By Saanika Madhwani.
In Brisbane’s fast-paced CBD, lunch breaks often amount to hastily grabbed sushi handrolls or uninspired salads.
Tucked inside a sleek corporate building on Eagle Street, FORM offers a compelling alternative - one that aligns clean eating, sharp focus and high performance in a distinctly contemporary setting.
Founded by Jared Lawler, FORM is a thoughtfully designed space that supports how we work, eat, and stay focused throughout the day.
A Space That Invites Calm and Clarity
Stepping into FORM feels like a gentle exhale amidst the bustling cityscape. Natural light floods the airy, modern interiors accented with lush greenery - a deliberate nod to biophilic design principles. It’s a calming environment crafted to feel less like a sterile office and more akin to a tranquil oasis.
The menu, an intriguing blend of simplicity and versatility, allows visitors to curate their ideal meal through the ‘FORM your own bowl’ concept. A variety of salad, warm vegetables, proteins and gut health boosters are offered to create endless combinations for your perfect FORM bowl.
Each dish is carefully constructed to optimise nutrition without sacrificing taste or visual appeal - from the satisfying crunch of citrus-dressed green beans or the warmth of slow-roasted carrots brushed with raw honey and sesame.
Standout offerings from the latest Winter menu include the Mediterranean meatballs signature bowl, Italian-style pork meatballs in rich Napoli sauce, served with rosemary roasted potatoes, spiced pearl couscous, vegetables and almonds.
Do not skip out on the drink selection either, which offers a functional twist as well, featuring smoothies enriched with boosters like lion’s mane mushrooms and L-theanine for cognitive clarity.
Quality partnerships underscore FORM's commitment to excellence - bread from Bread Social, butter from Pepe Saya, and specialty brews by Cavalier Coffee ensure every element matches their exacting standards.
From Burnout to Biohacking
Jared's path to FORM began far from Brisbane, amidst the high-pressure entrepreneurial scene of Hong Kong. There, a health scare forced him to confront the reality of his ultra-processed diet and he found himself questioning everything he was putting in his body.
"I remember holding a pre-workout supplement in my hand and thinking, ‘I can’t even pronounce half of these ingredients,’” he recalls. That quiet moment of curiosity led to a massive personal overhaul.
Determined to channel his wake-up call into something tangible, Jared partnered with Chef-nutritionist Dylan Brace - known for his thoughtful, produce-driven cooking - to shape a venue built on clarity, nourishment and zero compromise on ingredient integrity.
The Philosophy of Functional Food
At the core of FORM’s ethos is functional food - nutrition that actively supports cognitive function and physical vitality. Jared describes it succinctly:
"Food should fuel you, not slow you down.” He emphasises the strict no-seed-oil and refined-sugar-free kitchen philosophy, adhering to a clear principle: "If we wouldn’t serve it to our family, we won’t serve it to you.”
This pragmatic approach is evident in every carefully curated ingredient and each nutritional combination aimed at mitigating the common post-lunch slump.
"You can be training, doing all the right things,” Jared notes, "but if your mitochondrial health isn’t there, you’ll still feel sluggish - nutrition is what fuels that repair and focus.”
A Holistic Lifestyle Vision
FORM is positioned as more than just a café - it represents a broader shift in how modern professionals approach eating, wellness and work. Future plans extend this vision, including a dedicated members’ lounge and executive club, designed to further integrate the principles of biohacking and nutritional excellence into daily routines.
Community-building events, such as Chef-led fermentation workshops, also form part of this holistic vision, reflecting Jared's commitment to making wellness accessible, engaging and genuinely transformative.
A Café Worth Your Attention
FORM is a café that just gets it. It’s not about dieting, detoxing, or restriction. It’s about recalibrating your everyday habits in a space that’s designed to help you perform, think and live better.
For those whose workdays demand peak productivity without the compromise of convenience-led nutrition, FORM is a compelling destination that invites diners to experience food designed to keep pace with the rhythm of their day - clean, purposeful and satisfying.
For your next lunchtime excursion, consider dropping by the cafe in the CBD to customise your FORM bowl or order one of the energising smoothies. After all, at FORM, your meal doesn’t merely sustain your workday - it enhances it.
