Eagle St Pier buzzing as crowds return

One of the city’s biggest food hubs looks to have bounced back even stronger after floods caused its shutdown last week, with crowds pouring in to reopened venues. FIND OUT WHICH VENUES HAVE REOPENED

After a dismal start to the year thanks to Covid and floods, Brisbane’s Eagle Street Pier precinct is again up and running with eateries pumping as the city finally gets back to work.

The popular CBD culinary precinct was closed for just over a week after flood waters inundated the carpark, causing power outages and damage to storerooms, while debris was strewn across the area.

But with businesses coming back online from Monday this week, the complex has been thriving, with people desperate to eat out again.

Italian restaurant Coppa Spuntino reopened Tuesday lunchtime to a full house, and experienced similar crowds for Wednesday lunch.

A busy lunchtime crowd at Coppa Spuntino in Brisbane City.

“The city has been packed,” Coppa Spuntino co-owner Tom Sanceau said. “It’s like everyone’s gone, ‘We need to get back to work now’. I was expecting it to be a ghost-y week with not many people around but it’s really busy.”

Mr Sanceau said a lot of the extra foot traffic was coming from interstate travellers, who had literally queued at his restaurant door to get in.

Meanwhile upstairs at Eagle Street Pier, City Winery reopened on Wednesday with an almost full book of reservations for everything from birthday parties to corporate functions.

It comes after an incredibly slow start to the year for the CBD after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ordered everyone to work from home to keep safe during the Omicron wave.

“We’re finding people are venturing back out on their own steam,” City Winery’s Brad Gellweiler said.

He acknowledged that part of the appeal of the Eagle Street Pier eateries could be their imminent closure, with landlord Dexus giving tenants until June to move out to allow the demolition of the 30-year-old complex and the start of construction of a $2.1bn development at the site.

Massimo Restaurant and Bar in Brisbane City continues its clean-up after being destroyed by flood waters.

“Maybe people are coming back to try out all their favourites before they go away for a little bit,” Mr Gellweiler said.

In addition, he revealed the business was also receiving lots of inquiries from interstate and international travel groups keen to organise packaged events.

Not far down the famous street, however, the clean-up still continues for riverfront restaurants Opa Bar + Mezze and Massimo, owned by entrepreneur Michael Tassis, which were completely destroyed by the flooding.

Water washed through the entire venues, destroying everything from furniture to crockery and equipment, leaving a thick layer of mud throughout, with no clear indication on when they will be able to reopen.

EAGLE STREET PIER RESTAURANT REOPENING TIMES

City Winery – Wednesday, March 9, 3pm

COPPA – Tuesday, March 8, 11.30am

Rico – Wednesday, March 9, 6pm

Fatcow – Wednesday, March 9, 6pm

Naga – Tuesday, March 8, 5.30pm

Mr & Mrs G – 12pm Wednesday

Grilld – Monday, March 7

GYG – Monday, March 7

The Coffee Club – Wednesday, March 9

The Bavarian – Monday, March 7

Sake – Tuesday, March 8 5.30pm

Kookaburra Queens – Closed until further notice

George’s Paragon – Wednesday, March 9, 6pm

Jade Buddha Bar and Shadow Lounge - Thursday, March 10

Originally published as Eagle St Pier buzzing as crowds return