Pavement Whispers: Volume 493 February 4
From news of a premium fish and chipper in Manly to a new outpost from a surging cafe crew, 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 …
Manly Fish Co.
It has been a big start to the year for The Consortium QLD group. Just weeks after putting the finishing touches on its chic pan-Asian restaurant Wang Chung, the hospo crew (who also operates The Arsonist) is set to lift the lid on a brand-new premium fish and chipper overlooking Manly Harbour tomorrow, Wednesday February 5. Manly Fish Co. is the name of the new concept, which has taken over part of the old SeaVibes space on Cambridge Parade, transforming it into a modern fish and chip shop with alfresco dining. Every day, Manly Fish Co.’s menu will evolve based on availability, with only the best locally sourced seafood – always fresh, never frozen – making its way to the offering. Though the menu will be shifting regularly, guests will be able to enjoy stand-out items like Moreton Bay snapper (served crumbed, battered or grilled), half lobster with lemon, caper and cornichon dressing, local prawn rolls with dill, capers, iceberg lettuce, Spanish onion and mayonnaise, and the Fisherman’s Catch – a premium mix of scallops, salt and pepper squid, school prawns, and snapper, served with hand-cut chips. The venue will also be fully licensed, with guests able to wash down their Poseidon’s bounty with an ice-cold beer. Get more info on Manly Fish Co. over in The Directory.
Much Love
In May last year, the crew behind virally popular brunch spot Peach Cafe expanded its portfolio, opening sibling eatery Much Love in Spring Hill. Serving a condensed version of Peach Cafe’s menu, including its incredibly popular range of chunky NYC-style cookies and specialty beverages, the offshoot proved to be a big success. Now, the team has expanded the Much Love brand further, opening a second location on Carrara Street in Mount Gravatt East today, Tuesday February 4. This Much Love outpost is smaller than its Spring Hill counterpart, boasting a kiosk-style footprint and a streamlined menu of eats. Much Love Mount Gravatt East’s offering will be focused on coffee, cabinet items (think toastie and bagels) and its range of signature cookies. The venue will operate from 6:00–11:00 am – be sure to schedule a visit before all of the goodies are snatched up!
Goros
February is shaping up to be a massive month for Brisbane’s dining scene. One of the most anticipated openings of the year is Goros, the neon-lit izakaya-meets-nightclub from hospitality juggernaut the Solotel group (ARIA, Chiswick, Opera Bar and many others). The Goros team has revealed that the multi-level venue will officially open to the public on Friday February 21, with bookings now open to those eager to be among the first to party at The Valley’s newest hot spot. Combining the best elements of a restaurant, bar and club, Goros is offering a bit of something for everyone, including unique game nights, private karaoke rooms, a menu of inventive cocktails (including Goros’ legendary sake bombs) and playful takes on contemporary Japanese cuisine. Heading the Goros kitchen will be head chef Sean Barogo, who has collaborated with Solotel’s executive chef Hamish Ingham on a menu that features the likes of crunchy saltbush tempura with chilli-miso mayo, handmade sushi and gyoza, Japanese fried chicken, UFO burgers and the TikTok-famous 10-yen toasties. Guests will be able to wash down their feasts with Japanese beers, premium spirits, sake spritzes and cocktails like the eye-catching matcha pina colada (topped with boba pearls). Goros will host a number of weekly events, including ping pong tournaments, themed karaoke nights and Pokémon-themed “Jag the Joker” nights. If all of the above sounds like your idea of a good time, head to the Goros website for more information.
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Josie’s
In case you missed the news last week, the team behind Josie’s – a pop-up restaurant with a punk ethos – has announced the opening of its own bricks-and-mortar restaurant in Stanthorpe this June. After gaining a loyal following in Brisbane and a successful residency at Essen, chef John Speranza and front-of-house expert Amy Harker are bringing their DIY dream to life in the Southern Downs region, snagging a character-filled space on Stanthorpe’s High Street for their 36-seat venue. The Josie’s menu will focus on fresh regional ingredients, with John drawing inspiration from his Italian heritage to craft both a chef’s set menu and a flexible a la carte offering. The drinks menu will feature fruit-forward cocktails, Australian wines (with a focus on the Granite Belt) and quick-pour freezer-door drinks. Combining their punk DIY ethos with refined hospitality, John and Amy aim to create an experimental, yet memorable, dining experience.
Innocent Bystander at Babylon
From Thursday February 27 to Sunday March 16, award-winning Yarra Valley wine brand Innocent Bystander will be hosting a pop-up urban cellar door at riverside restaurant Babylon on Eagle Street. This won’t be just any old pop-up – Innocent Bystander will be looking to show off its range in a whole new light, creating a calendar of events spread across three weekends. Throughout the course of the pop-up, Innocent Bystander will be operating a tasting bar at Babylon Gardens from Thursday to Saturday from noon to 8:00 pm, and on Sunday from noon to 7:00 pm. On March 1–2, the Innocent Bystander crew will celebrate the launch of its new watermelon spritz with watermelon-themed merch giveaways, watermelon spritz slushies, a photobooth and a ‘Watermelon Sugar’-era Harry Styles look-alike contest (with the winner snagging a $500 Innocent Bystander voucher). On Thursday March 6, Innocent Bystander’s wine ambassadors will host a bespoke ticketed wine dinner, featuring delicious morsels from the Babylon kitchen designed to complement the wines on show. The cellar door will also host a free pop-up tattoo studio from the Valley Ink crew on March 8–9, with a range of Innocent Bystander-inspired designs available on a first-come, first-served basis. Those dining on Saturdays and Sundays can enjoy a long lunch featuring two hours of delicious dishes paired with an extensive selection of free-flowing Innocent Bystander wines.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].