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

Pavement Whispers: Phat Greens, the takeaway-oriented sibling of Oh Boy, Bok Choy!, is bringing banh mi, bowls and bao to Stafford

20 Jan 2022

Every time the team behind Kedron cafe Farm House and Stafford's Oh Boy, Bok Choy! does something new, we sit up and take notice. Next Wednesday January 26 the team will open Phat Greens, a vegan- and vegetarian-friendly dispensary specialising in Asian-inspired takeaway eats and iced tea. We're talking fresh salads, loaded bao buns, mouth-watering rice and noodle bowls, and a selection of banh mi filled with top-notch ingredients. Here's what we know ... more

Food & Drink

Rock shows and pizza dough – Fortitude Valley music hub The Zoo launches its own pizzeria

12 Jan 2022

Typically, the hunt for primo post-revelry pizza happens after you've put a cap on your night. Now, if you're catching a show at The Zoo, you can indulge in some sweet, sweet slice action while you're enjoying the gig. This weekend, the crew behind Fortitude Valley's storied live-music venue will officially launch Zoopreme Pizzeria, The Zoo's own in-house pizza kitchen that will be slinging Napoli-style pizzas until the wee hours. more

Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open in Brisbane on Boxing Day (and the following public holidays)

23 Dec 2021

People use Boxing Day for a variety of things – shopping, seeing the latest blockbuster film or simply resting after the Christmas Day chaos. We like to use it for more feasting! Sure, there might be plenty of Christmas lunch leftovers floating around, but we prefer to seize the day by dining at some of Brisbane's best nosh spots. This Boxing Day (and the following public holidays on December 27 and 28), loads of eateries will be opening to the public – here are some to look out for ... more

Food & Drink

Sleigh Christmas this year and pick up your festive provisions at West Village

16 Dec 2021

The presents are wrapped, the beers are being kept frosty in the fridge and the quantity of chocolates inside our advent calendars is dwindling – Christmas is so close we can smell the honey-baked ham. If you need to stock up on some last-minute provisions or you need a break from cooking up a storm in the kitchen, West End dining and retail precinct West Village has got your back with a line-up of eateries and grocers set to send you into Christmas as jolly as the big man himself. more

Food & Drink

Wrap your laughing gear around smashing American-style eats at Carindale’s Sue’s Burgers & Shakes

02 Dec 2021

Chocolate and peanut butter, pizza and beer, spaghetti and meatballs – we love a good combo. Few items go perfectly together like cheeseburgers and thickshakes, a classic culinary coupling that traces its origins back to the very beginning of diner culture. Sue's Burgers & Shakes is a new concept from the Wing Fix crew that celebrates this timeless tandem, slinging smash-patty burgers with precision while also drumming up dreamily decadent shakes from its newly open location at Westfield Carindale. If you love getting to grips with a quintessential American-style burger feed, this is the place to do it. more

Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open in Brisbane on New Year’s Day

28 Nov 2021

As the sun sets on 2021, we're all too eager to look towards the bright dawn of 2022. Sure, we're still dealing with a pesky pandemic, but we choose to be hopeful for the future. If you, too, like to start your year on a positive note, then take a leaf out of our book and kick off 2022 with a dynamo feed at one of Brisbane's terrific diners. Scores of cafes, bars and restaurants are open on New Year's Day (and its observed public holiday on Monday January 3) – all you have to do is make the choice of where to feast. Here's a list of some handy suggestions to choose from ... more

Food & Drink

Head to Teneriffe joint, Rita’s Tequila and Taqueria, for mezcal, margaritas and playful non-Mexican cuisine

25 Nov 2021

We're calling it now – this summer will be the season of margaritas. Give us agave in abundance, all the citrus juice we can handle and a silly amount of salt and we'll be content. Rita's Tequila and Taqueria – the new bar and eatery from the spaghetti-slinging Siffredi's crew – is making margaritas galore at its location at the base of the Australian Mercantile Land & Finance Woolstores on Vernon Terrace in Teneriffe. In addition to mouth-watering riffs on the zingy cocktail staple, expect a playful take on Mexican snacks (including braised roo tail tacos and raw tuna tostadas) and some breezy street-side ambiance. more

