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Just Open: Nickel Kitchen & Bar, Fortitude Valley

Natascha Mirosch

A wine-glass chandelier dominates the dining room.
A wine-glass chandelier dominates the dining room.Robert Shakespeare

TJ and Kim Peabody, who took the brave step of bringing proper dining to a shopping centre with Nantucket Kitchen & Bar and NKB Express in Indooroopilly, have added a third venue to their portfolio. Nickel Kitchen & Bar opens in Ann Street on Friday.

TJ Peabody, son of New Zealand's Craggy Range wines founder Terry Peabody, has taken a nostalgia trip back to the days when he'd join his father for business meetings in the era of long lunches and premium wines, with a menu that features retro favourites from the 1970s and '80s.

Fans of steak dianne, prawn cutlets and chicken kiev will be pleased to see them represented, along with duck liver pâté, oysters kilpatrick and rockefeller, and duck a l'orange. And no retro dessert list would be complete without the classic bombe alaska.

Retro tuna tartare and avocado.
Retro tuna tartare and avocado.Robert Shakespeare
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"These are dishes that everyone knows and loves, but until now it's been extremely hard to find them done well," Peabody says.

The bar has an old-world feel with leather booths, pressed metal, dark timbers and black and white photos of Peabody's family vineyards. A feature chandelier made of wine glasses emphasises the vinous connection.

All-hours snacking is encouraged with a substantial bar menu served until closing time.

A contemporary spin on the classic chicken kiev.
A contemporary spin on the classic chicken kiev.Supplied

"We wanted to create a refined but comfortable go-to where diners (or drinkers) know there will always be a seat for them," Peabody says. "I don't care if you take the best seat in the house at 7pm on a Friday and enjoy nothing but our bar snacks – if you appreciate the food, the drink and a good time, our door is open."

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There is a comprehensive drinks list, with around 250 Australian and international wines as well as top-shelf spirits and modern cocktails.

Open Wed-Fri 11.30am-1am; Sat-Sun 10am until late.

Wild mushroom tagliatelle.
Wild mushroom tagliatelle.Robert Shakespeare

757 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, nickelkitchenbar.com.au

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