Gerard’s Bistro

A stalwart of Brisbane’s dining scene for the last decade, Gerard’s Bistro has just undergone a stunning transformation, reopening on James Street looking better than ever. After months of anticipation throughout 2023, we can finally see what the redesign has wrought—and boy was it worth the wait. 

Venture down the laneway and into the Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant and you’ll now find walls of rammed red earth encircling the venue, with natural timber furnishings, white leather banquette seating and stainless steel accents. Inspiration for the new space, which was designed by architect Jared Webb of J.AR OFFICE, was drawn from ancient structures of Lebanon, with a raw and unfinished feel to match the bold flavours on the plates. 

As well as a new look, the restaurant has welcomed a new head chef, Jimmy Richardson, who’s crafted a menu that doles out a history lesson with every dish. Take a journey through the heritage and culture of the Middle East with eats like Turkish simit bread with sesame and molasses, wood-smoked mussels with green muhammara, swordfish mujadara with wood-fired lentils and tahini butter and an impressive pork tomahawk with garlic chive dagga. 

The drinks are equally adventurous, with a list of exotic cocktails that incorporate intriguing ingredients, like the smoked harissa margarita or ginger wine, honey and wattleseed infused espresso martini. On the wine front, selections range from Lebanese reds to Queensland roses, so you’ve got plenty to choose from. 

Image credit: David Chatfield, Gerard's Bistro | Facebook 

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