Mario’s
The Hardgrave Road dining strip is set to welcome Italian cuisine back to its midst when Mario’s opens in mid-to-late September. The restaurant is the newest culinary concept from the Luigi’s Italian and Mama Taco team, who are currently refashioning the old Luigi’s space into an aperitivo bar-meets-experimental Italian restaurant hybrid. Mario’s will see Dario Manca (formerly of ZA ZA TA) take the reins as head chef, working alongside executive chef Raffaele Persichetti on a menu of envelope-pushing eats. Think clean, inventive and surprising flavours that take in the spectrum of Italian gastronomy and imbue it with tasteful elements of worldly cuisines – we’re told to expect combinations yet unseen in Brisbane. The fun will start in the late afternoon, when Mario’s opens as a street-side aperitivo bar for sips of amari, grappa and spritzes alongside a selection of appetite-whetting antipasti. This offering bleeds into the a la carte and tasting menus that showcase Mario’s selection of fortnightly changing dishes. Wine will also be a big-ticket drawcard, with an approachable selection of vino encompassing high-roller barolos and nebbiolos as well as natural Italian grapes grown in Australia. As for the space, the crew are giving it a little touch up – we’re talking plants, posters and aperitivo paraphernalia adorning the walls. We’ll have a closer look at Mario’s when it opens at the end of the month.

Fonzie Abbott Taproom
Almost two years after expanding its Albion roastery to also house a brewery, Fonzie Abbott has announced a new taproom for its multi-faceted Fox Street venue. Fonzie Abbott Brewing now has a number of frothy ones in its beer selection, which will be available straight from the tank when the taproom opens in November. That’s correct – there will be no keg system in this taproom – the beers will be poured directly from small tanks custom built into the walls. The smaller size of these tanks will allow for the Fonzie Abbott crew to experiment with flavours and develop fun limited-edition brews, only available at the taproom. The bar will also serve complementary bites, such as wings and pizza, plus Fonzie’s Wishbone gin and vodka will be showcased through house-made pre-mixes and spritzes. Never one to rest on its laurels, the team is also dropping what it’s dubbed the ‘beer of summer’ this Friday – Sour Dreams – a refreshing mango and guava sour. Keep an eye on The Weekend Edition this week to find out where you can get your hot little hands on a can!

The Regal Twin
Big news for supporters of Brisbane’s independent cinema scene – the Regal Twin, Graceville’s boutique arthouse cinema, has changed hands. Long-time owner Paul Roobottom recently sold the beloved Honour Avenue picture house to Peter and Steven Sourris of Five Star Cinemas, which boasts Yatala Drive-in, New Farm Cinemas, Elizabeth Picture Theatre and Red Hill Cinemas in its portfolio. The Sourris family is eager to maintain the Regal Twin’s lineage as a go-to destination to catch sublime classic cinema and as such will be keeping its operations as is for the short-to-medium term. The only immediate changes have been a price drop on adult tickets and an implementation of online bookings, which can be made through the Five Star Cinemas website. In the long term, the team will investigate adding more screens, expanding the scope of Regal Twin’s programming and securing a liquor licence.

Lobster Day at One Fish Two Fish
Love a lobster? Then you’ll swoon at the sound of One Fish Two Fish’s forthcoming lobster-centric feast. The Kangaroo Point seafood joint will be celebrate Lobster Day (which falls on Friday September 25), curating a three-course menu dedicated to the king of crustaceans. Guests will be treated to the likes of classic bisque, a brioche roll with sriracha mayo and scampi caviar, and grilled western rock lobster on house-made tagliatelle with tarragon butter to finish. The feast will be available for dinner from 5:00 pm on Wednesday September 23 and Thursday September 24, and for lunch from midday on Friday September 25 at $79 per person. Availability is extremely limited – book now via the One Fish Two Fish website to secure a spot.

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