When we think Italian, our minds usually wander to lengthy meals boasting waves and waves of rich cuisine. This is true for most Italian-inspired eateries (and we aren’t complaining), but Italian Street Kitchen at the Gasworks is trimming the fat to prioritise restaurant-quality fare served efficiently for the modern, on-the-go dining crowd. Boasting two locations in Sydney, Italian Street Kitchen has already earned a reputation for delivering a formidable range of items inspired by the rich history of Italian street food, and now its Brisbane location is bringing the same style to Newstead’s lunch and dinner scene. Boasting a fresh and inviting fit-out, the space itself feels like you are entering a kitchen with seats privy to all manner of culinary theatre from the pizza oven, rotisserie or pasta station. The aroma itself is enough to get our stomachs rumbling, but a quick glance at the fare seals the deal.

The menu is broken up into several easy-to-navigate sections – antipasto, panini, oven-roasted dishes, pizza, pasta and spit-roast morsels. If you’d like to do as the Romans do, then you’d best start with some nibbles. Freak out over fried gnocchi, pine over potato and four-cheese croquettes, salivate over a salumi board or call for more calamari – there’s no wrong option. Following these snacks, you’ll either want to try some of the pizzas made on dough raised for 48 hours, or the house-made pasta that is crafted fresh and dried naturally. If you aren’t satisfied, then the beef rump cap or the lamb fresh off the spit roast is a great choice, then sweeten things up with an Italian fried custard crème fritta served with chocolate gelato. The icing on the cake – thirsty patrons can BYO wine, order Italian wine and beer off tap, or go crazy at the self-serve sparkling water station.

Italian Street Kitchen is now open. For restaurant operating hours and contact details, check out the Stumble Guide.