The team behind Lars Bar & Grill is opening French restaurant Bistro Margaux in Nobby Beach
It’s been almost two years since chef Lars Kollrepp opened the doors to his eponymous Lars Bar & Grill at The Oxley, quickly earning a loyal following for sensational steaks, seafood and polished dining without the stuffiness. Now, Lars is ready to introduce Nobby Beach to something a little different. On Wednesday August 5, the team will open Bistro Margaux, a classic French neighbourhood bistro built around timeless dishes, excellent wine and the simple pleasure of settling in for the evening. Here’s what we know so far …
For Lars, Bistro Margaux isn’t simply a follow-up to Lars Bar & Grill. It’s a concept he’s wanted to bring to life for years – a proper French neighbourhood bistro centred on classic cooking, great wine and Champagne, and the kind of easy hospitality that encourages you to stay for another glass. He knew exactly what he wanted to create, he just needed the right place to do it.
“From the very beginning, the vision was to create a French wine and Champagne bar serving honest, classic French food,” Lars says. “We weren’t looking to simply open another restaurant – we were waiting for the right space to create the kind of neighbourhood bistro we always wished existed.”
The result is intended to feel as suited to Nobby Beach as it would a Parisian neighbourhood. From 4:00 pm, locals can pull up at an outdoor table with their dog, order a bottle of wine and a few snacks, before the venue shifts gears after sunset into a more intimate French dining room. Later again, Bistro Margaux will take on the feel of a lively wine bar, with a late-night menu for those not quite ready to call it.
In the kitchen, Lars has teamed up with long-time right-hand man Jacob Martin, who has been with Lars Bar & Grill since day one and progressed from apprentice to trusted chef. Together, the pair has created a menu grounded in classic French cooking, and with Bistro Margaux opening in the dwindling days of winter, there’s still time to make the most of some of France’s heartier classics.
There will be Escargots a la Bourguignonne, house-made pork terrine, French onion soup gratinee and classic cheese souffle with creamed leek sauce to start. From there, settle into confit duck leg, steak frites with your choice of Bearnaise, pepper or entrecote sauce, whole yellow belly flounder meuniere or Stockyard beef cheek Bourguignon with Paris mash. Seasonal seafood and premium local produce will round out a menu designed to evolve throughout the year.
You might like
While the style of cooking may be different, Lars’ approach to produce remains the same. Expect local seafood, quality meat and seasonal ingredients to find their way into French classics throughout the menu.
Naturally, wine is a significant part of the equation. Sommelier Hubert Auffret is overseeing the French-focused wine and Champagne program, bringing together iconic producers and smaller boutique vineyards selected to complement the food and the convivial style of dining the team hopes to create.
Ultimately, Bistro Margaux has been conceived less as an occasion-only restaurant and more as the kind of place that can become part of your week – an after-work aperitif one evening, dinner with the family the next, a bottle of Champagne with friends or a spontaneous late-night meal.
“We hope Bistro Margaux becomes the kind of place people return to throughout the week,” Lars says. “Somewhere relaxed but special, where great food, exceptional wine and genuine hospitality bring people together.”
Bistro Margaux opens in Nobby Beach on August 5, with its official grand opening celebration on August 14.
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.