The Bourbon opens in Kings Cross

The ground floor of the Bourbon & Beefsteak site opens on Thursday, but already talk has turned to plans for its upper levels and speculation the venue, now known as The Bourbon, could end up as the Kings Cross version of the smart Ivy development.

Owner Chris Cheung is keeping his cards close to his chest on future plans, but says the venue ''will [eventually] be known for its second floor''.

Short Black hears another restaurant and activation of its rooftop are part of the masterplan. Cheung has been exacting in his ground work for the venue, engaging BIS Shrapnel to research potential cuisines for The Bourbon.

''The research told us there was an opportunity with food from The Americas,'' Cheung says.

After initially pitching at Creole, chef James Metcalfe's brief has broadened to New Orleans style.

''We didn't want people to think it was just Creole,'' Metcalfe told Short Black.

The Bourbon faithful will still find some food from the grill.

''We'll do a blackened barramundi,'' the chef says.