Ex-councillor turned real estate figure Eddy Sarroff opens restaurant at Broadbeach

Ex-councillor turned real estate figure Eddy Sarroff is trying his hand at a third career – this time opening up a restaurant in Broadbeach.

EX-COUNCILLOR turned real estate figure Eddy Sarroff is trying his hand at a third career – this time opening up a restaurant in Broadbeach.

Earlier this month he opened traditional Lebanese restaurant Beirut By Night on Queensland Ave, putting his 23-year-old son Edward Sarroff in charge of the eatery.

The 100sq m premises, below the Sonata building and owned by the Sarroff family, was previously occupied by the award-winning seafood restaurant Yellowfin.

“We chose to be in Broadbeach. Edward was born in Broadbeach and obviously with my connection to the suburb (as former councillor and now as a real estate agent) it was timely (to do the restaurant),” he said.

Former councillor Eddy Sarroff and his son Edward at their new eatery in Broadbeach called Beirut By Night. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

“An opportunity came up and all I can say at this point in time is we’re delighted with the response. We love coming to this spot because of the ambience of the area being opposite Federation Park.”

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Edward, manager at Eddy Sarroff Realty with a background in theatre and education, said they would be doing three nights a week Thursday to Saturday and then possibly expand to serve breakfast and lunch later.

“The next two Saturdays are already booked out,” he said. “The style is traditional Lebanese. We are encouraging people to do the banquet because you get the traditional experience with lots of different dishes.”

Edward said it took a month to be fitted out: “The bones were all there with the colour scheme so it was about redoing the kitchen.

Inside new Broadbeach restaurant Beirut By Night. Photograph: Jason O’Brien.

“Dad felt pretty confident about opening the restaurant. He has been around this food a lot longer than me. He has seen restaurants before and we have had it in the family.

“My aunty, dad’s twin, had Tayta’s on Scarborough St.”

Decorations on the wall at Beirut By Night. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

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Eddy said the menu was similar to Tayta’s but “updated”: “Some of the people that used to go there have picked out that this is connected and they are coming here.”

He said he was motivated to start the restaurant by thinking about opportunities in the space on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic.

“If there was not a pandemic most of the restaurants would be operating at full capacity.”

The name of the restaurant is a tribute to the capital of Lebanon. Photograph: Jason O'Brien.

Eddy said the name of the restaurant was a tribute to the capital of Lebanon, still suffering from last month’s blast that killed almost 200 people and injured 6000.

“The Beirut tragedy has jolted anyone who has an appreciation of what it used to be in its heyday.”

The ex-politician said he was “done” with politics after losing his last tilt at Division 10, which includes Broadbeach.
“I won the primary vote but lost on preferences,” he said.

“I threw my hat in the ring and was delighted with the public support.

“I’m not going to take anything from young (current councillor Darren Taylor), he has a lot to offer.”