Alchemy Restaurant and Bar overlooks the Brisbane river and summer months meant the glass panels are open to the Story Bridge. The waiters are extremely attentive and charmingly well-trained, presenting a choice of pumpkin, wholemeal or plain bread to dip in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
But as always, it comes down to the food.

My main.
I had agonised about what to select, but the parents-in-law both opted for the same salmon dish.
Gotta give the chef something else to prepare and lamb is often overdone.
Here, I asked for medium rare and this was perfect.
The meat barely bled into the mushrooms and fresh salad below.
Every bite was sheer perfection and I would recommend anyone try it, even if mutton isn't your thing.

The parents-in-laws' salmon.
The father-in-law practically licked the dish clean of its sauce with extra thick slices of bread.
The SO went with the special: a braised beef cheek with a beautiful side of mash and mushrooms, pork and vegetables. The photo I tried to take honestly didn't do it any justice, so I won't put it up.
But it was everything the waiter said it would be.

The SO was adamant we try this dessert, a selection of nibbles dipped in liquid nitrogen.
And first up was honeycomb, which was so crisp and half the fun was watching our mouths blow smoke.