Brisbane hospo icons to deliver glam new grill restaurant

They’re two of Brisbane’s most revered names in restaurants, now Dan Clark and Ben Russell have a thrilling new project set to shake up CBD dining.

Inspired by some of the world’s best bar and grill ­restaurants, two of Australia’s most respected names in hospitality have teamed up for an exciting new project that they hope will become a Brisbane institution.

Dan Clark of Woolloongabba’s 1889 Enoteca and Addley Clark Fine Wines and former Aria chef Ben Russellplan to bring back the charm long associated with dining in the CBD with the launch of Rothwell’s Bar & Grill next month.

Taking the space formerly ­occupied by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s Jamie’s Italian eatery on Edwards St in the city, Rothwell’s is based on the places the gents have most enjoyed ­eating at around the world, including London’s The Savoy Grill and The Musso & Frank Grill in Los Angeles.

“It’s an accumulation of all those different places and great places that inspired us and now we get the opportunity to put it into a restaurant, which is really rewarding,” Mr Clark said.

For the menu that means a classic, approachable affair running from bar snacks such as a club sandwich and wagyu cheeseburger, to the main restaurant line-up encompassing the likes of freshly shucked oysters, caviar, prawn cocktails, seafood platters, steaks and their hero – the beef wellington, because “who doesn’t love beef wrapped in pastry?” Mr Clark said.

“We want it to be a place where people can come and use it however they want to use it,” he said.

“If you want to come in and go crazy on a wine list we’ll have great wines, but if you’re in the city and you’ve got a meeting with someone, you’re more than welcome to come in and have a nicoise salad and a glass of chablis and you can walk out of here and you feel good about it.”

Ben Russell and Dan Clark out the front of their new restaurant Rothwell's Bar & Grill. Picture: Zak Simmonds

That “good” feeling will also come down to the pricing, with the aim to make it accessible and “value for money”.

However, for those deep-pocketed folk keen to splash out, Mr Clark’s work as a wine wholesaler supplying to some of the country’s best restaurants, including Mimi’s, Fred’s and Bert’s, will be on full show here.

Rothwell’s, which is named after former Brisbane tailor and outfitter Thomas James Rothwell, who once owned the ­building, will have a special downstairs cellar-cum-event space featuring more than 2000 bottles of wine, including big-name labels and those from smaller producers from Burgundy, Chablis, Bordeaux, Champagne and Barolo.

There will also be some standout vintages Mr Clark scored last year during a Covid sale at London’s The Ritz – think 1947 Pol Roger and cognac from the 1890s. Plus, as a rarity for Brisbane, there will be an Armagnac cart with bottles dating back to the 1920s.

All this can be enjoyed in the 90-seat restaurant made timeless with bottle green leather banquettes or at the stunning 40-seat bar, where classic cocktails, including ice-cold martinis, will be on pour. Rothwell’s is scheduled to open next month.