Gambaro family to expand hospitality empire south

They’ve long been the clan of Caxton St, but now the well-known hospitality family is extending out of Brisbane, launching two exciting new venues.

Beloved Brisbane restaurant family the Gambaros are expanding their hospitality empire south, opening two exciting new venues on the Gold Coast.

The clan behind the well-known Gambaro Seafood Restaurant, Black Hide steakhouses and Persone Italian will take the first two floors of the under-construction $42 million luxury apartment complex Awaken, in Coolangatta, launching a relaxed cafe-cum-bakery and salad bar and a contemporary Mediterranean restaurant.

John Gambaro outside his new restaurant and cafe site in Coolangatta. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The new beachside development, from S&S Project’s property developer Paul Gedoun, boasts coastal views of Duranbah, Snapper Rocks and Tweed Heads. John Gambaro was so impressed by the new beachside development that he said the time felt right for the family to expand out of the Queensland capital.

“For us to move out of Brisbane, we wanted to go to a space that we could see grow; we wanted to be the first in there … and take advantage of a market that’s going to mature really quickly,” he said.

“Watching the coastline and watching the demographic change since Covid, I think that will be the mecca over the next five years of some serious food players.”

The cafe will sit on the ground floor of Awaken and share its moniker as well as its relaxed coastal vibe, with outdoor, bench-style seating under striped umbrellas to soak in the sea views.

Artist's impression of Awaken at Coolangatta.

On the menu will be cafe faves such as bacon and egg rolls, avo on toast and acai bowls, while there will also be a gourmet salad bar using the best of local ingredients, plus a mini bakery turning out everything from fruit danishes and house-made sausage rolls to breads and croissants.

Upstairs on level one will be Pipis – a new Mediterranean-leaning restaurant with a focus on stunning, locally caught seafood and top-notch steaks from Black Hide beef supplier Stanbroke.

Artist's impressions of Pipis in Coolangatta.

The 92-seater will be approachable yet elegant with design firm S.SHYNE using pink marble, pale timbers, travertine flooring and natural stone to echo the crustacean the restaurant is named after and its beachside location. Along with a beef cabinet, oyster display and open kitchen, giving the space its serious wow factor will be the approximate 220-degree ocean views, that are at their most spectacular in the private dining room.

Awaken and Pipis are due to open in October/November this year.