Besitos Is the Soon-to-Open New Restaurant That'll Share Bellissimo's Bulimba Digs by Night
From late July, the Oxford Street spot will serve up coffees by day and operate as a Mediterranean-infused pop-up eatery four evenings a week.
Seven days a week, Bellissimo Coffee's Oxford Street outpost serves up caffeinated beverages, plus brunch, lunch and bakery bites, all while the sun shines. But as great as that is for a daytime pick-me-up, snack or meal, and has been for a decade now, it means that the old warehouse-turned-eatery isn't welcoming in customers after dark — until Thursday, July 21 rolls around.
Meet Besitos, the 80–90-seater Mediterranean-infused pop-up restaurant that'll soon share Bellissimo's Bulimba digs three nights a week. A product of the location's 2021 revamp, which saw the venue nab a a sleek and rustic new look courtesy of interior designers Alkot Studio, the new dinner spot takes over the area that Bellissimo previously used to roast its coffee beans.
On the menu: candle-lit dinners in an industrial-but-cosy space, plus a food lineup from Executive Chef Marco Torrisi (ex-Joey's) that heroes dishes prepared on the open kitchen's flaming charcoal grill. Yes, you'll get a prime view of your meal being cooked while you wait, with the culinary range changing seasonally.
When Besito's opens, it'll launch with a winter menu that'll feature emu tartare, charred octopus, and bone marrow with salsa verde on toasted brioche, as well as baguettes paired with Spanish anchovies, burnt miso toothfish tacos, Mooloolaba king prawns and hot pot mussels. Most dishes will be small, with patrons encouraged to order a heap — aka sample their way through, rather than agonise over picking just one thing.
There will be three large plate options, though: casarecce pasta with Canadian scallops, chargrilled market fish and angus sirloins. For dessert, a trio of choices also awaits, spanning a modern take on tiramisu with housemade espresso ice cream and coffee syrup, chargrilled pineapple given a chocolate crumb and paired with basil-infused ice cream, and a range of housemade gelato.
Drinks-wise, 12 wines will be available by the glass and plenty more by the bottle, while cocktails, beers and spirits also feature. Naturally, the Besitos martini features Bellissimo cold-press coffee, as well as vodka and coffee liqueur.
When the restaurant kicks into gear at 5pm from Thursday–Saturday, don't go expecting the usual Bellissimo setup, but at night, however. The kitchen setup will change with the switchover to Besito's every evening, as will the full roster of staff.
"Besitos is the next chapter in the Bellissimo story, marking a continuation of connections made during mornings spent at our cafe and transcending our communities' dining experience from day to night," said Bellissimo owner Mark Bignell.
"This exciting new venture is our special way of giving back to our community — we wouldn't have a business without Bulimba."
"We've been waiting for the perfect moment to share our team's talent, dedication, and passion with Brisbane foodies and are beyond excited to help revitalise the ferry end of Oxford Street," Bignell continued.
Find Besitos at 35 Oxford Street, Bulimba, from Thursday, July 21 — open Thursday–Saturday from 5pm–late.
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