The story
Back in May 2018, the local foodie news wire lit up with the announcement that a new dining hub was in the works at Everton Plaza. The report included word that local restaurateur Tim Johnson had signed on to bring two of his heralded concepts – Italian restaurant Corbett & Claude and Mexican-inspired cocktail bar and eatery Comuna Cantina – to the development alongside a host of other food and drink outlets, transforming the shopping precinct into a must-visit destination for Brisbane’s northwest catchment. Tim’s plans for his Everton Plaza presence were extensive, involving a two-stage construction schedule that would transform a sizeable chunk of Park Lane’s laneway strip and an entire building into a multi-faceted and colourful wonderland of eats and drinks. Although ambitious, the end result has paid off. Comuna Cantina opened in September to much fanfare, luring in locals in droves with its voguish fit-out, Instagram-worthy cocktail selection and menu of flavour-packed eats. Not long after Comuna’s arrival, Tim revealed details on phase two of his Everton Plaza project – a two-level establishment that celebrated Italian fare and the carefree la dolce vita culture. Today, Friday December 6, the cloche is being lifted on Corbett & Claude and its coastal-inspired rooftop bar addition Tetto.

Corbett & Claude
Those who have dined at either of Tim’s Corbett & Claude locations on Elizabeth Street or at Westfield Garden City will already be well acquainted with the restaurant’s Italian-centric offering. At Everton Park, the experience has been dialled up a few extra notches, starting with its immaculate ground-floor dining space that extends from an outdoor entry alleyway to the polished interior section. Corbett & Claude’s classic aesthetic is built upon a sophisticated combination of blonde-timber furnishings, a curved white-marble bar, polished-metal fixtures, soft leather and splashes of deep green, with a central kitchen space, bar and pizza oven surrounded by comfy stool seating, casual two-seater tables and a collection of cosy booths, the latter of which can be curtained off for a bit of extra privacy. The menu itself features the full complement of Corbett’s mouthwatering staples – we’re talking quintessential Italian comfort food. Starters such as crispy calamari, mushroom arancini and bruschetta segues into sharing plates including haloumi chips, meat and cheese boards and buttermilk-fried chicken bites. Corbett & Claude’s pizzas are some of the finest around – with ten classic and six C&C Special varieties perfect for sharing or hoarding – and carb lovers can fill in the gaps with a selection of pastas. Guests can also get into the ‘cin cin’ spirit with Corbett & Claude’s selection of signature, classic and shared cocktails, beers and wines, but perhaps the best spot for a nightcap sits upstairs …

Tetto Rooftop Bar
The idea for Tetto Rooftop Bar struck Tim during a recent overseas holiday, which saw the entrepreneur soaking up the sights, smells and tastes of Europe. The various cocktail and wine bars of the Amalfi Coast proved the perfect inspirational starting point for Tetto’s own vibe – an open-air oasis where revellers can languidly lounge with a cocktail in hand while the sky turns from blue to pink to star-speckled black. The 300-sqm space features a colour palette dominated by white, concrete, pastel coral and sherbet orange. A sun-drenched courtyard overlooks Corbett’s alleyway space below, with orange-and-white striped umbrellas shading a collection of tables and cushioned high chairs. Slender olive tree saplings and bougainvillea sway in the breeze while errant gusts shift a set of opaque curtains, revealing a private booth space at the far end. A bar runs the length of the outdoor space, with a white-tiled bar front and shelves set within arched alcoves creating a timeless sun-bleached coastal European aesthetic. The fare upstairs is lighter than Corbett & Claude’s more rustic spread, favouring snacks and summer-appropriate mains. Pick at plates of warm mixed olives, house-made meatballs in rich Napoli sauce, grilled-chicken salads, Peroni-battered fish and chips, gorgonzola gnocchi and Tetto’s chicken cotoletta. Over at the bar, the light and refreshing theme continues, with a selection of effervescent spritzes taking the edge off the heat, while signature cocktails like The Amalfi Dream, Coastal Kiss and Capri Colada inject some colour into your rooftop revelry.

Tetto Rooftop Bar and Corbett & Claude open to the public today, Friday December 6. Head to the Stumble Guide for more details.