Cairns food: Da Schnit’z to serve burger, beer and schnitzel
A landmark city tenancy has attracted an exciting new business founded by Adelaide-based hoteliers, aiming to take advantage of an opportunity to transplant a winning restaurant formula.
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A landmark city tenancy, vacant for 18 months, has attracted an exciting new business founded by Adelaide-based hoteliers aiming to take advantage of an opportunity to transplant a winning restaurant formula.
Following installation of new beer taps, new branding and a shop tidy, Da Schnit’z is expected to start slinging in-house created steaks and schnitzels from February at the corner of Abbott and Aplin streets.
Kim and Kain Fullgrabe have recently finalised the sale of the St Kilda Beach Hotel in Adelaide and plan to relocate to Cairns and project manage a revamp of the former Outback Jacks tenancy in the CBD.
The couple also own Adelaide assets The Commercial Hotel and the Criterion Hotel.
“Essentially what we have done really well in South Australia, we are bringing to Cairns,” Mr Fullgrabe said.
“Basically, it’s burgers, schnitzels. There will be 12 beers on tap and we have struck a deal with Macalister Brewing Company and Carlton United Breweries.
“We have everything from beef to croc schnitzels, they are actually really good. And you can mix and match so you can sample more than one.”
Ms Fullgrabe said everything was made in-house and burgers included tiger prawns, croc, lam, barra, and reef fish.
“We are not over complicated things, its good in-house made food and taking what we have done in our South Australian hotels and renamed it as Da Schnit’z,” Mr Fullgrabe said.
Improvements to the corner tenancy include a new beer tap system, display cool rooms showcasing beer kegs, painting, signage and a refit of the mezzanine.
And for those curious about the oversize croc that did hang over the Outback Jacks bar, the larger than life saltie has been snapped up by the couple’s builder to be used a backyard ornament.
Outback Jacks previously closed in 2018 before new franchise holder Maa Foods rebranded and reopened a year later in 2019 in an ill-timed move months before Covid lockdowns impacted Cairns.
The restaurant operated for about a year and closed again in early 2022.
Already putting down roots, Da Schnit'z’s proprietors recently struck a sponsorship agreement with the Cairns City Lions, have enrolled their children at a Cairns school next year and own a house in Whitfield
They felt the timing for the new venture was spot on, given the region’s strong recovery from the Covid pandemic.
“It’s exciting. It’s not a backward step, it a lifestyle change and concentrating on one venue we can put all our effort into it,” Mr Fullgrabe said.
It’s expected Da Schnit’z will begin trading in February after securing about 20 staff, including three to four chefs, kitchen and bar staff.
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