Food & Drink

Dumpling dens, sky-high bars and margarita meccas – the top places to eat and drink this Christmas

25 Nov 2021

'Tis the season to feast! Christmas is just around the corner and the silly season is prime time to sip, snack and satiate your cravings, as well as the perfect excuse to gather your crew for some quality time around the table. Whether you’re planning to down cocktails with your colleagues, you're looking to level up date night or the whole family is out and about, we’ve got you covered – here are some of the best places to eat and drink in Brisbane this festive season. more

The Locals Next week:

Food & Drink

Festive feasting – where to have a merry meal at West Village this Christmas

24 Nov 2021

With restaurants opening left, right and centre, there's no doubt that West End dining and retail precinct West Village has thrived in the past year. In 2021 alone, West Village added Lebanese cuisine, Italian eats, burgers and poke to its culinary offering. With Christmas just around the corner, we thought we would round up some of our favourite places to eat at West Village, just in case you feel like a spot of festive feasting ... more

Food & Drink

Ditch the soggy sanga for a bready beauty from Windsor specialist Sunny Side Sandwiches

18 Nov 2021

Whether its a simple ham-and-cheese, a bang-on BLT or a more elaborate croque madame, sandwiches are one of the most perennially popular meals in the world thanks, in large part, to their versatility. Their appeal is evergreen, too – simply take two slices of bread (or a roll, we're not precious) and stuff it with whatever you find appetising. Sunny Side Sandwiches, a colourful new sambo slinger opening in Windsor on Saturday November 20, will make getting a grip on a quality stack quick and easy with its range of salivation-inducing sarnies. We were lucky enough to score a pre-opening look ahead of this weekend's launch. Hungry? You will be after reading this! more

Food & Drink

A delicious combo of carbs and crustacean – the Betty’s Burgers Lobster Roll is back!

11 Nov 2021

When one thinks of lobster, our minds tend to visualise multiple zeros on the end of the bill and a long and tedious time spent cracking claws. Well, we have news of crustacean proportions – Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co. has taken all the work out of this sumptuous seafood delicacy, with the return of its much-loved Lobster Roll! more

Food & Drink

Attention plant-based people – you can now get your mitts on a Grill’d Impossible Burger

11 Nov 2021

As vegos, vegans and plant-based people can attest, finding a tasty meat-free patty can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Dryness, lack of flavour and weird texture are just some of the not-so-delicious issues that can plague a vegan patty but fortunately, there is a new player in town that's as delectable as it is cruelty free – the Grill'd Impossible Burger. Available to chomp into right now, this hunger-curbing herbivorous creation has even got a few (Only) fans thanks to comedy duo The Inspired Unemployed. more

Food & Drink

Smashing! Pop-up burger concept Junior Classic Cheeseburger is now flipping in Woolloongabba

22 Oct 2021

It's hard to ignore a craving for burgers. The urge to sink one's teeth into a juicy handful is near impossible to ignore, so our advice is to just go with the flow. Perhaps the flow will take you to Junior Classic Cheeseburger, a new pop-up burger spot slinging sizzling bites that will have you seriously tossing up between double or triple-patty stacks. It's open every Friday, so if you're looking to step out for a fun lunch, pop this one on your list. more

Food & Drink

Graffiti-coated eatery Mr Wabi brings theatrical tipples and Asian-inspired eats to Burnett Lane

14 Oct 2021

Sips of ambrosial cocktails, bites of aromatic fare, a come-as-you-are approachability and vibes you long to recapture – that's the experience the team at Mr Wabi looks to provide. The brand-new resident of Burnett Lane in The City opened last week, introducing wanderers to its zestful Asian-inspired offering and street-art adorned interior. Seeking a new Friday night destination with a bit of verve? Keep your eyes peeled for the glow of neon-pink emanating from within Mr Wabi's lively locale. more

Food & Drink

Hamilton welcomes Verde and Sweet, a new salad and treats bar from the Petrichor & Co. team

