We ordered the banquet which was a great way to try a bit of everything. Overall the experience was pretty good and the vibe of the place is really nice — good atmosphere for a relaxed meal. Most of the dishes were enjoyable, but the lamb was a bit dry. Also, one of the cakes was extremely extremely sweet — WAY too much sugar. Aside from that, service and ambience made it a pleasant visit.

From the moment we arrived at Dark Shepherd, we knew we were in for something special. The design of the restaurant is absolutely stunning modern, atmospheric, and thoughtfully curated to create a truly elevated dining experience. The staff were exceptional from the very beginning. Every interaction was professional, warm, and attentive, setting the tone for a wonderful evening. We were seated immediately at what we genuinely believe was the best table in the restaurant, offering a spacious setting with a beautiful vantage point overlooking the entire space. The food was outstanding. Every dish was delicious, beautifully presented, and crafted with clear attention to detail. It’s rare to find a place where the ambience, service, and cuisine all align so perfectly, but Dark Shepherd delivered on every level. This experience was memorable in every way, and I will absolutely be returning to Brisbane just to dine here again. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an exceptional night out. - Demi

Service was a little slow at first, including drinks — nothing major, but enough to notice. I suspect our table was in a bit of a no-man’s-land and got overlooked initially. Once we had the waiter’s attention, though, the service was good. The food more than made up for it. The beef pasta was outstanding, finished with a crust on top that added great texture and flavour. The spanakopita is easily one of the best in Brisbane — the Parmesan on top really lifts it and is something many places miss. The saganaki was very good as well; I’d still give a slight edge to Greca, but this was enjoyable. Overall, I’d definitely come back for the food. On a stronger service night it would be excellent. The atmosphere was lovely and dark, though our table was a bit wobbly, which was a small downside.

We were tempted to go with one of the banquets but opted for a la carte instead because there were specific dishes we were keen to try. Woodfired scallop: Cooked to perfection. Beautiful in both texture and taste Shepherd potatoes: Fluffy inside with a nice bite to the skin. The chilli capsicum sauce was creamy and delicious Kingfish: Good quality fish and great balance of savoury, sweet, and sour flavours Lamb tomahawk & lobster orzo: The lamb was so tender and juicy with a great depth of flavour from the spices. The orzo was cooked perfectly and the lobster portions were generous. Service was quite slow. We came an hour before the lunch rush when it was very quiet but the food took 45 minutes to arrive. The food arrived all at once so I understood that it would take longer to cook 6 dishes.. wish we were given the option to have snacks and small plates arrive first before the big plates (which is standard procedure so we assumed that would be the case). Might be a good idea to give people the heads up. The restaurant itself was beautiful with sleek and contemporary decor and furnishings. Overall a good experience!

I went to Dark Shepherd for a friend’s birthday. The staff was accommodating with our requests to keep the meals a secret until they arrived at the table. The recommendations were excellent, especially Hurilo’s choice of cocktails; he paired one with our choice of mains and another with our desserts. I’m honestly having trouble picking a favourite dish. I will say, don't snub the cabbage. It’s really damn good.