Mackay Windmill Hotel rebrands restaurant as ‘Buddy Boy’, Rockhampton, Bundaberg venues next

An off-highway motel has relaunched its restaurant with a new look and menu, celebrating with free margaritas for a month across its Queensland sites. SEE THE MENU.

All main dishes come with a free margarita for Buddy Boy's first month of business. Photo: Fergus Gregg

A motel chain is giving their restaurants and dining rooms across a makeover and offering free margaritas to draw in new customers.

Windmill Hotel in Mackay is operated by Southern Cross Motel Group (SCMG), a motel company which owns 16 locations across Queensland.

The group is turning revamping all their hotel restaurants into one brand — Buddy Boy Kitchen.

The Matcha cheesecake is made by the chef on site and is the perfect way to end a meal. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Mackay’s Windmill Motel was first, and launched on October 8, offering free margaritas with every main meal ordered until November 9.

The rebrand was guided by SCMG chief executive Liam Kelly, with the company’s digital marketing manager Kelly Pack calling it “something a bit different”

The miso glazed salmon is served with a risotto mixed with parmesan cheese. Photo: Fergus Gregg

“He wanted to rebrand most of the motels to have something fresh with new, bold flavours and international cuisine,” she said.

Ms Pack said Buddy Boy Kitchen represents a new concept for dining at their motels and called the restaurants playful.

Buddy Boy Kitchen has already opened at the Stirling Motel (right) in Rockhampton with the next set to open at the Sugar Country Motor Inn (left) in Bundaberg.

“All the flavours are very bold flavours you can’t get anywhere else,” Ms Pack said.

“There’s all sorts of dishes from curries to pastas, eye fillets and salmon.”

The Windmill Motel and events centre opened their new restaurant, Buddy Boy Kitchen on October 8, the first Southern Cross Motel in Queensland to do so.

Pricing at Buddy Boy Kitchen is fixed with a one course meal setting customers back $40, and allowing them to choose either a main dish or two starters or one starter & one dessert.

A two course meal includes a main and either starter or dessert and costs $58, while a full three course meal is priced at $69.

Buddy Boy Kitchen's menu is priced by how many courses customers choose to order.

Children under 12 eat for half price at Buddy Boy Kitchen and they offer a number of seasonal specials.

The Stirling Motel in Rockhampton opened its Buddy Boy on October 15 and the Sugar Country Motor Inn in Bundaberg is expected to open its restaurant before the end of the year.