With consistent appearances on our best restaurants list and a reputation for dishing up nothing short of extraordinary, it’s safe to say we’re pretty keen to sink our teeth into anything the Anyday Group has on the menu. Lucky for us, they’ll be serving a rich celebration of Middle Eastern flavour in the form of their first CBD venture very soon.
From the team that brought you Agnes, sAme sAme, hôntô, Biànca and most recently Idle comes Golden Avenue—Edward Street’s new destination for smoky charcoal, hot grills and lush garden terraces. It’s a place for long lunches, lively dinners and good ol’ fashioned feasting with expansive seating that transforms the space into its own oasis within the hustle and bustle of the city.
“Expanding into Brisbane’s CBD marks an exciting and purposeful step forward for Anyday, bringing our style of warm hospitality into the heart of the city,” said Anyday co-owner, Tyron Simon. “This venue brings a new cuisine to the group while staying true to the Anyday experience: warm, vibrant, welcoming, and built around the joy of hospitality.”
Golden Avenue will see fellow co-owner and culinary director Ben Williamson return to his culinary roots in Agnes’ woodfired cuisine, as he embraces the energy and theatre that’s synonymous with a Middle Eastern kitchen.
“My past work in Middle Eastern cuisine is what really brought Ty and I together in the first place,” said Williamson. “It’s also been long enough (since 2018) for me to miss it, and I still hear encouragement from people I meet that loved my past work. I’ve given into demand and nostalgia.”
Leading the Levantine charge alongside him is executive chef Adam Wolfers whose portfolio boasts significant Middle Eastern fine dining leadership and head chef Tim Yates off the back of his most recent stint in the opening team at London’s Scully—which has a coveted place on the Michelin Guide. Together, the team will harness wood ovens and coal grills to lean into the region’s characteristic flavours, from charcoal-grilled king prawns with black lime and ghormeh sabzi to kibbeh nayyeh with urfa chilli and sheep curd. Other menu highlights include wood-baked John Dory with preserved lime and spiced lamb cutlets in pomegranate molasses. The dessert menu is equally aromatic, with the likes of Lebanese mochi and a baklava mille-feuille.
“It won’t be a replica of my past work but a new evolution with some familiar accents to tap into—lighter, fresher but still dynamic and progressive,” said Williamson. “We think this will surprise and delight in equal measure.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be an Anyday venue without a stunning backdrop, and Golden Avenue has taken its low-rise historically preserved pocket of the city and turned it into a striking play between natural fronds and monolithic structures. Designed by the award-winning J.AR OFFICE (who are also behind Central’s stunning interiors), the restaurant stands out from its heritage neighbours with a brutalist-inspired fit-out leaning on skylights, tiled surfaces and textures to soften the concrete jungle. Expect a tiered space creating nooks and crannies for private moments among the multi-level private and shared dining spaces. From the pink juparana granite to the lush interior gardens, every detail in Golden Avenue has been crafted to celebrate social connection and dining—the hallmarks of genuine hospitality.
Thirsty? Adjacent to the restaurant is Golden Avenue’s bar, GA. The casual watering hole has its own entrance and will dish up a dedicated snack menu and back bar of over 130 bottles all-week long from 11:30am to midnight; making it the perfect pitstop for city slickers to enjoy a post-work rendezvous.
Golden Avenue opens Tuesday 26 August. Book here.
Image credit: Golden Avenue | Jessie Prince
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