Pavement Whispers: Volume 581 October 27
From news of a wine bar and pizza spot in Morningside to Botanica’s new location, 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 …
The Leopard
Pizza, wine and snacks are set to star at The Leopard, a brand-new pizzeria and wine bar opening next week on Thynne Road in Morningside. The brainchild of Jacob Commer and Diva Gattani (who also operate Mansfield slice spot, Enzo’s Pizza), The Leopard will see Jacob applying experience gained working at Michelin-starred Brooklyn wine bar The Four Horsemen, creating a pizza menu that is slightly more refined than Enzo’s. Headlined by classics like margherita and pepperoni pizzas, The Leopard’s menu will also feature more ambitious selections, backed by a clutch of small plates and a natural-leaning selection of wines. Designed as a casual, welcoming and unpretentious neighbourhood haunt, The Leopard crew envision the venue being the perfect spot for a quick weeknight meal, Friday night beers and pizza, or even a birthday celebration. Be sure to follow The Leopard’s Instagram for the announcement of its official opening night.
Olé La Vida
A South Bank icon will be reborn next month, with Alemré Hospitality Group’s long-running Spanish restaurant OLÉ getting a glow-up ahead of its reopening as Olé La Vida. After more than 14 years on Little Stanley Street, the Alemré crew has decided to give the restaurant a new identity infused with some cherished Spanish traditions, chiefly ‘la sobremesa’ – the cultural ritual of lingering around the table long after a meal has ended. Olé La Vida’s redesigned interiors (which feature terracotta tones, natural timber and handcrafted tiles) have been shaped to encourage conversation and connection, with a brand-new menu focusing on shared-style dining, a core facet of Spanish food culture. The offering will start with traditional charcuteria (we’re talking jamon iberico, sobrasada, cecina and Spanish cheese) and an extensive tapas selection. From there, expect fresh seafood, plates of corn-fed whole chicken, loaded paella and Basque cheesecakes. The drinking culture of Spain’s north-east coast heavily influences Olé La Vida’s beverage list, with a clutch of vino from renowned Spanish winemakers anchoring the menu. Olé La Vida is slated to open on Little Stanley Street in mid-November – keep your eyes peeled for a peek inside soon.
Botanica
Everton Plaza has been on a roll lately. The northside dining hub has welcomed a bunch of new residents in recent months, including Ghanem Groups Alfi Eatery & Bar and cult fro-yo brand Yo-Chi. Just when you thought the precinct couldn’t accommodate any more, the team behind salad-slinging icon Botanica Real Food has revealed that it will be opening a new store at Everton Plaza in time for summer entertaining. The store will closely resemble Botanica’s other sites, with all of your favourite goodness-packed options available – we’re taking the famous kale and shaved broccoli salad, plus its coveted bundt cakes and savoury tarts. Keep your eyes peeled for information on Botanica Everton Plaza’s official opening date.
You might like
Nitō
Not long now, folks – in just over a week, Ben McShane and Matt Kuhnemann will lift the cloche on Nitō, the darker, louder and eagerly anticipated sibling to their famed Fish Lane restaurant, Clarence. The Japanese-inspired venue will officially open to the public on Wednesday November 4, just a few doors down from Clarence in Stockwell’s 51 Fish building. At Nitō, Ben and Matt and head chef Max Burns will be using Japanese ingredients and techniques (alongside plenty of locally sourced goodness) to craft something that reflects place and provenance. The menu has been unveiled, with our eyes immediately gravitating towards items like barbecue eel with somen rosti, U8 tiger prawns with golden curry Marie Rose, pig head katsu sando with pickled wasabi special sauce, duck leg claypot rice, Gooralie pork chop with apple tart, nori mustard and celery kimchi, and Westholme Wagyu flank with oyster mushroom and karashi miso. Nitō’s beverage program will boast a different focus compared to Clarence, with a distinct cocktail offering and a sake and highball program joined by a wine list featuring drops from Australia and Japan, plus champagne. Bookings for Nitō have launched – head to the restaurant’s website to secure a spot for opening week and keep your eyes peeled for a peek inside very soon.
Dirk’s
Following the launch of its first store, Dirk’s is gearing up to launch its second. With its debut Buranda Village site humming smoothly, the Dirk’s gang is bringing its menu of elevated hot dogs to South Bank, with a new shop opening at 167 Grey Street on Saturday November 7. If you’re yet to partake in the Dirk’s experience, here’s what you’re missing out on – oven-baked beef chevapi, stuffed into a milk bun and crowned with an assortment of fresh toppings and sauces. The Dirk’s crew is upping the stakes at its new location, with hatted chef and culinary consultant Matt Wilkinson developing a few new menu items launching alongside the South Bank site. Once open, the store will also serve crispy free-range chicken Dirk, with golden tenders tucked into the bun instead of the sausage. The crew will be celebrating the launch of the South Bank location with free Dirks available between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, while stocks last.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.