Honest Cooking Shines at Gum Bistro, Newest West End Bistro

West End has a fresh face on the dining scene with the opening of Gum Bistro, an intimate 40-seat restaurant showcasing honest, produce-driven cooking.



Occupying the former Pasta Club space on Boundary Street, Gum Bistro is the creation of chef Lachlan Matheson and sommelier Phil Poussarts, both alumni of the acclaimed Pasta Club.

The reimagined space has undergone a brightening makeover with white-painted panels, pops of greenery, bespoke stamped napkins and local artwork lending a cosy, considered ambience. But the real star is the concise, MetCommets focused menu.

Matheson’s seasonal cuisine allows quality local produce to take centre stage, be it the textbook duck liver parfait with Riser sourdough or the cold squid salad with fennel, chicory, and lemon to start. Standout mains include the vegetarian-friendly vegetable pot pie and the crowd-pleasing sweet corn agnolotti pasta.

While expertly crafted cocktails named after guitar riffs are available, oenophiles will be eager to explore Poussarts’ curated wine list during their visit. The experienced sommelier has sourced an interesting array of rare finds and varieties during previous tenures at esteemed spots like Pilloni, Essa and Hobart’s Fico.



With its intimate, welcoming ambience, locavore sensibilities and intriguing wine program, Gum Bistro looks poised to become a West End dining destination for honest, flavourful cuisine. Reservations are recommended to secure a table at this hotspot.

West End’s New Dining Spot: Gum Bistro Opening Soon

A new neighbourhood bistro called Gum Bistro is set to open at Boundary Street in West End in a few weeks.


Read: New Wine and Vermouth Bar to Grace Brisbane’s West End


The eatery will be helmed by seasoned hospitality professionals, sommelier Phil Poussart and chef Lachlan Matheson.

The duo plans to open Gum Bistro in the space formerly occupied by Pasta Club at 237 Boundary Street, with a vision to retain the casual, welcoming vibe the locale was known for under previous ownership, whilst putting their own stamp on the restaurant.

Gum bistro
Photo credit: Magdalena White/Google Maps

Matheson first garnered attention cooking under Ben Williamson at Gerard’s Bistro before honing his skills abroad with the P Franco group. Upon returning to Brisbane, he took over the kitchen at Pasta Club. When Pasta Club’s owners decided to close, Matheson was offered the chance to take over the lease and open Gum Bistro.

He teamed up with Poussart, who spent four years working in Hobart’s top restaurants before overseeing the wine programs at ESSA and Pilloni in Brisbane. Together, the two envision Gum Bistro as an approachable European-style bistro with distinct Australian influences.

Gum bistro
Photo credit: pastaclub.au

The menu will shift seasonally, ranging from small plates to heartier mains that spotlight Queensland produce. Poussart looks forward to curating an eclectic wine list with diverse offerings. Inside, the moody interior of Pasta Club will give way to a sunlit space with a green and white palette, artwork from local artists, and abundant greenery.


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Gum Bistro is targeting a mid-to-late March 2024 opening in the former Pasta Club location, bringing a fresh neighbourhood dining option to Boundary Street in West End. Follow them on Instagram @gumbistro to stay updated about the opening. 

Published 17-February-2024

A Pasta Club Revival Delights in West End

Less than a year after it opened on Hoogley Street in West End, the homestyle Italian restaurant and wholesaler CJ’s Secret Pasta Club went into liquidation. But owners Leila Amirparviz and Darcy Adam quickly bounced back, amidst the pandemic, to establish Pasta Club on the other side of the suburb, where everything about their new restaurant gleams with a delightful revival.

Pasta Club carries over the essence of the old eatery with a changing daily menu handwritten by Darcy, depending on what is available in the kitchen. 

As with the old restaurant, all ingredients are sourced locally from Australian suppliers.

The dishes are mostly simple Italian favourites that you’d crave for: risotto, house-made focaccia, fresh burrata with salsa verde, choices of pastas like fusilli with prawns and red sauce or spaghetti carbonara.



Stripping the wholesale aspects of their former business, the partners could now fully focus on improving their restaurant.

Pasta Club showcases the creativity and freedom of Leila and Darcy to whip up comfort food and filling meals in the kitchen. If requested, they can also prepare vegan and gluten-free options, as well as a few delicious desserts as a satisfying finish. 

Taking over the former home of Flora By Greenhouse Canteen, Leila and Darcy had two weeks to convert the site into a retro-looking eatery, with a vinyl music corner to boot. Here, customers may enjoy their dining experience by playing an LP of their choice — it’s BYO vinyl! 

But the restaurant is also BYO vino whilst the owners are waiting to secure a liquor licence.

This place is meant to be a lounging destination, where diners can have a relaxing meal with wine and music, amidst an intimate space.

Booking a table is highly-recommended if dining in, as per government health and safety guidelines. Follow their Instagram page for updates on store hours, new menu and other deals. 

We live next door to Pasta Club and have been so excited to see them working hard to get up and running. Finally made it in for dinner last night and had a great time. Everyone’s meal was delicious, pasta was perfect of course and I’m still dreaming of the Crostini. The energy inside is really warm and comfortable too.

Madeleine Lewis, Google Reviews

Exceptionally delicious and authentic house made pasta. Friendly staff, quick service. Reservations recommended Thursday – Sunday.

Rober Sciberras, Google Reviews