Cairns restaurateurs expand their horizons to Townsville

Two successful Cairns restaurateurs have expanded to Townsville’s eat street.

Shaun McLaren, Abdul Dumbuya and Mazhar Ahmed inside the the new Copper Bar and Grill restaurant in Palmer St.

A restaurant finding success in Cairns providing modern contemporary food is set to repeat the formula in Townsville.

Copper Bar and Grill is opening in Palmer St in a large ground floor tenancy adjoining the Grand Hotel and Apartments where the menu will mirror the steaks and ribs, chicken, seafood and pasta dishes at Cairns.

The venture is the second by business partners Mazhar Ahmed and Abdul Dumbuya who have big plans to expand further into the North Queensland market.

They met while working in a restaurant in Cairns and have shown to be a good team with Indian-born Mazhar working front of house and Sierra Leone-born Abdul providing a point of difference as a chef.

“Townsville has lots of good steak places. We are not saying we are going to be better than them but our style is totally different than what is offered here,” Mazhar said.

Shaun McLaren, Abdul Dumbuya and Mazhar Ahmed outside the the new Copper Bar and Grill restaurant in Palmer St.

That difference comes with South African and Asian influences and the expertise of chef Addul with house-made sauces and basting of the meat.

Abdul said his basting sauce had a sweetness and was also quite peppery which complemented their chargrill methods.

“It adds flavour to the steak and adds that tenderness as well,” Abdul said.

The partners have taken on a five-year lease to 240sq m premises previously occupied by flame-grilled chicken chain Nando’s which closed around five years ago.

They have invested an expansive new fit-out including a new kitchen and a large bar which forms the centrepiece for seating for around 150 people both inside and al fresco.

Colliers leasing agent Shaun McLaren said Copper Bar and Grill was an exciting new operator for Townsville’s premier dining and accommodation destination.

“I think it’s great for Palmer St to have these successful operators come in and help get it back to the premier dining street that it was,” Mr McLaren said.

Copper Bar and Grill is looking to launch by the weekend of January 28 and 29 if not sooner.

Mazhar said they were fortunate to have secured well-known restaurant operator Fernando Gesa as its Townsville general manager who would have a team of almost 20 staff.

They will have an online reservation system as well as cater to walk-in trade but will not provide takeaway.

Originally published as Cairns restaurateurs expand their horizons to Townsville