Pavement Whispers: Volume 557 May 12
From news of a month-long foodie celebration to a sake-soaked izakaya for Albion, 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 …
Dine BNE City
Clear your winter schedules, folks – Brisbane’s beloved month-long food festival, Dine BNE City, returns from June 1–30 with its biggest program yet, featuring 130 exclusive dining experiences across more than 80 restaurants, bars and cafes throughout The City. This year’s lineup spans everything from breakfast deals and brunch specials in the new Morning Edition category – including $1 hash browns with any drink order at Gather Bistro and mimosa pairings at Riverbar & Kitchen – to long lunches, cocktail pairings, chef-hosted dinners and indulgent multi-course feasts. Popular categories like Let’s Do Lunch, Supper Club and Bar Safari return with offers such as truffle risotto and wine at Stilts, riverside paella at Mulga Bill’s, seafood feasts at Tillerman Seafood Restaurant and Bar, and sparkling-wine pairings at Blackbird Brisbane and Pompette Champagne Bar & Restaurant. The festival will also host a series of one-off events, including dumpling-making classes at Donna Chang, a premium steak showcase at Blackbird Brisbane and a mushroom-focused chef’s table at The Brasserie at Naldham House, offering plenty of reasons to dine out across the city this June. Click here to get the full scoop.
Sully’s Rooftop
The Sunshine Coast has cause to celebrate this week, with the official opening of Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel. The latest full-service accommodation destination from the KPAT Hotels team boasts prime position at the intersection of Brisbane Road and the Mooloolaba Esplanade, with the 12-storey hub adding 180 rooms to the local tourism inventory. In addition to its rooms and suites, Avani Mooloolaba is bringing two new dining concepts to the area – including a ground-floor lobby bar and rooftop restaurant Sully’s, the latter of which officially opens to the public on Friday May 15. Helmed by executive chef Marky Godbeer (formerly executive chef of The Calile Hotel), Sully’s will treat guests and visitors to a modern Australian-inspired dining offering, alongside panoramic views across Mooloolaba Beach and the Pacific Ocean. The Sully’s menu is extensive, leading with a selection of artisanal flatbread (topped with the likes of truffle honey butter and local prawns with jalapeno cream) and raw plates, followed by plates of pig’s head and aged-comte doughnuts, roasted butternut lasagne, tempura line-caught market fish, woodfired oyster cut Magra lamb shoulder, wagyu cheeseburgers and more. On the drinks front, expect a choice menu of house cocktails (including the signature Sully’s Slushie), tap beers, wines and zero-proof sips. Avani Mooloolaba’s lobby bar, overseen by head chef Hamish Pink (ex-Elements of Byron), will offer relaxed social dining with shareable plates, bar snacks and quick bites designed to suit locals, travellers and beachgoers. Later in the year, Hamish will also lead the culinary offering at First Avenue Cellar & Bar – a wine-focused venue that blends retail cellar, European-style casual dining and tasting experiences.
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Kizuna
A new Japanese-inspired sake bar and kitchen is set to bring a contemporary izakaya experience to Albion next month, with Kizuna set to open to the public on Sandgate Road in June. Taking over the site previously home to Adela Wine Bar, Kizuna will celebrate seasonally inspired Japanese cuisine, curated sake and cocktails, and refined local hospitality. The offering at Kizuna – named after a Japanese concept symbolising the enduring bonds formed through shared experiences – will be rooted in craftsmanship, discovery and connection, with flavour-packed Japanese fare available alongside a curated list of Japanese sake. Once open, Kizuna will look to contribute to the growth of Brisbane’s sake culture through education and storytelling behind every bottle served. Keep your eyes peeled for more info on this one in the coming weeks.
Pici Restaurant & Bar
After a decade leading the kitchen at OTTO Brisbane, acclaimed chef Will Cowper is embarking on a new venture with the opening of Pici this September. Taking over the former Gerties Bar and Restaurant site on Brunswick Street in New Farm, the intimate neighbourhood Italian restaurant and bar will focus on handmade pasta, woodfire cooking and seasonal Queensland produce, reflecting a more personal and approachable style of dining. Will is partnering with his wife Gianna and local operators Andrew and Andrea Solomon to bring the concept to life, with Alkot Studio and Patricia Redmond Architects engaged to work on the restaurant’s interior and exterior look. Designed with warm timber, marble and burgundy tones, Pici will feature a 30-seat bar space, a 60-seat dining room, pasta-heavy menus centred around signature pici, woodfire-grilled seafood and meats, and a straightforward drinks list of classic cocktails and accessible Italian wines. Be sure to read our full scoop here.
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