Up-market Italian restaurant Otto replaces Stokehouse Q

South Bank is set to welcome a new up-market Italian restaurant and bar by the river.

After five years in Brisbane’s CBD, fine dining Italian restaurant Otto is set to open the doors at its new home in South Bank next week, boasting an exciting fresh concept.

Taking over the iconic riverfront site of Stokehouse Q, after the dining institution shut in March last year as the pandemic hit, Otto will continue its revered restaurant offering, as well as launch a brand new bar concept in the space.

Otto Brisbane's new location at River Quay South Bank. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Otto Osteria will fill the former Stokehouse Bar area, serving up an exciting Northern Italian-inspired menu alongside Italian wines and cocktails under head chef Will Cowper and general manager Alan Hunter.

“It (Osteria) will be a lot more accessible to the public,” Mr Cowper said.

“We understand the price point we’re at at the restaurant and we want to be still giving quality but at a better price point, so we’ll be doing really great produce put more simply on a plate.”

That means everything from local squid or fish cooked on the char grill to the restaurant’s signature focaccia served in mini form in various flavours, alongside the likes of cured meats, olives and tomatoes.

Head chef Will Cowper with a whole Mahi-mahi at Otto Brisbane's new location in South Bank. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Diners in the 70-seat bar will also be able to order off the restaurant menu if they wish, as well as choose from wines from the main menu.

However, a clever list of drinks to take guests from lunch well into the night is being established.

“There’ll be a lot of Northern Italian wines, but Al (Hunter) is getting a little creative as how to best suit the food,” Mr Cowper said.

The addition of the new bar, as well as the opportunity to run functions for up to 50 guests on the mezzanine level, has required Otto to double its kitchen and front of house staff, a challenge Mr Cowper is thrilled about.

Otto has kept much of the former Stokehouse Q fit-out in the restaurant. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“For me, (the Osteria) it’s just the opportunity to have another food outlet,” he said. “It’s another challenge for me. I’ve always wanted more staff and it’s helping grow the industry.”

Next door at the restaurant, only minor changes have been made to the former Stokehouse Q fit-out, with Otto’s signature blue and yellow colour scheme introduced subtly to make its mark on the space.

Mr Cowper said diners can expect the same beloved modern Italian food made with the finest quality produce.

“It’s still Otto 100 per cent, just in a different location and I think it’s in a better location,” he said.

Otto will open on February 3.