Dirty Moes brings Deep South to the Sunshine Coast

IF your mouth is not watering after reading this, there may be something wrong with you.

BEEF brisket, dry rubbed and marinated overnight with Louisiana spice, then slow cooked for 14 hours.

Pork collar, wrapped in thin strips of bacon and slow cooked for six hours in a sticky maple glaze.

Do I have your attention yet?

Ben Baker and Hazel Burns certainly caught Mooloolaba's, since they opened Dirty Moe's with mate Ryan Scells in February.

Its Deep South BBQ-inspired share plates of "big meats" are a treat with the best local beers, served on tap.

If cocktails are what you live for, Hazel will gladly oblige. Moe's signature sticky date espresso martini packs a real punch. In keeping with the them, the drinks menu has a strong whiskey contingent.

The pair thought it would take a few years to find a venue and for Hazel to scale back her work as a paramedic.

But then the offer of a unique site came up.

Ben Baker and Hazel Burns owners of Dirty Moe's bar, Mooloolaba. Picture: Patrick Woods

Ben was already co-owner of The Beach Bar & Grill, on Mooloolaba Esplanade, and together with Beach Bar partner Ryan, they had a team.

They checked out the space and decided to go for it, opening Moe's in February. The trio was initially planning a Mexican restaurant-bar, but were inspired by other styles.

"We decided we wanted brick, copper, and lots of wood," she said. "The food followed from that."

"I guess the concept of shared foods was central and is really the cornerstone of what we're doing.

"We're loving the idea of big meats and having three or four on a table.

"The chefs were able to pull all those flavours and the concept into practice for a restaurant and came up with all the different flavours."

BIG MEATS: Ben Baker and Hazel Burns, owners of Dirty Moe's bar, Mooloolaba. Picture: Patrick Woods

Locals have caught on, Hazel said.

"You get to know the locals, and they really respect good service."

Dirty Moe's brings together Hazel's love of dinner party-style shared dining with Ben's passion for New Orleans comfort food.

Located between Fish & Chippery (also a Baker-Scells venture) and the entrance to Landmark Resort, Dirty Moe's is building stronger night life for Mooloolaba - a much needed undertaking, late night operators agree.