Tarryn and Ben Brown are experienced hospitality veterans who cut their teeth running the popular inner-city watering hole Aquila Caffe Bar. The duo recently decided to flex their creative muscles and open up a second venue that followed a style removed from their previous effort. Mrs Brown’s Bar & Kitchen is an eatery that feels more like dining at a close friend’s house than a cosmopolitan noshery. This new hotspot can be found on Commercial Road in the space that once housed caffeine dispensary Blue Sky Coffee, though those familiar with the building will notice some impressive new changes. The space has been comprehensively modified from its previous incarnation to create a chic-yet-comfortable aesthetic, as evidenced by the exposed brick walls, hanging planters and a charming puppy mural adorning a feature wall at the venue’s entry. Communal tables abound for lively group dinners, while low-set lounges and tables make for perfect post-work libation stations. Tarryn and Ben sourced the impressive marble bar from Jo-Jo’s before it moved to South Brisbane, stocking it with an incredible range of taps and tipples.
Let’s talk about the spread – head chef Adam Marino’s (ex-LONgTIME and Spirit House) menu boasts quite an appetising selection. The first thing you need to decide is, ‘How hungry am I’? If the answer is ‘I feel like a snack’, then flip the menu to the bar snacks portion. The nibbles are nom-worthy, with the likes of prawn rolls, dumplings, paratha pancakes and Korean-fried cauliflower (KFC) available to pick at. If you’ve worked up a substantial hunger, opt for mains like Mrs Brown’s ‘Dirty Bird’ rotisserie chicken, crispy skinned braised pork belly and slow-roasted lamb shoulder, paired with sides and salads such as wok-tossed veggies, green papaya salad and smashed roast potatoes. If none of that takes your fancy, neighbouring foodie destinations Gianni’s Kitchen and La Macelleria Gelateria have come on board to deliver their respective goodies (pizza and gelati, for the uninitiated) to your table. The bottles lining the wall behind the eye-catching bar aren’t for show – Mrs Brown’s is amply stocked with a worldly array of wine, top-shelf spirits, 24 frosty tap beers and a delicious selection of cocktails.
Mrs Brown’s Bar & Kitchen is now open. Have a browse through the Stumble Guide to glean more details.