Two-hatted Bowral restaurant Biota Dining in liquidation

Bowral two-hat restaurant Biota Dining was weighed down with liabilities of $761,708 and had just $698 in the bank when it slipped into liquidation.

A report from insolvency firm SV Partners paints a bleak picture for Viles Group (formerly trading as Biota Dining), with employees owed $288,368, trade creditors $207,283, the ATO $166,057 and related creditors $100,000. It had just $40,698 in assets.

"Our preliminary investigation has concluded that the company was likely insolvent from 1 July 2017."

Liquidator Shumit Banerjee says bushfires had left the business vulnerable. "COVID was the final nail," Banerjee says.

Operated by talented chef James Viles, Biota grew produce on site and the kitchen team was often seen foraging in the area.

In recent days diners with restaurant gift vouchers contacted Good Food after failing to get a response from the restaurant or chef via social media. We also reached out to Viles for comment.