Overview
Visit Bowen Hills for nine days each August and the sounds of the Ekka echo through the suburb. Hit up the inner-city spot from Saturday, August 12, not just right through the Royal Queensland Show but beyond, and you'll hear plenty of cracking. Launching just in time for the show bag-loving influx but settling in permanently, Claw is the latest addition to King Street — and it's all about the kind of shellfish that you need to don a bib to eat.
This crustacean-slinging joint was first announced back in May, and now opens its doors in August as promised. The American-influenced crab shack is focusing on the Ekka during its initial week and a half, including grab-and-go packs featuring a choice of chip butties, fairy bread, peel-your-own shrimp and beef brisket mac 'n' cheese — and a reduced menu in-house. Expect the full culinary lineup to kick on Monday, August 21, pairing seafood with barbecue fare in a massive sports bar.
How massive? Taking over the space that food truck park Welcome to Bowen Hills previously called home, Claw can cater to 1000 people donning bibs, slicing into a steak, sipping boozy slushies and watching a match.
Obviously, the crab shack heroes its fondness for seafood in its moniker, with king crab its signature menu item. You'll nab it in buckets, prepared Baja-style, and paired with chilled shrimp, oysters, lemon and cocktail sauce — and you'll pay $199 for the venue's delicacy.
Also on offer: plank-roasted salmon, shrimp enchiladas, rib-eye steaks topped with half a lobster tail, jalapeño bacon burgers, fried chook, beef short ribs, Texas smoked beef brisket, Carolina pulled pork, buffalo chicken wings and blackened shrimp tacos. Add Cheetos mac 'n' cheese as a side, then feast on a salted choc brownie sundae for dessert.
When the eatery was first announced, its food range also included buffalo shrimp po'boys, freshly shucked rock oysters, shrimp cocktails, fried calamari, fish tacos, and buckets of steamed mussels and clams — here's hoping they also pop up on the full menu.
To wash down all of the above, frozen cocktails and craft beers are in the spotlight. Claw's drinks list features boozy slushies — think: margaritas, mango daiquiris and beergarita made with Coronas to share — plus both local and international brews, with an exposed keg room heroing the latter.
If you prefer wine, there's a short array of options. And for more cocktails, go for guava or cactus apple margs, the root beer float, an apple pie-inspired tipple and a two-person concoction that's served in "a shark-infested fishbowl".
For sports fans, large-screen TVs are a given, while DJs and live music will provide a soundtrack. Plus, because this is a family-friendly joint, there's even a playground for children. And, for everyone, arcade games will get you mashing buttons.
Claw joins Potentia Solutions Leisure's growing Brisbane footprint, with the hospitality company also behind rooftop spots Lina and Soko, plus tequileria Carmen.
Find Claw at 56 King Street, Bowen Hills, from Saturday, August 12 — open 4–10pm Monday–Tuesday, 11am–10pm Wednesday–Thursday, 11am–11.30pm Friday–Saturday, and 10am–10pm Sunday.