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Just open: Jamie's Italian, Brisbane

Natascha Mirosch

The multi-level Brisbane restaurant is Australia's largest Jamie's Italian.
The multi-level Brisbane restaurant is Australia's largest Jamie's Italian.Michelle Smith

They've been knocking on the door and pressing their noses against the window for weeks, but Brisbane diners can finally get their Jamie's Italian fix from Tuesday lunchtime.

"It was a big worry with G20 timing-wise, but it was fine and we're happy to get it open before Christmas," says Karen Westfield, general manager of Jamie's Italian, Australia. "It's been a massive feat."

The Edward Street venue is located in the historic Rowes Arcade and is Australia's largest Jamie's Italian. UK designers MBDS have kept some original features, including sandstone walls in the cellar level.

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Set over two levels, the upper area boasts a bar, two $20,000 Ferrari-red Bottene bronze extruder pasta makers and a free-standing sit-up antipasto bar hung with San Daniele prosciutto and wheels of parmesan. A massive chandelier hangs above tables and long booth seats. Modern, unevenly cut tongue-in-groove walls and coloured leadlight glass windows also feature upstairs.

Downstairs seats 130, with tables and booths set under copper lights, a second bar and an open kitchen with a glassed-in prep area.

"We're really looking forward to the opening," says Liverpudlian executive chef Joey Goldman. "The guys are pumped. I have to say this is the best Jamie's team we've had - strong, individual, just phenomenal. We've already promoted someone because he was so good and we haven't even opened."

Jamie's Italian Brisbane executive chef Joey Goldman.
Jamie's Italian Brisbane executive chef Joey Goldman.Michelle Smith

Bar snacks include polenta chips with rosemary and parmesan, "the world's best olives" with "music bread", and a range of antipasto planks. As well as a la carte main options - including the most popular dish in all the Jamie's Italians, prawn linguine - set menus are available. Presented via Viewfinders, the children's menu includes kid-sized pasta and burgers. The drinks list has wines traversing Italy from Sicily to Piedmont, cocktails, Italian digestifs, and local beer on tap, including Burleigh Brewing Co.'s Fig Jam IPA, Green Beacon's Anchor Amber Ale and Sunshine Coast Brewery's Summer Ale.

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Bookings will be taken from Tuesday, November 18, although walk-ins are welcome, Westfield says. To mark the opening, the restaurant will attempt to break their own record for the longest piece of linguine, aiming to beat the Sydney outpost's effort of 29.5 metres.

The restaurant will open daily for lunch and dinner, 11:30am-10:30pm.

The fitout features modern chandeliers.
The fitout features modern chandeliers.Michelle Smith

Jamie's Italian, Rowes Arcade, 237 Edward Street, Brisbane, 07 3144 3000, jamieoliver.com

Correction: The original version of this story stated that this would be the final Jamie's Italian in Australia. This was due to incorrect supplied information and has been updated in the text.

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