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The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far) The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far)

The round-up: Brisbane’s biggest food openings of the year (so far)

Whew! Is it just us, or has the first half of 2023 sailed by? It's time to take a minute to catch our breath and look back on the whirlwind that was the past six months with a cheeky retrospective of some of the biggest openings so far. In the last half-year alone we've scored head-turning Sardinian-inspired restaurants, Queensland outposts from interstate heavyweights, a neighbourhood bar soaked in heady Australiana, a chic 70s-style laneway cocktail spot, a craft-beer brewery with wacky experimental leanings, a modern minimalist bakery and a bevy of top-notch sandwich shops. Read on to see what you might have missed!


Pilloni, West End
The year started with a bang, as Pilloni – the brand-new fire-powered eatery from Andrea Contin and Valentina Vigni of La Lupa fame – opened on the corner of Hardgrave Road and Loch Street. Showcasing the charms of Sardinia’s regional cuisine using produce from local sustainable farms, hunters and fishermen, Pilloni has added an exciting new dimension to Brisbane’s crowded Italian food scene. The restaurant has earned early acclaim for its Sardinian specialties, such as dumpling-like culurgiones, ribbed malloreddus pasta with lamb-shoulder ragu, aragosta alla Catalana (whole Australian lobster served Catalan style, with tomato, red onion, lemon and parsley) and porceddu – a traditional dish of spit-roasted Schultz Family Farm suckling pig that must be preordered 24-hours in advance. Dishes like these – plus a 220-strong wine list encompassing vino from Sardina, Sicily, Corsica, Liguria and Calabria, as well as coastal regions of France, Spain and Greece – have been luring in patrons by the truck load, with the venue’s Alkot Studio-envisioned and Tonic Projects-constructed interior has keeping them comfortably ensconced. A casual space with curved banquettes anchored by a Sardinian-marble-topped bar, a main dining room with a massive fireplace at its heart, and an 1950s-inspired cream-and-blue-coloured terrazzo ensure that is Pilloni is also one of the best-looking newcomers on this list.

Settimo, Brisbane City
Brisbane continues to prove that its appetite for Italian fare knows no bounds. Settimo joined the bulging ranks of the city’s Italo-inspired restaurants in February, with owner – superstar chef Guy Grossi – translating his love for the coastal region of Campania into a spacious, Mills Gorman Architects-designed eatery nestled a the heart of The Westin Brisbane. Conjuring the majesty of the Amalfi Coast through the use of terrazzo, split face and Fibonacci stone, custom-designed terracotta and ceramic tiles, flax linen, rattan and splashes of blue and lemon yellow, Settimo is the closest you can get to the picturesque coastline without jumping on a flight. The restaurant’s most transportive quality, though, is absolutely the fare. Alongside head chef Alessandro Pizzolato (formerly of Hellenika), Guy has crafted a menu that stretches from assaggini and antipasti to house-made pasta dishes, and seafood and protein mains. Highlights include the pasta al limone, scialatielli all’Amalfitana (an Amalfi specialty that is loaded with seafood) and the cappelletti (ring-shaped pasta stuffed with snapper), while sommelier Deniz Hardman’s wine list showcases a savvy mix of old- and new-world wines, with Italian vino (particularly Taurasi wines – a red variety made from the agliancio grape native to Campania) celebrated alongside Australian winemakers.

Ruby, My Dear, Newstead: Vinyl bars are having a moment in Australia. Though it may have taken Brisbane a moment to catch on, the Happy Fat Group (Red Hook, COPPA) are making sure that local wax heads have a spot to call their own with Ruby, My Dear. Located in the buzzing epicentre of Newstead, this izakaya-inspired eating spot and bar is as stylish as they come. In collaboration with architect Adam Laming, the crew has exchanged the aesthetic of the site’s previous inhabitant, Drum Dining, for a slick and moody interior look that mixes warm and dark textures and strikes a balance between comfort and cool. Head chef Andrew Hackworth is overseeing a malleable menu of izakaya-style eats that’s easily shareable, with a layer of interactivity adding to the fun-focused nature of the spread. Mayo-laced pork katsu sando served on fluffy milk bread, nibble-worthy plates of chicken karaage, udon noodles topped with dancing bonito and miso-roasted bone marrow – it’s all good gear. Speaking of good gear, a set of Pitt & Giblin speakers blast out an assortment of tunes, with a roster of vinyl DJs playing a selection of hits from all genres. Oh, and the cocktails are sensational as well. Yellow-hued sake negronis? We’ll take two.

