Brisbane’s love affair with Italian cuisine is evident in James Street, where great choices of good pasta and pizza abound. The busy laneway recently welcomed another Italian restaurant, Gemelli, and its sister venue, Bar Tano, an aperitivo bar located right next door, just in time for spring, the season of new beginnings.
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If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Gemelli is quite popular in the Gold Coast, where locals keep coming back for their traditional antipasti, pasta, and wood-fired pizza. All these will be offered in the new Brisbane location, along with the Italian wines they are also known for.
Their gnocchi is made fresh in-house every day. They also have vegan options of the traditional Italian dishes on their menu. There’s the ‘Vegana’ pizza with a pumpkin base, topped with zucchini, walnuts, rocket and fresh cherry tomatoes. They also have the ‘Ravioli Della Casa,’ housemade spinach and ricotta-filled ravioli served with Napoli sauce.
Gemelli translates to “twins,” in Italian which is exactly what the owners are. The place is run by twins James and Alec Carney, with the help of their older brother Paul, a sommelier who will be responsible for the selection of the best Italian wines for the restaurant.
The twins envisioned Gemelli James St to be a place where guests can bring their kids, or where families and friends can share a glass of wine; whilst Bar Tano would be the ideal location for aperitivo, live music, and house cocktails.
Like their Broadbeach location, the new venues in James St will feature a rustic setting coupled with a vibrant atmosphere. Gemelli is equipped with classic wooden tables and chairs, an open kitchen, and a custom-built fridge that can hold over 100 bottles of wine. Bar Tano, on the other hand, features a green marble central bar and its own DJ decks.
In addition to their Italian wines, Bar Tano also offers beers and affordable cocktails, as well as their specialty Tanorosa cocktail, mixing Campari, prosecco, and house-made peach granita.
Both venues are currently open for dine-in, with Bar Tano accepting walk-ins and Gemelli encouraging bookings through their website. Takeaways will be offered in Gemelli soon. For updates, follow Gemelli and Bar Tano on their social media accounts.
Bar Tano
Instagram: @bartano.bne
Gemelli
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gemelliitalian/
Instagram: @gemelliitalian