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Pavement Whispers: Volume 159 February 13

Pavement Whispers: Volume 159 February 13

From whispers of new life for a heritage bank to a new project from the Brooklyn Standard team, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know. When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out …


Donna Chang
There has been much speculation about what will become of the grand heritage-listed building on the corner of George Street and Elizabeth Street, and we finally have an answer. The Ghanem Group (Blackbird Bar & Grill, Byblos, Lord of the Wings) has secured the space, with plans to open Chinese fine-dining restaurant Donna Chang in early June. Group executive chef Jake Nicolson will oversee the venue, with Jason Margaritis (ex-Spice Temple Melbourne) coming on board as head chef. Ghanem Group sommelier Penny Grant will handle the wine and award-winning sommelier Shawn Gomes (ex-Il Centro) will come on board as general manager. Further details on the restaurant are remaining under wraps for now – more details soon.

Blute’s Bar and Lucky Egg
The teams behind Black Bear Lodge and Lucky Egg have a new joint project in the works, Blute’s Barset to open in the Brunswick Street Mall directly underneath Black Bear in March. Blute’s Bar is bringing back old-school pub vibes, reminiscent of a 1980s watering hole. The 350-patron capacity venue will be offering a comfortable setting and a new live-music option to punters, with free gigs from original outfits and cover bands featuring throughout the week, as well as fixtures from some of the big American sporting codes on big screens. The bar will boast 14 taps pouring a selection of mostly Australian beverages, plus a solid list of accessible wines. The kitchen at Blute’s Bar will be pumping out pub staples such as chicken or eggplant parmies, and brunch on weekends (hello, chicken and waffles). Famed fried-chicken outlet Lucky Egg will be opening a new spot next door, serving its signature array of morsels and its own beef burger, all of which will be available at Blute’s. There will also be new arrivals exclusive to Lucky Egg, such as juices, smoothies and light breakfast offerings. 

Fat Angel 
It seems like Adam Barton and Manny Sakellarakis have plans to convert Brisbane City’s Eagle Lane into a little slice of New York City. Their latest project is a dedicated American sports bar, Fat Angel, neighbouring the pair’s dive bar Brooklyn Standard in the space formerly occupied by Coyotito. The bar will feature eight screens, including a massive 3-m-wide one, which will show a constant stream of American sport including NBA, NFL, ice hockey, UFC and more. Four American beers will be on tap, including Coors and Blue Moon, alongside a classic sports-bar menu – think wings, cheeseburgers, popcorn shrimp, Philly cheesesteaks and cobb salad. Fat Angel will open from midday to midnight Monday to Saturday, opening Sunday nights for special sporting events. Fit-out is currently underway – expect doors to open in the second week of March.

NYC Bagel Deli
We can’t get enough bagels in our life, so we were pleased as punch when we heard NYC Bagel Deli is opening not one, but two new locations in the coming months. The first location is tentatively slated to open on Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley around mid-March, where the team will trial late-night openings on Friday and Saturday. Following on from that, keep an eye out for NYC Bagel Deli to arrive at new Brisbane City dining precinct Brisbane Quarter in mid-to-late April, with a ground-level premises near to the quarter’s anticipated W Brisbane hotel. Owners Eddie Tice and Ania Kutek will be bringing their popular menu of stuffed hand-rolled bagels and coffee from Cleanskin Coffee Co, as well as rotating weekly specials.

If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].

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



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