Patio by Range, Rosalie
Range Brewing’s Matt McIver and Gerard Martin aren’t ones to follow the beaten path. Since opening their Newstead brewery in 2017, the maverick duo opened a satellite taproom in Melbourne and launched a hugely successful beer festival. With Patio by Range, a neighbourhood bar nestled in the leafy heart of Rosalie, the pair has once again subverted expectations to absolutely brilliant results. Imbued with a sense of timeless warmth and a fondness for Australiana-inspired aesthetics, Patio (occupying a character-filled space with room for 120) perfectly blends traces of Italian alfresco with nods to the classic Australian pub we all know and love. You’ll see rustic brick walls, tiled bar tops, a custom-built Patio mirror, red-tile tables, bentwood stools and plenty of dark timber. The venue is not intended to be a taproom, but you will find plenty of Range’s excellent beers on tap – ten taps are dedicated to pouring a rotating line-up of beers, while another two dispense Range’s own branded wines made in conjunction with LATTA Vino. As for the pub grub, Range Brewing’s culinary arm, Jacopo’s Pizza, is slinging thin-crust pizzas alongside an extended snacks menu featuring the likes of gildas, charred broccolini with miso bean puree and a hearty meatball sub (beef and ‘nduja fried meatballs with basil oil and parmesan). Patio by Range has been pumping since opening – we recommend booking a table if you’re keen to check it out this weekend.

The Nixon Room, Fortitude Valley
The heady days of the early 70s are a core inspiration of The Nixon Room, but don’t let the name imply that the bar is a safe haven for shady dealings. Yes, it may be located down a fig vine-covered walkway behind Libertine Parfumerie and opposite Living Edge, but ESSA’s laneway bar sibling is more about martinis and mid-century aesthetics than political misbehaviour. Push through the gold door into The Nixon Room’s windowless interior (envisioned by Craig Channon of UME Architecture and Borhan Ghofrani) and you’ll be greeted by a pared-back but luxurious space with room for 25, with American-walnut panelling, leather, marble and plush carpet keeping the vibes lush and intimate. ESSA’s culinary lead Phil Marchant has devised a menu of elevated bite-sized snacks (caviar with fried potato scallops, cultured cream and cured egg yolk, fried chicken wings, tuna tartare on wakame crisps, and fish finger sandwiches), all of which pairs perfectly with June Sok’s beverage list, anchored by a concise and intentional list of signature cocktails, martinis and a tight selection of wines. Though designed as a spot to hide away, The Nixon Room is definitely a place to be seen.

Clarence Corner Deli, Woolloongabba
This year threatens to top 2022 as the biggest year for sandwiches in Brisbane, which is no mean feat. Helping 2023 surpass 2022 is Clarence Corner Deli, the casual chow spot sibling of Clarence Restaurant in Woolloongabba. Co-owners Ben McShane and Matt Kuhnemann are applying the restaurant’s sustainability minded and produce-driven philosophy to the humble sanga, elevating old-school faves to mouth-watering new heights. Guests roll in early for fast-breaking bites like bacon rolls with green-bean chutney and morcilla rolls with brown sauce and fried egg, with many returning at lunch to sink their incisors into hot sandwiches like the Reuben (which layers wild-shot venison pastrami from Fair Game on house-made bread with sauerkraut, cheese and lashings of Russian dressing and mustard) and cold options such as the classic deli roll (stuffed with meat from Saison Smallgoods). You’ll also spy confit duck sambos with English cream, cauliflower jaffles with aged cheddar, potato and leek soup, black barley and broccoli salad, beers, wines and specialty coffee. It’s all served from a cosy brick-encased space next door to the restaurant, which expands its seating into the deli space at night. Believe us when we say that sangas don’t get much better than the kind served at Clarence Corner Deli.

