The Next Chapter at New York Minute Noosa
There’s a perception that Noosa winds down early, but John Caruso discovers a venue that’s keeping Noosa Junction switched on long after many kitchens have called last orders.
The struggle to find a decent meal after 8pm in Noosa is a frustration for many locals and visitors, particularly those used to the energy and availability of late-night dining in bigger cities.
For the founders of New York Minute Noosa, it complemented a concept that they already believed would bring something significant to the region. The opportunity became especially clear when Antony Crowther and business partner Brayden Montebruno were working late renovating the shopfront in Noosa Junction.
“When we finished work, the only food we could get after 8pm was fast food,” he says. “That made it even clearer there was a gap in the market for us to fill.”
New York Minute Noosa opened in December 2023 and trades from midday until midnight, seven days a week, with live entertainment every night. It is not simply chasing the post-8pm market; it serves up a restaurant, bar and late-night option in one place. Ant had already spent two decades in quick-service hospitality before moving to Noosa from Melbourne. He began with a fine-dining apprenticeship, but the separation of kitchen service did not hold his attention for long.
“Working in the kitchen, you couldn’t always see the response on a customer’s face,” he says. “I love people and I love food, so seeing people’s reactions in a quick-service setting made a hell of a lot more sense to me.”
The name came before the menu. Ant had been working through ideas for months when the Don Henley song New York Minute was presented to him and something clicked. It immediately conjured images of American reality shows like Man v. Food and New York-style food that was not readily available in Noosa at the time.
The food goes well beyond burgers and beer, even if the burgers remain a headline – a reputation reinforced by a 4.9-star Google rating from more than 1,100 reviews. The range includes beef, chicken, pork, brisket and vegetarian options, paired with fresh salads, bold sauces, locally sourced ingredients and the finest desserts.
There is everything from a classic cheeseburger to the premium Wagyu and lobster burger, alongside Philly cheesesteaks, smoked brisket melts and
a range of other burgers unique to New York Minute Noosa.
For those looking beyond the bun, there is a 330-gram aged ribeye, locally sourced fish from Soulfish, hand-cut chips and house-made sauces. The parma comes in two takes: a traditional Italian-style version and a more exotic vodka-sauce version with feta and sundried tomatoes.
Recently the kitchen introduced a new hero: a Texas barbecue-style brisket platter with jalapeño and cheese sausage, mac and cheese and the essential accompaniments of an American barbecue feast. Dessert favourites include sticky date pudding and chocolate soufflé, alongside other hits.
The original menu received quality control from an unlikely focus group: Ant’s five sisters. Their feedback helped shape a menu with broad appeal, from burger traditionalists to diners chasing steak, fish, salad or something sweeter.
The drinks list has evolved just as quickly and the original beer-and-burger offering has expanded to roughly four times its original size. The bar now has a more considered wine list, extended spirits selection and cocktail-focused back bar, giving diners reason and a place to settle in after dinner or start their night there.
The additional spaces have opened the door to private functions and events, including a beer garden at the rear. New York Minute has become a flexible hospitality venue and a key pillar in helping to shift the identity of Noosa Junction’s late-night food and entertainment offering.
Community has been part of the operation since the doors opened. New York Minute has supported people and groups in need, from single mums to firefighters, SES crews, ambos, local police and other service men and women. Its recent Community Giveback Day saw just under 1,000 burgers given away as a thank you for the extraordinary support shown during the business’s first two-and-a-half years. The business also partners with YouTurn, providing thousands of burgers for distribution to people experiencing homelessness and others needing support.
For Ant and Brayden, the next stage is already in the works with plans underway for a rooftop sunset bar above the existing venue. If approved, it will lift the premium experience further, creating an elevated setting for sunset drinks, live music, private functions, special events and long Noosa evenings.
Late trading remains important, but it is no longer New York Minute’s only point of difference. With an evolving menu, premium drinks, multiple function spaces, live entertainment seven days a week and community at its core – it’s a place that moves naturally from lunch into dinner and late night. The burgers are excellent, but they are only one part of a business with bigger plans for Noosa Junction.
