It once would have been easy to underestimate Ghanem Group. In its early years, it carved out a comfortable niche for itself with Byblos, its flash, if relatively straightforward, restaurant and bar at Portside Wharf. But then came Blackbird at Riverside Centre, Donna Chang and Boom Boom Room in the heritage-listed Family Services Building, and Iris and Bisou Bisou at Hotel X.
Each project is more ambitious than the last. But, perhaps more importantly, all are very different. In that sense, Luc Lac is in capable hands.
The Ghanems opened this fancy new restaurant at Queen’s Wharf this week. The cuisine? Elevated Vietnamese and Thai. Not that it was the Ghanems’ idea, exactly.
Rather, it was Destination Brisbane Consortium, owners of Queen’s Wharf, who responded to the group’s pitch for a tenancy with a request for a pan-Asian-inspired restaurant. First look: Queen’s Wharf unveils its sky-high crown jewel “They came to us and said, ‘We think there’s a hole in the precinct. Would you be interested in doing this venue?’” explains Ghanem Group director Nehme Ghanem.
“And we said, ‘absolutely’. “It’s exciting because it’s a challenge, and we love challenges, but it’s a great opportunity to do a different style of restaurant, and a different style of cuisine, and really research that.” The Ghanems didn’t skimp on the research, spending close to two weeks on the road with group executive chef Jake Nicolson and group bar manager Aaron Clark trave.
