A new pasta and pizza spot from the Botellón team is taking shape in Graceville
A cosy new pasta and pizza joint is heading to Honour Avenue, with Botellon’s Maddison Walker planning a neighbourhood-friendly eatery where locals can drop in for dinner, grab takeaway or pick up something to cook at home. Here’s what we know …
Maddison Walker was firm on not opening another venue. The owner of Spanish-inspired tapas spot Botellón in Graceville felt she had her hands full – any more and she’d find herself stretched thin.
“Never again would I do another restaurant,” says Maddison. “That was the end of my road.”
But it’s funny how things change. This December, Maddison will open Enzo’s Pasta and Pizza – a hole-in-the-wall eatery and bar currently taking shape on Honour Avenue, next door to her mother Trish’s cafe, Hunter & Scout.
But Maddison didn’t change her mindset lightly. It took a confluence of circumstances to convince the operator to double up.
“The building owner said to me, ‘Do you want another tenancy?’ Then coincidentally, my head chef – whose favourite thing to cook is Italian – came to me and said he really wanted to start cooking pasta again,” says Maddison.
“Also, my dad Phil has always wanted to have a pizza oven, whether it’s [at Hunter & Scout] or somewhere else. So the worlds collided and I was like, ‘Okay, I can make this happen.’”
With Enzo’s Pasta and Pizza, Maddison is keeping things concise and considered. The tenancy is on the cosier side, with room for 10 guests seated along an inside bar, plus room for an additional 20 diners on the footpath. Envisioned as a neighbourhood haunt perfect for an intimate dinner, casual family gathering or weekly takeaway, Maddison says that, while small, Enzo’s will be able to cater for a range of dining occasions.
“I think smaller is better, especially in an area like Graceville,” says Maddison. “You can come for a date night, because there’s a bar area that I see turning over pairs that come for a pasta and a glass of wine. The footpath will probably cater more to families, because we can fit tables of four or six.”
Beyond the bar, most of Enzo’s interior will be given over to kitchen space. A large Beech oven (with woodfired and electric capabilities) will dominate the far corner, with space for prep, a cookline and retail display occupying the majority of the kitchen footprint.
Subscribe for updates“We’re trying to keep it semi-traditional in a way,” Maddison says about the interior aesthetic. “It will probably have sunset, earthy tones and deep timbers. The stools are chrome-finished with a deep red leather cushion.”
The Enzo’s menu is being designed by Botellón’s head chef Aby Daksha, and will feature antipasti plates, pasta dishes and pizzas.
“I think there will be between four and six pastas and four and six pizzas,” reveals Maddison. “We won’t have a deep fryer or anything like that, so it’ll probably be more fresh prosciutto, cheeses and olives to start. Then we’ll have one or two desserts – we’re trying to keep it small.”
“We want to do something a bit more modern – we’re going to have a little bit more variety on our toppings. The idea is to keep the crowd favourites on the menu all the time, but we’ll swap in some specials every second week.”
Takeaway will be a big focus, with locals also able to buy fresh pasta, sauces and pre-made pizzas if they’d prefer to cook at home.
The beverage menu will also be concise, with one draught beer available alongside two whites, two reds, a rosé, a sparkling wine and an Aperol spritz.
“We’re considering maybe having a BYO night in there somewhere just for the community,” Maddison adds. “We’ve got feedback already that that’s something that they really want.”
While Enzo’s is Maddison’s second venue, the operator is embarking on some firsts. Most notably, Maddison is inviting Brisbane to follow along on the Enzo’s journey, starting a YouTube channel to document the process from fit-out to first service.
“I think it’s really cool opening a restaurant,” says Maddison. “I just wanted to document that, because a lot of work goes into it. I think choosing colour schemes, having issues with trades, and things not being done, I think it’s pretty interesting to watch.”
Everything going to plan, Enzo’s is expected to open before Christmas. Keep your eyes peeled for updates in the coming weeks.
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