Brisbane’s northside icon, Bracken Ridge Tavern, has officially opened its doors to the first stage of its $10 million transformation, revealing a completely reimagined experience that brings together new dining, family friendly and all-day offerings for the community.
Locals and visitors can now enjoy Two Wise Guys, a vibrant new Italian restaurant celebrating authentic flavour, family history, and shared dining; and the Laneway Café, serving barista coffee, smoothies and freshly baked pastries from 7:00am daily. Both now operate alongside the Tavern’s longstanding favourite, Panama Jack’s, continuing to serve its legendary pub classics and Nolan’s premium aged steaks, ensuring the Tavern’s beloved steakhouse remains at its heart.
A lively new laneway precinct also now connects the café, restaurant and dining areas, flowing into a garden terrace that balances modern sophistication with relaxed comfort. Families now have access to new kids’ zones and family-friendly seating, while groups can make the most of spacious indoor and outdoor dining areas and private dining rooms. The renovation also includes a full revamp of the gaming room, bringing a touch of Las Vegas energy to the northside with custom joinery, new machines, and a contemporary, elevated vibe.
For second generation owners and operators, Chad and Elisabeth White, the transformation honours their family legacy while building on the community spirit Elisabeth’s parents, Michael and Jenny White, have fostered for decades.
“Bracken Ridge Tavern has always been about community,” Elisabeth said.
“We wanted to create something that feels familiar yet unexpected, somewhere locals can still enjoy their favourite parmy, but also discover a pizza that could easily be served in Rome.
“This renovation is about bringing people together around good food, made properly, with a story behind it.”
At the heart of this evolution is Two Wise Guys, a charismatic Italian restaurant concept that celebrates family, food, and authenticity. The venue pays homage to Chad and Elisabeth’s grandfathers, Giovanni, Chad’s Sicilian Nonno, who grew his own vegetables, cured his own meats and made his own wine; and Lewis, Elisabeth’s grandfather, a Darling Downs butcher and drover who raised cattle and crafted sausages by hand. Together, these ‘two wise guys’ embody the culinary heritage that now flavours every plate at the newly opened space.
“Two Wise Guys is a love letter to our grandfathers, who were humble men, believing the best meals start in the soil and end at the table, surrounded by friends and family,” Chad said.
“We wanted to honour their stories through food made with heart, using the best local produce and Italian know-how.”
The new Italian restaurant honours their legacy with hand-rolled dough rested for 48 hours, meats sliced in-house, and pizzas fired in a custom-built oven imported from Italy by a chef hailing directly from Sicily. Diners can expect flavour combinations that are as bold as they are comforting, from a Pepperoni Vodka Pizza finished with Grey Goose tomato sauce, to Ossobuco Ravioli, and Alfonso’s Carbonara, crafted to be authentic, approachable and deeply rooted in family tradition.
Beyond the restaurant, Bracken Ridge Tavern continues to champion quality and provenance. Guests can enjoy Nolan’s private selection of grass-fed and locally sourced steaks, alongside expanded seafood offerings, from Humpty Doo barramundi and Tasmanian salmon to Gippsland lamb chops and Darling Downs pork cutlets. Sides like maple-glazed pumpkin wedges and Italian truffle potato mash complement a thoughtfully curated beverage list celebrating family-owned Australian wineries, magnums of rosé, prosecco and Australian reds for those larger-than-life occasions.
The Tavern’s atmosphere is further brought to life with live music every Friday and Saturday night, and laidback Sunday sessions that make the most of Brisbane’s northside sunshine, reinforcing the venue’s position as a true community hub for every occasion.
The $10 million renovation designed by KP Architects and brought to life by Rohrig Constructions, represents a complete reimagining of the Bracken Ridge experience. Each new space has been purposefully reimagined to encourage comfort, connection and flexibility, with each detail considered carefully to reflect the Tavern’s welcoming spirit while introducing a refreshed atmosphere that feels warm and open.
Across the Tavern, new family-friendly zones include a dedicated kids’ room, flexible group seating, and easy flow between the café, dining and bar areas, making Bracken Ridge Tavern an inviting all-day destination from morning coffee through to dinner and cocktails.
With Stage One now complete, Bracken Ridge Tavern has redefined what it means to be a suburban pub, transforming it into one that feels as comfortable for a casual catch-up as it does for a special night out. The evolution continues in 2026, where Stage Two will unveil the finishing touches with a new Sports Bar and Function Room, further cementing the venue’s place in Brisbane’s northside.
