Howard Smith Wharves boss says Stanley to open as planned, despite rush to be ready

A ‘much anticipated’ restaurant set to open front and centre at Brisbane’s popular Howard Smith Wharves precinct is racing to open before the end of the week.

IT’S going to come down the wire, but the man behind Howard Smith Wharves’ newest restaurant has today promised it will open this Friday.

Stanley is the first of two restaurants slated to open within the riverfront precinct over the next month.

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Howard Smith Wharves chief executive Luke Fraser has promised the hotly anticipated Cantonese-Chinese fusion restaurant would be open on time, despite changes being made.

“They’re rushing,” Mr Fraser said.

“They’ll go down to the wire, but they’re determined to be opened on the 1st.

“My experience is the last 24 hours in a restaurant opening, a lot changes.”

Chef Louis Tikaram at his new restaurant Stanley at Howard Smith Wharves. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

Stanley’s head chef is Louis Tikaram, from the Northern NSW town of Mullumbimby, who made it big in the LA culinary scene.

Mr Fraser described the new restaurant’s opening as “much anticipated” with its prominent position right at the front of Howard Smith Wharves.

“They’ll be some lucky people who have secured a spot on opening night,” Mr Fraser said.

He said there was still space available for more reservations at Stanley. 

Howard Smith Wharves is located on cliffs beneath the iconic Story Bridge. Picture: File

Mr Fraser said it was an exciting time for Howard Smith Wharves, with Japanese restaurant Yoko expected to come online within the next few weeks.

A new rooftop dining space at neighbouring Felons Brewery also opened as the precinct’s management tries to deal with eager crowds.

The precinct, which opened late last year, is visited by up to 10,000 people a day on weekends.