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Open Fire Kitchen + Bar - The Arsonist, Manly, AU-QLD

The Arsonist

4.7 (1558)
$A41 to $A100
Modern Australian
457 Esplanade, Manly, AU-QLD 4179

Make a reservation

A photo of The Arsonist restaurant

The Arsonist

4.7
$A41 to $A100
Modern Australian
Manly

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 31 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for fine wines
  • Neighbourhood gem
A restaurant experience the Bayside has never seen before. A luxe dining and specialty bar, where fire is the hero.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $A41 to $A100
  • Cuisines
    Modern Australian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Barbecue
  • Hours of Operation
    Wed–Sun 12:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Mathew Fulford
  • Neighbourhood
    Manly
  • Cross street
    Cambridge Parade
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Sunday Roast - $75pp

    A$75.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    SUNDAY ROAST - Every Sunday from 12pm $75 pp Sundays at The Arsonist are all about fire flavour and comfort. Join us from 12pm until sold out for our Sunday Roast, where seasonal produce and generous flavours come together in an elevated take on a timeless tradition. Available Sundays from 12pm until sold out
  • Large Group Bookings $110pp - Feasting Menu

    A$110.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    For all groups of 11 or more guests we ask that you choose one of our feasting menus, the$99pp feasting menu can be found on our website. ***Please list any dietary requirements*** ***Please note public holidays will incur a 15% surcharge. Additional amount to be paid on the day***
  • Large Group Bookings - $90pp Feasting Menu

    A$90.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    For all groups of 11 or more guests we ask that you choose one of our feasting menus, the$79pp feasting menu can be found on our website. ***Please list any dietary requirements*** ***Please note public holidays will incur a 15% surcharge. Additional amount to be paid on the day***

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

What 1,558 people are saying

The Arsonist reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseEnergetic

Loved For

  • Brisbane

    Innovative

  • Brisbane

    Great for creative cocktails

  • Brisbane

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Arsonist offers a "wonderful dining experience" with "exceptional food" and "attentive service." Guests rave about the "amazing feasting menu," and "delicious food" like the brisket and desserts. While some mention rushed service, the restaurant's "great atmosphere" and "friendly staff" make it a standout choice for "fine dining" in Brisbane.
1,558 Reviews
  1. Dave

    Brisbane4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Once again we were blown away by the food. Definitely in our top 5 Brisbane restaurants.

    Is this helpful?

  2. ALLIRA

    Brisbane7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such delicious food! Highlights were the bread, prawns & brownie. My goodness - I’ll dream of that brownie!

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  3. Hannah

    Brisbane1 review

    2.0

    Dined on January 8, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Have been here before and it was mind blowing, this time was less so. For the price and reputation you hold, I expected more.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Gill

    Brisbane1 review

    5.0

    Dined on January 4, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Warm friendly welcome, knowledgeable wait staff. Food was excellent, not a single dish our party of 3 didn’t rave about. Will definitely be back (again) and highly recommend you experience the amazing food.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Michele

    Portland2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on January 3, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Ordered the $90pp feast. The food started coming out before our drinks. And it kept coming very quickly. There was no break between the starters and the mains and we felt rushed. It should have been staggered better to give us a breather. A few of the dishes were really good (brisket with prawn, chicken skewers and chocolate pudding was to die for) but the rest, while they looked nice, didn’t have great flavour. The panzanella salad was below average, the fish was meh and the kingfish crudo was lacking in flavour. I expected more.

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  6. Lucy

    Brisbane2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on January 3, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Well worth the treat to eat here. Great menu options we’ll come again.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Megan

    China1 review

    5.0

    Dined on January 2, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing experience from start to end, every dish of the feasting menu was so full of flavour!

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  8. Gerard

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on December 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We feel this is the best restaurant in Brisbane. Consistently excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Ashley

    Brisbane6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on December 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lots of new faces but still the best place in town to go out

    Is this helpful?

