Louis Smyrk: Luz Restaurant owner nabbed double the legal limit after work knock-offs

The chef owner of a top Tasmanian restaurant has pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving, while an unrelated charge of destroying property is set to be dismissed. Details from inside court.

Luz Restaurant chef and co-owner Louis Kimberley Banjo Smyrk, 38. Picture: Instagram

The owner and head chef of a top Tasmanian restaurant has pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving, while an unrelated charge of destroying property is set to be dismissed.

Launceston man Louis Kimberley Banjo Smyrk, 39, appeared in Launceston Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to driving exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit.

The court heard Smyrk, who owns Launceston’s Luz Restaurant – located within the Grand Hotel on Tamar St – alongside his partner, was detected drink driving on Cimitiere St at about 11.25pm on September 16.

He returned a reading of 0.101 per cent blood-alcohol content, tipping him narrowly into the mid-range of offending.

The court heard Smyrk had “consumed a few drinks” while finishing work at his nearby restaurant, and had waited to drive, recognising he was likely to be over the limit, but that he “obviously did not wait long enough”.

The Grand Hotel Launceston. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Defence lawyer Olivia Jenkins told the court the reason Smyrk drove was that he needed his car the following morning to drive his 16-month-old son, as his wife does not drive.

She said there was nothing about Smyrk’s manner of driving that caused police concern, he was simply stopped from a random breath test.

Ms Jenkins said her client opened Luz in 2021 and “getting it up and running was a lot of work, but it’s starting to hit its stride”.

She said Smyrk had been a chef for 21 years, working in a number of Michelin star restaurants. Smyrk had worked under France’s renowned Pourcell brothers, Gordon Ramsay, and also did a stint at London’s world-famous Nobu Japanese restaurant.

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Magistrate Evan Hughes told Smyrk he was clearly an “accomplished person in your trade”.

“Perhaps it’s to Launceston’s benefit that you bring that background and experience to bear on the local cuisine,” he said.

He fined Smyrk $780 and disqualified him for driving for six months. The disqualification was postponed by 42 days to allow for a restricted licence application.

In an unrelated matter, a charge of destroying property Smyrk has faced since mid-2022 is set to be dismissed.

The Mercury previously reported that Smyrk was charged with destroying two wooden chairs belonging to his partner on July 12.

However, the charge is now listed for dismissal in late November. Smyrk had not entered a plea to the charge.