Patina Raises the Bar at UQ’s St Lucia Campus With Duck Steamed Buns, Barramundi Tacos and Courtyard Cocktails

Campus life took a hit in the last two years with online classes became the norm and international students remained overseas. But as we start to return to (Covid) normal, Patina at Alumni Court – a sequel to Patina at Customs House in the city – is looking to breathe new life into the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus.

“There’s definitely a buzz out here, which is great,” long-time Customs House manager Brian Roberts tells Broadsheet. “It’s almost like a fresh start [for the students]... everyone’s in really good spirits.”

The campus restaurant opened in late February in a newly constructed building that sits next to and incorporates the old heritage-listed Radon laboratory – with copper finishes as a nod to the iconic copper-sheathed dome of Customs House. The sleek interior has accents of brown leather, black granite and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide views of the lush Alumni Gardens.

Like its city sibling, the menu here – by head chef Nick Murtas (formerly of Palazzo Versace and Emporium hotels) with executive chef John Offenhauser – champions local ingredients. There's burrata from Mount Tamborine (served with fresh fig), pork belly from South Burnett (with smoked parsnip) and king prawns from Mooloolaba (served with witlof and pickled white grape). You'll also find a ring of Ora King salmon tartare with Tasmanian wasabi; steamed buns with duck, lemongrass and chilli; and a mushroom tarte tatin. But that’s set to change as the seasons do.

For dessert? Creme brulee with almond biscotti and yuzu, Valrhona Opalys panna cotta with chamomile jelly and raspberry, or an Espresso Martini souffle.

While most of the menu is designed for long lunching (there’s even a private dining room and a high tea menu), breakfast is a largely grab-and-go affair. There are brioches with Tasmanian-smoked-salmon and horseradish crème fraiche or maple-glazed bacon, scrambled eggs and a hash brown, plus pork-sausage rolls with caramelised onion and comté and brews by Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters.

Outside, a shaded terrace looks out onto Alumni Court, which is now licensed and the setting for a series of pop-up bars (first up was Bombay Sapphire, before Patron Tequila). From 3pm Wednesday to Friday, you can order cocktails and bar snacks like barramundi tacos and arancini to your deck chair on the lawn. “It’s … such a beautiful area that was a bit under-utilised and we were looking at it going, ‘after a hard day at work or study, that would be a nice place to unwind’,” Roberts says.

As one of the few places on campus where you can (legally) have a drink on the lawn outside of events, the hope is it’ll become a space for everyone to enjoy – even the budget-conscious student. “We’ve tried to make the drink prices, as well as the food, at that price point everyone can engage with … undergrad students, postgrad students and staff,” Roberts says.

Enquiries are already coming for bookings around graduation and reunion time. But it’s not just the university community happy to see fresh hospitality options around. “[People in] the St Lucia community have said they feel like there hasn’t been that much in the area so they’ve been excited about a new restaurant coming on board,” Roberts says.

Patina at Alumni Court
University Drive, St Lucia

Hours:
Mon & Tue 7am–3pm
Wed to Fri 7am–late

patinaalumnicourt.com.au