Bird’s Nest Portside
It’s wild to think that it’s been ten years since Emi Kamada and Marie Yokoyama first opened Bird’s Nest Yakitori Bar in West End. The eatery has become a staple in the Brisbane dining scene, consistently serving up its signature flame-licked skewers and Japanese eats that never disappoint. In those ten years, Emi and Marie have expanded operations to Fortitude Valley and opened the fast-service Bird’s Nest On The Run in Toowong – and are showing no signs of slowing down as they round out their first decade. The coming months will see the duo open two more Bird’s Nest locations, the first at Portside Wharf. Lowry Group has just commenced construction on the 60-seat fit-out, with plans to open in August this year. Bird’s Nest Portside will have a similar offering to the Fortitude Valley eatery, featuring a more concise menu of ten signature yakitori options, lunch bowls, succulent Japanese-inspired burgers, sashimi, cocktails, sake and more. Following the opening of Portside, Bird’s Nest will be opening in Everton Park around October/November this year. We’ll keep you posted with more news soon!

Mr Duncans
Fortitude Valley’s Chinatown Mall is soon to get a new lease on life, with a multi-million-dollar food and drink concept slated to open in November this year. Mr Duncans will take over an expansive new space on the car park side of the mall, promising to bring a lively atmosphere back to the once-buzzing strip. The brainchild of Vince Mōefa’auo, who also operates The Valley’s Halo Ground cafe, Mr Duncans will feature a cafe, bar and five individual kitchens serving a variety of cuisines across the almost-300-seat venue. Essentially diners will be able to find a seat in the communal dining room, then order via QR code from the array of cuisines on offer, to enjoy share style. During the day, the focus will be on high-quality quick-service selections, promising satisfying restaurant-quality meals in a fraction of the time (and cost). Come evening, expect larger, more premium, share-style dishes, including charcuterie, pasta and meat by the kilo. Vince is currently in the process of securing the right operators for the space, but we’re told to expect a meat-focused kitchen, rice bowls, pasta, noodles, Portuguese-style grilled chicken and a carvery and deli option. Mr Duncans will also feature a full-service bar (we hear an alcoholic ice-cream is in the works) and cafe, serving up egg muffins and grab-and-go eats. Vince’s plans for Mr Duncans don’t stop at the 75-m-fronted space – he also plans to expand its footprint into the centre of the mall with a kiosk-style bar and eatery down the track.

Non Voyage at One Fish Two Fish 
Tired of scrolling an Instagram feed full of European summer holidays? We hear you. If the Amalfi Coast isn’t on your travel bingo card this year, you can at least get a taste of the good life with Non Voyage at One Fish Two Fish. From June 23 to July 30, the Kangaroo Point eatery will be dishing up a decadent four-course Italian-inspired feast featuring the three essential Cs – carbs, citrus and crustaceans. For $79 per person, you can indulge in the likes of Fraser Isle spanner crab and braised-fennel tortellini, bay lobster risotto, grilled goldband snapper with Amalfi salad and more. Bookings can be made via the One Fish Two Fish website and, to really solidify the Italian vibes, group bookings for six or more will receive a complimentary Aperol spritz on arrival. Molto bene!

C’est La Vie Sundays at C’est Bon
If your European dreams are more French leaning, there’s a feast for you too. Woolloongabba’s C’est Bon Restaurant has just unveiled a new monthly lunch event, C’est La Vie Sundays. Starting on Sunday July 2, the Sunday soiree will take place on the semi-alfresco La Terrasse, promising a leisurely afternoon indulging in fine French food and wine. Chef Andy Ashby will be creating a delectable three-course menu of French cuisine, kicking off with snacks such as a croque monsieur with jamon, truffle and smoked comte alongside a crisp glass of French chablis on arrival. Main courses will see the likes of whole dry-aged trout with allium bearnaise and caviar gracing the shared table, served with baby cos with pistachio creme and cured yolk. To finish, guest will watch in awe as the chef prepares (and sets ablaze) an impressive flambé crepe Suzette before their eyes, topped with a velvety brown-butter ice-cream. C’est La Vie Sundays will take place on the first Sunday of every month, with the $89 ticket including snacks, three courses and a glass of chablis. Head to the C’est Bon website to secure your spot.

Alice
In case you missed it, last week we announced that Frog’s Hollows Pete Hollands is currently working on a new project, set to fill the hole in the Brisbane market for late-night cocktail bars. Inspired by the likes of Cry Baby in Adelaide, Heartbreaker in Melbourne and the now-closed Frankie’s Pizza by the Slice in Sydney, Alice will bring true dive-bar culture to a basement in Brisbane City, positioned down an unassuming, black-gated laneway on Elizabeth Street. Once complete in September, Alice will have the air of a 1980s rock ’n’ roll dive bar, complete with pool table, bolted bar stools, booth seating and an array of boxy vintage TVs positioned above the bar playing baseball reruns. An in-house jukebox will be filled with a curated selection of 80s and 80s-adjacent rock ’n’ roll and hair metal, including the likes of Mötley Crüe, Whitesnake and the bar’s namesake, Alice Cooper. Working alongside seasoned venue manager Michael Pattison, Pete will craft a cocktail menu of carefully prepared sips, ensuring that the ‘dive’ part ends at the drink selection – good booze, good music and good times until 3:00 am are going to be guaranteed at Alice. For the full story, head here.

Kevin
Also from last week, we announced that New Farm will soon be welcoming Kevin, a neighbourhood cafe from two hospo heroes. The Black Lab Coffee Co. co-founder Sam Holman and drip cafe’s Yolanda van Houtte are joining forces for the project, which they describe as “just a bloody good cafe”. The duo is currently working on restoring the character-filled workers cottage on Brunswick Street, breathing new life into its storied walls. Once complete, the space will feature a huge farmhouse-style communal table, shaded front deck and veggie patch, the fruits of which will be used on the ever-changing menu. Sam and Yolanda are working with a selection of local farmers and hobby growers and producers to source a bunch of produce for the menu, which will also be available for purchase in the in-house pantry. Kevin is due to open in August – see the full story here.

Pie Town
In devastating news for Brisbane pie lovers, beloved West End dispensary Pie Town will be closing its doors for the last time at the end of service on Sunday July 2. In a heartfelt announcement on Instagram, owner and pie connoisseur Susie Yang sited “the same grim reality a lot of small businesses are facing now” as her reasoning why, admitting that after six years of giving it her all, she was done. If you’ve ever sunk your fork into one of Susie’s mouth-watering pies – be it key lime, bourbon pecan, banoffee, Philly cheesesteak or chicken – you’ll know firsthand what a great loss this is to Brisbane’s pastry community. Whether you’re a longtime Pie Town lover or you’re keen to fill your pie hole for the first (and last) time, we highly suggest making tracks to show your support in its final weeks.