Antica Pizzeria
Kedron Brook Road has long been a thriving foodie thoroughfare, with a host of convivial cafes and handy nightspots making Wilston an underrated option for epicurean excursions. The team behind Pizzantica has tabbed the strip as the site of its latest expansion, announcing that the group’s flagship eatery Antica Pizzeria will open on Kedron Brook Road in mid-December. Pizzantica Group – which currently operates the pizzeria at Casa Italia in New Farm as well as its own roaming pizza-slinging kombi van – is looking to up its game at Antica, showing off a polished all-round offering that builds upon its established selection of pizzas. Antica Pizzeria will occupy the space recently vacated by Pizzeria Violetta and Sichuan Bang Bang, with the crew undertaking a fit-out process that will see the site’s two halves brought together into one 186-sqm space that encompasses a main interior dining space, bar and casual outdoor portion. Production and interior designers Jon Dowding and Chrissy Feld will be collaborating with the Pizzantica Group on Antica’s look, which will boast a casual atmosphere suitable for every occasion, from family lunches and group dinners to impromptu drink stops and date nights. Once open, Antica Pizza’s kitchen (which will be equipped with a Pavesi Forni Modena pizza recently imported from Italy) will serve a menu driven by a new focus on wow factor – think pizzas, pasta, salads and snacks made using produce sourced form local suppliers – while Antica’s bar will dispense traditional spritzes, martinis and aperitifs. The Pizzantica Group is hoping to have Antica’s pizza oven firing by Christmas. Be sure to keep your eyes on The Weekend Edition for an up-close look when it opens.

Sunny Side Sandwiches
Is there any lunch staple that blends simplicity and versatility better than the sandwich? If so, we’d like to hear about it. There’s no mountain high enough or valley low enough to keep us away from a great sanga, but thankfully forthcoming sandwich-centric concept Sunny Side is making getting a grip on a quality sambo quick and easy with its soon-to-open shop in Windsor. The brainchild of Mack Bowers and Charline De Conto of Milton-based specialty coffee roaster and espresso bar Wanderer Coffee, Sunny Side is inspired by the couple’s visits to storied sandwich dispensaries like Hector’s Deli in Melbourne and iconic London shop Brick Lane Beigel Bake. With Sunny Side, Mack and Charline are looking to bring the same hyper-focused sandwich-first service model to Brisbane. They’ve secured a site at Homezone Windsor on Newmarket Road for Sunny Side, recruiting Derlot’s Alexander Lotersztain to help craft a vivid grab-and-go eatery, which will boast a maximalist aesthetic of bright-yellow tones and cork textures as well as seating for roughly 15 patrons spread across a set of outdoor tables and some bleacher-style seating inside. Evan White, head chef of Byron Bay Mexican joint Chupacabra, is consulting on Sunny Side’s menu, which will be tight and purposefully simple. Expect a range of five core sandwiches and one rotating limited-release option showcasing classic flavours elevated with top-quality ingredients and artisanal breads from local bakers. Options will include a Sunny Side interpretation of the Reuben sandwich with 20-hour sous-vide pastrami on rye bread and an Eggslut-inspired breakfast sandwich boasting soft scrambled egg, maple bacon, caramelised onions, Kewpie mayo, kimchi mayo and American cheese served between slices of Japanese-style milk bread. Mack and Charline will be serving Wanderer Coffee (both its House Party blend and a newly formulated Sunny Side blend) alongside freshly squeezed orange juice. Sunny Side is set to open in early November.

Agnes Bakery
Folks, the moment you’ve all been waiting for is finally here. The team behind Agnes Bakery has announced on Instagram that the bricks-and-mortar iteration of its massively successful pop-up will officially open to the public at 7:00 am on Thursday October 21. Nestled in a charming Queenslander (formerly home to Arc + Family) on the corner of James Street and Harcourt Street, the woodfired bakery will be churning out its adored range of sourdough loaves, pizzette, burnt Basque cheesecakes and kouign amann, plus an assortment of doughnuts, cakes, choux pastries, tarts and sandwiches. Agnes Bakery will also feature a fully stocked larder overflowing with cheeses, house-made wood-smoked butter and relishes, salumi and even some items from the group’s restaurants.

Dicki’s Ascot
Brisbane’s plant-based dining scene has boomed in recent years and much of its early success can be attributed to the plant-based pioneers behind vegan-centric New Farm cafe Dicki’s. The family-owned business, operated by Zulueta siblings Justine, Lexi, Choy and Diana, has become a popular meeting point for fans of nourishing nosh – so much so that seating is at a premium nearly every weekend. In good news for the plant-based populace of Brisbane’s northside, Dicki’s will soon open a new location in Ascot, with a second cafe currently underway on the corner of Racecourse Road and Lancaster Road. This expansion – located in the site formerly home to Meltz Gourmet Pizza Bar – is shaping up to be larger than its Brunswick Street sibling and is touted as Dicki’s headquarters for all of its baking and ingredients production. Dicki’s Ascot will be brighter and sunnier than its New Farm sibling, with an estimated seating capacity of 65 spread across a light and airy interior (conceived by Clui Design) boasting sage tones and brass textures and shaded footpath spaces. Although details on the new location’s menu is currently being kept under wraps, the team will offer a bigger selection of plant-based morsels (core favourites will also feature) as well as a selection of boozy sips. Dicki’s Ascot is targeting a late-November or early-December opening date – stay tuned for more information!

Joyce Coffee
In case you missed the news last week, there are some big changes currently in the works at Black Sheep Coffee Roasters. Owners Mark Gloftis and Katie Daley have announced that the Woolloongabba-based specialty coffee operation will be closing operations at its long-running hub on Norman Street in anticipation of a move across to the other side of the road early next year. The business will also be undertaking a rebrand, reopening in the new space next year as Joyce Coffee – a name that the duo believes will better reflect the company’s attention to sustainability, community, approachability and innovation. Joyce’s new home is being designed by award-winning architect John Ellway, who will be taking a minimalist Japanese-inspired approach to its aesthetics – think charred cedar, black steel and raked concrete. An internal garden – filled with plants indigenous to the area – will separate Joyce’s production and storage area from its coffee bar, with the latter featuring a dedicated filter bar as well as a larger espresso counter (which will also serve baked goods and artisanal treats from Sprout Artisan Bakery and Floss Bakes). Home brewers will be stoked to hear that Joyce Coffee will also boast a bean deli, stocking more than 90 varieties of high-end coffee available to purchase in 20-g portions, giving home brewers an opportunity to sample exceptional coffees without having to buy in bulk. Joyce Coffee will open in 2022 – keep your eyes peeled for more details.

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