Centro Italian Ristorante opens at Toowoomba Central Plaza in CBD
An authentic Italian restaurant has opened with a bang in a growing foodie district of the Toowoomba CBD. Here’s why the owners think it will be a success.
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One of the fastest-growing foodie districts in the CBD has gotten even larger, with a new Italian restaurant launching inside the Toowoomba Central Plaza for the first time in three years.
The Centro Italian Ristorante on Ruthven St opened with a bang on Friday night, hosting more than 140 people including Olympic gold medallist Steven Bradbury for a Great Gatsby-themed party.
Featuring an extensive menu, the venue will employ nearly a dozen people and open for breakfast (not with Italian food), lunch and dinner.
It’s the first time the space has been used as a restaurant since the pandemic hit in early 2020.
Centro, which will also be the dining space for hotel guests and provide room service, has been spearheaded by veteran chef and restaurateur Greg O’Leary.
Mr O’Leary, who has worked in some of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney and the Gold Coast, believed there was clear demand for the cuisine in Toowoomba.
“If you look at all the Italian restaurants around here they are all full, so it’s one of the favourite cuisines around here,” he said.
“On the weekends there are a lot of people around trying to get into restaurants.
“I thought it was a great idea to put an Italian restaurant in here with a great bar, great atmosphere and great music.”
Centro sits between hotels Oaks Toowoomba and the Burke and Wills, which both sport popular restaurants.
Central Apartment Group marketing manager Paul Ison said the southern end of Ruthven St was quickly become a destination for Toowoomba foodies, something the company wanted to reinvolve itself.
“It was probably harder to keep the restaurant competitive when we were the only one up this end of the street, so having other restaurants is great,” he said.
“The more that open, the more people will be interested.”
The venue will also have Bradbury’s Last Man Standing beer on tap, along with a host of beverages.
Opening night gallery:
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