The Fish House: on Goodwin Tce at Burleigh Heads closing in late February, venue looking for ‘bigger and better’ premises
The Fish House, an iconic Gold Coast restaurant, will close its doors but its staff insists it will return with a vengeance.
Food
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AN ICONIC Gold Coast restaurant will close its doors in coming weeks, but staff expect the hatted beachside venue will reopen “bigger and better” than ever.
The Fish House on Goodwin Tce at Burleigh Heads will open for the last time on Friday, February 28 to clear the way for a new apartment block.
One of the Coast’s most popular foodie haunts, the restaurant has hosted the likes of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Hugh Jackman and Orlando Bloom.
General manager Hawada Zakout said the restaurant – opened by lauded chef and former owner Simon Gloftis of Hellenika fame in 2012 – was already on the hunt for new premises.
But The Fish House will not shift from its beloved home suburb.
Ms Zakout said herself and several dozen workers at the restaurant had been in limbo until early January, waiting to hear what the owners would do with the leased premises.
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“We didn’t really know if the apartments would get approved and we only really found out about the first week of January. That was when it was 100 per cent that it was all going through,” she said.
“It’s quite sad and it was our busiest time. We’ve only just had a breather now and thought we had better let everyone know.”
The Bulletin initially reported in September last year The Fish House would be replaced by the skyhome-style tower. Ms Zakout, staff and loyal diners now have certainty.
“We have a tight-knit group here. It’s a well-oiled mechanical operation and we all work really well together,” she said.
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“But we are planning to open in new premises. We’ll invite the staff back, see who’s interested. It’s a new chapter.
“Burleigh is our first priority. It’s nothing we can rush though. It takes a lot of time and effort and there’s a lot of work behind the scenes.
“We will make sure when we find something that it’s worth it.”
Ms Zakout urged patrons to get in quick if they would like to sample the restaurant’s fare before the last plate hits the table, or return for a favourite dish.
She said customers were “very sad” when told of the closure, but would be eager for the reopening.
“Stay tuned until we find a new location, bigger and better,” Ms Zakout said.
She expected a mad rush would keep the chefs (of which 10 can be in the kitchen for just one service) busy until the end of February.