Uh Oh Spaghettio
Two things that are guaranteed to make us feel good? Pasta and 80s music. Sure it’s not the most conventional combination, but trust us, it works. That sentiment is shared by Samantha Fitzpatrick and Sam Holman, the brains behind upcoming Fortitude Valley eatery and bar, Uh Oh Spaghettio. Samantha and Sam are certainly not newcomers to the hospitality scene – the couple have already made a name for themselves through the likes of  The Black Lab Coffee Co., Wolfgang Specialty Coffee, Cakes and Shit, and formerly The New Black. For their latest project, they are looking to inject good times and late-night eats into the heart of Fortitude Valley. Late-night pasta bar Uh Oh Spaghettio is currently underway in Bakery Lane, taking over the Ann Street-fronting heritage-listed former home to The Apo and most recently Six Ninety Bar & Eatery. The concept is quick, fun and casual modern Italian – think neon lights, 80s tunes and a concise menu of house-made pasta and share plates, packed full of flavour but simple enough to be delivered to your table in ten minutes. The menu will feature six standard $15 pastas – think pork-and-veal bolognese pappardelle, Peroni mac ‘n’ cheese, cacio e pepe, and pumpkin fettuccini with artichoke, capers and lemon butter. There will also be up to three rotating specials each week, plus simple shares such as house-baked focaccia and warm olives. Uh Oh Spaghettio will be serving pasta, beers and Aperol Spritz on tap from the afternoon until late into the evening (through to 2:00 am on weekends) and from 9:30 pm the vibes will be kicked up a notch, with a DJ spinning beats that are guaranteed to make you want to dance (when it’s safe to do so, of course). Uh Oh Spaghettio is due to open in late September – keep an eye on The Weekend Edition for a closer look!

Chouquette
Beloved New Farm boulangerie and patisserie Choquette is expanding once more! Following the launch of its Brisbane City location in 2019, the French-style bakery has set its sights on Graceville for its next outpost. After toying with the idea of branching out to Brisbane’s western suburbs, Chouquette’s owner Fabrice Delaunay was approached by the landlord of a tenancy on Honour Avenue – a spot sandwiched between local institutions Lick! Ice-Cream and Hunter & Scout. The location proved ideal for Fabrice’s purposes and soon work was underway configuring the spot into a welcoming retail space where locals could pop in for a loaf of sourdough or some heavenly treats to go. The Graceville location will stock the majority of Chouquette’s full range of boulangerie goods, with product baked in New Farm and delivered fresh each morning. Expect buttery croissants, artisan breads, hot savoury items, fresh baguette sandwiches and decadent sweets, as well as coffee from Industry Beans. Chouquette Graceville is tentatively slated to open just before the forthcoming Father’s Day weekend – we’ll have updates for you as that date approaches.

Bao Bar
If the recent coronavirus-related lockdowns were good for anything, it was for innovation – especially in our hospitality scene. Back in May the brains behind Teneriffe Japanese restaurant Hikari and Only. Specialty Coffee teamed up for a pop-up takeaway and delivery concept called Bao Bar – a venture that specialised in fluffy baos stuffed with an assortment of tasty ingredients. The pop-up was hugely successful, so much so that the crew decided to make Bao Bar a standalone thing. After a quick search, the team has secured a 20-seater space on Edmondstone Street in South Brisbane (the former home of The Fifth Season Cafe) for Bao Bar to inhabit long term. The fit-out is currently underway, with the team looking to implement an aesthetic reminiscent of moody Japanese izakayas, with a distinct black-and-red palette set to give the space a singular look and feel. Bao Bar is on track for a mid-September opening, but will softly launch its delivery service tomorrow, Wednesday August 26, introducing locals to its core menu of beaut baos and sides. The delivery menu will be available between 5:00–9:00 pm Wednesday to Sunday via Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Door Dash, and will include signatures like soy dashi-braised pork baos with ssamjang and kimchi, beef short rib baos with truffle kewpie mayo, crispy panko-chicken sando baos, and renkon chips with edamame and avocado dip. Once the venue launches officially, expect the menu to expand with more creative options (think wagyu katsu baos) and a booze selection featuring craft beer from Balter on tap and in tins. We’ll have a closer look once Bao Bar opens to the public.

UltraViolet
If you’ve cruised down Brunswick Street lately and spied some curious mint-green and purple signage out the front of the BackDock Arts space, then you’ve spotted UltraViolet – a new hole-in-the-wall coffee spot set to open on Tuesday September 1. Owned and operated by a crew of hospitality veterans, this charming caffeine dispensary is shaping up to be a summery and fresh addition to Brunswick Street’s northern end. The cosy spot will specialise in takeaway coffee and bagels, with Fonzie Abbott supplying the beans for UltraViolet’s espresso-based pours. The UltraViolet team will be celebrating opening day with $3 coffees between 6:00 am and 12:00 pm, so be sure to pop in if you’re keen to add a new coffee joint to your regular rotation.

If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].

Image: Jessica Paige Barrett