Customers narrow escape after car crashes into Giardinetto restaurant

Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a car smashed through a popular Brisbane restaurant.

Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a car smashed through popular Italian restaurant, Giardinetto.

The driver allegedly attempted to flee the scene after the two-vehicle crash resulted in their car going through the Fortitude Valley restaurant on Friday night.

“We managed to fix up the restaurant this morning,” said Giardinetto owner Jaga McGuinness.

“We’re open for business tonight which is lucky because we’re fully booked.

“Although we won’t have outdoor seating, I can’t face the risk of having outdoor furniture right now.

“A lot of our regulars have reached out to check if we’re ok, it’s very touching,” the restaurant owner said.

“Investigations into this incident are ongoing,” said a spokesman from Queensland Police.

Emergency crews were called to Giardinetto Italian restaurant on the corner of Brunswick Street and McLachlan St in Fortitude Valley just after 7pm.

No-one was injured in the incident. Picture: Jaga McGuinness

Emergency services were called just after 7pm. Picture: Jaga McGuinness

McGuinness said people should have been sitting outside at the time, but the diners were running late for their booking.

“It’s a miracle that the booking who were meant to be sitting outside were running late,” he said.

“After 59 years in business this is the first time anything like this has happened to us.

“There’s damage to the glass and furniture but thankfully everyone is okay.”

It’s believed the car ended up against the entrance of the restaurant after it was involved in a collision with another vehicle.

Originally published as Customers narrow escape after car crashes into Giardinetto restaurant