Pavement Whispers: Volume 515 July 8
From news of a Wynnum cafe institution’s revamp to a new slice slinger opening soon at Gasworks Plaza, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food 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 …
Mad Mile
A pair of familiar faces will make their triumphant return to Wynnum’s cafe scene, with Mad Mile opening on Tingal Road this weekend. After more than a decade running cherished coffee-slinging institution Dramanti, Dragan and Marija Sestic sold their business with the intention of stepping away from the hospitality game entirely. But hospitality proved to be a hard thing to step away from, especially when the Wynnum community is constantly reaching out, imploring the couple to change their minds and come back. And so, after a period recharging and resetting, Dragan and Marija have returned, giving the old Dramanti space a new look and a new name. Named after an infamous stretch of road between Wynnum and Tingalpa (locals will know the one), Mad Mile is looking to give back to the community that has supported it over the years, offering a space to find good coffee, tasty food and warm service. The cafe will serve specialty brews from one of Australia’s leading roasters, Ona Coffee – an acclaimed supplier founded by world-champion barista (and Dragan’s brother) Sasa Sestic. In addition to a top-notch house blend, Mad Mile will serve a rotating range of limited-release brews and an all-new food menu featuring Turkish eggs and French toast with a twist inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate trend. Mad Mile is officially opening to the public on Saturday July 12 – stay tuned for a close-up look inside soon.
Tour de France at Pompette
Want to embark on a tour across France without having to don some lycra? Tassis Group’s inner-city French-inspired restaurant Pompette is giving you the chance with its region-spanning one-night-only wine degustation event from 6:30 pm on Wednesday July 9. The restaurant’s sun-drenched terrace will transform into a French vineyard, where guests will enjoy a seven-course feast featuring delicacies from some of the country’s most storied regions – think king prawn crumpets, mussels meuniere with frites and boeuf bourguignon, to name a few. Each course will be matched with a wine (selected by house sommeliers Mark Ganga and Benjamin Rolfe) that captures the unique terroir of its home region, with crisp sips from Champagne featuring alongside bold reds from Bordeaux. Seats to Tour de France at Pompette are available now for $250 per head – secure a last-minute ticket here.
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Hotel HQ
A well-loved local has been given a glow-up courtesy of a thoughtful transformation process. Hotel HQ in Underwood has reopened after some extensive renovations, lifting the cloche on a number of updated spaces, new areas and a retooled menu to go along with it. Headlining the refreshed elements is Hotel HQ’s revamped contemporary bistro, which has been bolstered with the addition of a brand-new alfresco area. Here, guests can settle in and enjoy a refreshed menu that puts a modern spin on classic pub fare – think primo parmis, burgers and steaks, plus house-made tiramisu. Hotel HQ’s sports bar has also been given a sprucing, with upgraded screens now displaying must-watch sporting fixtures. Underscoring its commitment to being a family-friendly venue, Hotel HQ has also cut the ribbon on two new dedicated kids’ zones – one indoor and one outdoor. The Underwood community is invited to pop in and check out the new additions across Hotel HQ’s Locals Weekend, with live-music performances, Tradie Club BBQ, kids’ entertainment and giveaways taking place on July 18–20.
Sunnyside Sliced
Brisbane’s pizza scene will get bigger later this year with the arrival of heralded Melbourne-born slice slinger Sunnyside Sliced. Founded by Ali Cengiz in 2021, Sunnyside’s Mentone location has earned a rep as one of the city’s best pizza spots – acclaim that Ali is looking to replicate with his soon-to-open location at Gasworks Plaza in Newstead. Geared more towards takeaway than its Melbourne sibling, Sunnyside will look to woo taste buds with a menu of long-fermented, hand-stretched and stone-baked pizzas (loosely inspired by the slice shops of New York City) crafted using premium ingredients. There will be five round options and five Sicilian-inspired pan pizzas – each available by the slice, 18-inch round or a whole pan. There’ll also be a couple of desserts and a single salad, plus a selection of subs stuffed to bursting point with top-notch ingredients. Sunnyside Sliced is targeting a spring opening date – get the whole scoop here.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].