Garuva Hidden Tranquility Restaurant & Bar

I would definitely say the thing to tell anyone that is going to Garuva is that you will be sitting on the floor. If this is going to be uncomfortable for you — don’t go. Just don’t. The whole point of a speciality like Garuva is to stand out from the rest. If your skirt is so short you can’t sit down without showing your holiest of holies you shouldn’t have left the house in it. Enquire EVERYwhere you make a booking for them to tell you how many people are appropriate for one booth/​table.
We had three average-​ish height people, could have probably fit up to six if you’re comfortable bumpin’ knees. It’s kind of like a cuddle-​puddle dining table. AKA the dream. GOOD GOLLY did I have a magical experience. Their menu is perfectly sectioned by protein — I didn’t have to sort through a huge list of salads, weird animal combinations, etc — they had the seafood and vegetarian options separate and displayed in a logical order.
I had the Wild Ice Tea from the Absolut part of the cocktail menu which was amazing — it had the perfect balance of tasting like an actual cocktail, not a dangerously sweet beverage you wouldn’t notice yourself getting wasted on.
We shared two servings of the babaganush with bread rolls — surprisingly filling but too good not to finish.
I had the Sweet Potato curry and it was absolutely delightful. All of our meals were reasonably priced, it was almost at capacity and not at all loud compared to places like Kwan Brother’s. My dinner companions had a pork dish and a Karaage dish, both which were enormous. None of us could finish out mains so if you take a group of people who enjoy the same stuff you could easily share mains and make it super cosy.
Only down side is they don’t split the bill on card — make sure you bring cash.

Fantastic hidden little gem, private booth dinning with great food and atmosphere.
Well priced meals and very tasty looking forward to trying it out on a Saturday night with the live music

I like the fact that Garuva is different and doing its own thing. However, I think it’s trying a bit too hard to stand out. For me, it gets down to the basics of good food and atmosphere. The food and service was average. I like the partitions between the tables for privacy, but sitting on floor after a while got to be pretty uncomfortable!
One redeeming factor was the lounge. It was casual, had live music, and of course close proximity to the bar! Here, you had the option to sit on stools or cushions on the ground with more freedom to move around (whereas in the dining area you are blocked in by the people sitting next you).

We just ate there for the second time in a year, and both of the times we were not impressed. The atmosphere and the service are good, but the food is just not worth the price. The dishes we received were not totally warm on both occasions, and the food is just a little blend.

This restaurant is not easy to find, as there is no sign outside, and a long plant lined path leads to the entrance. Once inside you will be shown to a private curtained cubicle, which is great. you don’t see the other customers, and it is not noisy, so for once you will get the chance to have a quiet chat with your friends.
Food is all priced at $ 25 and is Asian fusion style, freshly cooked. Portions are not huge, but adequate. I enjoyed the Thai style chilli prawns, whilst my companion found the baby squid not quite as good. Service was good; wine is available by the glass or bottle, and runs around $ 35 a bottle. House wine also offered at a lower price.
parking is not the easiest in this part of the Valley, but after 7pm at least there is more available at no cost.
There is also a cocktail bar towards the rear, somewhat like a disco, with music, which was noisy, and we avoided.
Tables are Japanese style, I.e. on the floor with back rests to support you. My companion had trouble with sitting like this.
It has great potential if they rectify a few small things.

Garuva could be spectacular. Walking down the street it is so hidden away you could easily think you’ve misread the restaurant address and keep walking to look for it. Unfortunately, despite all the mains only being $ 25 ($ 2 extra for rice), the meals being being reasonably delicious (try the baba ganoush) and an exceptional cocktail list it isn’t enough to overcome some big deal-​breakers in my mind.
The restaurant layout sees you dining at a table at ground level meaning you and your dining companions will all be sitting on the ground and maneuvering your legs under the table. As an almost 6ft tall woman this was not a comfortable experience for me or for many of my fellow diners the two times we’ve dined at Garuva. I’d highly recommend wearing pants or tights for self preservation.
Also, and call me old, it is by far one of the noisiest restaurants I’ve experienced. Akin to being in a nightclub we spent most of our evening conversing in phrases such as, «Sorry, what did you say?».
I’d heard many good things about this ‘tranquil oasis’ and was disappointed that it didn’t live up to any of the hype. As Emma H so eloquently put it: «You know you’ve had a bad dining experience when the only positive thing you have to say about it is, ‘well, at least we can say we tried it.’»

