Maurice Terzini to take leave from Icebergs, investors launch investigation

Bondi Icebergs Dining Room restaurateur Maurice Terzini will take leave from the business he co-founded more than two decades ago, as Icebergs investors launch an investigation relating to allegations of sexual and violent misconduct by his son.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed on Friday that Maurice Terzini has been protecting his son Sylvester Terzini for years, moving him between venues in Sydney and Melbourne as the 32-year-old faced allegations of sexual assault and threatening co-workers.

Restaurateur Maurice Terzini will take leave from Icebergs Dining Room as it conducts an investigation into allegations raised by this masthead. Credit: Brook Mitchell

Text messages show Maurice was aware of claims of sexual assault and violence against Sylvester – even acknowledging his son was “dangerous” to those in his personal life – but continued to employ him in restaurants he owned as his empire expanded from Bondi to Melbourne.

Former close professional and personal contacts of the Terzinis claim Maurice knew of Sylvester’s violent behaviour and responded by shifting him between venues he operated in the two cities, including The Dolphin Hotel, Bistro George and CicciaBella.

An Icebergs Dining Room spokesperson said the company was “investigating the matters raised in the SMH reports”.

“While that is conducted Maurice Terzini will take a leave of absence from the business, to allow Icebergs to conduct an independent review and for Maurice to concentrate on family matters,” the spokesperson said.

Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club moved to distance itself from the Terzinis on Friday, stating it had no connection with Icebergs Dining Room, the Terzini-run restaurant in the same building as the Swimming Club in Bondi.

“Bondi Icebergs does not condone the alleged behaviour described in the articles,” it said in a statement

Through his lawyers, Maurice denied he had engaged in any inappropriate conduct by employing his son at his venues, and denied there was any violent behaviour by Sylvester at those venues.

“As far as our client is aware, our client’s businesses have no record of any allegation of sexual misconduct having been made against any of its employees or managers arising out of its venues,” his lawyers said.

Maurice founded the Bondi institution in 2002, but he is now a minority shareholder in a larger Icebergs group co-owned by hoteliers Damien Reed and Deke Miskin.

The company has leveraged Terzini’s reputation to market the Icebergs brand beyond its Bondi clifftop home described as “the jewel in the crown” of his hospitality empire, which has hosted celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Nigella Lawson and Chris Hemsworth.

In 2023, Good Food (owned by Nine Entertainment, the publisher of this masthead) described Icebergs as arguably Sydney’s only “iconic” restaurant after it underwent a $1.3 million renovation.

The Icebergs brand has since grown to include franchises in Crown Barangaroo and a new outlet in Sydney Airport due to open later this year. Crown and Sydney Airport declined to comment.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed on Friday that several victims had come forward detailing claims of sexual assault and violence by Sylvester. Through his lawyers, Sylvester denied the allegations but declined to answer specific questions about each incident.

Sylvester and Maurice Terzini also worked together at Jackson’s on George.Credit: Steven Siewert

“Our client has no criminal history for violence or sexual misconduct,” his lawyers said. “We do not intend to address all of the allegations raised by your email. However, we advise that our client denies any sexual misconduct and the allegations of violence.”

The alleged attacks have destroyed relationships in the industry, with several alleged victims having close ties to the Terzinis.

None of the alleged sexual incidents occurred inside Terzini’s venues, but multiple of his alleged victims first met Sylvester at one of the hospitality veteran’s restaurants or connected businesses.

Sylvester has also denied allegations of violent rages, including pulling out a knife in front of colleagues at Icebergs Dining Room and Restaurant Hubert.

Terzini’s other investment partners including DTL Entertainment’s Michael Broome did not respond to requests for comment.

Broome, Maurice and Sylvester opened Billy the Pig in Bondi Junction on Wednesday.