Pavement Whispers: Volume 543 February 3
From news of James Street’s new Japanese-inspired garden bar to a three-level Vietnamese restaurant opening soon in The Valley, 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 …
NIIWA
There’s some changes afoot on James Street. The team behind Hideki on Burnett Lane is changing the concept and direction of its Fortitude Valley outpost, converting the open-air dining destination into Japanese-inspired garden bar NIIWA. Set to open at the end of February, NIIWA will reimagine Japanese dining through a contemporary lens, serving a menu of share-style eats alongside inventive cocktails in an elegant setting. Driving the venue’s aesthetic is the Japanese philosophy of ikebana (flower arrangement), with the team describing NIIWA’s look as “feminine and fashion-forward” courtesy of ample greenery and natural light imbuing the venue with a sense of tranquil balance. NIIWA’s menu will cover lunch, dinner and late-night snacking, with head chef Winson Law employing an approach defined by precision, seasonality and respect for produce. Signature dishes range from shio miso edamame dip and spicy tuna dip with nashi pear, to a reimagined okonomiyaki, a premium omakase selection, and playful desserts. Cocktails will also be key, with a menu of fresh and vibrant sips (think light afternoon aperitifs and late-night libations) featuring inventive flavour pairings, delicate aromatics and seasonal ingredients. Once open, NIIWA will look to take over Friday and Saturday nights, with a music and DJ program spotlighting Mediterranean-style house and downtempo selections, plus a live jazz element. NIIWA is slated to open on Thursday February 26 – stay tuned for an up-close peek inside soon.
Rừng
Before month’s end, Fortitude Valley will welcome the arrival of a bold Vietnamese-inspired restaurant looking to deliver not just food, but a complete late-night dining and social experience. Rừng (the newest venue from the crew behind Ngon in Paddington and Newport’s Que Dining) is set to open in mid-to-late February, converting a three-level site on Alfred Street into an urban oasis. Translating to ‘forest’ in Vietnamese, Rừng is conceived as an urban jungle – a lush and immersive dining destination that contrasts The Valley’s perpetually buzzing surroundings with warmth, greenery and heritage character. The 500-sqm venue will be spread across three levels, with a 110-seat dining area on the ground floor, a mezzanine space with open views of the kitchen and bar, and two distinctive private function spaces on the top level. All furniture and tableware is handmade in Vietnam, reinforcing a sense of authenticity and craftsmanship across the venue. Rừng’s menu will be rooted in traditional Vietnamese flavours, but creatively reinterpreted through a modern lens that goes beyond familiar staples. The essence of classic dishes will be extracted and rebuilt in unexpected formats, such as a bún riêu-inspired chawanmushi. The beverage program is equally distinctive, featuring Vietnamese vodka and gin as house spirits alongside a 40-50 bottle wine list and Vietnamese-influenced cocktails. We’ll be visiting Rừng for a proper look in the coming weeks.
Gas Hound Bar & Kitchen
Expect modern Australian bistro dining with a sports bar pulse at Gas Hound Bar & Kitchen, which is slated to open at Newstead’s Gasworks Plaza later this month. The striking newcomer, the latest concept from Hallmark Hospitality, is housed in the former Maggie May space, with Space Cubed Design Studio reimagining the venue with a biophilic design scheme that blurs indoors and out – think eucalyptus timbers, terracotta tiles, pergolas and cascading greenery. Once up and running, Gas Hound will offer an elevated, seasonal menu of scratch-made classics by executive chef Jason Flett, built around local ingredients and a wood-fired oven that lends smokiness to steaks and other flame-kissed favourites. Cocktails will keep pace with the energy, with playful twists on the classics like tropical-inspired margaritas and slow-sipping old fashioneds infused with top-shelf spirits. Equipped with electronic dart boards, pool tables and live sports on screen, Gas Hound is designed for everything from easy catch-ups to all-in nights out. Keep your eyes peeled for more on this one soon!
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King of the Wings & Things
When food trucks first started taking Brisbane by storm 12 years ago, King of the Wings stood out as one of best mobile grub slingers going. Dylan and Katrina Pires’ award-winning street-food concept has evolved over the years, with the couple opening a well-received bricks-and-mortar restaurant in Stafford called King of the Wings & Things. Last week, the team announced on social media that King of the Wings & Things would close on Friday February 13, with Dylan and Katrina eager to go back to their roots and hit the road again. The post revealed that the crew intends to increase its reach with its OG food truck, while also taking its restaurant menu to other parts of Brisbane with a new King of the Wings & Things mobile dispensary. Longtime fans are encouraged to pop into King of the Wings & Things for one last feed before it closes, though foodies seeking a regular fix can reliably find the brand’s finger lickin’ fried chicken its Eat Street Northshore outpost, The Wing Box.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].