Little Miss Sunshine Bistro & Brewery
A one-of-a-kind venue is taking shape in The City – one that is set to entice beer lovers and gourmands in equal measure. Little Miss Sunshine is a light-filled 250-seat bistro and microbrewery from RMS Group, the team behind fellow inner-city locales Hellcat Maggie, Isles Lane and Fig & Olive. Nestled at the rear of the Heritage Lanes on Ann Street, Little Miss Sunshine is looking to embody the best bits of Queensland, from the cracking climate and carefree lifestyle to our world-class produce. Little Miss Sunshine will be reflecting the state’s sun-soaked scenery via a fit-out mixing warm timbers and sturdy brick, with terrazzo stone tops and bumblebee-yellow leather booths giving off a warm and approachable vibe. The venue will be equipped with a bar (boasting 28 beers on tap), a fully equipped kitchen (overseen by head chef Ferdinand Sari, formerly of Babylon Brisbane), an alfresco space (for leisurely afternoon catch-ups) and a mezzanine level (featuring a private-dining space for 16 guests). Little Miss Sunshine is a bistro first, brewery second, with a lengthy menu fusing Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines with a Queensland-inspired twist. Expect classics like beer-battered barramundi with chips and Moreton Bay bug spaghetti, as well as chicken cotoletta, pizzas, chicken shawarma burgers and fresh tabbouleh salad. As for the beer, Little Miss Sunshine’s nanobrewery will produce a clutch of brews that you’ll only be able to enjoy on site, poured alongside other Queensland-made craft beers and mainstream favourites. There will also be a wine list and menu of signature and classic cocktails. Little Miss Sunshine is looking to open before the end of July – keep your eyes on The Weekend Edition for an up-close look very soon.

Mini’s Vietnamese pop-up
The restaurant space formerly home to Kid Curry and French-inspired pop-up bistro Mini has been a little bit quiet ever since the blockbuster opening of the Happy Boy team’s newest concept Petite. Now, with Petite humming along smoothly, the group is now looking to bring Mini’s timber-clad interior to life once again with a new week-long pop-up – this time dedicated to Vietnamese cuisine. From Tuesday July 30 Saturday August 3, Mini will welcome Brisbane-born chef Bao La, who will be tapping into his Vietnamese heritage (and his experience living and working in Saigon for the past four years) to create a set menu of authentic dishes. In addition to the menu, guests will be able to enjoy an array of sensational drink options, including wines from the Snack Man cellar and cocktails crafted to suit the fare. Tickets are $89 per person, with limited spaces available. Head to the Happy Boy booking platform to make a reservation (be sure to set your area to Mini Viet Pop-Up).

Claw BBQ
Southern charm is coming to Brisbane’s southern suburbs, with colourful barbecue and crab shack concept Claw BBQ set to open at Westfield Carindale in early September. The Bowen Hills-born eatery and bar is the brainchild of Potentia Solutions Leisure (the team behind Soko, Lina Rooftop and Carmen Tequileria), with an American-inspired menu showcasing iconic eats like Texas-style sticky barbecue ribs, buckets of cooked-to-order shellfish, pork tomahawks with Cajun butter, fried-chicken burgers, pulled-beef tacos and jalapeno poppers. In addition to this sizeable smorgasbord of eats, Claw BBQ’s Carindale location will also pour a massive selection of tap beers, kid-friendly mocktails and ice-cream shakes. The venue itself will boast a bunch of arcade games, big-screen TVs screening round-the-clock sporting entertainment and a 4.5-m boat built into the ceiling. Stay tuned for more on Claw BBQ’s expansion in the coming weeks.

La Macelleria turns ten
Even as Brisbane’s gelato scene has grown and diversified, one name remains a trusted source for top-tier scoops. La Macelleria, Matteo Zini’s cherished gelato maker and dessert destination is turning ten this year. To celebrate the momentous milestone, the team will be throwing a bash of gargantuan proportions at its Teneriffe headquarters on Sunday August 11. The day will start at 12:00 pm sharp with lunch provided by inner-city pizza joint Scugnizzi (which will be slinging slices of its famed pizza al taglio) and a live burrata pop-up from Casa Motta. An assortment of kids entertainment will take place from 2:00 pm, and then – between 5:00–7:00 pm – La Macelleria will host an evening of aperitivo, with a free gelato cocktail (think prosecco sorbet, Aperol spritz sorbet and Amaretto gelato) offered with every purchase of slice of Scugnizzi pizza. What’s more, on Monday August 12 La Macelleria will be hosting a must-attend gelato masterclass led by the gelateria’s co-founder Matteo Casone, who has just returned to Australia after a stint spearheading Alain Ducasse’s gelato concept in Paris. Matteo will be showcasing Michelin-starred gelato recipes to a select few – tickets are strictly limited, so click here to snag some ASAP.

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