  10. Heather

    Brisbane2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on December 24, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Our experience in Christmas Eve was a bit different than our previous experience. We found longer waiting times and food portions less for filling. The service was informative and professional but it was obvious they were under pressure and I felt less attention was paid to our table, particularly our empty glasses.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $A41 to $A100
  • Cuisines
    Modern Australian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Barbecue
  • Hours of Operation
    Wed–Sun 12:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Mathew Fulford
  • Neighbourhood
    Manly
  • Cross street
    Cambridge Parade
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Yes, The Arsonist is a popular choice for date night. Guests frequently praise the cozy, sophisticated vibe, open-fire cooking and attentive service, which make it great for special occasions or an intimate evening out. Consider booking a table (or a seat at the bar) and trying one of the set/feasting menus for a theatrical, share-style experience. Note that weekends can be busy and some tables can feel warm, so an earlier weeknight or an earlier reservation may be more comfortable.

Yes, The Arsonist has an extensive beverage program. Guests praise the cocktails, whisky and wine list, and the menus show full cocktail, beer, wine and spirits selections (including signature cocktails, many whiskies, tap and bottled beers and prestige cuvées). If you enjoy wine pairings or crafted cocktails, the bar program is a strong part of the experience.

Yes, the restaurant can accommodate wheelchair users and families, but it’s geared more to adult dining. Guests note that staff have successfully catered for mobility and dietary needs, and many bring teens or celebrate with family. It isn’t aimed at very young children, if you’re bringing small kids, consider an earlier seating and call ahead to discuss your needs.

For a lively, celebratory night go on a Friday or Saturday; for a quieter, more relaxed experience choose a mid-week or earlier seating. Guests report busy weekends and a warm, buzzy atmosphere on hot nights, if you prefer a calm table for conversation, book a Wed/Thu evening or an earlier dinner and mention any seating preferences when you reserve.

The Arsonist is warm, sophisticated and lively with an emphasis on smoky, open-fire cooking. Guests describe a luxe but unpretentious vibe, excellent for celebrations and special nights. Expect a fragrant, fire-forward atmosphere; some guests also note it can get warm or busy and that noise levels rise when the restaurant is full, so pick your time accordingly.

Casual dress is the stated dress code. Guests frequently dress up for special occasions, but the atmosphere is relaxed and not overly formal, smart casual is a safe choice for dinner or celebrations.

Yes, the kitchen is reported to be adaptable and accommodating. Guests praise staff for handling coeliac, lactose‑free and other dietary needs with ease, and the menus include several vegetarian-friendly and vegetable-forward dishes (coal-roasted pumpkin, mushroom skewers, salads). If you have strict requirements, call ahead so the team can plan substitutes or adjustments.

Yes, guests regularly report that staff accommodate dietary restrictions, celebrations and drink preferences. The team can adapt dishes for allergies or intolerance, create off-menu drinks, and help with celebratory requests. Call the restaurant ahead of your booking to confirm details, especially for larger groups or specific seating needs.

Families do dine here, and guests often bring teens or celebrate birthdays with children. The restaurant focuses on share-style, fire-driven Modern Australian cooking and doesn’t advertise a kids’ menu; some guests recommend it more for older children or teens. If you’re visiting with younger kids, consider an earlier seating and call ahead about menu flexibility.

Busiest: weekend evenings (Fri–Sat) and holiday periods, many guests say the restaurant is full and lively then. Quietest: mid-week evenings and earlier dinner services tend to be calmer. Because The Arsonist runs feasting/set menus and is a popular special-occasion spot, booking ahead is recommended for peak times.

It depends on your goal: choose Friday or Saturday for a festive, lively night; pick Wednesday or Thursday for a quieter, more relaxed dinner. Many guests praise the weekend vibe for celebrations, while mid-week seatings are better if you want lower noise and an easier conversation experience, always book ahead for your preferred night.

Yes, The Arsonist runs set/feasting menus and special banquet experiences that many guests recommend. The menu lists $85pp and $105pp feasting menus and a Premium Feast, and guests often choose these for a multi-course tasting experience. The restaurant also runs special event banquets (Christmas banquet mentioned by guests). Check the menu or call to see current feasts or seasonal offers.

Yes, the menu includes market items and daily-availability dishes, so offerings rotate. The menu lists ‘Market Fish, please see wait staff for today's availability’ and guests reference daily specials; the feasting format also changes seasonally, so expect some variation and ask staff about today’s specials when booking.

The Arsonist is rated 4.7 stars by 1558 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. Australia
  3. Brisbane
  4. Eastern Suburbs
  5. Manly

Make a reservation

A photo of The Arsonist restaurant

The Arsonist

4.7
$A41 to $A100
Modern Australian
Manly

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 31 times today
Experiences are available.
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