Paddington Social

Overview

Just a few steps from Lang Park, Paddington Social is a new community hub in a crooked old Queenslander home, steeped in years of easy Brisbane living. Whether you're basking on the verandah or settling inside on one of their long tables, the sparsely decorated environment of light woods with navy blues takes a backseat to the star of the show, the menu.

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A triple threat of culinary offerings, each of the three chef-owners (Gibb 'Gibbi' Mookachonpan, Tyler Sargent and Alex Senee) are behind their own offerings. Tyler heads up the breakfast and lunch menu, a lively lineup of nostalgic comfort foods reimagined. Highlights include a spicy chorizo scotch egg, coconut rice pudding and smoked mushroom mac and cheese over a thick wedge of sourdough. Sweets and coffee sidekicks come via English-trained pastry chef Gibbi, whose flaky Pandan croissants are so sweet and fragrant, you can take one home as a candle.

Tuesday to Saturday evenings, Lek's Thai Popup Kitchen is Alex's tribute to the vividly sweet, spicy and sour flavours of classic Thai noodles, curries and fried starters. Modern twists include Larb Calamari and massaman pork curry puffs.

Image: Katie Anne Morfoot

At the risk of sounding obsessed, our pet love of this gastronomical myriad is the specialised spritz menu. There's the classic mimosa, alongside other fruity bubbles like peach bellini and a ginger kombucha-lime digestif —  order a few to turn a catch-up into a long brunch.