Restaurateur Joedy Kyle’s bold new move as latest venue opens in East Brisbane

With multiple hit eateries around the River City, this hospitality young gun hopes is looking to wow with his latest project on the fringes of the CBD.

Joedy Kyle is out to change Brisbane’s cafe scene one venue at a time. The prolific restaurateur has just opened his fourth venture in three years in the city under the brand Joedy’s, this time in the base of a flashy new apartment complex where East Brisbane meets Kangaroo Point.

Like at his maiden cafe in New Farm, the aesthetic here is an Australian twist on Scandi, where blond timber tables, white walls and clean lines are warmed up with forest green banquettes and stools, and charcoal grey floors and tiles.

With light flooding through bi-fold windows, it feels cool and contemporary – equally appropriate for a business meeting, working solo on a laptop or a relaxed brunch.

Joedy's by Sinclair. Picture: David Kelly

What’s different about this venture though, is the operating hours, with the Joedy’s brand for the first time moving into dinner. After trialling evening events at the New Farm cafe over the years, Kyle decided the new space would be his first full-time foray into night-time dining.

The result is an East meets West share-style menu, taking inspiration from Japan, Thailand and Indonesia and combining it with southeast Queensland ingredients.

That means everything from tempura Moreton Bay bug bites with furikake seasoning and yuzu kosho mayo to kingfish ceviche with wasabi emulsion or even kimchi pork belly with cabbage and kohlrabi.

The dining space at Joedy's by Sinclair. Picture: David Kelly

It’s all complemented by a concise selection of boutique, organic Australian wines and classic house cocktails with an Asian twist.

During the day, however, the venture continues to roll out the contemporary fare the brand has become known for, with an all-day brunch and lunch menu bursting with options such as their signature ube hot cakes with coconut, jackfruit, black sesame ice cream and white chocolate sauce; chilli scrambled eggs with prawns, as well as a feast of burgers stuffed with everything from mushrooms to Korean fried chicken.

The poke bowl with Korean fried chicken. Picture: David Kelly

That same chicken also tops one of two versions of the venue’s poke bowl ($23.90) packed with flavourful wakame salad, sesame seed-dipped avocado, miso mushrooms, brown rice and pickled radish. While the deeply tanned, flour-crusted chunks of bird destroy the dish’s healthy status, it’s worth it for that audible crunch into succulent, well-seasoned poultry.

Also succulent is the beef in the brisket tacos ($19.90). Far too often dryer than winter skin in a blizzard, the meat here retains its moisture, dripping with a saccharine, smoky sauce, piled inside flour tortillas and topped with pickled onion, corn, coriander and mayo to make for a finger (and arm)-licking light lunch.

The brisket tacos. Picture: David Kelly

Coffee ($3.20-$4.90) is bitter, keenly priced and shake-you-awake-strong, available alongside matcha, turmeric and chai lattes, plus the cafe’s signature hot chocolates using high-quality cocoa from a local chocolatier.

There is also a variety of iced coffees, plus cold-pressed juices, iced teas, which can be spiked, milkshakes and smoothies, such as a sharp, passionfruit-heavy mango weis ($11.90), which can be blended with protein powder ($2.90).

Joedy’s has always been a daytime favourite, and with night-time dining now on the menu, no doubt it will find a new legion of fans.

For more reviews visit delicious.com.au/eatout

JOEDY’S BY SINCLAIR

150 Toohey St, East Brisbane

joedyscafe.com.au

Open

Mon-Thur 6am-3pm (kitchen closes at 2pm); Fri-Sun 7am-3pm and 5.30pm-11pm (kitchen closes at 9.45pm)

VERDICT – Scores out of 5

Food 3.5

Service 3.5

Ambience 4

Value 3.5

Overall 3.5