Restaurant liquidation: business behind King Crab Co restaurant at Marina Mirage falls into liquidation

The owner of a crab restaurant launched last year says the closure of the eatery is just ‘temporary’ in the wake of the business going into liquidation.

King Crab Co at Marina Mirage has closed.

THE owner of a crab restaurant launched last year at Marina Mirage says the closure of the eatery is just “temporary” in the wake of the business going into liquidation.

Documents filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission show Rory Smit, director of Seaside Dining Group Pty Ltd, which traded as King Crab Co, applied to voluntarily wind up the company yesterday.

Seaside Dining Group has two restaurants with one at Marina Mirage in Main Beach billed as having the “Best Crab in Gold Coast” and being renowned for its “classic Louisiana-style crab boil”.

The first opened in Bulimba, Brisbane, earlier last year.

King Crab Co at Marina Mirage opened to great fanfare late last year but has closed after being in operation less than a year. Pictured is Karleigh Pearson, 22, from Mermaid Beach, sampling the crab delights after it opened.

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Mr Smit said this morning the operation of the restaurant was his “private business”.

He said he was currently going through the process of liquidation, but had not finalised details with the liquidator.

“We’ve shut down temporarily at Marina Mirage while we renegotiate conditions with parties involved with running the restaurant,” he said.

Mr Smit said the Bulimba restaurant was still open and “doing fine”.

The liquidator for Seaside Dining Group, Michael Dullaway, of Pearce & Heers, has been contacted for comment.

King Crab Co at Marina Mirage has closed.

HELM BAR BUSINESS GOES INTO ADMINISTRATION

The Bulletin reported last year that the Gold Coast restaurant’s key point of difference was its signature crab offering, available in two ways, either as the traditional ‘crab in a bag’ or chilled on ice.

The crabs came from all over the world including Alaskan king and snow crab, Australian blue swimmers, Fraser Island spanner crab and Jonah crab claws, ranging in price from $38 to $75 per half kilo.

The Gold Coast restaurant had a rating of 3.5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor with reviews ranging from “terrible” to “excellent”.

One said a lunch booked four weeks ago was a “let down” because they had to wait for Bloody Mary drinks before being told there was only enough tomato juice for two drinks.

A lobster roll that was served was also said to contain “very little lobster or crab” and to have been “loaded with sauce”.

Other reviews were far more complimentary. One said there was “amazing food”.

“Was here a Saturday night with some friends. Everything was perfect. The food, vibe and service,” the review reads.