Brisbane southside best new cafes, bars and restaurants of 2020
Despite 12 months of turmoil caused by COVID-19, these 13 businesses defied the odds to throw open their doors in 2020.
Southeast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southeast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Last year was one of the toughest on record for the hospitality industry, which had to contend with the pivot to takeaway, reduced patronage and continued uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It saw some iconic venues close, like Stokehouse Q and Cha Cha Char, but in the midst of all this, there was nevertheless many exciting developments.
We took a look at some of the hottest newcomers south of the river which defied the odds and threw open their doors. They continue to defy the odds.
JO & CO. CAFE, 27 ILLAWEENA ST, DREWVALE
Owned by Jo Slatter, Jo & Co. opened at the start of the year, on January 11.
Mrs Slatter is “following her dream” in finally opening her first venue.
“This is my first entry into the hospitality industry, after a lifetime of eating out and love of tasty and wholesome food I decided it was time to follow my dream and open a cafe in my local area,” she said.
Her cafe vibe is that of the true neighbourhood hangout, Mrs Slatter said.
“We have a relaxed, welcoming, and very friendly vibe at Jo & Co. Cafe.
“Our specialties include our signature berry jam, relish and pesto which feature in many dishes.
“All our cakes and savoury dishes in the cabinet are made in-house, the key ingredient being the love we put in when baking.”
Mrs Slatter said flipping her cafe sign to ‘open’ on January was one of the most exciting times in her life.
“Since then, our local community have been such tremendous supporters,” she said.
“Our customer service is one thing we are most proud of, and we are humbled by the response from our customers and their loyalty.”
MAUDE, 16 EVA ST, COORPAROO
Modern Australian with a Mediterranean twist cafe Maude was opened by owner/manager Brandon Hemmings on October 31.
“We keep it simple yet elegant and deliver class, our specialty is having fresh food and amazing coffee,” Mr Hemmings said.
Mr Hemmings, who has worked in hospitality since he was 14, said the stars lined up for Maude.
“I had been looking for my own venture for sometime and I was almost close in 2018, getting a spot on Martha St, Camp Hill, but it wasn’t the right time,” he said.
“My daughter Florence was just born, but in saying that it opened a lot of avenues for myself personally and physically.
“As soon as I saw this location (Eva St) and its potential, that was it, I was sold on it, creating drawings and ideas in the middle of the night.”
Mr Hemmings said his passion has meant Maude has it times been a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants operation.
“Starting a brand new blank canvas restaurant with no chef, no staff but just your idea and passion was nerve-racking, especially in COVID-19 times,” he said.
“Signing a lease and finding out we have a small cluster of COVID-19 in southeast Queensland was very stressful but we persevered, bringing what was just a sketch into a fully functioning restaurant.”
STORY BEHIND THE COFFEE, 89 BROADWATER RD, MT GRAVATT EAST
Story Behind the Coffee was opened by Danilo Ramon Jovero Jr on September 26.
As suggested by the name, Mr Jovero takes his liquid gold very seriously.
“We focus on specialty coffee, serving award-winning beans from Coffee Mentality,” he said. “We renovated the old local grocery store with a classic black-and-white concept.
“We are everything about quality coffee and service.”
The name of his venue is a nod to his five-year relationship with his partner.
“I have more than five years’ experience working with coffee and am very passionate about what I do,” Mr Jovero said.
“I came to Australia in April 2019 to unite with my partner and this is our first venture together here.
“She inspires me to be a better person and we do have our ‘story behind the coffee’.
MAC FROM WAY BACK, 31 LOGAN RD, WOOLLOONGABBA
Opened in October 2020 by owners Dane Coote and partner Quinty Tissen, Mac From Way Back had a previous life as a popular food truck.
The colourful menu features everything from Nashville-style fried chicken, pizza, burgers, all different types of fries desserts and, of course, multiple styles of mac ‘n’ cheese.
Mr Coote previously told the South-East Advertiser Mac From Way Back needed to move into a permanent location after they could not cope with demand while operating the food truck.
“We used to do markets and festivals and kind of be in certain spots like that but during COVID we got around a whole lot more and it just went crazy, so we decided to open an actual restaurant,” he said.
“There’s nothing really like this in the area so that combined with the type of area as far as the amount of residential apartments nearby and also The Gabba being right there, we thought it was a perfect location.
“It seems like this area is really moving forward despite COVID.”
MOONSHINE COFFEE ROASTERS, 98 MAIN ST, KANGAROO POINT
Managed and part-owned by 27-year-old Camilla Henriksen, Moonshine opened in May 2020 under the shade of the story bridge and the glorious fig trees which dot the lower portion of Kangaroo Point.
