Iconic Gold Coast eatery goes under after three decades

A Gold Coast landmark restaurant that once hosted the Rolling Stones, Hugh Jackman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is the latest culinary victim of COVID-19.

A Gold Coast landmark restaurant that once hosted the Rolling Stones, Hugh Jackman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is the latest culinary victim of COVID-19.

Jason Bettles, of Worrells Solvency, was appointed liquidator of Hardwork Pty Ltd, trading as Ristorante Fellini & Pastificio Fellini, owing creditors about half a million dollars.

The restaurant, which had operated at Marina Mirage since 1993, has been closed since last March when the COVID-19 shutdown killed tourism on the glitter strip.

“As soon as they shut the borders, we knew we were in trouble,” said director Carlo Percuoco. “The restaurant was known around the world and tourists made up 60 percent of our business. We could not survive on the 40 per cent of local trade as we would have just been ripping up dollars.”

The waterfront restaurant was considered one of the Gold Coast’s best Italian eateries and over the past quarter century hosted a bevy of celebrities including the Rolling Stones, Kate Hudson, the Sultan of Brunei, and Hugh Jackman.

Restaurateur Carlo Percuoco

Mr Percuoco, whose family has been involved in the restaurant trade for 120 years, said he was disappointed the eatery had closed but there had been no alternative.

“We estimated it would take several years for tourism to return and we have been proven right.” he said. “They have reopened the borders but people are still nervous to travel. It’s hard but we are not the only ones closing the doors because of COVID.”

He said the restaurant would have been able to survive if not for COVID-19, but noted there had been a slowdown in tourism numbers on the Gold Coast after the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Mr Percuoco now helps manage a restaurant at the family’s wedding venue Ecostudio Fellini at Mudgeeraba.

Insolvency experts warn that restaurants around the country are struggling due to international travel restrictions, while retailers were suffering as more people worked from home.

The franchisee operating a popular Shingle Inn cafe in Brisbane went bust earlier this month, joining a growing list of retailers in the area falling victim to the COVID-19 downturn.