One of Australia’s top bartenders is hosting a tipple takeover at Before + After (2024)

From news of an elevated Thai restaurant for West Village to a new pizza and pasta bar from the La Bodega team, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know. When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out …

Vela
Love Thai food? Then your taste buds will tingle when you hear about Vela – West Village’snew 200-seat Thai restaurant, which is set to open this month. The brainchild of a team ofserial restaurateurs, Vela will look to redefine Thai cuisine in Brisbane by showcasingtraditional flavours in a modern and inventive manner. Located in the Factory 2area of West Village, Vela’s interior is described as ‘funky yet modern’, with acurvyinterior design boasting a day-and-night theme (including a giant moon suspended over the bar). Vela’s kitchen will be turning out a range of flavour-packed dishes across a la carte and banquet menus, with raw items, traditional street-foodbites and hearty curries featuring. While full details on the menu are still being kept under wraps, we’ve heard that Vela’s raw beef larb (featuring raw beef tartare, roasted ground rice, chilli flakes and aromatic herbs), thechar-grilled pork neck (seasoned with authentic Thai spices and served alongside an array of fresh herbs and delectable dips),24-hour cooked ox Tongue (served with pickled egg yolk and salt sesame dip), and crispy whole fish (served with fried garlic, chilli and pepper)will bemust-try items. All of this will be available alongside a list ofshow-stopping co*cktails. Vela is expected to open before the end of theMay – stay tuned for more.

OLLI Italiano
Since opening in November last year, Los Angeles-inspired taco joint La Bodega has a become a favourite amongst East Brisbane locals. Soon, the team behind the terracotta-coloured taqueria willtakea neighbouringtenancyon its Lytton Road corner to open OLLI Italiano closer to mid-year. Looking to honour timeless culinary traditions whilenudging theboundaries of what an Italian restaurant can be, this 45-seat pizza and pasta bar will see the team serve an array of punchy Italian-inspired eats and drinks.We’re talkingcrispy Neapolitan-style pizzas, a selection of saucy pastas, a clutch ofItalian chop sandwiches andan ‘out-there’ item the OLLI teamis callingnegroni jello olives. OLLI will also be servingprimo vinoanda bunch of classic Italian co*cktails. Like its Mexican-inspired sibling, OLLI will seek to serve the neighbourhood as thoroughly as possible, with a number of take-home, heat-and-eat options like luscious lasagna expected to be on offer.OLLI will feature an eye-catching interior aesthetic courtesy of a red, white and brown colour scheme, with a tiled counter offset by leather booths and benches for added texture. OLLI Italiano is set to open in the next two-to-three months. We’ll have more info for you soon!

Uncle Don
Good news for Woolloongabba-based fans of Uncle Don – the premium donburi specialist has just opened its new location at South City Square. Coming in at100 seats (including room for 32 outside), this is Uncle Don’s largest location to date. The space is crisply minimal, with a concrete and timber aesthetic applied across cushioned banquettes, curved booths and tiled high-top tables. As always, Uncle Don will be serving a menu of elevated Japanese staples, withsashimi moriawase and kaisen don available alongside staples likeflame- and charcoal-grilled unagi don,teriyaki-butter-coated wagyu beef don,parmesan chicken with togarashi mayo and lemon, and crispy eggplant chips with a drizzle of sweet miso. Stay tuned for a close-up look at Uncle Don at South City Square soon.

Claudio Bedini at Before + After
In addition to spreading the good word of amaro, inner-city co*cktail spot Before + After is also one of the best spots in town to savour a sip from some of Australia’s best bartenders. Before + After’s George Curtis regularly gives his bar over to touring tipple makers with regular takeovers and collaborative events, and the next one he has planned is set to be a doozy. OnSunday May 26, Before + After will hostClaudio Bedini,venue manager of iconic Maybe Group aperitivo bar Sammy Junior (the sibling of world-renownedSydneyjoint, Maybe Sammy). In partnership with eventsponsor Cocchi,Claudio will showcase three co*cktails from his brand-new Jet Set menu, including theLa Dolce Vita – a yogurt-washed highball madewith Cocchi Americano, lemongrass-infused verjuice, Cappelletti Amarena and lemon-myrtle soda.Claudio will be pouringbetween 4:00–10:00 pm with no reservations needed – and yes, there will be party hats and bubble guns.

If you’ve heardsomethingthat’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email[emailprotected].