Yesterday I said goodbye to an old friend. It wasn’t the newest or smartest restaurant in town and the food was never going to set the culinary world alight, but Brett’s Wharf was always there; just like the pelicans who gathered for their daily feeding.

Just about everyone has been to Brett’s Wharf, whether for a date, a function, or a celebration; it’s been part of the fabric of Brisbane since it opened in 1986. I spoke to owner Genny Nielsen who was there herself, having a last lunch and she says that almost all the staff have found alternate positions. Certainly, there was no real sadness shown by any of them and to their credit, Genny says they have worked each and every service with the same professionalism and dedication as if it would be the same again next week.

I wonder what will become of the space- so large it’s likely to put off most wannabe restaurateurs.

Here’s  a pictorial tribute too the staff and the venue who made Brett’s such an icon. Sante Brett’s Wharf.