Pavement Whispers: Volume 324 September 7
From news of soul-infused foodie arrivals to a five-course degustation exploring the wonders of dim sum, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know. When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out …
Soul Brothers
At the end of September Nundah will welcome Soul Brothers, a slick new burger, hotdog and shake joint with a bit of a soulful twist. Owners Denis and Lina are channelling their love of burgers and soul music into the venture, which draws inspiration from New York City’s diverse bounty of mouth-watering burger spots including Shake Shack, Five Guys and 5 Napkin Burger. The couple has secured a 120-sqm space at Nundah Village for the eatery, which will boast a chic and timeless look and room for around 70 diners without restrictions. Years of recipe formulation, ingredient testing and research has resulted in a menu of six burgers, three cheese kransky dogs, five shakes and an assortment of sides. The team is aiming for consistency and great value for money, using local ingredients to create burgers that are simple but incredibly satisfying. Upon launch, folks can saunter into Soul Brothers for a taste of the Basic, Spicy, Standard, Bacon, Southern Fried Chicken and Grand burgers, available with regular, cheesy or loaded fries (topped with cheese sauce, bacon, burger sauce and jalapenos), alongside Hershey’s, peanut butter, Oreo and Kit-Kat shakes. While you’re chowing down, a hand-picked playlist of soul classics from the likes of Sam Cooke, Nina Simone and Etta James will keep the nostalgic vibes on point. Soul Brothers will open to the public on Monday September 27 – stay tuned for a closer look!
The Soul Pantry Kitchen
Botanical-loving locals of Stafford will already be familiar with the suburban oasis that is The Soul Pantry – the plants, homewares and gifts emporium on Wolverhampton Street. Soon there will be even more excuses to visit with the overhaul of the venue’s own cafe space, with a crew of hospitality veterans coming onboard to give the on-site eatery a new lease on life. The Soul Pantry Kitchen will relaunch in early October, showing off a botanical garden aesthetic that is currently being applied to its perch overlooking the Grange Forest Park. Once open, the 70-seat kitchen and bar will look to lure in those keen to enjoy some killer hospitality without trekking into the inner city, with The Soul Pantry Kitchen adding a full bar service in addition to a revamped bounty of brunch options like lobster rolls, breakfast boards and loaded milkshakes. That means that boozy brunches will be on the cards, as well laid-back Sunday sessions with acoustic musicians setting the vibe. Although not yet confirmed, the crew is also eager to trial boozy high teas. We’ll update you on this one closer to October.
Little Roger Coffee
West End’s espresso scene will score another entrant next week with the soft opening of Little Roger Coffee on Sunday September 12. This perky pet-friendly pick-me-up spot is nestled in an 8-sqm space on Rogers Street at the base of Muse Apartments, with a fit-out giving the nook a new look courtesy of VJ panelling, subway tiles and a batch of dine-in and footpath tables. Owned by a family unit consisting of Zac, Camilla, Kasper, Marianne and Kim, Little Roger Coffee will tap into the Danish sentiment of hygge – that is, the qualities of comfort and cosiness. Guests will be able to get cosy with a cup of coffee (The Black Lab Coffee Co. is supplying Little Roger Coffee’s beans) and a pastry, brownie or muffin crafted by a local baker. The cafe will also be offering complimentary dog treats to those that swing by with their furry pal, while plans are in the works to open once a month for a special mocktail and cheeseboard night. Little Roger Coffee is opening softly this weekend, but be sure to check in on The Weekend Edition soon for a peek.
Tarbouche Mezza Bar
Little Roger isn’t the only new resident calling West End home this month – last Friday September 3 Tarbouche Mezza Bar opened on Boundary Street in the space formerly occupied by Bender’s Bar, showing off a revamped interior and a menu of bold Lebanese flavours. The restaurant, which is operated by the crew behind Indooroopilly’s Little Beirut, offers a traditional saj grill experience (a dome-shaped cooktop typically used for charring flatbreads), with a menu comprised of hot and cold mezza, shawarma plates, grilled mains and sizeable sharing platters. Tarbouche’s menu features two signature items that will be of particular interest to carnivorous types – a shawarma beef tower and the shawarma chicken tower, both of which come with an assortment of fries in case you have gaps to fill. A range of cocktails – including an Arabic coffee espresso martini – will help wash down your choice of feast, while belly dancers will keep energy levels high every Friday and Saturday night. Oh, and did we mention that there’s a separate outdoor shisha area? Because Tarbouche has one of those, too! Head to the Stumble Guide for more info on this newcomer.
Southside’s Dim Sum Dego
Never one to shy away from pushing the limitations of its culinary boundaries, the team behind Fish Lane modern-Chinese restaurant Southside is taking dim sum to a new level with a five-course degustation lunch dedicated to the delightful dumplings and scrumptious snacks. This two-sitting event, taking place on Sunday October 10, will tantalise tastebuds with ten dishes spread across steamed, fried and baked categories. Bites like Queensland grouper, Fraser Island crab and chive har gow, and spatchcock and foie gras sui mai will be on offer alongside the likes of sesame scampi toast with seaweed mayo and wild scampi caviar, sticky barbecue pork puff with manuka honey, and lotus leaf sticky rice with abalone sauce and conpoy. Tickets are $88 per person, though thirsty guests can add a wine pairing or enjoy one of the special cocktails crafted just for the event. Click here for menu and booking information.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Brisbane dining guide with more than 2400 places to eat, drink, shop and play.