Modern Australian · Newstead, Brisbane · A$140–160 per head
Modern AustralianA$140–160 per head dinnerNewsteadTwo hats; open since 1995
"Philip Johnson's two-hatted Newstead bistro and its Moreton Bay bug risotto, a Brisbane institution since 1995. Book it to impress clients."
8Food
7Ambience
7Value
About e'cco bistro
Philip Johnson opened e'cco in 1995 and won Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year in 1997, the award that made a Brisbane bistro a national name. Three decades on, the two-hatted room sits at Haven in Newstead, and the Moreton Bay bug risotto is still the dish to order. Johnson cooks modern Australian built on premium seafood and a wood fire, precise without being precious. It is a Brisbane institution that has outlasted nearly every room of its era. See the Brisbane dining guide for where it fits.
The Kitchen
Philip Johnson has run the pass at e'cco since 1995, and the cooking is the case for him: clean modern Australian plates built on Queensland seafood and a wood fire. The signature is the Moreton Bay bug risotto, the dish people return for, alongside spatchcock with Paris mash and a hazelnut ice-cream sandwich that has outlived most desserts in the city. Dinner runs about A$140 to A$160 a head across the à la carte and tasting options, with a lobster banquet for larger tables.
e'cco's pedigree is real: the 1997 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year award put it on the map, and it has held chef-hat recognition in the Australian Good Food Guide across its life. Johnson moved the room to Haven in Newstead in 2018, and it now sits at 63 Skyring Terrace, a short hop from Brisbane's CBD. It remains one of the city's most awarded kitchens and a fixture of the best seafood conversation in Queensland.
The Room
Calm, grown-up and quietly confident. The Newstead room is warm-lit with generous spacing between tables, so conversation stays easy at a low hum rather than a clatter. This is a bistro pitched at adults: linen where it counts, a serious wine list, attentive but unhurried service. Dress is smart-casual, with a business and special-occasion crowd. The pacing suits a long lunch or an unrushed dinner, and the spacing makes it one of the better Brisbane rooms for a conversation that matters.
Best for Impressing Clients
Book e'cco to impress clients because the reputation precedes it: a thirty-year, two-hatted Brisbane institution under a named chef carries weight that a new room cannot. The Moreton Bay bug risotto is a confident order, the tables are spaced for talk, and the wine list rewards a host who knows it. It is equally suited to a business lunch from the CBD, and the calm room makes a strong anniversary dinner for couples who want food over theatre.
Not for
Not for a buzzy, see-and-be-seen night out. e'cco is a calm, grown-up bistro built for conversation and cooking, not scene or volume.
Frequently Asked
Is e'cco bistro worth it?
Yes. e'cco is one of Brisbane's most awarded restaurants, two-hatted and open since 1995 under chef Philip Johnson, and the cooking justifies the standing. The Moreton Bay bug risotto and wood-fired seafood are precise and consistent, and the calm Newstead room is built for a meal that matters. At A$140 to A$160 a head it is priced as a special occasion, fairly.
What should I order at e'cco bistro?
Order the Moreton Bay bug risotto, the signature that has anchored the menu for years. The spatchcock with Paris mash is a reliable main, and the hazelnut ice-cream sandwich is the dessert regulars defend. Larger tables can take the lobster banquet. Let the wine list guide a bottle; it is one of the deeper lists in Brisbane.
Where is e'cco bistro now?
e'cco is at 63 Skyring Terrace, in the Haven development in Newstead, having moved from its longtime city-fringe home in 2018. Newstead is a short trip from Brisbane's CBD, which keeps it convenient for a business lunch or a client dinner. The move did not change the kitchen: Philip Johnson and the signature dishes came with it.
What is the dress code at e'cco bistro?
Smart-casual. e'cco is a grown-up bistro rather than a formal dining room, so a collared shirt or a smart top is right; there is no jacket requirement. The crowd is a business and special-occasion one, so people dress with some intent, but you will be comfortable in neat smart-casual rather than black tie.
Book ahead for weekend dinner and special occasions; lunch is easier.
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Practical Information
Address63 Skyring Terrace, Newstead QLD 4006
NeighbourhoodNewstead
CuisineModern Australian
PriceA$140–160 per head dinner, ex-drinks
Dress CodeSmart-casual
SeatingGenerous spacing, ~70 covers
ReservationOpenTable / direct; book ahead for weekends
