Middle Eastern food Brisbane Archives

Layla Adds Chef-Driven Middle Eastern Flavours To West End

Layla has added a chef-led Middle Eastern restaurant to West End, placing Shane Delia’s cooking inside the Queensland Ballet’s Thomas Dixon Centre.

Layla Opening

Layla began trading in March 2025, at the Thomas Dixon Centre in West End. The restaurant operates as a full-service venue within the heritage-listed cultural site, which houses rehearsal studios and performance spaces for the Queensland Ballet.

Layla forms part of the centre’s hospitality offering and adds another dining option to a suburb known for independent food businesses and arts activity. The location supports both local foot traffic and visitors attending events within the precinct.

Chef And Food Direction

The kitchen is led by Melbourne-based chef Shane Delia. His food draws on Middle Eastern flavours within a modern Australian style. The menu focuses on shared dining. It features small plates, grilled items and larger dishes for the table.

Hummus plays a central role. It appears in several versions and stands as a core menu item. Other small plates include Turkish-style beef dumplings with yoghurt and spiced butter. Vegetable-filled briwat pastries also appear. Flatbreads arrive for dipping and sharing.

The menu extends to charcoal-grilled and slow-cooked mains. The restaurant lists slow-roasted lamb shoulder, coal-grilled swordfish and a house butter chicken. The overall offering centres on familiar Middle Eastern flavours in a sit-down setting.

Recognition and Events

In 2025, Layla received the Best New Restaurant Opening award from Sitchu. The recognition followed strong early demand and positive public response. The restaurant also hosts ticketed dining events.

book a table

This includes a New Year’s Eve premium feast priced at $145 per person, promoted as a seated, set-menu experience with limited availability. These events sit alongside regular service and reinforce Layla’s positioning as a destination for planned dining occasions.

Community Impact And Local Reception

Layla sits in a part of West End where food venues mix with creative and cultural spaces. Early public reviews point to a shared plates menu and steady service.

The restaurant draws locals and visitors attending events at the Thomas Dixon Centre. Layla operates as a neighbourhood restaurant focused on communal dining and Middle Eastern flavours.

Published 20-December-2025

Layla Brings Bold Middle Eastern Flavours To West End’s Historic Heart

Photo Credit: Layla Brisbane/Instagram

Smoked hummus, 8-hour lamb, and spice-laced mains are turning heads at Layla, a new Middle Eastern restaurant now serving in Brisbane’s West End.

A New Flavour In A Familiar Setting

Set inside West End’s heritage-listed Thomas Dixon Centre, Layla is a new Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant from Melbourne chef Shane Delia, with Brisbane’s own Simon Palmer (ex-Gerard’s, E’cco, Black Hide) leading the kitchen.

Opening in late March, Layla brings a fresh take to Brisbane’s food scene with dishes like arak-cured kingfish, 8-hour lamb shoulder, and Moroccan-spiced butter chicken. Designed for sharing, the menu blends bold flavours from the Levant, North Africa and the Subcontinent.

Something Different On The Plate

While inspired by Middle Eastern traditions, Layla avoids the usual approach. Smoked, whipped hummus comes with flatbread brushed in toum and za’atar, while mains like coal-grilled swordfish and duck with walnut and pomegranate offer fresh takes on familiar flavours.

Built around local produce, Layla’s menu showcases Queensland seafood and vegetables paired with bold, cross-cultural spices. Diners can order à la carte or opt for a chef’s selection.

Thoughtful Drinks And A Warm Space

Layla’s wine list is curated with care, offering a range of Australian and international wines, including small-batch and sustainable producers. The cocktail menu, created with a local focus, features seasonal flavours and native ingredients.

Inside, Layla features exposed brick, velvet and terrazzo floors, reflecting the building’s 1900s heritage. A leafy terrace adds a bright contrast, creating a space that suits both casual lunches and special dinners.

Designed With Community In Mind

Layla also hosts private events, with space for up to 90 guests across its dining areas. It works with local groups and supports the Thomas Dixon Centre’s broader functions, including catering for events of up to 120.

BOOK HERE

Bookings are now available for lunch and dinner from Wednesday through Sunday. Layla can be found at the corner of Montague Road and Raven Street.

Published 21-April-2025