Highly acclaimed Brisbane chef Josue ‘Josh’ Lopez has unveiled Opal as the name of his signature restaurant at Emporium Hotel, South Bank. The restaurant launch has been highly anticipated and Opal will officially open in early August.
Mr Lopez describes the cuisine on offer as modern Australian which will celebrate native ingredients through innovative cooking. Opal will cater for business and leisure style lunches with an express degustation option or a full dining experience that will explore the richness of local produce. Josh says deciding on the restaurant name was a collaborative process with Emporium Hotel founders and owners Tony and Francine John. “We really wanted a name that portrays the beauty and richness of our country and, after many ideas were tabled, we decided the name of our national gemstone offered the preciousness and uniqueness we were searching for,” he said.
Opal’s stunning design features include a full sized wine cellar, spectacular recessed ceiling with feature lighting, a luxurious blend of stone, fabric and metal finishes and an intimate private dining room with kitchen views. Anthony John Group Managing Director and Emporium Hotels founder Tony John said Opal’s focus will be on providing diners with a contemporary and innovative dining experience that couples Josh’s original, celebrated cuisine with Emporium Hotel’s exceptional style of service. “Opal will provide a more intimate, unique option that still presents value to the customer,” he said.
As an award winning chef, Josh says that he is excited to be opening this style of restaurant now after seeing Brisbane’s dining scene and food culture grow and develop significantly over the years. “Australian chefs are cementing an internationally recognised identity for exciting culinary creations using native ingredients and I think a lot of people want our chefs to continue pushing the boundaries and offer something that has never been done before and is truly delicious,” he said. The new flagship Emporium Hotel South Bank is set to open on 1 July this year, with bookings for accommodation, conferencing and events now available.
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