Sichuan Papa, Everton Plaza, Brisbane

Last night I went to Sichuan Papa at Everton Plaza in Brisbane’s north side.

Sichuan Papa has just opened a week or so ago. The people working are quickly developing their work flow. It wasn’t distractingly evident that the people working were getting into the swing of working in a new space.

The menu is broad, descriptive, and relatively easy to understand. What is lacking is a telephone number to make reservations for the future. I had to visit the restaurant in the afternoon to make a table reservation.

The restaurant’s Instagram account is open but messages are NOT answered. The menu suggests a Facebook page but I’m yet to find it. The website is also a fail (as of Monday 30 December 2019).

There were five of us in our party.

Starters

We started with two serves of the Salt and pepper soft shelled crab ($28 for two serves) and the Spicy wontons ($17.60 for two serves). We all enjoyed the soft shelled crab. It wasn’t a spicy dish and was salty enough (not too salty). The crab meat was fullsome and no one complained there wasn’t enough on a plate. The spicy wontons did leave us wanting more. They were okay but there wasn’t much filling in them. The spice was okay. I wouldn’t get the spicy wontons again.

Main course dishes

For the main course dishes we went with:

• Honey king prawns ($26)
• Traditional Sichuan poached fish 🌶🌶🌶 ($22)
• Cumin lamb 🌶 ($24)
• Slow cooked pork belly ($22)
• Game to try it 🌶🌶 ($24)

Prawns

We all enjoyed the sweet honey batter around the prawns and the firm prawn meat. Nothing special, but very enjoyable.

Fish

The standout dish was the traditional Sichuan poached orange roughy. The fish was firm and full of flavour. The fish sat in a bed of spiced sprouts which went very well with steamed white rice. This is a must have dish if you’re planning a trip to Sichuan Papa.

Lamb

The cumin lamb was good and not really spicy at all. The flavours are dense and for lamb lovers it is okay but for those not into lamb, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the lack of lamb flavour but I think you’ll enjoy the tenderness of the meat and the rich flavours in the vegetables.

Pork

Another standout dish for our party was the slow cooked pork belly. The meat was soft tender and tasty. There wasn’t too much fat and if you’re not into spices, this is a safe dish and a really good one.

Intestines (query porcine)

For me the dish I was most surprised with and the one I enjoyed the most was the “Game to try it?” Which is wok-fried intestine in chilli, garlic shoot, and Sichuan peppers. I’m assuming it was pig intestine. Even though it got two chillies on the menu the spices are subtle. Each piece of intestine was delicious. Each piece had a little crunch to it as well as a little fattiness. If you’re in a party of people give it a go because sharing this dish is important. It’s too much for just one person. I was the enthusiast in our party but everyone had some. Mind you as I was eating this dish I was imagining the formation of porcine faeces in the lumen of the intestine lined with mucous membrane and the various layers of smooth muscle.

Summary

If you want something Asian, if you like a bit of spice, if you like friendly service, and a relaxed atmosphere, I’m happy to recommend Sichuan Papa in Everton Plaza.

Sichuan Papa, Shop 24 Park Lane Everton Park Plaza, 791 Stafford Road, Everton Park QLD 4053