Casual Dining | The Weekend Edition | What's on in Brisbane

Palm Springs meets Acapulco at Fortitude Valley’s Ivory Tusk

22 Aug 2019

One of Fortitude Valley's popular mainstays is exchanging its rustic craft-beer bar aesthetic in favour of a colour-packed, Cali-Mex-inspired vibe. That's right – Woolly Mammoth Alehouse has undergone a shake-up, trimming away the shaggy fur and debuting with a fresh new cut as Ivory Tusk. The boozer is officially relaunching today, Thursday August 22, debuting its range of Mexican eats, a plethora of tap cocktails and lively atmosphere. more

Food & Drink

Italian concept Ciao Papi pops up at Howard Smith Wharves

22 Aug 2019

Picture yourself in an Italian trattoria with a glass of Chianti in hand, buttered pappardelle on the way, and the sun setting over your river-side locale. We know where to get this in Brisbane ... more

Food & Drink

Meat-free Mexican – El Planta takes tacos to new heights at Wandering Cooks

22 Aug 2019

When it comes to culinary pop-ups, the humble taco stand is perhaps the most iconic. Street food doesn't get more beloved than this Mexican staple, so when we say one of Brisbane's best pop-up concepts hawks top-notch tacos, it's unlikely that you'll be surprised. However, there's much more to the story – El Planta at Wandering Cooks is Brisbane's first entirely plant-based Mexican concept, dishing out authentic (and addictive) flavours that are devoid of animal products. more

Food & Drink

Botanica Real Food brings its salads south with new Camp Hill store

04 Jul 2019

In this day and age, we think it's safe to assume that the phrase 'you don't make friends with salad' is well and truly incorrect. Perhaps it wasn't always the case, but when Botanica Real Food first opened its Red Hill location six years ago the way we looked at salads changed forever. Since then, Botanica's salad-savvy owners Brett and Alison Hutley opened a second outlet in Teneriffe in 2016, and this weekend will follow it up with its first spot south of the river at Camp Hill Marketplace. Now those of you that have been trekking across town for a taste of Botanica's fresh salads, sweets and savoury tarts can cut their journey significantly from Saturday July 6. more

Food & Drink

Winner winner – Momo Chicken & Beer unveils its sizeable new Elizabeth Street expansion

27 Jun 2019

Although the landscape of Brisbane’s inner-city precinct is continually changing, we can always count on there being Korean-style fried-chicken joints to satiate our hunger when it strikes. Momo Chicken & Beer has been a popular fried-chicken fixture in The City since it opened Momo Chicken City in 2017, but the arrival of the Cross River Rail has necessitated a relocation. Lucky for us, the Momo crew haven’t moved far – in fact, they’ve upgraded! Momo Chicken can now be found on Elizabeth Street, with a new enormous chicken and beer hall delivering the brand’s popular menu as well as some delicious new morsels. more

Food & Drink

Rocking the suburbs – Everton Plaza’s Park Lane celebrates the opening of its first wave of retailers

20 Jun 2019

A considerable stir was caused across Brisbane's northern suburbs when Everton Plaza initially announced plans for a brand-new addition to its dining and shopping hub and now, after a year of waiting, the first retailers of the anticipated Park Lane precinct are opening to the public. Complementing the existing Everton Plaza retail portion (anchored by Coles and many existing long-term tenants), the new retail village features many of the area's original elements. COMUNiTI (formerly known as MARSDEN Collective) has overseen the design, accentuating the area's original architectural facade with contemporary touches. The resulting precinct is shaping up to be an impressive blend of old and new, with Park Lane's first wave of retailers looking to set the standard for what is still to come. more

Food & Drink

Taro’s Ramen brings its brothy goodness to Stones Corner

20 Jun 2019

The past few months have seen plenty of activity from the Taro’s Ramen crew. After transforming Taro’s Express on Edward Street into a wholly vegan outlet, the team was given the sad news that the beloved-yet-temporary location would be reclaimed and renovated sooner than expected. The closure spurred owner Taro Akimoto into action, seeking a new spot to implement his brand and keep his Edward Street family employed. The City’s loss is Stones Corner’s gain – Taro’s Ramen opened a brand-new store on Old Cleveland Road, bringing with it Taro’s exceptionally nourishing noodles and bone-warming broth. more

