Sep 29

Sep 29 Discover Brisbane's latest Up-Late Eats and Beats, With an Italian Twist

Two household names in Brisbane's hospitality scene, Samantha Fitzpatrick of Cakes & Shit and Sam Holman of Black Lab Coffee Co. have joined forces to bring the fun late-night vibes back to the Valley, with their newest venture, Uh Oh Spaghettio launching in Bakery Lane.

Set to light up Ann Street from Wednesday to Sunday, the late-night spot will dish up a non traditional pasta menu that promises to blow your mind, filled with creative flavours, signature cocktails and live entertainment until the early hours of the morning

Brisbane foodie veteran, Holman, will bring his experimental cooking-style to the table, with an emphasis on fresh, local produce to create a menu of unique pasta dishes sprinkled with a whole lot of funk; taking inspiration from the refined yet quirky style of once-owned café, The New Black.

"Our not-so-serious take on Italian will introduce flavour combinations you've probably never seen before. Think mac and cheese infused with Peroni and a pairing like red wine, bone marrow and octopus. We're throwing what you know about Italian food out the door.

"Something I'm really excited about is our rotating specials menu, where we'll collaborate with neighbouring venues and producers to create limited edition dishes that hero the flavours they're synonymous for," Holman said.

With both businesses in Bakery Lane, the pair are determined to make their mark on the Valley by bringing back late nights, delicious eats and good times, which the precinct has missed for quite some time.

"Aside from a kebab joint, it's hard to find somewhere to eat good food past midnight, so that real late-night offering is exactly the gap we want to fill. We want our guests to enjoy a big '01 bowl of pasta, or as we like to say, 'a lockout linguine', sip on cocktails and take in the atmospheric buzz whether they enter at 6pm or 2am," Fitzpatrick said.

The multi-storey venue will sit within the once thriving The Apo space, very much making a bold, neon-lit statement within the heritage-listed establishment.

It wouldn't be a restaurant by Fitzpatrick without her signature dash of edgy sass — which is evident from the minute you walk through the doors. The largely monochrome space will feature walls lined with vintage posters, pops of neon and outrageous wall art (spy the 1920s partygoers wearing animal heads).

The ground floor will feature a glass pasta room where restaurant-goers can watch their pasta in the making whilst taking in DJ tunes into the night.

Seating 80 patrons to align with COVID regulations, and up to 130 post-COVID, the venue will also feature a specialty function space and private dining room for up to 10 guests.

Fitzpatrick says it's been challenging trying to open a multi-storey venue during a time of restrictions and uncertainty.

"You've got to just roll with the punches and open the best venue possible. Our focus is on wholeheartedly supporting local, including local producers, local artists, local graphic designers and local tradies for the fit out. We're keeping it super local," Fitzpatrick said.

The Valley is well and truly Fitzpatrick and Holman's oyster, and while they are already teasing of more ventures on the horizon, their focus is on Italian infused flavours for now.