Restaurants
The Venzin Group unveils its stunning Bali-inspired open-air locale Melrose in Bulimba
Food & Drink

The Venzin Group unveils its stunning Bali-inspired open-air locale Melrose in Bulimba

13 May 2021

The team behind Pawpaw, Pawpaw Asian Kitchen and Darvella Patisserie is levelling up with its new Thai- and Indonesian-influenced concept Melrose. Drawing upon Bali's unbeatable beach-luxe lifestyle, the Venzin Group's crown jewel boasts a seductive atmosphere, cocktails that transport tastebuds to the sandy shores of Seminyak and a menu of eats (created by Longrain's former head chef) that encompasses grilled skewers, mouth-watering curries and everything in between. Bulimba's new game-changing venue opens on Wednesday May 12, but we're able to give you a cheeky preview peek. Read on for the goods ... more

Restaurants
Get a glimpse inside HOTA Gallery's Palette and The Exhibitionist Bar ahead of this weekend's opening
Food & Drink

Get a glimpse inside HOTA Gallery’s Palette and The Exhibitionist Bar ahead of this weekend’s opening

13 May 2021

Last weekend, the Gold Coast's art community gathered to witness the official unveiling of the awe-inspiring $60.5-million HOTA Gallery. This weekend, the exciting (and delicious) next chapter comes to fruition with the opening of the Gallery's eagerly anticipated fine dining restaurant, Palette, and sophisticated new rooftop space, The Exhibitionist Bar. We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse prior to opening, here's what you can expect ... more

Restaurants
Get a look at City Winery's new Eagle Street cellar door and bar
Food & Drink

Get a look at City Winery’s new Eagle Street cellar door and bar

06 May 2021

It's an exciting time for denizens of Eagle Street. The iconic riverside hub has welcomed its fair share of new faces recently, but its most recent arrival might tickle the sensibilities of oenophiles more than the others. Lauded Fortitude Valley-based micro-winery City Winery has expanded to Eagle Street Pier, with a brand-new cellar door, wine bar and bistro set to open at the strip on Friday May 7. If you've made plans to be elsewhere this Friday, scrap them – we've got an inkling this will soon become your go-to sundowner spot. more

Restaurants
Say yassou to Santorini Restaurant Grill Bar, Newstead's home of Greek eats
Food & Drink

Say yassou to Santorini Restaurant Grill Bar, Newstead’s home of Greek eats

06 May 2021

The salutary sunsets of Santorini are famed and fabled the world over – and for good reason! The landscape alone makes Santorini worth a visit, but the island's culinary offering is what will likely make it the first port-of-call when we're finally allowed to venture beyond our own borders. Until that time, the team at newly open Santorini Restaurant Grill Bar in Newstead is here to help locals sharpen their knowledge of the essentials. If you're keen to get familiar with the likes horiatiki, gemista and kleftiko, pencil in a visit to Santorini on Kyabara Street. more

Restaurants
Greca | Brisbane's best Greek restaurants
Food & Drink

The round-up: Brisbane’s best Greek restaurants

06 May 2021

Opa! Greek food is – without a doubt – one of the most inventive and flavoursome cuisines in the world. Succulent souvlakis, delicious dolmades, crispy calamari, helpings of haloumi – these are some all-time favourites, but they are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Greek feasts. Brisbane boasts a mighty fine selection of Greek restaurants to choose from, so we figured we’d save you the hassle of looking and list our picks right here, right now. more

Restaurants
Schnitzel festivals, glam staycations and tantalising Thai feasts – how to max out relaxing riverside vibes at Eagle Street Pier
Food & Drink

Schnitzel festivals, glam staycations and tantalising Thai feasts – how to max out relaxing riverside vibes at Eagle Street Pier

05 May 2021

The mercury is dropping, the sunsets are breathtaking and there's plenty happening – autumn has well and truly arrived in The City. If you're keen to spend the season sipping, snacking and relaxing by the riverside, then waterfront dining destination Eagle Street Pier has oodles on for you to enjoy. Think transportive Thai dinners, salivation-inducing schnitzel fiestas and a new drinking destination that's just waiting to be ticked off your bucket list. more

