West Village has been expanding to include a new dining precinct, incorporating Brisbane’s newest Lebanese restaurant and bar, Beirut Bazaar.
Beirut Bazaar is the first eatery of many to join the precinct, situated on the ground floor of what was once the historic Peters Ice Cream Factory. Andre Samra and his daughter, Vanessa Samra, have opened the restaurant after the success of their pop-up, Shawarma King which was situated in West Village in 2020.
“My passion for food comes from my father who migrated from Lebanon to Australia and this legacy is continuing with my daughter, Vanessa. Food is such an important part of our culture and time spent with family and friends,” Andre Samra said. The menu features favourites such as Aranabeet, lightly fried cauliflower pieces with a Lebanese sauce; different takes on well-known recipes such as Lebanese fish and chips, traditional Lebanese mezze, delicious sweet treats, and the restaurant’s specialty, shawarma.
Andre Samra said, “For the uninitiated, shawarma is our signature dish prepared using a fillet of lamb, beef, or chicken, marinated in traditional spices for 48 hours and served on pita with parsley, tomato, and legumes.”
This Middle Eastern eatery features spices cumin, sumac, and coriander on the menu, capturing key authentic flavours. Be sure to check out the speciality dips, breads, and savoury pastries, Beirut Bazaar has to offer. The menu caters to vegetarians and vegans with options to satisfy all tastes. Those looking for something to drink are can get coffee or can check out a curated menu of speciality cocktails. With room for 75 patrons, Beirut Bazaar can cater to all kinds of guests: couples looking for date night cocktails, families on a night out, friends meeting for lunch, and everyone in-between.
Open from 11 am until late, 7 days a week the restaurant and bar, is situated in a suburb with a rich history. The Project Director of West Village, Harrison Phillips stated that the Beirut Bazaar is situated in the newly restored 1928 Peters Ice Cream Factory.
“West Village has spent the last three years restoring the Factory, including its iconic facade and this will be the first time this industrial building has been permanently occupied since its closure in the late 1990s,” he said. “It’s so exciting to see the Ice Cream Factory, which has such a rich history around food, be the location to bring people together in a unique dining experience.”
The coming months will see other eateries join Beirut Bazaar in the West Village dining precinct and will introduce a Woolworths supermarket, Harris Farm Markets, and Goodlife Health Club. West Village is situated on the corner of Boundary Street, Wilson Street, and Mollison Street.
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