Tucked between The Gresham Bar and the laneway of quick lunch eateries that extends from Sparrow and Finch back to The Roll Shop, Red Hook is the creation of Bonnie Shearston and Tom Sanceau – the pair behind gastronomic hideaway Public in Brisbane City. By day this new pocket-like haunt pairs hot coffee with waffles and boiled bagels for breakfast on the run, while from lunch onwards dishes up New York street food and a swag of saliva-inducing cocktails. A literal hole in the wall, the physical venue sees all the kitchen action and cocktail mastery happen behind a sleek mesh of chipboard, hexagonal white tiles and copper pipe lettering, while seating spills into the lane, Brooklyn block party style – perfect for sunny midday pauses and balmy evenings.

Like a stationary food truck, this compact diner is focusing its eats on the flavour menagerie that is New York street food, offering a point of difference to the heavy comfort foods of the South that continue to permeate our local edible landscape, with lighter dishes and room to move in seasonality. Chow down on a classic Brooklyn cheeseburger of beef, cheese, pickles, special sauce and ketchup, or opt for a whirlwind of flavour in the Kung Fu Duck Tacos of Peking duck, wombok, red cabbage, peppers, carrot, spring onion, coriander and hoisin. The food tour of street vendors continues with the lobster roll, Jamaican chicken, brisket burrito and essential NYC hot dog, while sides come in the form of battered pickles, mac n cheese squares and buffalo wings. The peanut butter, jelly and ice-cream for dessert will add a happy ending to your dining experience, and wash all that glory down with a sampling of American, European and Australian wines, or American beers – think Budweiser, Brooklyn Lager, Blue Star – with Stone & Wood the token local.

Having been part owners of cocktail den Canvas in the past, Bonnie and Tom have ensured the liquid menu is more than up to scratch at Red Hook. Unwind with a Salted Caramel Old Fashioned – buttered bourbon, rum and vanilla sugar – or kickstart an evening with a Harlem Hard Shake – bourbon, chocolate, caramel and peanut butter ice-cream – or Spiked Cream Soda – vanilla vodka, vanilla ice-cream and creaming soda. Red Hook is also packaging up its menu in neat take-out parcels for the harried city dweller.

For contact information and trading hours, check out our Stumble Guide.