Overview
Naldham House will soon be complete. Part of Brisbane's CBD landscape since the 1800s, the three-storey former shipping office on Felix Street relaunched in 2024 as a multi-venue hospitality hub, opening Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace on the ground floor, plus supper club-style cocktail bar and lounge Club Felix on its second storey. That left the heritage-listed site's top level awaiting the last piece of the puzzle — and left Brisbanites wondering what else would be in store. The answer: Cantonese restaurant The Fifty Six.
From sometime in February 2025, the landmark waterfront building's third venue will start welcoming patrons through the door, then upstairs to the third floor. Traditional recipes made with modern techniques will be the star, with Chef Gerald Ong heading the kitchen. His inspiration: both the initial wave of Chinese immigration to Queensland, and also the influence since that cuisine in both Brisbane and Australia has taken from Chinese culture and food.
If you're hankering for familiar Cantonese dishes, they'll be on the menu, but given a contemporary spin. Seasonal local produce will also be in the spotlight. Accordingly, the steaming crystal skin dumplings will be made with Moreton Bay bug, while Mooloolaba prawns will come wok-tossed, then paired with with curry leaf and salted egg.
Chef Ong is also set to whip up his own oyster sauce in-house — and, for roast meats, The Fifty Six will boast a dry-ageing program.
"I am delighted to be making the move north and leading this exciting Cantonese food concept for Naldham House — it's truly a passion of mine to innovate traditional Cantonese dishes and I know Brisbane will love this restaurant. The array of incredible local produce available will always feature through the menu," said Ong, who brings his experience from Tiger Lane, Chairman & Yip, Mrs Wang, Lucky Duck and Golden Panda in Canberra.
On The Fifty Six team, he'll be joined by dim sum expert Ka Wai Kwok as the venue's sous chef.
Although the year listed above its entrance is from four decades back, Naldham House was first built 141 years ago. The site began its life as a shipping office, then underwent major renovations in 1988. From there, it became the Brisbane Polo Club from 1994–2015. Now, since mid-July 2024, it's one of the River City's newest drinking and dining destinations — still under the name Naldham House.
Thank DAP & Co to transforming this patch of the Eagle Street side of Brissie's inner city into a three-venues-in-one haven. The hospitality group co-owned by Andrew Baturo, Denis Sheahan and Paul Piticco, which is also behind The Gresham, Popolo Italian and Walter's Steakhouse and Wine Bar, has made over the site as part of the Waterfront Brisbane project that's revamping this area of town.
Find Naldham House at 33 Felix Street, Brisbane City, with Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace and Club Felix now open. Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace's brasserie operates from 11.30am–3pm and 5–10pm Monday–Saturday, and its terrace from 11.30am–11pm Monday–Saturday. Club Felix trades from 5pm–2pm Wednesday–Saturday. Head to the Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace website and Club Felix website for more information.
Images: Dexter Kim and Markus Ravik.