One by one, the builders are exiting, the scaffolding is coming down and new venues are opening their doors within Fortitude Valley’s M&A Lane. One of the coveted favourites already earning itself a reputation is Simon O’Brien’s Mighty Mighty, a lively locale where craft brews complement spot-on smokehouse cuisine. A cowboy perches in paint overhead as chefs busy themselves behind the grills and turn out a menu full of American barbecue classics.

Executive chef Adam Herbert indulges prime cuts of meat with flavoursome spice rubs, house-made sticky sauces and spells in imported American smoking ovens. Start with a plate of crumbed, pickled shiitake or jalapeño poppers plumped with Monterey Jack and smoked belly pork, before moving on to mains like buttermilk fried chicken, cold-smoked duck jambalaya or blackened Cajun king reef barramundi. Ravenous patrons can set their appetites on the standout beef brisket, which has been smoked and mopped with molasses barbecue sauce, and served alongside a potato and apple salad. Sides like pickled watermelon rind, brown ale-battered onion rings and cue’d bacon hock baked beans round out the American indulgence.

The drinks menu also draws inspiration from the sprawling continent, with a selection of beers hailing from the likes of Brooklyn Brewery, Founders Brewing Co. and Rogue, and whiskies from Old Rip Van Winkle, Woodford Reserve and Buffalo Trace. Fork into a big ol’ slice of American pie – think apple pecan, sour cherry or key lime – and recline with a happy heart and belly.

Mighty Mighty
Shop 6/7, 100 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley
Ph: 07 3666 0184
Open: Monday to Sunday 11:00 am to late