The Locals Next week:

Restaurants
Soak up Santorini vibes at Eagle Street's Greek Islands-inspired arrival Opa Bar + Mezze
Food & Drink

Soak up Santorini vibes at Eagle Street’s Greek Islands-inspired arrival Opa Bar + Mezze

29 Apr 2021

Though its opening night wasn't punctuated by the sound of crashing crockery, the launch of Opa Bar + Mezze at Eagle Street Pier is certainly worth the enthusiastic smashing of a plate or two. The newest restaurant from the crew behind Rico Bar & Dining and Fatcow Steak & Lobster unveiled its riverside digs last Thursday April 22, simultaneously showing off its lengthy menu of mouth-watering Greek eats. If the sound of ouzo-soaked saganaki, flash-fried calamari, moussaka drenched in béchamel, airy taramasalata and lamb souvla fresh from the spit rouses some Hellenic spirit within, we suggest getting acquainted with Opa Bar + Mezze's offering. Just go easy on the tableware ... more

Restaurants
Nonna’s Pizza & Deli brings an authentic trattoria experience to South Bank
Food & Drink

Nonna’s Pizza & Deli brings an authentic trattoria experience to South Bank

29 Apr 2021

Even those of us that aren't Italian know that Italian cuisine is often at its best when it's made by the hands of nonna. South Bank's newest bar and eatery is looking to channel a slice of that homely appeal, paying homage to the matriarchal figurehead with a menu of woodfired fare. Nonna's Pizza & Deli officially opens to the public tonight Thursday April 29 – here's a sneak peek at what the kitchen's got in store ... more

Restaurants
Here's the tea – LÜCHA Black Bar and Dining is now open in The City
Food & Drink

Here’s the tea – LÜCHA Black Bar and Dining is now open in The City

22 Apr 2021

You can never have too much of a good thing, especially when the thing in question is some of the tea-infused goodness from LÜCHA Kitchen + Bar. The beloved Elizabeth Street eatery doubling its presence in the inner-city, opening brand-new sibling site LÜCHA Black Bar and Dining today, Thursday April 22, in Albert Lane. This sophisticated newcomer builds upon the strong foundations laid by its more casual older sibling by focusing on group dining and curated culinary expeditions – just think of everything you love about the LÜCHA dining experience, then multiply it! more

Restaurants
Lebanese delights on show at West Village's new eatery Beirut Bazaar
Food & Drink

Lebanese delights on show at West Village’s new eatery Beirut Bazaar

22 Apr 2021

If you've strolled past West Village lately, no doubt you've spied the scaffolding and hoarding that hints at the living, commercial and retail hub's next stage. Should you wander by again, do yourself a favour and check out Beirut Bazaar, the brand-new Lebanese restaurant and bar that is leading West Village's next phase of expansion. The venue officially opened to the public on Thursday April 15, debuting a menu boasting mountains of mezza, succulent shawarma and raki-infused cocktails. more

Restaurants
The round-up: what's open on ANZAC Day 2021
Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open on ANZAC Day 2021

22 Apr 2021

After the hectic Easter long-weekend festivities, it’s easy to forget that we have another public holiday right around the corner. ANZAC Day is here, so it’s a good idea to plan accordingly. If you plan to spend your long weekend catching up with family and friends, it’s handy to know that there are places around town that will be open. We've found the spots around Brisbane that are trading on the ANZAC Day public holiday this Monday April 26 – so if you need a coffee, some brunch or an arvo tipple, this is the place to find it. more

Restaurants
Colour and character – introducing Biànca, the peach-hued beauty from the Agnes and sAme sAme team
Food & Drink

Colour and character – introducing Biànca, the peach-hued beauty from the Agnes and sAme sAme team

15 Apr 2021

Just when we thought we'd managed to catch our breath after the whirlwind launch of Agnes last year, the team behind one of 2020's biggest restaurant openings is stepping up to the plate once again. This time, the heralded hospitality group is trying its hand at Italian with Biànca – a slick eatery located just off James Street that boasts a colourful complexion plus a menu of trattoria classics and cocktails that showcase the fun and frivolous side of Italian cuisine. more

