Eros Sydney, Maali nightclub, Sinaloa, Kings Cross Pavilion former owner Ussi Moniz Da Silva owes creditors $730k

An ambitious ex-restaurateur – who tried to revitalise Kings Cross with a series of failed businesses – owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to out-of-pocket creditors.

He was once dubbed the “saviour” of Kings Cross – but former high-flying restaurateur Ussi Moniz Da Silva owes more than $730,000 to out-of-pocket creditors, according to liquidators overseeing the dismantling of his failed businesses.

The elusive Moniz Da Silva – who hasn’t been seen or heard from by creditors and former staff since the closure of his businesses in 2023 – saw his Double Bay restaurant, Sinaloa Sydney, placed into a Federal Court-ordered liquidation on November 3.

The order came following a petition by the Deputy Commissioner of the Australian Taxation Office over unpaid tax debts.

The ATO, and the liquidator, have been unable to contact Da Silva.

Bar owner and restaurateur Ussi Da Silva Moniz pictured on Twitter/Instagram.

Liquidator Mark Roufeil’s investigation into outstanding cash owed to creditors has found more than $411,000 is owed to the landlord, Bayside Pacific Development, while a further $100,000 is owed to a company owned by Fitness First founder, Tony de Leede.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Mr de Leede.

The report found the Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer is owed more than $71,000, while Bingo Waste reported outstanding funds of $21,000.

Fuse Hospitality reported $12,000 in unpaid invoices, while G2 Mexican Products is reportedly owed close to $10,000.

Sinaloa Bar and Restaurant. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Westpac Bank and Audio Visual Events claim outstanding debts of $7000 and $4000.

The liquidator said it was “unknown” how much the business owed to the ATO in outstanding tax debts, with a spokesman for the office refusing to disclose the amount.

In his report to ASIC, the liquidator said his offices had been contacted by former employees over “outstanding entitlements”.

However, Mr Roufeil said he was “unable to identify employees who may be creditors of the company or verify the outstanding entitlements”, as he had not been provided with the company’s books or records.

The liquidator said employees were not expected to see payments as a result of his investigations.

A Fair Work Ombudsman spokeswoman said the department had “concluded an investigation into Sinaloa and it is inappropriate to comment further”.

Maali nightclub

The spokeswoman urged workers with concerns about their pay to contact the ombudsman.

Meanwhile, liquidator Alan Walker, appointed to oversee investigations into Moniz Da Silva’s nightclub Maali Sydney, found a further $97,000 was owed to creditors in his case.

Mr Walker’s report to creditors uncovered $21,000 was owed in tax debts to the ATO, $36,000 to landlord Nerotua, $30,000 owed to Revenue NSW, $6000 to an electrical company and close to $2000 to Westpac.

The once-promising restaurateur was at his peak in 2022, having opened restaurant Eros Sydney and neighbouring nightclub Maali in Potts Point, Sinaloa in Double Bay and the Kings Cross Pavilion.

Bar owner and restaurateur Ussi Da Silva Moniz pictured on Twitter/Instagram.

Kings Cross venue Eros at 32 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point Picture / Monique Harmer

But in February last year, the independent Liquor & Gaming Authority ordered Moniz Da Silva’s Potts Point nightclub, Maali Sydney, at the former Candy’s Apartment site to close under a 58-hour short term closure order following the release of CCTV footage of a “violent brawl breaking out” on February 18, 2023.

Moniz Da Silva’s neighbouring restaurant, Eros Sydney, was then forced to close as part of a 60-hour short term closure order following concerns of a “serious breach” of NSW liquor regulations was “likely to occur on the premises’’ on March 3.

Moniz Da Silva’s Kings Cross Pavilion. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The order was based on an application by NSW Police, following a tip-off that members of an outlaw motorcycle gang were plotting to commit an act of retribution.

Just a month later, The Sunday Telegraph revealed the businesses had been shut, Mr Moniz Da Silva was believed to have fled the country and the Fair Work Ombudsman confirmed it was investigating reports of underpayments to staff across venues owned by the eastern suburbs man.

Following its closure, the former Bayswater Rd site of Eros Restaurant was then revived by Kings Cross landlord John Ibrahim, as part of a multimillion-dollar shoptop housing plan.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Mr Ibrahim.

A NSW Police spokesman told The Daily Telegraph Moniz Da Silva had not been reported as a missing person.