Meet the new Brisbane rooftop bar slinging $2 oysters

Bivalve lovers are set rejoice with a glam new pop-up rooftop bar offering the molluscs at bargain prices.

Restaurateur Simon Barakat is answering the dreams of bivalve lovers everywhere, bringing back his famous $2 oysters this time to a slick new Brisbane rooftop, pop-up eatery.

The hospitality guru behind Gino’s in Hamilton and the now defunct Ehden Bar and Kitchen in West End (which closed last year to make way for a Dan Murphy’s outlet) is taking over the rooftop at the newly refurbished Thomas Dixon Centre in West End launching a three-month pop-up.

Owner Simon Barakat at his new pop-up restaurant at the Thomas Dixon Centre, West End. Picture: Liam Kidston

While Barakat has the contract to run the home of Queensland Ballet’s numerous upcoming food and drink outlets, including a bistro/cafe and the Bunker Barre restaurant in a former war bunker on the site, delays with the building means the launch of those venues has been pushed back.

Not wanting to just sit around and wait, Barakat decided to take over the centre’s rooftop Kite Terrace, converting it into a temporary restaurant and bar complete with stunning city views and a Paris-meets-Mediterranean vibe with lush greenery, gold-trimmed tables and a brass bar.

Operating from noon until 9pm Wednesday to Saturday, unless booked out for functions, the venue will be a place for everything from relaxed lunches to pre-ballet snacks and drinks, or substantial dinners overlooking the CBD.

The menu will move from share-style plates such as dips with pita, burrata with sourdough or Hiramasa kingfish tartare to proper mains, including a 300g wagyu rib eye, Lebanese spiced chicken with Israeli couscous and wild mushroom pappardelle, all at affordable prices.

But sure to get the neighbourhood and show-goers rushing in, will be the $2 oysters from 3-5pm, which became the signature of Ehden.

“It’s basically going to be a prequel (to the cafe and restaurant) and customers can come up and let us know what they want and we can try new dishes as specials,” Barakat said.

Complementing the casual Mediterranean-themed menu will be a diverse and extensive wine list with everything from Australian to Greek and Lebanese wines making the cut, alongside beers on tap and a ­variety of cocktails using West Winds gins.

The rooftop pop-up will kick off on February 8, just in time for Valentine’s Day the week after where it will offer a special $69 lovers menu.

SENS COFFEE’S NEW SISTER

Oreo and Biscoff croffles, pimped-up hot dogs and Sichuan chicken rice – these are just some of the gourmet dishes gracing the menu at the new Sens Coffee Co in Southport.

A sister venue to Broadbeach’s much-loved cafe Goya and the existing Sens Coffee Co outlet just down the road in Southport’s Como Crescent, the new Queen Street Village eatery promises to put a little creative culinary flair into typical breakfast and lunch fare.

Food from Sens Coffee Co QSV, Southport.

Almost like a hybrid of the two other venues, the latest Sens serves up a Mod Aus menu with influences from Europe to Asia created by group executive chef Yuta.

Diners can expect everything from eggs Benedict with slow-cooked beef cheek and a yuzu spiked hollandaise to a croissant-waffle hybrid layered with either Oreos, Biscoff or cheesecake.

There’s also gourmet hot dogs topped with the likes of mushrooms or chilli prawns, high protein salads and the kooky pancake bacon and egg roll with two pancakes replacing the usual bread component, sandwiching maple bacon, a fried egg and cheddar cheese.

Campos coffee will be served a variety of ways, including standard espresso, cold brew and “dirty”; alongside the likes of house-made fruit sodas, fresh juices, smoothies and shakes.

MEXICAN MOVES IN

They’ve ticked off Italian, Chifa, European snacks and Palm Beach swagger, now The Talisman Group (Sasso, Casa Chow, South City Wine and Purple Palm) is continuing its domination of Woolloongabba, in Brisbane’s inner-south, with the launch of a new Mexican eatery.

The hole-in-the-wall operation will take the place of the group’s now-closed Felix Green cafe in the South City Square precinct, with sandwiches and smoothies to be switched out for tacos and tequila.

Called Los Felix, the outdoor diner will feature seating around the square’s central lawn, with relaxed taqueria vibes.

A Mexican chef and Mexican front-of-house manager have been recruited for the venture, which will serve six traditional tacos, alongside a couple of frozen margaritas, bottled cocktails, Mexican sodas and Mexican beer.

“You’ll be able to have some margaritas on the lawn … just really simple and nothing too crazy,” co-owner Jared Thibaultsaid.

Los Felix is due to open the third week of February.

SEARCH FOR NEW NUGHEAD

Fortitude Valley mini market NUG General Store is looking for a new owner.

The Bakery Lane outlet, off Ann St, was launched last May by interior gurus Jarrod Applebee and Shane Phillips and the fine dining chef behind Brisbane’s acclaimed Joy restaurant Sarah Baldwin. But after seven months, the trio is looking for someone to take over the compact space, which has become loved by those in the know for its gourmet salads, sandwiches, pastries and quirky homewares.

Jarrod Applebee, Shane Phillip and Sarah Baldwin are looking for a new owner to take over their NUG General Store in Fortitude Valley.

“We always intended to build something fun, unique and full of love that one day we could give it over to someone that wanted to keep growing it with all the love we did,” Applebee said. The venue, which also opened as a wine bar at the end of last year, will remain closed until a new owner can be found.

“If you know anyone that’s looking for an amazing little space, send them our way because we would love to find someone that will have the same love for this place that we do.”

ANCHOR BUOY SETS SAIL

Gold Coast waterfront restaurant Anchor Buoy has reopened at Sanctuary Cove following a striking refurb with a slick new nautical theme and menu.

After being acquired by Sanctuary Cove Resort owner and tourism group Mulpha (InterContinental Hayman Island, ­InterContinental Sydney and Bimbadgen winery Hunter ­Valley) last year, the marina-facing eatery has gone from a casual day-time cafe, to an afternoon and evening operation, ­ditching breakfast and instead focusing on their lunch and dinner offerings.

Food at Anchor Buoy in Sanctuary Cove.

That means a simple, share-style menu, with small plates, such as lamb skewers and prawn buns, to large plates such as sticky pork bites, snapper schnitzel and a signature fish and chips.

There are also baskets loaded with everything from calamari to salt and pepper cauliflower and tofu. A crowd-pleasing wine list of popular styles at an affordable price point has been chosen to complement the food, alongside big-name beers, spirits and a quartet of spritzers.