We can pretty much guarantee that you know Mal and Bec – and if you don’t know them personally, you’ve at least been acquainted with their food. They are the legends behind Stones Corner’s Shady Palms, and previous to that Lady Marmalade and The Milk Factory. If you’ve visited any of these establishments you’ll know one thing for sure – Mal and Bec are dedicated to providing the people of Brisbane with good food and good times. Their latest project Lonely Boy continues this mission and holds true to the couple’s love of the humble neighbourhood cafe. Residing in an irresistibly cute old corner store-style building at the junction of Water and Kennigo Streets, Lonely Boy exudes the charm of yesteryear. The cafe is reminiscent of a vintage milk bar (with modern touches), where you can sit up at the counter and watch the magic happen, or perch on a stool at the window and spy on passers-by.

While the cafe itself might be small, Lonely Boy is decked out with a huge kitchen, where Mal will be joined by Aimee Morrisey (ex-Merriweather). The pair will be creating almost everything for the cafe (and a number of goodies for Shady Palms) in house – right down to the bread and burger buns. The front cabinet will be stacked full of sweet and savoury deliciousness each day, and much like their previous menus, Mal and Bec have put together a selection of breakfast and lunch options that are sure to make your mouth water. Like what? We’ll tell you. Try starting your day with a cheddar and jalapeno waffle topped with creamed corn, fried chicken nuggets and maple drizzle. Or perhaps you’d prefer a maple bacon and haloumi brekkie burger? Come lunch, you’ll find a number of delectable salads and Mal’s famous sandwiches, like the Knuckle Sandwich packed with pork knuckle, braised red cabbage and Waldorf salad. Such a large kitchen shouldn’t be wasted come evening, so Lonely Boy will also offer wholesome home-style dinners at night, available exclusively via Foodora and UberEATS delivery (in fact, you can order delivery all day). Think tortillas, risotto, shrimp and grits, and seafood mac ‘n’ cheese. Manager and barista Madeleine Khalu (ex-Scout) will be manning the group heads, with Lonely Boy being the only Brisbane stockist of Yatala’s new Open House Coffee Roasters.

Lonely Boy opens to the public today, Thursday April 20. If you don’t want to be lonely anymore, head to our Stumble Guide for Lonely Boy’s opening hours and contact details.

Full disclosure: This story was written with The Black Keys’ ‘Lonely Boy’ on repeat. We suggest you read it while doing the same. In fact, play it so your whole office/bus/family can hear. Make sure you get up from your chair and do a little happy dance too – it is almost the weekend, after all.