Restaurants
Old world meets new at Brisbane City's Leonard's Bar & Bistro and Dawn on Spencer
Food & Drink

Old world meets new at Brisbane City’s Leonard’s Bar & Bistro and Dawn on Spencer

01 Apr 2021

Last week Brisbane City's dining scene welcomed a newcomer to its midst, one that has put its own singular stamp on one of The City's most hallowed restaurant spaces. New York and Paris-inspired bistro Leonard's and laneway bar Dawn on Spencer have officially launched in the old Urbane and The Euro space on Mary Street, showcasing a multifaceted drinking and dining offering curated by a group that's earned its bread and butter by raising the standard of hospitality across the nation. more

Restaurants
The round-up: what's open in Brisbane this Easter long weekend
Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open in Brisbane this Easter long weekend

01 Apr 2021

Well, it was touch-and-go for a few days there, but it seems like Easter is going ahead for 2021! While it's perfectly acceptable to stay in and devour chocolate for four days straight, we know many of you are itching to enjoy some real food and drink. Thankfully you don’t need to go on hunt to find places open over the 2021 Easter long weekend – you just need to know where to look. We’ve compiled a lengthy list of places that will be trading from Good Friday to Easter Monday, from coffee spots to restaurants and everything in between. more

Restaurants
Introducing Frankie's Smokehouse – the barbecue joint boasting a three-tonne smoker
Food & Drink

Introducing Frankie’s Smokehouse – the barbecue joint boasting a three-tonne smoker

25 Mar 2021

If you've cruised down Woolloongabba's Stanley Street strip at any point over the past six months, you might have caught a whiff of ironbark smoke wafting through the air. This woody scent emanates from an eight-and-a-half-metre long custom smoker called Frankenstein – the gargantuan contraption responsible for lovingly cooking the barbecued delights at Frankie's Smokehouse. Since opening in October, this family-run operation has been inundated by hordes of meat-loving patrons, each one salivating at the sight of sliced brisket, mounds of pulled pork, tender beef short ribs and loaded fries. more

Restaurants
Nodo | Brisbane's best hot cross buns | The Weekend Edition
Food & Drink

The round-up: follow your nose to the best hot cross buns in Brisbane

25 Mar 2021

Look, we’re not throwing any shade towards the hot cross buns produced by the big grocery chains, but when it comes to celebrating Easter with a six-pack of buttery buns, we prefer to go gourmet. It’s the time of year when Brisbane’s best bakeries are competing for our custom, dishing out fresh trays of hot cross buns loaded with fruit, spices and other goodies. We’re not going to say which bakery bun is the definitive choice – we’re more inclined to put together a list of the top picks and let you make the hard decision. Although picking may be difficult, at the end of the day there is no wrong choice when it comes to hot cross buns. more

Restaurants
Pavement Whispers: Albion's Craft'd Grounds reveals details of its forthcoming dining and lifestyle precinct
Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: Albion’s Craft’d Grounds reveals details of its forthcoming dining and lifestyle precinct

18 Mar 2021

If we told you there was a venue in Brisbane that housed a craft-beer brewery, specialty espresso bar, street food and farmers market, patisserie, wine and cocktail bar, and live-music facilities, you'd probably say that such a unicorn-like venue didn't exist. You'd be technically right, but not for long! Today, Wednesday March 17, the team behind Craft'd Grounds is revealing the first details of its forthcoming 2600-sqm all-in-one hospitality hub. Here's what we know ... more

Restaurants
Taro's Ramen | Brisbane's best ramen | The Weekend Edition
Food & Drink

The round-up: slurp up the best ramen in Brisbane

17 Mar 2021

Once the mercury starts to drop (or the rain sets in), ramen season comes on in full force. Ramen is quickly catching on in popularity around town, with several noodle soup joints specialising in the hearty dish. Forget all about your five-pack of instant mie goreng ramen noodles – the real deal is so much better that it’s unfair to call them both ramen. We’ve compiled a list of the best spots to get your slurp on, which we reckon is worth a hearty (r)amen!   more