European street food and Belgium beer aren’t normally associated with Brisbane’s industrial suburb of Northgate, but thanks to the opening of Fick Brewing, Northgate may just be the new Neudorf Valley. 

With brewing taking place onsite in the sheltered beer garden, Fick is small enough to bring experimental beers to life, but big enough to draw a steady crew of office lunch-seekers and weekend locals. A games and toys section also ensures that kids, both young and old, have activities to carry them through the afternoon. 

So how did a piece of Brussels end up in Brisbane’s inner-north? 
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Let’s find out. 

Degustation dinners are usually a fancy affair.

A candelabra would not be entirely out of place in the middle of a linen-decked table, as a black and white cuff artfully arranges a diminutive plate of food at a 45 degree angle to it.

At New Farm’s Allium though, there is not one white tablecloth in sight leaving the food to stand on its merit alone.

So how does the dressed-down degustation experience compare to its starched-up counterparts?

Let’s take a look.

There’s something ridiculously satisfying about burgers and craft beer.

And also cutting off rogue threads on the shirt you’re currently wearing, but we’ll stick to the burgers and beer for now.

It’s strange to call DA’Burger the new kid on the block seeing as it has become something of a New Farm institution for the last five years.

​For cutlery-haters on the northside though, DA’Burger has just opened up a new restaurant in Ascot, bringing with it an upgraded menu that includes house-smoked wings. Winner, winner.

So has the new DA’Burger taken off in full flight compared to the old? Let’s find out.

What does Ziggy Stardust, tea smoked duck and the Brisbane 'burbs have in common?

Good question. Bear with me. 

New on the Brisbane dining scene, Lodger Kitchen and Bar takes its name from a David Bowie album. In particular, the album Lodger is where Bowie really shunned the expectations of popular music and struck out in his own unique way.

In a similar vein, Brisbane dining scene veterans Blaire Gillespie and Daniel Collins have ventured out on their own from the likes of Bacchus and Stokehouse Q, creating their own restaurant that combines the likes of fine dining with a casual atmosphere. 

So is there a starman waiting in the sky for this new venture? What does that even mean? Let’s find out. 

Busy Sandgate Road probably isn’t the first place you think of when looking for a little oasis in the inner-burbs, but it’s exactly here that you’ll find one.

At first you may just see an overgrown hedge from the main road, but look again and behind the expansive vines and shrubbery you’ll spot My Mistress Café. 

Is it worth taking a detour for a coffee here?
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Let’s find out.

Ever wonder what other people around the world are eating right now? No? Ok, I do on a regular basis, so go with me on this. 

Using recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation, and original sauces imported directly from Thailand, P’Nut Street Noodles has made a name for itself as offering some truly authentic Thai food in Brisbane. 

With restaurants in South Bank and Bulimba, there’s a brand new local P’Nut that has opened up at Windsor.
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So what are people eating in Khon Kaen at the moment? Let’s go to Brisbane’s northside to find out. 

While there’s nothing technically wrong with the standard bacon and eggs on a Sunday morning, it can start to feel a little same-old, same-old each week.

​Yes I try to spice up my life by switching from fried eggs to scrambled eggs now and again, but lately even a poached egg hasn’t been quite cutting it.

Enter Freja’s. 

Located in trendy Wilston Village in Brisbane’s inner-north, Freja’s Cafe has an all-day menu that is nothing if not outlandishly creative. I’m talking beef cheek and macaroni croissant, confit garlic waffles or panna-cotta with your granola. 

But do these plates of art translate into tasty tidbits? Let’s take a look. 

There are two things I truly love- eating out for dinner and my toddler.

​Sadly, both of those things don’t always go hand-in-hand. Nothing strikes fear into the heart of someone standing behind a white table cloth as the sight of small sticky fingers.  

As such, I’ve become a little bit obsessed with finding kid-friendly restaurants so that my mini-me and I can both enjoy an (early) night out.

Luckily for us, Italian Street Kitchen has migrated from Sydney to Brisbane, bringing with it ridiculously tasty food, an affordable menu, and a fun family-friendly atmosphere.

Does it really feel like a little slice of Italy in the inner-city burbs?

Let’s find out. 

City views, great food, strong coffee, kids' playground, jumping castle, mini golf... no I haven't just made a parents' wish-list of somewhere to go on a Saturday morning (well, ok I did).

These things can all be found at one venue: Victoria Park.

Located in Brisbane's inner-north, Victoria Park is an awesome place to hang with your brood, ensuring everyone has a bit of fun.

Oh yeah- and there's some sort of golf course too here apparently. But let's take a look at all those other reasons to visit instead.

With the current move towards healthy eating comes its natural successor: healthy drinking.

I don't mean browny-green smoothies and quinoa chia water; I'm talking about fun drinking. The alcoholic kind.

Esprit De Figues is the first fig liqueur to hit the Australian market, and in just a few months it has proven popular among cocktail aficionados nationwide.

I say it's health-conscious because of all the liqueurs out there, Esprit De Figues has one of the lowest levels of sugar. This provides the double benefits of allowing the natural flavours of handpicked Violette de Bordeaux figs to shine, as well as being kind to your insulin levels. 

In keeping its sugar levels down, is this drink something you'd still like to sip on during a night out? Let's find out.