all that bling!  And that's just the mamas!  And it was only lunchtime! 

looking in

From the get-go, we were not feeling the love.  Staff were invisible, so we grabbed a table, and Mr P. went off in search of menus.  A not terribly happy waitperson came to our table, to take our order.  He seemed in a rush to give us the lowdown on their coffee, so we listened patiently, as it went in one ear and out the other. 

yuzu cascara spritz $4.70

This cold, refreshing drink was made with a yuzu syrup and a cascara cold brew, which is the berry of the coffee plant.  Not bad, though I expected a bit more - oomph.

Mr P.'s iced coffee

iced coffee $4.70

Mr P. had an iced coffee, made with their cold brew and housemade icecream.  This is a DIY job, like an affogato.  He found this nicely refreshing.

cutesy little bowls for seasonings and sugar

sous vide salmon garden $25

Sadly, I liked the idea and the presentation of this dish more than the actual food.  While it looks pretty, the taste ... mm, not really my thing.  I don't really understand the value of using technique over flavour.  The salmon was incredibly bland, and the texture was weird.  I'm not sure how to describe it - gelatinous, odd, strangely unappealing to my palate.  The samphire was twiggy; like eating twigs off a bush; not pleasant.  Dashi sea foam?  Yuzu gel? Just - why?  

coffee rubbed wagyu burger $22 + $4 for 3 polenta chips

Mr P. liked this burger a lot.  The chargrilled brioche bun was not too sweet - yay! (sadly a common fault these days); the wagyu pattie was good, and the chilli jam was really excellent.  The polenta chips were okay, if a wee bit bland (and expensive).  I have to say we both expected a few more.  (Jamie Oliver, where are you? - tee hee.)

inside the burger - fab chilli jam

interior space

The interior looks fabulous with that high, open space above.  We did hear a waitress telling people that it was much cooler in the outer part where we were sitting.  Thank goodness for air con!  Perhaps it just doesn't work well in that huge space?  To be honest, we won't be rushing back.  But I wouldn't say no to trying it out for dinner sometime, once we get ourselves blinged up:-)

looks super trendy from the outside

The Pickings' Verdict:  6/10

Ph: 07 3180 1190
18 Proe Street,
Newstead Q 4006