Italian restaurant to open in glam James St precinct

A highly anticipated new eatery from one of Brisbane’s most respected hospitality teams has finally announced its launch date

Brisbane’s highly anticipated new Italian restaurant Bianca has finally revealed its opening date.

The eatery from hospitality gurus Frank Li, Bianca Marchi, Tyron Simon and Ben Williamson, behind venues Agnes, Same Same and Honto, will start serving customers on March 29 at its flash digs in Fortitude Valley’s Calile Hotel precinct.

In the site of the former Beaux Rumble restaurant, which closed at the beginning of last year, the space, which opens onto Wandoo St, has been given a dramatic facelift by Brisbane architects Richards + Spence.

An artist's impression of the new Bianca restaurant in Fortitude Valley.

“It’s very pretty. It’s a beautiful fit-out. Compared to Agnes, which is quite masculine, it’s quite feminine,” said executive chef Ben Williamson of the decor, which includes terracotta tiles, red bricks and shades of peach.

The menu will offer traditional Italian fare with a twist, starting with spuntini such as focaccia, flat bread and chicken liver crostini and antipasti including locally made charcuterie and cheeses, before moving onto first courses like stuffed zucchini flowers and calamari fritti, followed by classic mains such as veal cutlet Milanese, porchetta and a 1.2kg steak bistecca alla fiorentina.

Tyron Simon, Ben Williamson and Frank Li will open Italian restaurant Bianca on March 29. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Everything will look and feel very traditional but will have a spin to make it unique,” said Mr Williamson. “We’ll keep the wood-fired oven in there so most of the mains will go through there.”

The wine list will also be a corker with around 300 bottles of Italian wines and locally made vino in Italian styles.