Gerard’s Bistro Archives - Fortitude Valley News

End of the Road for Gerard’s Bistro on James Street

A fixture of Fortitude Valley’s dining scene is preparing to serve its final meals, with Gerard’s Bistro announcing it will close after 14 years on James Street.

Read: Gerard’s Restaurant in Fortitude Valley Crowned Australia’s Most Stunning Restaurant

The restaurant confirmed on social media that its final service will take place on Saturday, July 4. In a farewell message shared with patrons, the team reflected on the restaurant’s origins.

“Fourteen years ago, we set out to build something deeply connected to who we are,” the post read. “Gerard’s was a restaurant shaped by the culture, generosity and traditions passed down through our extended ‘Gerard’s’ family.”

A James Street Mainstay

Since opening in 2012, the restaurant has become known for its contemporary take on Levantine cuisine. The restaurant operates from Gerard’s Lane, just off James Street. The team said the restaurant’s foundations had always extended beyond the dining room itself.

“Its foundations have always stretched beyond our walls and we wanted to share the richness of Levantine cuisine and culture with Brisbane in a way that felt authentic and contemporary,” the post stated.

“Gerard’s was a leap of faith, taken on the vibrant James Street.”

Over the past 14 years, Gerard’s has become known for its share-style dining, wood-fired cooking, and evolving menu.

Passing the Torch

Photo credit: Google Maps/Jonathan Moses

The closure follows the sale of the venue to a new team, which is expected to reopen the space in the coming months. While details of the incoming operators have not yet been released publicly, Gerard’s said it was confident the venue would remain in good hands.

“In a few months, the team that have purchased Gerard’s will re-open,” the post read. “We couldn’t be happier to be passing our venue onto custodians we know will keep the spirit of generosity, warmth and the sense of culture alive.”

The restaurant indicated further details about the new operators would be announced in July. The Gerard’s team reserved its final words for those who helped sustain the restaurant over more than a decade.

Read: Agnes Unveils Biggest Menu Shake-Up Since Opening in Fortitude Valley

“To everyone who has been part of this journey – our team, suppliers, collaborators, the James Street community and our guests who have graced our tables… THANK YOU,” the post said.

“The Gerard’s journey was made possible because of all of you.”

For diners, the final weeks offer one last opportunity to visit the restaurant before its final service on July 4.

Published 23-June-2026

Gerard’s Reopens on James Street with New Look and Menu

After months of eager anticipation, Gerard’s has finally reopened. Dropping “Bistro” from its name, Gerard’s is ushering in a new era while still honouring its legacy as one of the dining institutions along James Street.

Read: Gerard’s Bistro Appoints New Executive Chef, Will Introduce New Menu and Revamped Look Soon

After closing for renovations from June to November 2023, the newly refreshed Gerard’s offers some exciting changes while still remaining the beloved neighbourhood gem loyal patrons have cherished for years.

Although diners can still expect the intimate ambiance and gracious service they are recognised for, the dining room has been stunningly transformed to transport guests to the exotic lands of the Mediterranean.

The dining room walls pay homage to ancient ruins of the Levant, Ottoman Empire, and Roman civilisations, bathed in deep red hues reminiscent of the rich, terra cotta soils found in that region.

Chef Jimmy Richardson (Photo credit: Gerard’s/Facebook)

Leading the kitchen is new Executive Chef Jimmy Richardson, whose impressive resume includes senior roles at acclaimed restaurants like Shangri-La Sydney’s Altitude, The Bridge Room, Café Paci, and Sydney’s Park Hyatt.

Standout new menu items include The Barbari bread, adorned with reduced whey and oregano, accompanied by smoked labneh. The Bateman’s Bay rock oysters, kissed by erk soos vinegar, provide a refreshing delight. Carnivores will rejoice at the Lebanese cured pork belly, a masterpiece of complex spices and melt-in-your-mouth richness.

Gerard’s has always been known for their curated selection of local wines, but they have now expanded their offerings to include international varietals as well, with an emphasis on Mediterranean styles that pair beautifully with Chef Richardson’s dishes.

Read: Award-Winning Chef Martin Boetz Presents Short Grain Restaurant in Fortitude Valley

It’s not so much the start of an entirely new era, but perhaps the opening of an exciting new chapter for this beloved neighbourhood gem. Gerard’s is now accepting reservations via their website, so book your table soon to be one of the first to experience the revived restaurant’s singular charm and celebrated cuisine.

Published 24-November-2023

Gerard’s Bistro Appoints New Executive Chef, Will Introduce New Menu and Revamped Look Soon

Photo Credit: Facebook / Gerard’s Bistro

There will be a lot of new things in store for customers of Gerard’s Bistro when it reopens in October, after an extensive revamp to give it a new look and a new menu, thanks to Jimmy Richardson, its former Head Chef who now returns as Executive Chef with some Michelin creds under his toque.

Jimmy Richardson culinary stints include working at Leonard’s Bar & Bistro, Shangri-La Sydney’s Altitude Restaurant, The Bridge Room Café Paci, The Tilbury, and Annata.

Whilst his new menu is yet to be revealed, Chef Richardson will focus on more traditional Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly those coming from the Levant region, but with a modern twist. He will also bring some Persian influence into his menu, thanks to a stint at a Lebanese restaurant and his Persian brother who introduced him to Middle Eastern cuisine.

Gerard’s Owner Johnny Moubarak expressed confidence that Chef Richardson’s culinary creativity will shine once the new menu is revealed. He said that his Executive Chef understands the history, flavour and structure of the dish very well which gives him confidence to innovate and give it a fresh twist.

Gerard’s Bistro was temporarily closed to undertake a major renovation, as executed by designer and architect Jared Webb. The refurbished venue will sport a minimalist design with the kitchen letting the woodfire and charcoal cooking take centre stage.

The venue commenced renovations in June and is scheduled to reopen in mid to late October. It first opened its doors 11 years ago and has established itself as one of the finest and most influential restaurants in Brisbane.

Published 26-September-2023