Ate here during the week and had an enjoyable experience. Neat décor and the food is good but unimaginative. Ate here last weekend and had an awful experience. We were seated next to a group that were clearly intoxicated and disruptive to the entire restaurant. Several girls in the group were so drunk that they needed to be helped to the restroom to vomit. The Garuva staff did nothing. Our waitress never came to check if our food was satisfactory or if we needed more drinks. It took over 25 minutes to get our bill after we asked for it. We will never eat here again.

You know you’ve had a bad dining experience when the only positive thing you have to say about it is, «well, at least we can say we tried it.» The rest of the things I had to say upon leaving Garuva were negative, so my advice to you is don’t even bother «trying» it; it’s not worth it.
I went there for a birthday dinner, dining in a group of 16. This was error number one. You need space to stretch out at those low tables and when dining in a group you just don’t get it. I’m a small person, so it didn’t bother me that much, but my boyfriend was feeling very hemmed in towards the end of the night, not helped by the fact that the aircon was struggling and it was getting really warm.
If dining in, say, a group of four, the experience may have been more comfortable and I might have appreciated the ambiance created by the sheer curtains. However, once the food came out, there was little that the gimmick of sitting on the floor surrounded by billowy drapes could do to redeem the establishment. I’d ordered the Turkish Octopus and was expecting whole baby octopi cooked delicately in a light and flavoursome sauce with a DRIZZLE of the honey mayonnaise the menu says the dish comes with. Instead, I got a mound of chopped up baby octopus that was gritty and swimming in this too-​sweet sauce. My partner had the Cajun chicken which was much less offensive than the octopus, but I still wouldn’t pay $ 25 for it.
My partner and I left Garuva and our dining friends feeling ripped off and a bit sick in the stomach. We’d paid $ 60 each for two cocktails, the meal, some shared bread and dip and «cakeage» that Garuva had charged us for bringing an edible bouquet, which was ridiculous because we didn’t use any extra plates or cutlery.
I guess they get people in on novelty appeal, but I’ll never go there again. There are way better restaurants in Brisbane where I’d prefer to spend my money.

ALL MAINS, $ 25. Add rice, $ 2. Add drinks, $ 3 or more. You’re looking at spending $ 35 generally for a behaved night out.
DON’T WANT TO BEHAVE? They’ve got cocktails and on Friday and Saturday ‘Happy $ 12 Cocktails’ (5:30−7pm). Hooray!
FOOD is decent ASIAN inspired DISHES, includes curries, chicken, meat and seafood. Not spectacular, but if you appreciate its unique ambience, its flaws are hardly noticed.
STAFF, difficult to get a hold of. Argh.
BEST FOR COUPLES, intimate and romantic.
STRESSFUL FOR BIG GROUPS. Imagine, 8 or more people, cramped space, rarely a wall to lean back on (unless you’re lucky to get a table along the edges), awkward bumping into other patrons through white sheets, feet and legs touch other peoples…
DON’T BRING ARTHRITIC ridden friends. Can be a painful dining experience.

Garuva is one place in Fortitude Valley that I have been keen to try as I have heard a lot of great things. However I was pretty disappointed with the place when I went there.
It wasn’t all bad but it wasn’t all good. Let me break it down for you.
The restaurant is situated just down from the Wickham pub behind two non-​descript doors. The atmosphere and setting inside is quite cool and I had my hopes up early on after entering through the little garden and waterfall setting.
Each table is separated by sheer white curtains and the size of the place is really obscured by this, which isn’t a bad thing, just can get a bit confusing when trying to find your ‘tent’ on the way back from the bathroom!
Upon arrival we were shown to the cocktail lounge till our table was ready, it can get pretty busy here, so book in advance to avoid any disappointment if you are planning to dine.
The cocktail lounge is a nice little area with some couches and tables and the cocktail list is extensive and really varied and there are some yummy concoctions like the Garuva Ecstacy and the Steady On Eddie. Average prices you would expect for cocktails ranging from $ 12 — $ 18. You can also purchase nibble type foods to eat if you are just meeting for drinks before a night out.
But this is where my high hopes ended. We were shown to our table and as we made ourselves comfortable on the pillows on the floor (note: do NOT wear tight clothing unless you are adept at sitting on the ground in tight jeans to eat a meal!) the menus were passed around.
Each dish is $ 25 on the menu and while some dishes looked worth it (Turkish Octopus) others certainly weren’t (Manok). The Manok were basically chicken rissoles, and while nice, there just wasn’t enough to justify the price. Same deal with the Thai Chilli Prawns, the food was tasty, but it wasn’t good value for money. You can add a bowl of rice on the side for $ 2 or a large bowl of vegetables for $ 12 to bulk up your meal, but really, the majority of the food available just didn’t seem worth that price.
The service was pretty good, though sometimes you thought you had been forgotten, but it was definitely an average dinner experience overall and while I would definitely head there for cocktails, attending for dinner would be a last resort option.