Bar Rosa, South Brisbane
Julius Pizzeria’s woodfired pizzas, duck and tomato ragu, and bistecca di manzo have kept diners flocking to Fish Lane in consistently high numbers ever since it opened. It’s not uncommon to see a line of hopeful patrons waiting for a table every night and even the restaurant’s spirited-but-slender aperitivo joint Bar Brutus has trouble containing overflow. The Julius brains trust (Cordell Khoury, Paolo Biscaro, Aleks Dzajkovski, Anthony Nicastro and Stefan Angelovski) decided to expand the group’s laneway footprint to better cater for the heaving demand, taking over the space previously home to Gauge to open Bar Rosa – a 35-seat bar and nosh spot specialising in vini and piatti. A chicly understated interior boasting marble, wood panelling, fluted glass and concrete sets the scene for snacking on stuzzichini like crumbed olives stuffed with fetta, burrata-topped pizza fritta, and fried zucchini flowers filled with truffle ricotta, or tucking into plates of chicken cotoletta, rotating pasta dishes and grilled eye fillets. A considered drinks offering keeps conversations lubricated – six signature cocktails, an assortment of aperitivo and a slim-yet-solid selection of wines ensure that Bar Rosa is much more than a holding area for Julius hopefuls – it’s a well-rounded destination that stands on its own merit.

Mitch & Antler, Mitchelton
It’s been a little bit quieter on the cafe front through the first half of 2023, but brunch crowds haven’t gone wanting. Impressing cappuccino cravers and hotcake hunters alike is Mitch & Antler, a Southern California-inspired cafe from brothers Tze-Huei ‘TH’ Choo and Chewie Choo. Wowing with its neighbourhood-first ethos and an appetising menu to match, the sun-soaked 60-seat locale beams from its street-corner perch, with its aesthetic of peach tones, teal and brick (accented by palms, succulents and cacti) drawing in the eye. Equally as head-turning is the fare, which sees head chef Ash Kettle playing with the classic Australian brunch framework and adding in some international inflections. This approach has resulted in phenomenal feeds like the chicken katsu croffle, brunch orecchiette with green peas, mascarpone, chives, preserved lemon and caper butter, and a play on the classic French toast made with Hokkaido milk bread, apple and rhubarb stew and homemade cinnamon oat crumble. Bowen Hills roaster Providore & Co. is providing the all-important jitter juice, but don’t be afraid to start your day with a signature mocktail made using non-alcoholic spirits. No guilt, no judgement!

Ippin Japanese Dining, West End
West Village continues to add to its heaving hospitality offering, bringing high-end Japanese to the precinct in the form of Ippin Japanese Dining. Co-owned and operated by Kenny Lee (a Sydney-based restaurateur behind Kuon Omakase, Allta and Funda) and Brisbane-based duo Helen Lea and Jane Ma, Ippin looks to deliver an elevated dining experience on all fronts, from the setting, the service and, of course, the sustenance. It’s raised position above The Common is sophisticated and elegant, with Sydney interior-design firm Vie Studio deftly incorporating quintessential elements of Japanese design into a scheme that’s elegant (with its blue booths, sheer curtains, eye-catching ceiling hangings and marble) yet approachable. Ippin’s lengthy kitchen – equipped with an impressive glass-encased yakitori grill – is helmed by head chef Tatsuya Miwa, who is wielding locally sourced produce and imported Japanese ingredients to delicious results. Both a la carte and chef’s menu options are available, with dishes like bluefin tuna toro-taku with sea urchin and caviar, chawanmushi with snow crab and crab butter, miso-marinated Glacier 51 toothfish, Robata duck breast, and 48-hour dry-aged coral trout really showcasing the talent at work. Finally, Australian, French and Italian wines, a list of umenoyado (sake-based fruit liqueurs), traditional sake and a clutch of killer cocktails ensure no one is parched.

Working Title Brew Co., Newstead
Newstead Brewing Co. may no longer occupy its Doggett Street birthplace, but the historic warehouse continues to be a hub for hoppy excellence as the home of Working Title Brew Co. Modern-day alchemists Luke Shields and Mark Howes turned the space into the bricks-and-mortar home for their experimental brewing project in April, taking over the tanks and bending them to their will to concoct wonderfully weird and wildly experimental sips. Since opening, the frothmongers have seen splashing out pints of all manner of elixirs, from native pine Christmas ales and salted-caramel pretzel pastry stouts to a carbohydrate- and gluten-free sparkling mead. Beer isn’t all that’s available – guests are also quaffing wines from producers like Defialy, Jilly Wines, Amato Vino and Sabi Wabi, plus a punchy cocktail list. The experimenting continues in the kitchen, where chef Sam Kersley is turning out plates of fried ponzu crocodile with furikake, pig head and blue cheese croquette baos, ox tongue, kimchi and gruyere toasties, beer-basted panca chilli octopus sticks. All told, it amounts to a truly one-of-a-kind brewery that has something to offer craft-beer obsessives and folks simply after a good time.

