Rainbow Beach restaurant Quay Carlo closed until further notice

A popular Rainbow Beach restaurant has seemingly closed its doors without fanfare, leaving a string of disappointed patrons taking to social media to mourn the closure.

Quay Carlo, Rainbow Beach

Mystery has engulfed a popular restaurant on Rainbow Beach know for its exotic offerings after it seemingly shut its doors without notice, leaving patrons with more questions than answers.

In 2021, at the height of Covid, they opened Quay Carlo and described the venture as “quirky” and “fun” with the menu created by Darren Emmett, a qualified chef in Paris and his wife, Clare, while their two daughters worked at the front of house.

It was opened by the Emmett family, who moved to Australia more than 13 years ago with a history of running seven different pubs in England, a foreshore restaurant in Manly, and a fish farm in Childers.

Quay Carlo, Rainbow Beach

Since then, the restaurant had been a popular attraction of the small beach town, hosting musicians, weddings, celebrations, parties, and tour groups.

It had become a favourite haunt for locals to enjoy sundown over the beachfront before the shock news of its apparent closure was revealed by a customer on Thursday, December 14.

“Does anyone know if/when Quay Carlo are opening? Can’t seem to get onto them,” Linda Frohmuller posted to Facebook on Thursday, December 14, 2023.

What caused the closure so suddenly is unclear; The Gympie Times reached out to the owners, but had not received any statement or response before publication.

No notice of the closure has been posted on Quay Carlo’s Facebook page, with the last post dated on November 11, 2023.

This post alerted patrons to the restaurant being closed as the family were taking a holiday between November 12 -22, 2023 and looking forward to coming back to share the Christmas season with the community.

“We hope to see you all after for the Crazy Christmas season,” it said.

Ms Frohmuller’s post prompted more than 70 comments mourning the closure, querying its suddenness and sharing memories of the place from the last few years.

Quay Carlo, Rainbow Beach

“We just went out there to see as we couldn’t contact them. Closed to further notice! Shame lovely food,” Ken Carlisle said.

“Quay Carlo has been the best Restaurant in town for years. People have loved this place. Sorry to see Claire and Darren have to move on. They will be missed. We will miss the great beef randang,” Lynne Davidson said.

“Our peaceful place has gone we are sad about this, we won’t forget all the wonderful laughs tears and joy we had at Quay Carlo. Thankyou Claire Darren and the wonderful staff we will miss you all,” Lisa Lippy said.

“No!!!!!! We are coming back to Rainbow Beach for a holiday on Sunday, and going back to Quay Carlo for their seafood chowder was something I was really looking forward to!” Wilfred Mak said.