‘Back by popular demand’: The Coffee Club serving Sizzler cheese toast

The all-time greatest of Australian restaurant sides, dubbed a “cultural icon”, has risen from the dead – for a limited time only.

The all-time greatest of Australian side dishes, Sizzler cheese toast, has risen from the dead – for a limited time only.

Inarguably the sole reason to visit the all-you-can-eat buffet chain before it became a mass casualty of Covid-19, the iconic food has had plenty of imitators – and more than one “authentic” recipe – in the four, hard years we’ve been without, but is impossible to truly replicate. Until now.

On the heels of a one-night-only Sizzler pop-up last week hosted by Queensland KIIS 97.3 radio hosts Robin Bailey and Kip Wightman at The Coffee Club, the eatery chain has announced it’ll serve up cheese toast at all of its venues for a fortnight, from July 24.

“We’ve gone to great lengths to bring the original Sizzler Cheese Toast to The Coffee Club,” The Coffee Club CEO, Scott Meneilly, said in a statement of the exclusive partnership.

“Everyone knows Sizzler’s Cheese Toast. It’s been an Aussie favourite for decades and a comeback not to be missed.”

Sizzler cheese toast will be available at The Coffee Club locations nationwide, for two weeks only.

Making the deal even tastier? The “delectable slice of nostalgia” will set consumers back a mere $4.99.

“Sizzler and its family-style dining left an indelible mark on Australians who grew up with the iconic offering,” Mr Meneilly said.

“The return of Sizzler Cheese Toast at The Coffee Club isn’t just about food; it’s about bringing together two nostalgic brands and celebrating a cultural icon.”

The Coffee Club has announced the triumphant return of the legendary Sizzler Cheese Toast. Picture: Supplied

‘It’s about bringing together two nostalgic brands and celebrating a cultural icon’. Picture: Supplied

The Coffee Club announcement follows Brisbane eatery Fritzenburger procuring an actual cheese toast machine at auction in June from the shuttered restaurant’s Maroochydore location.

“The team were very excited at the procurement of the machine and to offer the iconic item to our customers,” a spokesperson told The Courier-Mail.

Fritzenberger, best known for its burgers, parmies, wings and ribs, prepares their cheese toast with the holy trinity of ingredients – thick white bread, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and “crystal salted butter”.

“We’ve stayed true to the iconic recipe,” executive chef Sebastian Calais said.

“But, we’ve used higher quality ingredients to really intensify the flavours. There may never be a better way to do it.”

Sizzler closed all of its Australian restaurants in 2020. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Australians were first exposed to the restaurant’s famed bowling club carpets and American diner booths 39 years ago, when the suburban dining stalwart’s first restaurant opened in the Brisbane suburb of Annerley.

At its peak in 1993, the chain boasted 83 locations nationwide. Diners all around the country enjoyed the endless vats of Alfredo, potato skins and full control over a soft serve machine with not one but two flavours.

But, Sizzler’s luck began to turn and restaurants across the country began to close.

The final nine, located in Queensland at Mermaid Beach, Loganholme, Toowoomba, Maroochydore and Caboolture; in Western Australia in Innaloo, Kelmscott and Morley; and in New South Wales in Campbelltown, eventually had their fate sealed by the global pandemic, with the last of them closing on November 16, 2020.

Parent company Collins Foods made the “difficult decision” to close the chain for good after sales struggled to recover from the peak of Covid-19 impacts.