Food & Drink

From the coast to California Lane – Raw + Rice opens its first poke spot in The Valley

13 Jun 2019

Since opening their first dedicated poke bar in Mooloolaba in 2017, the enterprising minds behind Raw + Rice have cornered the poké market across the Sunshine Coast. Last week Raw + Rice unveiled its first Brisbane location – a chic hole-in-the-wall space in California Lane. The booming alleyway space is a no-brainer option for the coast-born brand, with Raw + Rice’s nutritious, colourful and sustainably minded poke bowls proving the perfect addition to California Lane’s LA-inspired palm-tree aesthetic. more

The Locals Next week:

Food & Drink

Voting for The Weekend Edition’s annual EAT/drink Awards is now open!

13 Jun 2019

Here at The Weekend Edition we take our food very seriously, and we know that you, our dear readers, do too. That’s why we’re so excited to announce the 12th annual EAT/drink Awards for 2019. With so many bars, cafes, restaurants and food retailers opening in the last year, we are preparing to host our largest epicurean poll to date. more

Food & Drink

Taste the iconic flavours of New York City at Reuben’s Deli & Bar in Paddington

06 Jun 2019

One of America’s oldest forms of street food is the humble sandwich – a simple menu item that, over time, has become the foundational building block of New York City’s iconic deli scene. Across generations, New York’s Jewish, German, Italian and Latino communities have added their own influences to the bubbling melting pot, creating the current iteration of deli-style dining known far and wide. Reuben’s Deli & Bar is a brand-new bar and eatery that is distilling the recipes and flavours of New York delis into an offering loaded with house-cured pastrami, slow-braised brisket, authentic mustard and plenty of local craft beer to boot. more

Food & Drink

Parmies, pies and classic pub vibes – Milton’s The Coro Hotel gets a new lease on life

06 Jun 2019

It’s been sitting stagnant and empty since 2015, but now The Coro Hotel has reopened under new ownership with a new look and a new menu. The Milton mainstay is looking to reinvigorate the local pub scene with its blend of affordable fare, approachable vibes and all-day options – complementing the area’s already vibrant drinking and dining scene. more

Food & Drink

Buns under the bridge – Betty’s Burgers opens its Howard Smith Wharves riverside outpost

30 May 2019

Brisbane’s booming foodie precinct at Howard Smith Wharves continues to grow underneath the Story Bridge, but just when you think there wasn’t room for any more eateries, Betty’s Burgers opens and becomes the cherry on top of the area’s formidable array of options. Combining its signature selection of burgers, desserts and sides with some terrific riverside atmosphere, Betty’s Burgers (which is opening today, Tuesday May 28) is already shaping up to be a huge boon for one of the city’s popular hotspots. more

Food & Drink

The round-up: snack your way through South Bank’s cheap eats

30 May 2019

Look, perhaps eating out has given your wallet a walloping, but who are we to judge? We love the finer things in life! Being frugal doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the tasty goods available around town, it just means you need to make some smarter choices. South Bank’s major food hub is full of top-notch eateries, and many of them have well-priced options and deals that you’d be a fool to ignore. If you’ve got a little bit of cash left over, have a look at this list of South Bank’s cheap eats and keep your splurge streak going. more

Food & Drink

Elizabeth Arcade’s dining hub FudoDori shows off its first wave of eateries

23 May 2019

When it comes to Asian eats, it doesn’t matter the cuisine – we’re always keen to chow down. So, imagine the ecstasy and excitement we felt when we heard that the Elizabeth Street Arcade was being transformed into a dedicated hub of Asian dining. Safe to say our appetites were inflamed to immeasurable levels. FudoDori’s announcement caused quite a stir when its initial plans were revealed in February, and now the first wave of eateries will open to the public within days. If you’re intrigued by the sound of tea-based cocktails, matcha soft-serve, Japanese-style hot dogs, modern Chinese and Japanese cuisine and more, read on, pals! more

