Sunshine Coast bar and restaurant Tapas 10 in Mapleton reopens with new chef

A popular Sunshine Coast hinterland bar and restaurant is undergoing a dramatic transformation after a last-gasp lifeline in the form of a new chef has prevented the doors from closing. 

Tapas 10 restaurant and owner John McMaster. Picture: Supplied.

The owner of a popular Sunshine Coast hinterland bar says he’s reopening and transforming into a cafe with a new chef now on board after having to close his doors for more than a month because he couldn't find a cook. 

Tapas 10 is a bar and restaurant along Post Office Rd, Mapleton that will be reopening from November 10 from Thursday to Sunday after temporarily shutting down on October 1 because it lost and couldn’t replace its chef.

Tapas 10 owner John McMaster said he was relieved to hire a new chef as he was nearing the end of being able to continue to pump money into the venue before he would have to consider selling it or permanently closing.

“I probably only had another couple of months left of self-funding,” he said.

Tapas 10 owner John McMaster. Picture: Supplied.

While he was now able to reopen, Mr McMaster said he had to transform his former bar into a cafe as he hired a morning chef, a 27-year-old man from Nambour who was “pretty excited” to take the reins.

He said his four-person business would be swapping its former dinner menu of Spanish tapas, steaks, and chicken schnitzels for a menu with five “fancy” breakfast dishes alongside classic items, such as eggs benedict.

Mr McMaster said he would be wheeling in a commercial coffee machine too. 

He said he was still seeking to open for dinner, but needed a second chef to climb aboard.

Tapas 10 restaurant in Mapleton. Picture: supplied.

Before Mr McMaster landed a new chef, he said he had been dangling new recruits an enticing salary of $1200 for a four-day week to simply compete with restaurants across the region.

He hasn't been the only one struggling either.

Several popular restaurants along Hastings St, Noosa revealed earlier this year they had to reduce breakfast, lunch and dinner hours as they struggled to find staff, such as chefs and baristas.

Conversely, the owner of a new beachfront bar on the Sunshine Coast said the staffing crisis was showing signs of easing as he was able to find staff and actually increase his opening hours.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast bar and restaurant Tapas 10 in Mapleton reopens with new chef