I would not say this place in nothing special because the décor of this place is quite nice but the food on the otherhand, is really not that special for the price or for the serving quanities. I first discovered ‘Garuva’ years ago before it became the very loud and popular place that it is now.
So here is the deal with this place– you get placed in little «rooms» seperated by thin curtains and sit on the ground ‘Japanese style’. Best way I would describe the food would be «Asian fusion» or ‘Westernised Asian”. Each dish costs just under $ 20 and is the size of a large entrée. I have tried a few of the dishes here and although I have found them to be good, I do not think they are worth the money. Also, the tempura vegetables are really not good so do not order that dish!
They do have a nice bar though, so if you want a nice cocktail, ‘Garuva’s’ have a lengthy cocktail menu.
Overall, I am not that impressed with this place, it is a bit overpriced for what you get and I would rather sit at a regular table to pay less for a larger serving size.

The Garuva restaurant is almost two completely different places under one name and roof. The Asian fusion restaurant is very good and you sit on the floor to give you a more realistic Asian experience. I also like the way that the tables are cordoned off by the white curtains and you do get a great sense of privacy.
If you are out for the night and have already had dinner you can still go to Garuva and head through the restaurant to the cocktail bar/​lounge. This is where Garuva comes alive and I am a fan of the cocktail lounge. The cocktails are really good and quite strong so be aware. They are about 15 dollars though so they are not cheap. You can get regular drinks as well but when the cocktails are that good it’s hard to stay away. Garuva also have great live music acts and like the small venue and the fact that you sit on bean bags on the floor or couches around the walls. The cocktail lounge reminds me of a cool retro bar and you feel like part of the in crowd when you go.

This quaint little place is amongst the madness in Fortitude Valley. The entrance is weird, you have to walk through doors then a garden… but this place is booked out most weekends so you need to get in a bit early or book your table before everyone else.
It’s dark inside, the tables are low and you sit on cushions most the time. So if you’re like me, and hate sitting on cushions with no leg space then you may not like it all that much in there, or you may just want to stretch out like me, and kick the person you’re on a date with… like I did. Oops sorry.
There are sheer curtains dividing your table from the next and you can hear every little bit of conversation happening on the next time and the next and the next. Great conversation ice breakers obviously started here. I can see the attraction because it is a different environment, it’s cosy, it’s almost a bit romantic and it feels secluded until you leave and some drunk bastard almost pulls you down when he trips and falls.
Listen, I don’t exactly remember what I ordered, but we ordered some sort of fried chicken, some bread, and something else. The reason I can’t remember is we had trouble seeing what we were eating anyway so it really didn’t matter, it might as well have been one of those eat in darkness restaurants. I needed a flashlight, and even though there was ‘mood lighting’, I really do need to see what I eat at a new restaurant. You know, to make sure there aren’t hairs or bugs in it? I’m sure you’ll agree… to a certain extent.
So it’s a great place to check out for the atmosphere and the cocktail bar is open pretty late, great if you’re still waiting for your table. Overall, I don’t know if i’ll be in a rush to head back anytime soon.

This restaurant is simply divine and is my most favourite in all of Brisbane! As its name suggests it is indeed a hidden treasure. Known only through word-​of-​mouth, it is located between The Wickham Hotel and the Saab dealership on Wickham Street in Fortitude Valley. You will only ever find it if you are walking past after dusk.
The entry, a path of natural timber bordered by ferns, a glistening stream and adorned with fairy lights guides you to the front desk where you will be greeted by friendly staff. The atmosphere inside varies from night to night (Fridays and Saturdays tend to be a bit louder) however you will almost always enjoy a tranquil dining experience.
The tables are low and each is enclosed in sheer white walls of fabric (which fall elegantly from ceiling to floor) and are surrounded with big cosy floor cushions. Ambient lighting creates a warm and romantic atmosphere and you can unwind and enjoy your meal and your company.
The food is Asian style and every meal is $ 25, you can buy an accompanying bowl of rice for an extra $ 2. The Turkish Octopus is to die for! Beautiful soft pieces of baby octopus sautéed in a sweet and spicy cream sauce — I order the same meal every time I go! You cannot go to Garuva without trying the eggplant dip and warm bread which is served as an entrée — it is absolutely heavenly.
After your meal (if you can drag yourself away from your table) you can enjoy an icy beverage and live music (Saturdays only) in the cocktail bar. Again, the ambient lighting and soft music sets a sensual mood and big soft cushions scatter the floor (there are also some stools and few couches for those who prefer). Garuva is a great place to wind down after a big day be it with a group or with that special someone.