Industrial meets rustic at Coorparoo's newest eatery, and restaurant meets function space too. Factory 51's origins are all there in its name, after all. Now, the red brick building that everything from metal fabricators to enamel painters to laminex manufacturers have previously called home has become a warm, welcoming bistro and bar with its very own party and meeting venue.
Indeed, you can't escape Factory 51's history when you walk in the doors, with an original cast iron band saw the first thing that greets patrons. Concrete, brick and steel-heavy décor keeps the mechanised theme going, but don't expect food to match. As you can see while watch your meals get made — and guess from the inviting fairy lights and cosy deck with a retractable roof — all things hearty and tasty have pride of place on this menu.
Gastropub-like nibbles, salads and share plates including a delectable-sounding baked camembert board kick off the edible side of things; however an imported wood-fired oven and char grill are the main attraction in Factory 51's open kitchen. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that lunch means burgers and steaks, or that dinner means seared meats and ten types of pizzas made with 48-hour fermented dough. For dessert fiends, the latter also boasts a Nutella option, while anyone after an accompanying tipple can enjoy one of ten brews on tap, or browse the extensive cocktail, wine and spirits lists. Now that's our kind of factory.