Dumpling Republic Opens In Brisbane!

Dumpling Republic opened its doors to Brisbane on Friday night. Tucked away in the Wintergarden complex at Brisbane’s CBD this delightful dumpling depot is the new place to be.

It was perfectly timed for me. I had been craving dumplings for nearly a week. But I staved off from going to any of the usual joints. It was time for something new and bright.

Bright is certainly the word. This elegant spot looks down at Queen Street mall and lights up in a myriad of colours.

The staff are prepared to bend over backwards for you. They were so friendly I think they only draw the line if you ask for solid gold chopsticks.

But the food is where it is at. The restaurant operates with an interesting method. You have to correlate the number of the item you want to a sheet of paper with all the items which you tick off to indicate what you’d like brought to your table. The concept is common with Asian cuisine but still makes for an interesting way to dine.

The worst part is struggling to make a decision. Hot plates and cold plates on offer are both fantastic. The seaweed and tofu salad is refreshing to start, but hot chicken wontons are a classic no one should pass up. Then there’s deciding what dumpling basket to have. Pork? Chicken? Vegetarian? Or if you’re bad at deciding like me perhaps a variety basket is the best way to please everyone at the table?

Asian cuisine always goes down with a few more laughs if you have drink too. Not to worry because Dumpling Republic is licenced.

If you haven’t visited the new Dumpling Republic yet next week is the time to do so. For one week from Tuesday October 7 to Tuesday October 14 Dumpling Republic is doing two-for-one mixed dumpling baskets. I know I’ll be going back then.

Swing into Sling for Delicious Cocktails

This one is hard to miss. If you’ve walked past the gigantic 4-foot tall letters out the front spelling S-L-I-N-G you’ve gone too far. 

On West End’s strip of trendy hotspots and quirky bars Sling fits in very nicely. And remember, size isn’t everything. What looks like a very cramped little den actually reveals a sneaky hallway into a much larger, exotic feeling indoor jungle. Seat yourself amongst the flora and fauna before eyeing over all the delicious cocktails to be had.  

There are safe bets like a Tom Collins or a Pina Colada, or you can be daring and try the very alcoholic Sin City or the incredible looking Zombie. The glass they present the Zombie in is scary enough. There are also daiquiris, cosmopolitans, and some adorable and stylish concoctions like the Gucci and the Prada. 

Of course, the incredulously versatile drinks list of this Raffles-inspired bar wouldn’t be complete without it’s namesake: the Singapore Sling. It has a bad reputation for being too sweet for most drinkers. But really one should expect that. That is exactly what a Singapore Sling is. 

All in all this is a drinking den not for the faint-hearted. Expect to feel a buzz after one cocktail, and absolutely go in there with an open-minded attitude to have a few!