Moonshine Coffee is a flagship store for the brand, which was founded in Byron Bay by Richard Kelly.
“We specialise in coffee and roasting as well as organic blends and single origins,” Ms Henriksen said.
“We try and incorporate local Byron produce as much as we can wether that be incorporating things into our menu or bringing it to peoples homes by featuring products in our retail lines.”
Ms Henriksen has been working in hospitality for 13 years, with her first venture, Chapel Park Cafe at Nundah, being sold in August.
“The most exciting part of being in business is being able to express yourself but also very scary,” Ms Henriksen said.
“What if people don’t like it? What if it doesn’t work?
“There’s a lot that goes on back of house in order to bring ideas to life and that’s always fun to test the waters.
“You learn a lot along the way about yourself and also your customers and location.”
BROKEN HEARTS BURGER CLUB, 591 WYNNUM RD, MORNINGSIDE
Broken Hearts was opened on December 1 by co-owners Jay Gordon and Che Quaedvlieg.
According to Mr Gordon, “Our venue is super basic, mid-century Americana. It’s a homage to the origins of what became mainstream fast food.”
“Our vibe is inclusive, wholesome and social. Our kitchen is open and our staff trade jokes with customers and celebrate positive feedback across the counter.”
He said there is more than meets the eye with his humble burger joint.
“At a glance our ingredients look like any other burger, but we separate ourselves with pedantic attention to old school processes like smashing, and flipping our own meat blend (that also includes a little bacon),” Mr Gordon said.
“Also butter toasting our buns side-by-side with the patties on the griddle, then letting them ride on the meat and cheese still on the griddle like a 1950s slider chef.”
Mr Gordon said he and co-owner Che have “zero” experience in hospitality.
“To distract us from lockdown, Che and I started flipping burgers inspired by my time in LA and dropping them on the doorsteps of friends we couldn’t hang with during lockdown,” he said.
“When we ran out of friends we delivered to strangers who found our Instagram page.
“Failure to meet the demand, and loosening restrictions led to pop-ups and finally our own joint, The Broken Hearts Burger Club.”
MILLI AND MOL’S CAFE, 65 RIDGEWOOD RD, ALGESTER
Owned by husband-and-wife duo Nick and Naomi Doyle, Milli and Mol’s opened in June.
According to manager Nick, “We have a relaxed, friendly Melbourne-style vibe, focused on locally roasted specialty coffee from Dramanti Artisan Roasters and fresh, simple delicious food.”
Nick said the standout items on his menu are the “Nicko’s reuben sandwich, beef brisket nachos and yoghurt panna cotta.”
The Doyle family have lived in the Algester area for 14 years with their family, and Nick said they have “always wanted to open a cafe and bring specialty coffee to the local area.”
“The unknown of opening in the middle of COVID-19 restrictions has been nerve-racking but the support of the locals has been overwhelming,” Nick said.
SUPERTHING, 215 MONTAGUE RD, WEST END
Co-owned by Eddy Tice and Ania Kutek, Superthing opened on March 24.
Superthing has its origins in a bagel stall, NYC Bagel Deli, which the pair established in 2014 at the Davies Park Market.
According to Mr Tice, Superthing has a melange of influences.
“Superthing croissanterie was dreamt up from various inspirations such as the fierce vibe of the amazing Donna Jordan, the beautiful dreamy aesthetics of Stockholm’s Studio Brasch, and the bold use of colour, together with the minimalist clean lines of the digital art renders of Alexis Christodoulou,” he said.
“Add a touch of soap bubbles, and a brilliant local designer in Kirsten Schipper from Design Gallery, and you get Superthing.”
The pair have extensive hospitality experience.
“We are a nutritionist and a chef, having lived in 10 countries between us, sampling the local fare wherever we go, bringing a deep understanding of quality food to the business,” Mr Tice said.
“Prior to that, we both worked in hospitality for 15 years in various other roles.
“Opening a day after the first pandemic since 1918 reached Australia is not something many people have experienced, nor something you could anticipate.
“We were really afraid after investing so much time and money into this project, and we had no idea what to expect.
“We were very lucky to once again receive the support of the amazing West end community, it was very humbling and we are grateful to still be here.”
EASY TIMES BREWING CO, 20 LOGAN RD, WOOLLOONGABBA
UK-born David Ferguson, a former councillor and avid homebrewer, and his partner Anita Boettger, a qualified psychologist, threw open the doors to Easy Times Brewing Co with hours to spare before last year’s October AFL preliminary final between Brisbane Lions and Richmond Tigers.
