Bender's Bar - CLOSED

Overview

When a character steals the show in a big movie franchise, they usually end up getting their own film spinoff. The same thinking applies in the restaurant trade, too — at least in the case of Brisbane eatery Billykart and its beloved cheeseburger.

Billykart owner-chef Ben O'Donoghue has served up plenty of house-made dry-aged beef patties in his time, slathering them with ketchup and mustard mayo, topping them with cheese, pickles and onions, and placing them on milk buns. It's one of the West End spot's signature dishes, and now it's leading the menu at the latest venture from O'Donoghue and Billykart co-owner Ben Roberts: a new burger pub called Bender's Bar.

Opening on Thursday, November 47, Bender's takes over the Boundary Street spot previously occupied by Copperface Jacks and DA'Burger. Seating 80 and boasting a more casual vibe to its older sibling, it'll serve up a five-burger menu. As well as the popular Billykart cheeseburger ($13), patrons can tuck into a crumbed fish burger ($15) with ranch dressing; an Aussie burger ($17) that adds bacon, egg, beetroot and rhubarb ketchup to the mix; and a fried chicken sandwich ($16.50). If you like your burgs animal product-free, there's also a vegan option ($15) made with green harissa cauliflower steak, sunflower seed aioli and tahini.

Parmesan and truffle fries ($8), beer-battered pickles and cream cheese-stuffed jalapeño poppers ($8), spicy chicken wings ($14–24) and loaded potatoes ($15) make up the sides menu. And if you're looking for a drink, well, this is a pub after all — so expect plenty of local, interstate and international brews.

There'll also be plenty of entertainment while you're downing burgers, including trivia nights, live tunes and DJs, and a heap of sport on the screens.

And yes, this is the second time the Billykart cheeseburger has been given another home — it's still on offer at Billykart Bar on Edmondstone Street next to Billykart West End.

UPDATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 — Bender's Bar was originally slated to open on two different dates in October, but was delayed until Thursday, November 7. The above article has been updated to reflect this.