14 Oct 2021

As much as we love to meal prep, sometimes the weekends (and weeknights) get away from us. When we're caught out with an empty fridge, it's tempting to turn towards simple takeaway to get by. Racecourse Road's new salad, cake and pantry concept Verde and Sweet is giving time-poor folks such as ourselves the opportunity to enjoy take-home sustenance that nourishes and sustains without breaking the bank. Are you underprepared for a dinner party? Too tired to cook? Didn't pack lunch today? This spot is for you. more

Food & Drink

You do make friends with salad – Botanica opens its fifth salad and sweets dispensary in Albion

14 Oct 2021

Beloved for its nourishing and mouth-watering selection of takeaway salads and grab-and-go treats, Botanica has been serving up fresh, vege-packed fare in Brisbane for nearly nine years. The boutique salad bar continues to take the city by storm, with four locations currently slinging savoury and sweet delights – with a fifth coming soon to Albion. Yep, come this Saturday October 16 northside locals will be able to lap up Botanica’s plant-based offerings and delicious confections without having to trek into town. more

Food & Drink

Soul Brothers delivers bang-on burgers and stellar shakes to Nundah

30 Sep 2021

Listening to soul music and sinking one's teeth into a burger are two markedly different activities, but the act of consuming them can often stir the same sense of invigorating bliss. Soul Brothers in Nundah is a place where one can experience both forms of stimuli at the same time. Here, guests are encouraged to overload their senses by devouring a range of perfectly executed burgers, hotdogs and shakes, while grooving to iconic hits from soul luminaries like Sam Cooke, Nina Simone and Etta James. more

Food & Drink

Bringin’ the heat – say bienvenidos to the new-look cocktail spot Southbeach

23 Sep 2021

Summer is coming, folks. Soon we'll all be seeking out shady spots to soak up some rays with an icy cocktail in hand. When we want to party in the city when the heat is on, we like to do it near water – and the recently revamped Southbeach looks to be a prime spot for relaxed revelry. Boasting a blend of colourful Miami vibes and chic Palm Springs aesthetics, Southbeach has the look and feel of a breezy tropical beach club. Throw in a range of tantalising bites and specialty cocktails and you got all the makings of a heat-beating oasis. more

Food & Drink

Buone notizie! Italian Street Kitchen by Isabella has expanded to West Village

16 Sep 2021

It seems like West Village adds a new element to its blossoming dining offering almost every month. In 2021 alone the West End lifestyle precinct has welcomed the arrivals of Beirut Bazaar, Cheeky Poké Bar, Harris Farm Markets, Betty's Burgers and Ichiban Sushi – and the procession is set to continue right up until year's end. Italian Street Kitchen fired up the pizza oven at its brand-new West Village location last week, quickly snaring the senses of locals and curious wanderers with its menu of regional Italian delights and aperitivo-style sips. The spacious eatery and bar is 'la ciliegina sulla torta' ('the icing on the cake') for West Village's hospitality roster – adding a dash of relaxed piazza-style dining to one of Brisbane's booming hubs. more

Food & Drink

The Canvas Club crew unveils Mr Badger’s, Woolloongabba’s new deli, sandwich and pizza bar

02 Sep 2021

It's a great time to be a Woolloongabba resident. In the past 12 months the inner-south suburb has welcomed the likes of Little G, Easy Times Brewing Co., Butterfly and Mac From Way Back to its cadre of eateries – cementing the Logan Road cul-de-sac and its immediate surrounds as a hub of diverse dining options. The crew behind two of the strip's most beloved watering holes, Canvas Club and Electric Avenue, is tripling its presence in the area this Friday September 4 with the opening of brand-new family-friendly deli and bar Mr Badger's. Taking a charming throwback approach to hospitality, Mr Badger's will be slinging a menu of stacked sandwiches, grab-and-go pastries, plates of gourmet cheese and meats, Detroit-style pizzas, and bottled cocktails – all while paying tribute to the area's legacy as a tramway nexus via a seriously creative interior decor. more