Food & Drink

Unwined Bar & Kitchen pops the cork on new Racecourse Road hotspot

16 May 2019

A stellar list of vino and a menu of Nepalese-inspired eats are on the cards for Ascot’s newest eatery, which is set to open its doors to the public on Friday May 17. Unwined Bar & Kitchen is setting up shop in the cosy former home of The Stables Craft Bar & Kitchen, shifting gears from the froth-focused offering to concentrate on new-wave wines from young, emerging makers. In good news for Ascot locals, Unwined is also looking to set itself up as a low-key late-night haunt for night owls starved for suitable options. more

Food & Drink

Guilt-free noods – IKU Noodles opens in Post Office Square

09 May 2019

You’ve probably noticed, but any time someone propositions us with the prospect of a juicy nood, our heart rate spikes. Naturally, the news of a brand-new noodle concept opening in The City got us roused with ravenous desire, and we had to be first in line to sample. Hotly anticipated fast-casual noodle bar IKU has officially opened to the public today, Tuesday May 7, in the bustling food court at Post Office Square. If you like having oodles of options and a predilection for Japanese-inspired eats, make tracks for IKU post-haste. more

Food & Drink

The Lucky Egg crew debuts Mexican concept Trash Taco at Barbara

02 May 2019

Good things come in small packages, which describes tacos to a T. Mouthfuls of delicious filling lovingly wrapped in warm tortillas? Sign us up! Likewise, Fortitude Valley’s newly open Trash Taco packs a mighty offering into a small footprint, delivering a deceptively large menu of Mexican eats from within Warner Street boozer Barbara. Officially opening today, Wednesday May 1, Trash Taco is slinging tacos, tostadas, quesadillas and snacks, as well as some margaritas and mescals for the sipping. more

Food & Drink

Iconic Japanese noodle chain Ramen Danbo opens its first Brisbane location

28 Mar 2019

Big news for fans of a juicy nood – famed Japanese ramen institution Ramen Danbo has made its way to Brisbane. After conquering the Gold Coast, Ramen Danbo is set to woo our tastebuds with its signature full-bodied tonkotsu-style ramen. Ramen Danbo is officially opening in South Brisbane today, Thursday March 28, and is already shaping up to be a must-try addition for lovers of creamy broth, locally sourced pork and artisan noodles. more

Little Big House – Monday Night Dining Brisbane — Casual Dining

Food & Drink

The round-up: what restaurants are open on Monday night in Brisbane

07 Mar 2019

If you’ve never experienced the Monday blues then you must be a robot. Just kidding (sort of), but starting the work week after the dizzying delights of the weekend can be a little bit soul destroying. Our solution is to extend some more of that fun into Monday. “How?”, we hear you ask. Simple – book in for dinner out one Monday night. Brisbane’s not as sleepy as it used to be – these days there are countless venues that are open for Monday-night trading, from fine-dining institutions to reliable neighbourhood eateries. If you want to line up a hot dinner date before the week gets too hectic, or can’t be bothered cooking after work (honestly, we feel you), check out Brisbane’s Monday-night scene and see what’s open using this handy list. more

Food & Drink

Get your fix of finger-lickin’ goodness at Wing Fix’s new Morningside eatery

07 Mar 2019

When it comes to chicken wings, it’s next to impossible to settle for just one. At nearly any moment we’re down to devour dozens of the fried morsels, doused in the sauciest flavours at hand. Wing Fix has been catering to frenzied folks like us for a few years now, satiating crowds from its first market stall to its subsequent food truck. Wing Fix has evolved again, officially opening a new eatery in Morningside today. The crew is already slinging fresh batches of wings, tenders and flame-grilled burgers, so those jonesing for a bite now have a reliable source. more