Cooking up a return

Italian couple step in to revive iconic eatery

AN Italian couple has stepped in to save one of the Gold Coast’s longest-running restaurants to preserve the legacy of the ailing former owner.

Surfers Paradise institution Nicolinis abruptly shut last month, leaving staff out of pocket and high-profile locals lamenting the demise of a local favourite.

But John Ceccato and wife Nives, friends of Nicolinis founder Jack Ulliana, plan to reopen the Surfers Paradise Boulevard corner venue next month after a moderate refurbishment.

The pair, who were regulars, intend to keep the same staff as well as employing members of their extended family in the kitchen and to run it.

“I like the simplicity of the restaurant, it’s worked for 40 years,” Mr Ceccato said.

“It’s always been consistent and for the sake of Jack we want to keep it going.”

Mr and Mrs Ceccato, from the same part of northern Italy as Mr Ulliana, have been in hospitality in hotels and restaurants most of their lives.

“We are not going to change very much – the idea is to keep it the way it is,” he said. “We want to keep the tradition going and we don’t really want the focus on us – we want to it to be on Nicolinis.”

A reopening date of July 14 has been pencilled in and the Ceccatos say they have had support from regulars.

Nicolinis head chef George Sahula, who has worked there for 27 years, said he was very happy to hear of the Ceccatos’ plans and looked forward to returning to his job after a break.

“They are family friends of Jack’s and have the expertise to do what needs to be done. It could not have landed in better hands,” he said.

Mr Ulliana, who has Alzheimer’s disease, first opened Nicolinis in the early 1970s.

Picture: STEVE HOLLAND John Ceccato and his wife Nives have a plan to save Surfers Paradise institution Nicolinis and reopen the restaurant just the way it was with its former staff.