Pavement Whispers: Volume 539 January 6
From news of a Bondi-born pizza joint’s Brisbane expansion to Janus Deli’s new southside sandwich shop, 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 …
Janus Deli West End
Last year, Gold Coast-born sandwich slinger Janus Deli unveiled the first step in its anticipated northward expansion, opening a cafe and central production hub just off the M1 in Slacks Creek. Pairing American deli influences with some Korean-inspired inflections, Janus Deli’s menu of sandwiches and snacks made quite an impression on us. Thankfully, pretty soon we won’t have to travel too far to get our Janus Deli fix, with a brand-new location currently in the works over in West End. Tentatively slated to open on Boundary Street in mid-February, Janus Deli West End will serve a menu of comfort food with a twist – think subs filled with Korean galbi meatballs, quintessential deli sangers, fried chicken, doughnuts and cinnamon scrolls. In addition to food, Janus Deli is looking to become a part of the West End community, creating a space where locals can feel comfortable dropping in at any time. We’ll have more for you on this one next month!
Johnny Gio’s
Last year was huge for New Farm, with a number of new openings giving locals of the inner-north enclave plenty to devour. Well, this year is set to be just as massive, with two new concepts taking shape at Little Lane on the corner of Brunswick Street and Merthyr Road. On Tuesday January 20, Sydney-born pizza joint Johnny Gio’s will open to the public, welcoming New Farm into la famiglia and introducing the suburb to its menu of ‘pizzas with attitude’. Founded in 2019 in Bondi by Jonathan Faro, Johnny Gio’s specialises in pizzas made with care, confidence and plenty of personality – think bold flavours, hand-stretched dough and generous toppings. The New Farm outpost will serve a number of Johnny Gio’s classics, including its best-selling margherita, as well as fan-favourite options like the Johnny Vodka, the Sonny Honey and the Instagram-famous Burrata Queen. Though equipped to service pick-up and delivery custom, Johnny Gio’s will also have some limited outdoor seating for those eager to savour a slice fresh from the oven. Johnny Gio’s will be celebrating its January 20 launch with pizza specials, live entertainment, free cannoli and limited-edition merch giveaways. Stay tuned for more on this one later in the month!
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Green Cup
It’s not only pizza that New Farm locals will be able to score at Little Lane. This week, Melbourne-born cafe brand Green Cup will open its first Brisbane location on Thursday January 8, serving its menu of nourishing sips and eats from a cosy space at the New Farm microprecinct. Leading Green Cup’s menu will be its cult-favourite acai bowls, made using traditional methods where frozen acai cubes are blended with banana for a touch of sweetness without relying on excess sugar. A number of bowls will be available, including the Mango Tango bowl (mango, peanut butter, greek yoghurt and granola) and the PB and J bowl (peanut butter, raspberry chia jam, granola, blueberries and banana). Green Cup’s offering will also include a large range of green smoothies, super smoothies, protein shakes and healthy toasties. Keep your eyes peeled for more on Green Cup when it opens later this week.
Taj Mahal
Over the weekend, the team behind long-running Indian restaurant Taj Mahal announced it would be closing its restaurant at 148 Merthyr Road, New Farm on Monday January 12. In an announcement posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page, owners Nihal and Rattan revealed that they would be closing the Taj Mahal at its present location due to the expiry of its current lease, as a consequence of the building being sold. Though Nihal and Rattan remain uncertain as to where and when Taj Mahal will return, the team assured followers that they were looking for alternative locations. The move is the latest in a number of relocations for Taj Mahal, which was forced to find new digs after a fire tore through its original Brunswick Street premises in December 2019, after which it operated in a temporary site across the road (now occupied by The Junk Bar) before shifting to its current Merthyr Road address. Be sure to pop in for a serve of Taj Mahal’s famous butter chicken before Monday January 12!
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].