“For the preliminary final, we finished painting the interior at 2pm, it dried at 2.30pm and we were at capacity an hour and a half later,” Mr Ferguson said.
“And then we were at capacity again for a couple of hours after the game. It was a baptism of fire.”
Mr Ferguson previously told the South-East Advertiser he “wanted to recreate the feel of a corner British pub,” he said.
“A welcoming, laid-back environment where you can forget all your troubles.”
Northside favourite Proof BBQ & Booze is serving up American-style favourites upstairs, while Easy Times plans to begin releasing its own in-house beers shortly.
ZE PICKLE, 265 HAWTHORNE RD, HAWTHORNE
After driving past the future site of Ze Pickle Hawthorne all winter en route to football training for Bulimba Valleys Bulldogs RLFC, Ze Pickle Camp Hill owner Sean Haufe, 26, decided to take the plunge and open his second store, Queensland’s fourth, in December last year.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Mr Haufe, who previously told the South-East Advertiser Hawthorne only came about after he had to pull out late in the piece after exploring Bulimba as an option.
“That went south and I basically spent a house deposit,” Mr Haufe admitted.
Mr Haufe said, in addition to a full menu of dripping, succulent burgers, Ze Pickle Hawthorne will feature table service and a rotating roster of 12 beer taps, several of which will feature local brewers.
Ze Pickle franchises famously offer the ‘STFU’ for $69, which is “four hand-pressed beef patties, quad American cheese, triple maple-smoked bacon, crispy fried chicken, smoked jalapeños, fried onion ‘straws’, mac ‘n’ cheese and Ze Pickle sauce, served between three grilled cheese sandwiches and topped with fries”.
THE PIZZA GARDEN, 4/32 ASQUITH ST, MORNINGSIDE
Francesco and Jelena Buonomo from the Gold Coast opened the doors on The Pizza Garden in Morningside in December after taking over the business from the previous owners, who closed the venue in the second-half of 2020 to relocate to Adelaide.
The couple, both hospitality veterans, met in a Brisbane pizzeria where Francesco was working.
“Since I have met him (Francesco) it has been his dream to open his own pizza restaurant, so that he can put his skills and knowledge towards a business of his own,” Jelena said.
“It’s also in his blood to do this. Francesco is passionate about bringing an authentic Italian experience to his food, using ingredients of the highest quality.
“We felt that Morningside was a great location for our business as it is so well connected with the CBD as well as lots of suburban areas, with a really friendly ambience about it.”
HEY JOE COFFEE & CO, 6A/33 LYTTON RD, EAST BRISBANE
Owned by Suki Randhawa, Hey Joe opened in June 2020.
UK-born Ms Randhawa is a veteran of the hospitality industry, having managed Perk’s Kitchen Garden City for 13 years and Perk’s Kitchen Jimboomba for six years.
“I’ve been very passionate about cooking from the age of eight,” she said.
“I was so excited to leave my high-end banking job in London to move all the way across the world to Brisbane and start my dream of running my own eatery.”
Ms Randhawa said Hey Joe is a “relaxed, airy all-day eatery with an award-winning interior, welcoming to families and dogs, the perfect environment for meetings or functions”.
“Our most popular dishes are the cauliflower, corn and vegetable fritter; the barramundi, and Joe’s signature hashcakes with smashed beetroot and feta,” she said.
BARE KNUCKLES BBQ, 5A/617 TOOHEY RD, SALISBURY
Another outlet which had a previous life as a food truck before outgrowing its skin, Bare Knuckles BBQ, owned by husband-and-wife duo Jamie and Kirsten Day, opened its bricks and mortar shop in September.
Featuring mouth-watering favourites like smash-patty burgers, brisket, pork ribs, chicken wings and mac ‘n’ cheese, and a key lime pie to die for, the secret to Bare Knuckles’ success lies in their hardworking employee ‘Bertha’, the wood-fired Radar Hill smoker.
Although that’s not to say the days aren’t hard workers too, working up to 17 hours’ a day in the early months of the shop to get things running like a well-oiled machine.
– With additional reporting by Brayden Heslehurst
MORE DINING AND HOSPITALITY NEWS
Restaurant guru to open new Brisbane CBD Greek eatery
‘A 20-tonne gum tree fell on our home because council, body corp did nothing’
A Brisbane family has been forced to couch surf after a 32-metre tall gum tree crashed through the roof “like a freight train” after a bitter five-year dispute over who owned the tree.
Nuisance flying-fox colony funds for councils as temps soar
Seven councils will receive extra state funding to manage problem flying-fox roosts, as complaints from residents escalate about the bats’ noise, overpowering stench, and increased health hazards.