Ham on Rye, Paddington
When we said 2023 will likely overtake 2022 as the Year of the Sandwich, we weren’t kidding. Drawing crowds to Paddington Central is Ham on Rye, a sandwich deli from the Remy’s, Hai-Hai Ramen and King Tea family that is paying homage to the classic New York sandwich pioneers and new-wave specialists like Hector’s Deli and Nico’s Sandwich Deli. Here, head chef Marcelo Oliveira and his team are pumping out a range of toasted and fresh sandwiches from Ham on Rye’s cheery blue-and-yellow-tiled abode. On any given day you can find a oozy tuna melt with capers, ranch sauce and mozzarella, pastrami-packed Reubens, goodness-filled salad sandwiches, and a classic cold cuts sandwich boasting layers of ham, sopressa, Mojo roast pork, red onion, lettuce and mozzarella. The crew also regularly flips through the vast Rolodex of sandwich recipes to deliver a rotating special. Ham on Rye proves that when it comes to sandwiches, it’s hard to beat a classic.

Beurre Pastries, Milton
After Italian food and sandwiches, Brisbane’s other most-desired food group would have to be pastries. The newest entrant to our burgeoning baked-goods scene is also one of the best. Owner Will Leung has travelled across Japan, Australia, Europe and New Zealand, gathering baking skills and inspiration at each stop. Beurre Pastries is where Will is indulging in his most creative whims, crafting drool-worthy buttered beauties that sell out quicker than you can say “One croissant, please”. His gallery-like bakery (a modern minimalist space designed by Clui Design and Lowry Group) seeks to direct attention to the pastries, which are like mini works of art. Naturally, croissants and pain au chocolat are available for those that love a classic, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t nudge you in the direction of Beurre’s more unconventional specialties. Black sesame and yuzu morning buns, hazelnut and Belgian-chocolate giandujas with sea salt, vanilla-bean marshmallow fluff croissants, and peanut butter, chocolate and cherry pain suisse are must-try items if you can get them. All are best enjoyed with a cup of Bear Bones coffee, banoffee latte with coco cold foam or sparkling ‘ade.

Eat at Billy’s, Rosalie
Yes, we know this list is sandwich heavy but it would be a crime not to add this one in, too. In March, Billy Gibney – owner and namesake of renowned butcher Meat at Billy’s – decided to act on a long-held desire to make the most of the protein he peddled, putting some of the best cuts between bread slices to create the kind of sandwich he’d want to eat. The idea was a good one – Eat at Billy’s has been inundated by lunch crowds since day dot, with stock often selling out. The menu is small, but each sandwich boasts huge flavour. If we were to guide you in a particular direction, we’d point out highlights such as the Not A F*$&en Rueben (wood-smoked melt-in-your-mouth wagyu brisket, red cheddar, pickles and a lashings of Eat at Billy’s signature sauce) and the Red Neck (southern-fried Elgin Valley free-range chicken, confit-garlic aioli and shredded iceberg lettuce). Since opening, Eat at Billy’s has also introduced a meatball sub to its menu, complete with free-range pork and pastrami meatballs drenched in smoked-brisket bolognese and adhered together with provolone slices. What’s not to like?

Honorable mentions: The year has been chock-full of exciting openings. Other big-ticket openings include City Winery’s wine bar sibling Ardo’s (now open in Newstead and Graceville), Jamie’s Espresso Bar’s new home on Robertson Street, The Doonan’s spacious mega pub, Archer Brewing’s hangar-style digs in Newmarket, Naïm’s chic bar sibling The Hamsa RoomTippler’s Tap’s new South Bank digs (where you can pour your own beer), Hamilton’s flame-powered restaurant Flaming & Co., sun-dappled Grange bakery Oh My Bread, Sunny Side Sandwiches’ new location in Paddington, Hiker Brewing Concern’s suds-soaked Salisbury headquarters and California Taco’s first Brisbane location in West End.

There’s still more to come! Be sure to check out our list of the most anticipated openings for the rest of 2023. We’ll see you in December with our end-of-year recap!

The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Brisbane dining guide with more than 2400 places to eat, drink, shop and play.



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