Pavement Whispers: Volume 488 December 10
From news of a new neighbourhood bar in Wilston to Korean barbecue favourite’s new Brisbane flagship, 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 …
Frankie Brown
Wilston locals may have spied some changes over at the old Fritzenberger site on Kedron Brook Road lately. For one, the venue is no longer called Fritzenberger – these days it’s going by the name Frankie Brown. Who is Frankie Brown? We’re glad you asked. Frankie Brown is the newest haunt from the operators behind some of Brisbane’s best neighbourhood bars, including Streetcorner Jimmy in Teneriffe, Bulimba’s Old Mr Rabbit and Bluenose Betty in Sandgate. The crew has been operating Fritzenberger Wilston for the past year while putting pieces in place for a gradual changeover process, which has just commenced. The 90-seat venue will morph into its new guise over the coming weeks and months, slowly debuting an upgraded food and drink offering as it transitions. “It’s going to move by osmosis, in a way,” co-owner Darrin Northey tells us. “We’ll do the transition slowly over the next six months as it will still operate every day. We might change up the pieces here and there one week and then other bits the next week, all without disrupting the way that it runs.”
Most of the venue’s interior changes will be cosmetic, with the team putting its signature stylistic stamp on Frankie Brown’s aesthetic by opening up the space and adding a bright and rustic colour palette, plenty of greenery, and artworks from Sodamouf and Fat Ankle. The team will be expanding the drinks list considerably, adding everything you’d hope to find at a top-notch local watering hole. Frankie Brown will soon offer an enhanced range of tap and packaged craft beers, an expanded by-the-glass and bottle wine list, and a boosted back bar selection funnelling into a range of fun cocktails. On the food front, expect the menu retain some Fritzenberger staples, which will be joined by a suite of street-style eats. “The site really lends itself to a neighbourhood bar concept, which is our style,” says Darrin. “We describe it as a street-food oasis – it’s like travelling around the world, but the things that you could pick up on the streets around the globe happen to be in the one place. It’s still got elements of what’s there now, but we’re just bringing in a lot of other stuff that’s really focused on humans getting together in a casual way to share stuff.” Frankie Brown is open now, but guests are urged to check in regularly over the coming months to see the venue and its offering evolve. We’ll be taking a closer look at Frankie Brown in the new year, so stay tuned!
Seoul Garden
One of Victoria’s premier destinations for Korean barbecue and hotpot is expanding to Brisbane, with Seoul Garden opening a new 800-sqm, 300 capacity restaurant at Market Square in Sunnybank on Wednesday December 11. Boasting four locations in Victoria, Seoul Garden has earned a rep for delivering tantalising Korean flavours, matched with a vivid neon-lit aesthetic reminiscent of the busy streets of Seoul. Seoul Garden’s flagship Brisbane venue will deliver the same experience, with an all-you-can-eat, hands-on grilling format allowing guests to enjoy more than 30 premium meat options, a dedicated raw bar, and a wide selection of Korean specialties, house-made sauces and banchan (side dishes). The venue will also boast a hotpot buffet, where diners can craft a custom meal from over 50 variations. To celebrate its launch, Seoul Garden is offering a $19.90 lunch buffet, giving guests access to the venue’s hot food buffet in addition to a selection of gimbap, salads and sides. Head to The Directory for more details.
You might like
The Hills of Rivermakers
In case you missed the news, last week the team behind Potentia Solutions Leisure (Lina Rooftop, Soko and Azteca) announced the imminent launch of The Hills of Rivermakers – a sprawling food and entertainment hub located in the heritage quarter of Rivermakers in Morningside. The family-friendly precinct will officially open to the public on Wednesday December 11, with the Potentia team set to cut the ribbon on a number of flashy new eateries and amenities. On the food front, The Hills of Rivermakers will boast a pizzeria, a coffee roaster, an urban winery and wine bar, a brewery and roadhouse-style pub, a cafe and bakery, a deli and providore, and a seafood counter. Speakers will pipe music all throughout the precinct – from the grassy lawns to the picnic areas – while QR codes will be affixed to almost every table at Rivermakers, allowing guests to order food from any vendor without having to get up. In addition to its cadre of newfangled culinary concepts, The Hills is also designed to offer families plenty beyond food. A petting zoo will operate every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (and every day over school holidays), while a space above the brewery is being converted into an indoor play area. There will also be an open-air cinema, where visitors can catch themed film nights and regular screenings. Want to know more? Get the full lowdown here.
Hey Boo Boo
If you happen to be near Duncan Street’s Chinatown Mall next week, keep your eyes peeled for a brand-new sandwich spot opening up along the strip. Hey Boo Boo is the name of the new sanga slinger, which is officially opening to the public on Monday December 16. The latest concept from the crew behind Mr Duncans Collective, Hey Boo Boo will be serving an array of mouthwatering morsels crafted by head chef Andrea Rotundo, with his recipe for fluffy and fresh focaccia the centrepiece of the offering. This focaccia will be used across three varieties of sandwich –Instagram-worthy open sandwiches, closed sandwiches and cheesy melt sandwiches. There will also be a dessert option for those with a potent sweet tooth – we’re talking ice-cream sandwiches (gelato smushed between slabs of sweet focaccia) and gelato shakes. Get more info here.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].