SCOTT Davis, the self-confessed cuisine connoisseur and hospitality veteran who was the consultant responsible for catapulting the Lakehouse Restaurant at The Entrance into high profile in just a few months, is set to do the same with the Watagan Lodge.
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Except that this time Mr Davis won't be a consultant and the Watagan Lodge will become Watagan House with a change in just about everything to match the change in name.
"Let's just say I was approached to have a look at it [the Watagan Lodge]," he told the Lakes Mail last week.
And he wasn't fooled by the patina of vacancy that has coated the mountain retreat premises since it closed around a year ago.
"All I saw was a magnificent opportunity; an architect-designed restaurant purpose-built along the lines of a Swiss mountain chalet right down to its own minstrel gallery and open verandahs for dining at tree-top level. You couldn't dream of better premises for a restaurant. I have a long-standing colleague who is a fabulous chef and we agreed it was something we just couldn't pass up," he said.
The result is that Mr Davis will be kick-starting a whole new dining experience at the reborn Watagan House fully licensed restaurant - as the owner.
It isn't just the restaurant that will change, either.
"We have taken over everything, including the accommodation apartments and the event and function centre. Both offer extraordinary prospects, but one thing at a time, restaurant first," he said.
The imminent opening date has yet to be confirmed but the hours to start with will be dinner Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm, and breakfast and lunch at weekends from 9am.
Fancy a delicious deconstructed beef Wellington? Prawn and mussel dumplings with beetroot and ginger puree?
It's coming.
