New at The Barracks - French Twist

Newly opened at The Barracks on Petrie Terrace is a welcome addition to the dining options, French Twist.

It only opened on Tuesday and the staff were very generously wandering around with samples of the pastries and cakes. The range was extensive and the ones I tasted were delicious.

As well as small sweet treats, there's also larger cakes and a range of breads, all French-themed.

The coffee I had was okay - I think it was a house brand but will investigate further.

The decor is decidedly French with rustic tables and chairs, old style art and shabby chic decor.

Inside there are some delightful sitting areas with comfy armchairs. It's much like being in someone's very flash lounge room. There's plenty of atmosphere here with a good adaptation of a heritage building.

Outside there are lots of tables and chairs so there should be no shortage of seating.

French Twist has stores in many locations around Brisbane including James Street and several shopping centres, so we are not talking artisan stuff here. However if they can keep up the standard from today I'll be a regular visitor, if only to read the latest magazines which are strewn over the tables. Enjoy!

Update: I've had a couple of coffees at French Twist now and can say the coffee is okay, but undistinguished. It's a house brand of Douwe Egberts which lacks any full flavour and is probably a 'safe bet' option. And the magazines are definitely not the latest - some date from 2000! If you want to browse old Gourmet Traveller mags and see how food trends have changed, this is the place to go.

French Twist is open seven days a week for breakfast until around 9pm every night except Sunday and Monday.

Update: I've been back again and the coffee is still the same. We enjoyed several desserts, mini citron tart, apple crumble and lemon cheesecake, which were rich and sweet but a little too big for all of us to consume. They've also added some planters to the outdoor seating area which makes it much more pleasant.

Update: Their custard slices are definitely the pick here. Truly delicious.