Do you love a good show tune? Does the idea of burgers and American diner fare make your mouth water? Do you love a bit of toe-tapping fun? Then you definitely want to head down to Broadway Diner.
A new addition at South Bank, this all-singing, all-dancing establishment is a rollicking good time. Featuring a 1950s style diner aesthetic, and servers who sing for your supper, this venture is sure to have families and lovers of musical theatre clapping their hands and singing along.
I popped down to see what it was all about (because I love both burgers and show tunes). When we walk in, we’re greeted by a cheerful server in colourful retro garb, who seats us at our table. Posters and playbills adorn the walls, red curtains framing the walls and little lamps are placed on each of the tables to create mood lighting. Show tunes and original Broadway soundtracks play through the speakers, and every now and then the music gets louder and one of the servers takes over the vocals and gives us a show.
On the night we are there, a few families and teens are seated in the booths and they look like they’re having a great time. We’ve barely been perusing the menu for five minutes before the music cranks up and one of the servers takes the stage (a raised platform in the middle of the room) to belt out Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For a Hero and they crush it.
We applaud then resume looking at the menu. All the cocktails and dishes have names inspired by famous musicals and musical composers and it’s super cute. I end up changing my mind on what to order simply because I can’t stand the musical Cats and refuse to order a dish named after it. Petty? Yes, but I stand by it.
I end up ordering a burger called The Benny and Bjorn (served Mamma Mia-style, which means a double patty)—fitting because that’s the very next song the team begin to belt out. They work the room this time, getting the audience involved, doing famous ABBA moves, and dancing on benches. The kids at the next table LOVE it and half the audience are singing along (and even the ones clearly singing ironically are laughing both with others and at themselves.)
We also order some mac and cheese balls, and loaded bacon and chicken fries. When it arrives, my companion and I simultaneously excited and scared by how much food we’ve ordered. Portions are very generous, and I am immediately glad I had a very small lunch today.
The burgers are juicy and all the accompaniment flavours fit together really well. The fries… oh man, the fries… heart-stoppingly tasty but a little goes a long way. My date and I got through about half of them before we couldn’t fit any more in. We’d been hoping to get a dessert but after all our mains, it was out of the question. Next time we’re coming back for just dessert.
Broadway Diner is sure to be popular with anyone who loves a show, wants to be in a show, or wants to take the family to somewhere fun and fabulous for a bit of a different night out. Burgers may be the main attraction on the menu, but giggles, smiles and songs are also the order of the night as well.
Broadway Diner, 153 Stanley Street, South Bank. See www.broadwaydinerofficial.com for more.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
