Welcome to new-look Bingara Roxy Cafe
North West Magazine, June 25th 2012, page 3
Photograph: Vio Nedianu, left, and his assistant, Davinder Bobby Singh, are looking forward to the opening of the Roxy Cafe this week.
Almost half a century since it last served a milk shake or a mixed grill, Bingara's Roxy Cafe is again open for business.
The iconic establishment once a part of the magnificent Roxy Theatre complex in Bingara's main street, will re-open its doors on Wednesdy to coincide with the town's annual Orange Festival and with Bingara Central School's 150 year celebration reunion.
The theatre, restored to its former glory and now regarded as one of the State's premier tourism facilities, has been hosting world-class artists and stage and screen productions for several years.
It was only natural that the cafe, closed for close to 46 years, would also be 'brought back to life'.
Restoration was complete last year in time for the 75th Anniversary Gala Ball which celebrated the town's Greek connection with an unforgettable evening of feasting and festivity under the stars.
The only hurdle was finding someone to keep the cafe's doors open. Enter Vio and Ayesha Nedianu. Vio, a native of Timisoara in Romania, came to Bingara when he saw the search was on for someone to take over the Roxy, saw what had been done to the cafe, and fell in love all over again.
Vio and Ayesha and five of their eight children - Amira, Zacharia, Ramona, Latifa and Hercules - have left Brisbane and their family Italian ristorante behind to make a new home in the town known as the ‘Gem of the New England’.
Together with Davinder (Bobby) Singh, Vio and Ayesha have been "burning the midnight oil" to ensure everything is in readiness for the weekend's big opening. "This is a great opportunity for our family to establish something important in this wonderful town," said Vio.
"We have been made feel incredibly welcome by the people of this wonderful town and the council and the people who are behind making the Roxy complex one of the true treasures of the region," said Vio.
''We fell in love with Bingara and the cafe and we plan to make it once again a place for people to gather and enjoy fine food.''
The new menu at the Roxy Cafe will feature lunch fare and a special evening presentation, specialising in Italian, Indian and Australian cuisine.
''Lunch will be light and practical, with wraps, sandwiches, calamari, bolognaise and functional meals.
''For our evening menu, there will be exquisite entrees and great desserts: and we are going to feature a lot of fresh seafood, with for example a risotto with crab, prawn, bug meat, chilli, white wine, garlic and fresh tomato sauce," Vio added.
"We will be providing fine Italian cured meats, select olives and cheeses and our coffee is the super boutique roasted Rouge provided especially for us from our good friends in Brisbane," Vi o added.
Fully licensed, patrons will be able to enjoy a selection of local and imported wines and beers.
The set-up or the refurbished Roxy Cafe lends itself perfectly to functions such as weddings, birthdays and parties and Vio and Ayesha plan to cater to that market.
They encourage and welcome tour buses and visitors to the nearby Roxy Theatre who also want to enjoy a fine meal in an ambiance reminiscent of an era that was a once-thriving Greek cafe culture.
Download pages from the North West Magzine pertaining to the opening of the Roxy Cafe, the Orange Festival, Bingara, the 150th anniversary of the Bingara Public School, and places of historical interest in the region:
North_West_Magazine_Composite_A.pdf
The "re-opening" of the Roxy coincided with the Orange Festival, Bingara, and the 150th anniversary of the Bingara Public School.
