La De Lah
Excitement, ambition and flair – these are three words that the team behind South Bank’s newest eatery hope come to mind when diners saunter in for a visit this July. La De Lah, a brand-new Malaysian-inspired concept from the crew that brought us Ma Pa Me, is set to offer an elevated take on Malaysian eats in an eye-catching space off Little Stanley Street. Head chef Eugene Lee (previously of sense-enlivening Restaurant Indriya) will be dipping into his own childhood and heritage for inspiration, turning out a menu that delivers authentic flavours with artist-like creativity and a sense of friendly warmth (the ‘lah’ in La De Lah is a conversational Malaysian word that is the equivalent of ‘hey’). La De Lah’s interior will reportedly boast a moody aesthetic comprised of dark-hued timber offset by elegant stoneware plating – the perfect setting to enjoy a colourful array of dishes that blend Malaysian flavours and locally grown produce. We’re excited by the sound of La De Lah’s Urban Valley chilli mushroom (inspired by the classic chilli crab, but boasting artisanal mushrooms grown specifically for the dish), the Make Your Own Lah! Bao (presented in hand-crafted tiffin carriers), the blue-hued nasi goreng kerabu (stained using butterfly pea powder) and a Malaysian-inspired riff on a pavlova infused with jackfruit, palm sugar and pandan. A selection of cocktails will look to match the creativity of the menu, while a wine list will champion organic, biodynamic and minimal-intervention vino. Keep your eyes peeled for an up-close look at La De Lah when it opens next month.

FISHBOWL Newmarket Village
It’s hard to fathom that it was almost a year ago that FISHBOWL made its Queensland debut – it feels like the salad specialist has been a fixture of our lunchtime roster for much, much longer. The FISHBOWL team, helmed by Sydney-born trio Nathan Dalah, Nic Pestalozzi and Casper Ettelson, has crammed a lot of activity into the past 12 months, opening a string of locations across Southeast Queensland, starting at Gasworks Plaza and rapidly adding spots in Chermside, Robina, Burleigh Heads and Sunshine Plaza to its portfolio. In a couple of weeks FISHBOWL will unveil another one. From Saturday July 8, FISHBOWL fanatics will be able to cop a fix from Newmarket Village, where a new colourful dispensary will sling the same core menu of nourishing salad bowls, all of which are centred around a philosophy of conscious eating. The site, similar in size to its Newstead sibling, will offer a little bit of seating for those looking to dine in but, being a quick-service concept, those on the go will be able to nab a bowl and bounce, briskly. Expect to find popular options such as the The O.G. (kale, savoy, beets, shallots, edamame, red onion, roasted sesame dressing, seaweed salad, tobiko and crispy shallots with salmon sashimi) and the beef brisket bowl (12-hour braised beef with kale, savoy, carrots, radish, shallots, edamame, lemon olive oil and shoyu dressing, wasabi peas, and wasabi mayo drizzle), as well as a new bowl called the nori caesar, which will be dropping just before opening. As usual, guests will also be able to build their own bowls. To celebrate the opening of the Newmarket Village location, FISHBOWL will be selling half-price bowls from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on Saturday July 8, so be sure to pop down for a bargain bite.

Sense of Taste Portside
If you’ve been keeping tabs on Pavement Whispers throughout the year so far, you’ll already know that Portside Wharf is in the midst of an exciting metamorphosis. A $20-million facelift is reinvigorating the precinct’s food and drink offering, with new arrivals such as waterfront seafood restaurant Fosh and boulangerie and salon de thé Rise Bakery joining recently opened Rosé Gelateria as fresh faces for foodies to flock to. While these new openings are grabbing headlines, one of Portside’s established traders, Sense of Taste, is taking the opportunity to undergo its own overhaul. The lauded liquor store has recently unveiled a bit of an expansion, doubling its footprint and considerably bolstering its range of libations. The Sense of Taste team has just capped off an 18-month procuring process, which saw the crew add a whopping range of wines, champagnes, craft beers and spirits, with a sharp focus on whiskey ensuring fans of the peaty potable have plenty of reasons to visit. In addition to booze, Sense of Taste also stocks a broad range of gourmet deli goods and gift hampers. More elbow room means more space for activities – guests can now linger longer and enjoy a drink on site, with a by-the-glass menu dispensed via an enomatic wine machine, available alongside cheese platters. Expect more in-store masterclasses and events to fill out the calendar moving forward.

Also, in case you missed the news …

Gerard’s Bistro
Last week, the team behind widely acclaimed James Street restaurant Gerard’s Bistro announced that it would be temporarily closing its doors after its last dinner service on Saturday July 1, 2023, capping off 11 successful years of trade. Doors will remain closed for two months while the space undergoes a comprehensive makeover, with a complete facelift expected to make way for an entirely reimagined dining space. Longtime fans of Gerard’s Bistro’s modern take on the flavours of the Maghreb and Middle East will be pleased to know that neighbouring Gerard’s Bar will reinvigorate its space to accommodate a full menu and, as of Monday July 10, will be opening seven days a week to bridge the gap during the renovation period. Gerard’s Bar will also be hosting weekly special events – Monday nights will be Lebanese Pizza Parties, Wednesdays will see steak frites lead the menu, and Gerard’s will also be bringing back its beloved Middle Eastern brunch offering from Friday to Sunday. Gerard’s Bistro is targeting a September date for its grand reopening – stay tuned for more on that in the coming months.

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