Oche Brisbane
Start limbering up your throwing arm! Fortitude Valley’s newest arrival is all about three things – darts, cocktails and delicious eats. Fresh from a successful launch in Oslo, Norway last year, Oche (defined as the line which players must stand behind in the game of darts) has come to Australia, and is currently taking shape on Constance Street in the Old Flour Mill building. The concept, which delivers what the Oche team calls an ‘analogue social experience’, is a form of hospitality designed to get folks off their phone and into the moment. Oche will be equipped with electronic versions of traditional dartboards, each machine built with dozens of games to play and automatic scoring (so there’s no arguing over points). In addition to the games, Oche will also boast a phenomenal food offering designed so as to be enjoyable even when eaten with one free hand. Ben Williamson (22 Agnes) has loaned his considerable services for the menu, which features vegan and vegetarian-friendly options and morsels intended to be shared. Cocktails will also be a big feature alongside a formidable beer and wine list, with one of Oche’s two bars dedicated to showcasing a different local brew master, wine maker or distiller every month (starting with Green Beacon). The venue itself will look to emphasise the heritage elements of the 115-year-old building, with an outdoor terrace and two bars capable of holding up to 360 patrons. Oche is set to land on Friday December 6 – rest assured we’ll have a closer look for you then!
nodo South Bank
One of Brisbane’s most beloved cafe brands is expanding! nodo is on the cusp of opening its fourth Brisbane location, with finishing touches underway on a new spot in South Bank. Located underneath the ABC Building on Russell Street (a stone’s throw from The Wheel of Brisbane), the South Bank cafe is being described as a hybrid of nodo’s express Brisbane City store and its Camp Hill location. Smaller than both Newstead and Camp Hill locations, the South Bank cafe will seat 50 (a nearby grassy space is also available for guests to sprawl and picnic), and will boast a grab-and-go fridge stocked with goodies, a doughnut cabinet chock-full of nodo’s signature baked treats, and a made-to-order cafe menu similar to that of Camp Hill. Those eager to make nodo South Bank their regular haunt don’t have long to wait – the crew is aiming to open early next week. Keep your eyes peeled for more info!
Il Gancio
We’re only a couple of weeks out from the launch of Toombul’s anticipated UPSTAIRS dining playground, and more exciting last-minute arrivals are still being announced. Dom Barakat and Ibrahim ‘Bob’ Haddad – the brains behind Il Verde in Bowen Hills and Il Vento in Mooloolaba – will be opening another Italian restaurant at Toombul called Il Gancio. The eatery, which will join previously announced openings Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, Dapple + Waver and Niku Ramen, will be serving fare imbued with inventive flavours and inspiration from several classic European dishes. The open-plan space will feature a wood-fired oven, open kitchen, and two bars, plus atmosphere suitable for date nights, post-shopping feasting, and family-friendly dining. Guests can expect the likes of salads mixed with fresh mozzarella, pasta topped with homemade pesto sauce, pizza and antipasti, as well as Il Verde’s famous cheese-wheel pasta! That’s not all – a old- and new-world wine list boasts plenty of sipping material to choose from. UPSTAIRS by Toombul will be officially launching on Thursday November 14 – stay tuned for an in-depth look next week.
Cinnabon
Frosting fanatics and fans of freshly baked treats have been hanging out for word of Cinnabon’s official Queensland launch, and now the popular chain has confirmed the locations of its first two outlets. In a post on its official Facebook page, Cinnabon Australia revealed that Nundah and Mount Gravatt would each be receiving a Cinnabon bakery to call its own, with one location set to open before Christmas and the other arriving in January. This means in a matter of weeks, folks will be able to get their fix of Cinnabon’s classic rolls, caramel pecan BonBites, CinnaSweeties and more. Our sweet tooth will never be the same …
Smoked Sundays at Sourced
Beloved Teneriffe haunt Sourced is bringing some smokin’ hot action to your Sunday afternoons. Smoked Sundays will see the Sourced gang cranking the tunes, firing up the smoker and stoking the coals of the barbecue to put on the ultimate weekend lunch. Simple and delicious share plates will be the focus of the day – a first menu drop has revealed that the likes of smoked rump cap with a jalapeno and lime green sauce, roasted and smoked cauliflower with sunflower and caraway, red witlof with sesame whipped tofu and togarashi, and even a pepperberry pavlova with barbecue pineapple will feature. To celebrate its new liquor licence, Sourced will also be serving up a number of boozy options for some very nice prices – think $8 tins, $10 gins and BYO wine for a small corkage fee. The first Smoked Sundays session kicks off from 12:00 pm on November 17 and will run until sold out – to reserve your spot, email [email protected].
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].
