The Lars Team Are Opening A French Neighbourhood Bistro In Nobby Beach

It’s been a couple of years since Lars Bar & Grill opened as The Oxley’s coastal dream of a restaurant with its hyper-local produce and fire-kissed touch. In that time, the team have perfected the nuances of modern Australian dining so it makes sense that they’re ready to turn their focus to global flavours in the form of a timeless French bistro set to open in Nobby Beach very soon. 

Bistro Margaux has been a long-time coming, as owner and chef Lars Kollrepp aspired to bridge the warmth of Parisian brasseries with Gold Coast’s signature relaxed way of life on the seaside. 

Image credit: Bistro Margaux | Supplied

"From the very beginning, the vision was to create a French wine and Champagne bar serving honest, classic French food,” said Kollrep. “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.”

Bistro Margaux is designed to be familiar and approachable, making it a great starting point if you’re yet to dive into French cuisine just as it is a booking you’ll keep coming back to for exceptional dining complemented by a neighbourly atmosphere. Classic dishes are on the menu with authenticity at front of mind, but it’s also a true Gold Coaster where you can stop in for a glass of wine with your pup. 

Image credit: Bistro Margaux | Supplied

Kollrepp has crafted the offering alongside Chef Jacob Martin (a Lars icon since day one) to read like a hall of fame featuring France’s best comfort dishes. There’s house-made pork terrine, French onion soup gratinée, cheese souffle with creamed leek sauce and Burgundy-style escargot (when in Paris, after all). For mains, the confit duck leg, steak frites, and Stockyard beef cheek bourguignon with Paris mash are a timely addition as they’re the kind of hearty meal you crave in winter. The menu will evolve throughout the year, with Margaux sharing the produce-first mindset that has made Lars so renowned. 

Image credit: Bistro Margaux | Supplied

You can trust the French to know their way around a wine list, and Margaux’s sommelier Hubert Auffret will make them proud with a carefully curated vino selection and Champagne program that showcases top producers and boutique vineyards alike. If sips are all you’re after, you can swing by from 4pm for drinks and snacks before the full dinner menu comes into play from 5pm. There will also be a late-night menu for those who can always be tempted by another round. 

Image credit: Bistro Margaux | Supplied

You’ll find Bistro Margaux just across the street from Lars, in the space that previously held Monsieur Chow at 3/2215 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach. Bistro Margaux officially opens on 5 August with a grand opening celebration slated for 14 August.