Jamie Oliver may have spurred the city into a food frenzy via the small screen and a series of cookbooks, but now that spirited mastermind is making his mark on the local dining scene with the opening of Brisbane’s first Jamie’s Italian this week. A 1900s building in Rowes Arcade is the fortunate new host of Australia’s fifth – and largest – Jamie’s Italian restaurant, which boasts two distinctly different levels and 240 seats for merry Brisbane bums.

Perch at the front bar and watch Edward Street sweep by as you wait for a table or venture deeper into the timber-and-brass clad restaurant where you can observe the team preparing signature meat planks at the antipasti bar and producing hundreds of kilograms of fresh pasta every week. Follow the stairs down to the basement level and you’ll find a second bar and restaurant area, where low ceilings, leather banquettes and original stone walls create a more intimate setting. In an Australian first, fronted glass windows offer diners full view of the kitchen, inviting them to gawk at the chefs whipping up standout dishes like the popular linguine with garlicky prawns, tomatoes, chilli, rocket and fennel, and the Australian lamb shoulder cooked overnight with tomatoes, wine and herbs, served on polenta bianca. Bookend your meal with a sweetener like the epic brownie or tiramisu, a cup of Musetti Italian coffee, or soldier on through the local craft beers on tap, which currently include ales from Sunshine Coast Brewery, Burleigh Brewing and Green Beacon Brewing. An award-winning kids’ menu, crayons and badges will also keep little diners entertained and parents at peace.

In addition to the current spring/summer a la carte menu, cast an eye over the daily blackboard specials such as responsibly sourced fish, or settle in for one of three set menus. A Christmas feast offering will also be available from November 24 to December 31.

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