Beloved Margaret River eatery to close

Popular Margaret River curry canteen Dahl Daddys – arguably the best thing to happen to skate parks since the introduction of skateboarding to the Olympics – will finish its Margaret River skate park residency at the end of May.

Or to put it in more direct terms: you, me and anyone else who appreciates full-throttle Burmese and southern Asian cooking have just two months (or 36 more services) to get their hit of nourishing red-lentil dahl, flaky parathas cradling local fish, and all the warm and fuzzies that come from eating nourishing food in an alfresco, community setting.

Popular Australian cooking personality Andy Hearnden (aka Andy Cooks) recently told his 4 million Instagram followers Dahl Daddys was “one of the most interesting meals of my life.”

Dahl Daddy’s Margaret River. Credit: Zaneta Van Zyl

Dahl Daddys owners Corey Rozario and Imogin Mitchell were told that the space was no longer available for them to lease after June. While the decision caught the couple off-guard, they are taking a reflective approach.

“Having to close was unexpected, but we’re OK with it,” Rozario said.

“We’ve had a lot of fun over the past two years, and we’ve learned a lot. We absolutely love what we’ve created, we’re proud of ourselves, and we’re so happy to have such a supportive community. This is just the beginning.”

Mitchell and Rozario are already hatching plans for life after the skate park: think collaborations, pop-ups and a potential Australian tour with national interest in such a road trip likely to be high after the Andy Cooks endorsement.

But their priority remains locking in a new Dahl Daddys headquarters.

“We’re excited for our new chapter,” Rozario said.

“What that new chapter is, I’m not 100 per cent sure. We don’t have a building locked in yet, but we’re on the hunt and we’re open-minded. I’m confident something will pop up that we can make work.”

There’s just one important non-negotiable. Both the new building and new chapter need to be based in the Margaret River region.

“Margaret River is home,” Rozario said. “We love the community and produce. I really enjoy working hand in hand with small suppliers and growers. It’s taken time to build these relationships and I really cherish them … and we feel that there’s a place for us here and that we’re also cherished.”

Dahl Daddy’s final service at the Margaret River skate park is on Saturday, May 31. Details for a goodbye party will be announced soon.