Three Blue Ducks to open restaurant in Astra Alpine Lodge

Darren Robertson and Mark Labrooy are spreading their Three Blue Duck wings a little further this winter. In addition to The Gully Bar and Restaurant at Falls, the pair will be helming the kitchen of the nearby Astra Alpine Lodge.

The Three Blue Ducks stint at Astra starts on June 27.

“It's a cool little space,” says Robertson. “Super close to The Gully and where we used to hang out after service. It's pretty oldy-worldy and quite warm with couches and a cool bar. We don't want to change it much - just transform the bar a little and do some really good food”.

Korean and Mexican street food will be the focus of the new venture.

“It's a real mixed crowd at Falls Creek so you can't just do the whole rock'n'roll bar thing," Robertson says.

"There's lots of families in the early evening and I think the restaurant will lend itself well to that. There'll be some healthy options as well as fried chicken. We'll probably have some bands on later in the evening.”

The Three Blue Ducks is a one hat restaurant in Bronte owned by five mates with fine dining backgrounds and a mutual love of surfing and snowboarding. The other three ducks are Jeff Bennett, Chris Sorrell and Sam Reid-Boquist. The team is also set to open The Farm by Three Blue Ducks in December - a restaurant and 30 hectare farm located five kilometres north-west of Byron Bay.

Astra Alpine Lodge, 5 Sitzmark St, Falls Creek, 03 5758 3496, astralodge.com.au