The details
After years feeding and watering Albion locals with their acclaimed Sandgate Road eatery Artie & Mai, Jimmy and Monica Strong decided to step up to the plate once more and deliver a new dining destination that could house their signature style of charming hospitality. Jimmy and Monica are the types of people that never do things by halves, so they were careful to take a measured and considered approach when they committed to opening a new venue. As locals of Brisbane’s west, they saw a gap in the market for a comfortable venue that could cater to brunch hunters and sundowner seekers alike, so what they needed most was an accommodating locale to call home. After coming across a vacant space near the Ashgrove West Shopping Centre on Waterworks Road last year, the wheels were put in motion for what would eventually come to be Macho Macho.
The space
Jimmy and Monica fell in love with the space, which was previously divided into two tenancies – a kebab shop and a travel agency. Enamoured with high ceilings and intrigued by the potential of exposing the original red brick walls and bringing the building’s beauty to the fore, the aesthetic concept for Macho Macho started to form. Custom furniture was designed and set in place, while a brand-new coffee counter and bar was constructed at the venue’s entry. Some of the original plaster was retained to act as a canvas for Macho Macho’s colourful mural painted by Joel Birch – who moonlights as an artist when not creating a racket with The Amity Affliction – which is further complemented by stylish pink neon lights. The end result is a welcoming venue that blends quirky charm with heritage poise.
The food and drink
As mentioned previously, Macho Macho lives a double life as both a daytime brunch hang and a post-sunset saloon. Whether you describe yourself as an early bird or a night owl, both services offer an incredible selection of eats and drinks. Macho Macho’s head chef has assembled a sophisticated menu of day starters and, frankly, we’re here for all of it. Just try and keep us away from the likes of the house-made hash cakes with poached eggs and chorizo, the crab, corn and avocado omelette, dukkah-crusted eggplant, or the honeycomb, ricotta and lavender hotcakes. Pair any of those dishes with a cup of Seven Miles coffee and we’ll be content. When the sun sets, the menu shifts to offer a selection of smalls and bigs, perfect for sharing or hoarding, depending on your preference. We’ve got our eyes on the crispy fish tacos, grilled corn lollipops, citrus salmon salad, cassoulet duck leg confit and barbecue beef back ribs. The beer taps at the bar offers a rotating selection of brews, but non-beer drinkers can select from a well-rounded list of wines and classic cocktails.
Macho Macho is now open! Opening hours and contact details can be found a click away in the Stumble Guide.
