Second-generation chef Lars Kollrepp to open Lars Bar & Grill at The Oxley 1823
Assuming prime position on the ground floor of The Oxley 1823 will be Lars Bar & Grill. At the helm of the show-stopping new 110-seater is Lars Kollrepp, who has hospitality in his blood, shining spoons at his father’s restaurant Oskars on Burleigh at just six years of age. At 15, Lars commenced his apprenticeship under the tutelage of his dad and renowned chef, Marty Kollrepp, who put him through his paces.
When the iconic Burleigh establishment called last drinks, Lars headed across the road to The Fish House and asked Simon Gloftis for a job. The only job Simon had going at the time was for a pastry chef, so that’s what he did, before moving over to commis chef.
Lars stayed with Simon, working as sous chef at the Gold Coast’s Hellenika before opening Nineteen at The Star and moving his family to Brisbane to take the head chef position at SK Steak & Oyster. Eventually, Lars was overseeing all of Simon’s restaurants including Hellenika at The Calile Hotel, SK Steak & Oyster, Sunshine and Sushi Room.
“It was a big job,” Lars tells us, before adding that it was a lot of fun. Ultimately, he decided it was time to move back home to the Gold Coast to realise his dream of opening his own restaurant, which is set to feature modern Australian cuisine.
When it comes to the menu, he’s keeping some details under wraps, but we’re told to expect a selection of premium protein cooked on a custom-built wood-fired grill alongside hyper-local seafood and Queensland-driven produce.
Although Lars has plenty of fine-dining experience under his belt, the venue is set to showcase what he calls “Gold Coast style”, which is a little more laid-back and accessible.
The venue, we’re told, will exude a classic and timeless feel and feature a private dining room as well as bar seating and a scattering of tables streetside. Lars Bar & Grill is aiming to open in early August. We’ll have all of the delicious details when it does.
Joining Lars Bar & Grill on the upper levels will be a Latin-American concept from the group behind Burleigh’s Rick Shores and Brisbane’s Southside. The venue will spread across two levels and feature a restaurant, an open-air rooftop ceviche bar and private dining rooms. Suffice to say, we’re excited.
