OUR STORY

The iconic grounds of Yungaba, where Medley is today located,

had served for many years as an Immigration Centre.

Yungaba was constructed in 1887 and provided shelter to countless immigrants who decided to make Queensland their new home. So as to preserve the rich history of the site, at Medley we feel it is our duty to
provide a renewed place for cultural exchange, this time through food.

Migration gave Australia a great gift; diversity of culture and cuisine. New ingredients, different
cooking techniques and exotic spices introduced to the island continent have made
for an exciting culinary evolution.

At Medley we celebrate this great gift of cultural
exchange through our ‘World Inspired Food’ and warm hospitality.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

"Hospitality is the contemporaneous exchange designed to enhance mutual wellbeing for the parties involved
through the provision of food, drink and accommodation".

We believe in genuine and warm hospitality driven by the motive of duty to please others, deeply inherent in
human nature.

OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM

Nick Pavlakis / Owner-General Manager (Customer Relations)

On behalf of my wife and I, I am thrilled to announce that we have recognised full ownership of Medley Café & Restaurant. Having been involved with the establishment of the business in early 2015 it has been a challenging yet wonderful journey to date. It is one we wish to continue with much love, focusing on establishing Medley as one of Brisbane’s most loved destinations.

Our passion for food and hospitality lies deep in our roots. Having been raised to Greek and Chinese parents respectively, it was often a joy growing up with our respective families entertaining family and friends, brought together around the dining table. Fond memories live on and the parties now are a melting pot of three wonderful cultures.

Medley, a synonym for ‘diversity’, was fittingly born from the history of its magnificent location, once a gateway to Queensland for thousands of migrants who decided to call Queensland home. Similarly, our parents were a part of this journey having settled in Brisbane, Australia in the 1960’s and 2000’s. Our continued inspiration comes from our love affair of Chinese and Greek cooking, our journeys abroad, the wonderful team at Medley and the abundance of produce we are blessed with here in Queensland.

Serena’s hometown of Wuhan, Hubei is a culinary hotspot as is my parent’s island homeland of Crete. Both have provided much interest for our home cooking and culinary philosophy. Another instrumental marker has been my father’s tenure as a Busboy at the legendary Kahiki Supper Club located in Columbus, Ohio, USA. The story of the Kahiki Supper Club is truly special and an important source of continued inspiration. Our mark of hospitality can be traced through our ancestry. Many would recognise the legendary Cretan hospitality which is an instrumental marker for the service provided at Medley. This together with the easy-going Australian way of life makes for a very special experience.

We are absolutely passionate about making Medley synonymous with a wonderful experience and we hope you can join us on our wonderful journey to make Medley a place where we can all feel like ‘family’ through our love of good food and our warm hospitality.

We would like to thank all those valued guests who have supported us over the years and we look forward to sharing the future of Medley with you. Please join us as we embark on the evolution of Medley and the exciting changes that we have in store.

Charlize (Charli) Borden / Restaurant & Events Manager

Commencing December 2024 - stay tuned!

Assistant Manager

More information coming soon!

Sagar Pokhrel / Head Chef

Meet Chef Sagar, a gifted chef from Nepal who is in charge of preparing, cooking, and overseeing of the culinary genius' behind the delectable food in the Medley kitchen. He is the one of the Chef's behind the creation of the tasty and aesthetically pleasing dishes.

Chef Sagar spent ten years working as a chef
in various hotels, restaurants, and cafés in Brisbane. Everyone on our team is thrilled to be working with a young, talented chef who is knowledgeable about a broad variety of cooking techniques, ingredients, and flavour combinations. In addition to his amazing cooking skills, he has a great sense of leadership. He assists and watches over the other kitchen staff members. He also offers guidance, mentoring, and support to ensure the smooth operation of the kitchen. Additionally, he helps in developing new menu items and recipes.

He states, "My kitchen serves as my canvas, my
stage, and my haven in addition to being a place of employment. I put not only my skills but also my heart and soul into every dish I make. Not only does the food make our guests smile, but it also instils pride in our team, which is why I put in so much effort into it. I cook with passion, and every dish I serve is fuelled by my love for what I do and my dedication to our restaurant."

Chef Sagar is excited to express his creativity and impart his culinary expertise to the Medley team and our visitors.

Nabin Sunar / Sous Chef

Chef Nabin commenced his culinary journey at a young age after completing a Culinary Arts diploma. His deep passion for food and an unyielding desire to explore diverse cuisines laid the foundation for a successful professional career.

Originally from Nepal, Chef Nabin began his career in a local hotel before moving to Dubai, where he made significant contributions to the renowned Intercontinental Hotel. He later worked at the Michelin-rated fine dining restaurants Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire and the prestigious 5-star Hotel Address Downtown, collaborating with esteemed culinary experts on an international scale.

With over 16 years of experience, Chef Nabin honed his skills in various fine dining and casual dining settings within the hospitality industry. In 2018, he took on the role of Head Chef at a distinguished pub in regional New South Wales, Australia, gaining valuable insights into the Australian culinary landscape. Subsequently, he served as the Executive Chef at Central Hospitality Group in Tamworth before moving to Brisbane to assume the position of Head Chef at Jugar, a Spanish restaurant, and later joined the esteemed restaurant, Medley.

Chef Nabin's professional journey is characterized by continuous learning, growth, and an unwavering commitment to the culinary arts. At Medley, he currently showcases his culinary expertise, delighting diners with exceptional creations drawn from his extensive experience and creativity.

OUR PARTNERS

Sylvia's Fine Foods - our very own Greek mother baking delightful Greek and modern treats in authentic home-style fashion (website launching in future - stay tuned!)

Paradox Coffee Roasters - Paradox Coffee Roasters are responsible custodians of the coffee journey, always putting people first. From the farmers they source from, respected industry partners they work with, their expert team that roast and share their knowledge, wholesale partners and baristas who serve coffee, to the customers who enjoy it.

Paradox Wines - distributor of Domestic and International premium and semi-premium wine categories

Fussy Fruit - Local, family owned fruit and vegetable wholesaler, proudly supplying Brisbane’s finest restaurants, cafes and bars including Medley. Distributing fresh produces on a daily basis, ensuring is of the highest quality from the time of harvest to the chopping boards of the Medley kitchen.

Fish Factory - We are by our family values and bring a passion and energy to supplying fresh seafood