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Fancy Hanks to open Melbourne barbecue restaurant and rooftop bar

Nola James

King of bar snacks: hot southern chicken ribs dressed in buttermilk and honey.
King of bar snacks: hot southern chicken ribs dressed in buttermilk and honey.Supplied

Get ready for some hot summer nights. The gang from Fancy Hanks BBQ Joint has transformed the old Tuscan Bar site on Bourke Street into a two-storey barbecue restaurant and rooftop bar.

Set to open next month, rooftop bar Good Heavens follows an Americana theme. Eat spicy southern chicken ribs and chilli nachos smothered in brisket mole and drink fluorescent '80s drinks inspired by blue lagoons, harvey wallbangers and pina coladas served from a central horseshoe-shaped bar that boasts 18 craft beer taps.

The downstairs restaurant, known simply as Fancy Hanks, seats 100 with table service and some swanky additions to their signature smoked briskets, sausages and pulled pork.

Co-owner Mike Patrick promises a selection of old-school cold cuts, devilled eggs and house-made boudin sausages. "It's a lot more restaurant-y, more refined; we'll still do a mac and cheese but it'll be made to order."

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Their two-tonne custom offset smoker is the centrepiece of the restaurant; it's the first thing you'll see when you walk in the door.

And the original North Melbourne location? It'll soon be rebranded as Knuckles Sandwich Bar, a "pop-down" of sorts featuring barbecue-stuffed burgers and beers until the site is redeveloped next February.

Fancy Hanks and Good Heavens are on track to open at 179 Bourke Street by mid-September.

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