New foodie boom to hit Brisbane’s northside

From gelaterias with mini golf and a DJ to culinary icons, a host of new culinary venues are set to spice up Brisbane’s northside.

Brisbane’s northside is in for a culinary boom with a host of new eateries opening offering everything from gelato with a side of giant Jenga to baskets made of roti.

Oh’Gelato will move into the former site of Sweeties at ­Everton Plaza in Everton Park, promising a dessert wonderland with DJs, mini golf, giant jenga and, of course, gelato and sweet treats.

The work ofShaneal and Jacquelyn Sharma, the venue will be built for fun, with music, dancing and activities all inside a family-friendly, American-style diner, complete with dog “parking” and outdoor dining for 50.

A dessert from Oh'Gelato at Everton Plaza. Picture: Tara Croser.

As its name would suggest, the eatery will focus on gelato, serving up scoops from Ascot’s award-winning gelateria Milani, including their Royal Queensland Show grand champion milk chocolate flavour. But to really satisfy sweet tooths, Oh’Gelato has teamed up with Brisbane patisserie Le Bon Choix to create a range of bespoke desserts, including apple pie, bread-and-butter pudding, sticky date, peach cobbler and deep-fried ice cream.

The venue will open September 29 and will offer free gelato from 4pm-6pm every Saturday in their first month.

Next door in the Everton Plaza complex, contemporary Cantonese restaurant Sichuan Papa is no more, due to be replaced by another Asian eatery Mai Gai.

Headed by former Bang Bang, Byron Bay chef Suchada ­Nakbunchuay, the new restaurant will specialise in Southeast Asian cuisine with a focus on top quality, locally sourced ingredients.

Diners can expect a share-style menu running from small bites such as kingfish sashimi and prawn toast to a range of baos and a basket made of roti, before hitting bigger items, such as curries, Thai noodle dishes and proteins, including twice-cooked short rib and a half charcoal chicken.

Mai Gai's executive chef Suchada Nakbunchuay at Everton Plaza. Picture: Tara Croser.

While mostly quaffable suburban favourites will fill the wine list, cocktails will star, with more than a dozen Southeast Asian-inspired mixes from their signature Mai Gai Mai Tai to a coconut Margarita and lychee fusion.

They’re all set to put guests in the holiday mood, along with the resort-meets-street-market fit-out. Mai Gai is due to open October 15.

Also at Everton Plaza is new fish and chipper Spotted Cod.

The eatery will be a sister venue to the Wavell Heights takeaway of the same name, which is regularly voted as one of the best fish and chips in Brisbane.

From chef-owner Dough McGarry (ex-Libertine, Brisbane City and Popolo, South Brisbane), it will take a restaurant approach to takeaway with top-quality Queensland, Australian and New Zealand produce including everything from grilled salmon to prawn cutlets, as well as their signature burgers, which include a fully customisable bun creation.

Doug McGarry at his new Spotted Cod eatery at Everton Plaza. Picture: Tara Croser.

While there will be just under a dozen seats for those who want to dine in, the new Spotted Cod is predicted to become popular for its make-at-home options, with a variety of fresh fish, prawns, oysters, mussels and scallops available for purchase.

It’s due to open this Wednesday.

And just a short drive away, Brisbane culinary icon Gunshop Cafe will open a third eatery at Westfield Chermside on September 26.

Following the successful West End and Toowong venues, the new outlet will offer the same popular all-day fusion breakfast fare, plus a new dinner menu not available elsewhere, including a fully licensed bar offering.

To celebrate their launch, they will offer the first 50 customers on opening day 20 per cent off.