Pavement Whispers: Volume 544 February 10
From news of a taco takeover by a Michelin-recommended taqueria to the launch of a brand-new comedy club in West End, 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 …
El Vilsito at Howard Smith Wharves
Taco fans, take note – the crew behind a Michelin Guide-recommended street-food institution is coming to Brisbane for a tasty tortilla-centric takeover. A pair of chefs from famed Mexico City taqueria El Vilsito are coming to Brisbane for the takeover, with the duo posting up at Howard Smith Wharves for La Mexicana – a Mexican-inspired food festival debuting this year as part of the riverside hub’s Margarita Week celebrations. The chefs will work alongside the Howard Smith Wharves team to serve El Vilsito’s heralded menu of tacos exactly as they are served in Mexico City, including its signature tacos al pastor. In addition to the tacos, La Mexicana guests will also be able to enjoy a range of Patrón-infused margaritas with venue-specific twists, including sweet, smoky, spicy and savoury riffs. Margarita Week will run for 11 days, from March 5–15, with La Mexicana taking place over two weekends – March 5–8 and March 12–15.
Brisbane Comedy Cellar
The city’s stand-up comedy scene is set to grow this month with the official launch of the Brisbane Comedy Cellar in West End on Sunday February 22. Located beneath The Raven Hotel on Montague Road, the newly minted laugh factory will draw inspiration from the storied chuckle clubs of New York City, staging a mix of experimental shows, themed comedy nights and premium weekend showcases. On Wednesdays, audiences will catch established comedians workshopping new material, Thursdays will be dedicated to themed shows like The Dating Game, The Big Game Show Show and Crowd Control, while Fridays and Saturdays will be the nights to catch top-shelf performers accompanied by a live band. Brisbane Comedy Cellar will be hosting a launch gala on Saturday February 28, with nationally renowned comedians like Matt Okine, Harley Breen, Ting Lim and Dusty Rich performing. Proceeds from the gala will support Grow The Music, a social enterprise that delivers music workshops and events, designed specifically for Indigenous and migrant communities – get your tickets here.
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Sprout Artisan Bakery
Breakfast, but Sprout-ified. That’s what Sprout Artisan Bakery is bringing to Newstead soon, with the carb crafter set to unveil a polished new cafe concept at the base of Mirvac’s LIV Anura on Skyring Terrace in early April. The move marks Sprout’s next chapter after closing its James Street shop and opening a production HQ in Albion. Rather than a simple relocation, the move will look to raise the bar with a sit-down breakfast offering that builds on the bakery’s cult pastries, reworking its laminated dough into playful morning plates alongside fresh sandwiches, toasties and cabinet classics. Designed by Collectivus and built by Lowry Group, the light-filled space will pair clean lines, timber finishes and river-adjacent vibes with around 22 seats. Coffee Supreme brews, popular iced teas and frappe smoothies will round out the menu, as Sprout leans into the idea of breakfast as a small luxury – familiar yet elevated – signalling a confident evolution for one of Brisbane’s most beloved bakeries. Get the full scoop here.
Tino
Accomplished restaurateur Mark Rotolone is expanding the Mosconi story with Tino, a soon-to-open all-day eatery and bar that’s taking shape next door in the former home of King Arthur Cafe. According to Mark, Tino isn’t a radical departure but a natural evolution of Mosconi – translating the restaurant’s concise, produce-driven ethos into a European-leaning breakfast and coffee spot that will gradually grow into afternoons and evenings. Designed by architect George Kouparitsas and By Burke Design’s Meredith Burke, the intimate 60-sqm venue (housed inside a heritage WWII-era hangar) will feature a darker, timber-rich palette, an open kitchen, a long bar, outdoor seating and a mezzanine-level private-dining space shared with Mosconi. With Mosconi chef Catherine Anders shaping a menu inspired by Italy, France, Spain and modern Australia, alongside a fluid wine list and a distinctly local feel, Tino is set to become a neighbourhood anchor – less fussy, more relaxed and perfectly in step with Rotolone’s thoughtful, slow-burn style of hospitality. Tino is targeting a late-April or early-May opening date – read all about it here.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].