The Gunshop Cafe Toowong
Few cafes in Brisbane’s dining scene boast as sterling a reputation as The Gunshop Cafe. This West End eatery is a veritable culinary institution (we’re not kidding – it won Best Institution Cafe in 2018’s EAT/drink Awards) and continues to draw in throngs of diners every week. If you regularly count yourself among that hungry horde, then you’ll get a kick out of this news – The Gunshop Cafe has announced a second location across the river in Toowong and it’s opening in a matter of weeks! Taking over the space formerly home to Maria Caribbean Kitchen on Jephson Street, The Gunshop team (in conjunction with Brisbane-based studio Ni Design) is currently in the process of putting its stamp on the venue, implementing a colour scheme that evokes the warmth of its brick-laden West End home – think browns, yellow and timber spread across the interior dining space. The Gunshop’s selection of dearly beloved signature dishes like the potato-and-fetta hash cakes, pork, apple and sage sausage with bubble and squeak and sauerkraut, and sweet potato and thyme rostis will feature, while a host of Toowong-exclusive dishes will encourage regulars to make the pilgrimage. The cafe will also look to expand its coffee selection with the addition of cold brew and other specialty methods. Keep your eye affixed to The Weekend Edition – we’ll have an up-close look at the new arrival when it opens in early December.

Rabbit & Co
Coorparoo residents will soon be blessed with a brand-new cafe when Rabbit & Co opens on Chatsworth Road at the end of November. Rabbit & Co is the brainchild of Mandy Metcalfe, owner and operator of The Rabbit Hole Cafe in Wynnum and Seven Hills. Her newest venture is described as a spiritual sibling to her established cafes, one that is imbued with the same set of values that revolve around great food, fresh produce and big portions. The 80-seater space (formerly home to Little Sista Cafe) will boast a modern feel, with an aesthetic based on white, timber and plenty of greenery. The venue’s lighter visual approach will be reflected in the menu, with plenty of The Rabbit Hole’s signature dishes given a salivation-worthy tweak or two. Beans from Bear Bones Espresso will also be on deck for coffee sippers. Stay tuned for more details on this arrival in the coming weeks.

Motto Motto Moreton Bay Bug Roll
The weather is warm, the sun is shining – it’s officially bug roll season. Motto Motto is celebrating by introducing a limited-edition Moreton Bay bug roll to its menu, launching tomorrow Wednesday November 18. The Japanese eatery is dubbing it “Australia’s most inexpensive yet indulgent bug roll”, with each fresh bun packed full with local Moreton Bay bugs, Japanese yuzu dressing, Australian avocado, shallots and black fish roe. The $15 rolls, designed by group executive chef Ryuji Tomihara, are available at all Motto Motto restaurants but only for a few short weeks – so you’d better get in quick!

Miss Jones
One of Brunswick Street’s eye-catching eateries is getting a makeover next week. Miss Jones in New Farm, which recently celebrated its third birthday, will be closing at the end of next week for a brief interior transformation and menu overhaul. During this downtime, the cafe will shake-up its aesthetic – changing gears from its pastel colour scheme to a punchy palette of red and pink. In addition to some new tables and more greenery, the Miss Jones team will also be adding more pet-friendly outdoor seating for brunch lovers and their poochy pals. That’s not all – Miss Jones’ head chef Emily Bartholdt will be tweaking the menu, adding new dishes such as strawberries-and-cream hotcakes with strawberry sherbet and pink-lemonade ice-cream, a new eggs Benny with greens, hickory brown-sugar slow-cooked pork shoulder, pickled fennel, red apple and smoked-paprika hollandaise on sourdough, and coconut-and-peach granola with ruby grapefruit labneh, mango gel and citrus dust. Miss Jones will look to reopen with its new look and new menu on Monday November 30.

Nodo’s sixth birthday celebrations
It seemed like it was only yesterday that Nodo first captured our hearts and tastebuds as a market-born slinger of gluten-free doughnuts, but in reality it was way back in 2014. How time flies! The beloved baked-goods dispenser has now flourished into a cafe powerhouse in its own right, boasting permanent locations in Newstead, Camp Hill, South Bank and Brisbane City, as well as pop-up kiosks at Westfield Carindale and Chermside. Wednesday November 18 marks Nodo’s sixth birthday, and to celebrate the crew will be treating locals to a bargain – one doughnut and regular coffee for $6. All six locations will be getting in on the action, with Nodo’s permanent spots kicking festivities off from 7:00 am, and the pop-up joints commencing from 9:00 am. Be sure to get in quick to snag your preferred flavour, including November’s special Ferrero doughnut.

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