Whether the finest of dining experiences, all-you-can-eat family favourites or unique culinary offerings, many of us have indelible connections with our favourites restaurants.

But just as in all industries, nothing is forever.

Today we step back in time and revisit the famous, sometimes iconic and always memorable restaurants that have simply vanished from Queensland’s dining scene.

Sizzler

Australia’s first Sizzler opened in the Brisbane suburb of Annerley in August 1985, with its all-you-can-eat buffet an instant hit with families.

That store would close in 2017 when it was converted to a Taco Bell and just three years later the franchise pulled out of the Australian market.

One of the last restaurants to close was at Toowong Village in 2021.

Over the years, Sizzler restaurants were located in Caboolture, Loganholme, Maroochydore, Mermaid Beach and Toowoomba.

The death of the franchise left a cheese-toast shaped void in the hearts of so many.

Sizzling Mongolian House BBQ in Taringa

The Sizzling Mongolian BBQ in Fortitude Valley closed in July 2020, but four years on it still hurts based on the comments flooding.

Famous for its Mongolian delicacies and for allowing diners to create their own stir fries, the owners blamed Covid for its sudden closure.

“We love our customers as friends or even a family who always help us to conquer all the difficulties, and encourage us with a big smile or big thumb. We have the best memory ever, and thank to all of you,” the owners announced when it closed.

Hundreds of customers took to the comments section to express their disappointment.

“I’m so heartbroken. I’ll miss you guys. Please please please reopen in a new location,” Reilley McCarthy wrote at the time.

“Please come back,” Shannon Rolly posted just recently.

Buffet Gardens

Hidden suburban gem Buffet Gardens mysteriously vanished from Sunnybank Plaza in recent years, leaving fans of the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet devastated.

The closure especially hurts in the current cost of living crisis, with the family-friendly restaurant offering deals for as little as $10.

“Oh man I remember going to Buffet Gardens,” Timmy Soup reminisced.

“My mate in high school rented out the arcade there and then we had Chinese after. My mind almost exploded at the concept of all you can eat.”

Esquire

Hailed as one of Brisbanes most respected restaurants, Esquire closed its doors in March 2018.

Owned by celebrated chef Ryan Squires, the modern Australian restaurant opened in Eagle St in 2011 – along with sibling eatery Esq – and was renowned for its provocative and boundary-pushing cuisine.

“OG creative fine dining back in the day,” Reddit user UberOink said.

Squires, in announcing the closure, said he was planning to take a break and look for new opportunities in the food industry.

In its seven years of operation, Esquire received three hats and the coveted Restaurant of the Year title in Brisbane’s Good Food Guide awards.

Mick O’Malleys Irish Pub

Mick O’Malley’s Irish Pub disappeared from Queen Street Mall in 2019, but not before leaving a mark on the lives of so many Queenslanders.

The authentic Irish pub offered customers Irish-style charm, and had a wide selection of breads, bar bites, pizza, pasta and steaks.

The closure – coinciding with St Patrick’s Day in 2019 – was announced on social media.

One person on Reddit declared that O’Malley’s “changed their life”.

“I used to work there around nine years ago,” they wrote.

“Happy memories … that place literally changed my life.”

Amante Tapas and Vino

La Quinta Mexican Cafe and Amante Tapas – located in the ritzy Brisbane suburb of Bulimba – closed their doors in January 2023.

The owners of both restaurants, Jeanie Smith and Nev Scott, announced the closures on social media “with heavy hearts”.

“The last couple of years have been hugely challenging with lockdowns, losing staff, Nev’s brief stunt man antics and so much more,” they wrote.

“We have loved every minute of it though & have some amazing memories to look back on.”

Freestyle Tout

The controversial and unique dessert restaurant Freestyle Trout closed at the Emporium in 2015 after 20 years in business.

It was a Brisbane icon, originally opening at Rosalie in 1996 as the city’s only dessert-themed eatery.

The restaurant made headlines in 2014 when owner Martin Duncan insisted every customer order at least one meal each because too many were sharing food and ordering tap water to drink.

Among its most famous dishes were the white chocolate raspberry brioche dumplings.

Brewbakers

Family-run Brisbane sourdough bakery Brewbakers closed in June this year after more than 32 years in business.

The bakery opened as Eagle Junction Bakery in 1992 and was rebranded as Brewbakers by longtime owners Richard and Caroline Cotton.

But in May this year, the couple announced “with a heartfelt thank you” that they were closing, blaming skill shortages and slim profit margins

“We feel both proud and privileged that Brewbakers has held a meaningful place in the local community for a longer time that we could ever had anticipated.”

In 2019, the Albion bakery took a hot twist on the hot cross bun by perfecting a sourdough version.

ARC Dining

Arc Dining, once hailed the number one restaurant in Queensland, was a casualty of the Covid pandemic, closing in 2020 just a year after it opened.

In 2020, Arc Dining released a statement alongside head chef Alanna Sapwell confirmed the restaurant’s closure, only a year after opening

“I’m devastated by the closure of ARC Dining,” head chef Alanna Sapwell announced in a statement.

“I’m proud of them and hope we can work together again in the future.”

The restaurant had an impressive 400-bottle wine list, and at the time offered one of Brisbane’s finest dining experiences.

Which defunct Brisbane restaurant do you miss the most? Let us know in the comments.