YOYO – A New Local For Relaxed Dining
When YOYO first opened along Gympie terrace, it was received with glowing reviews and named as one of the region’s best new restaurants. Now, owners Marc Romanella and Lara Graham, want to rewind and take this must-see restaurant back to its roots.
You may know YOYO for its fine dining and stunning internationally-inspired menu with rave reviews making
this Gympie Terrace restaurant a must-do. Foodies came from far and wide to experience this new taste sensation and hospitality veteran Marc along with his partner and sommelier Lara said the original YOYO was a great way to test the waters.
Now, they have moved to a larger venue and are ready to create a space that will enter the local zeitgeist, becoming a regular hang out for those who simply want to enjoy a beer, cocktail, take in views of the river or share a meal with mates.
“YOYO is the place where you can come at least once a week,” Marc says.
“You can get the same quality of food and wine as the original Yoyo, but this space is more fun and relaxed,” Lara adds.
When I sat down with Marc and Lara at their (impressively well-stocked) bar, they had just returned from their second holiday in Spain – purely for research! Now back in Noosa, they were tanned, relaxed and ready to inject international flavour and flair into their revised venture, YOYO.
Set on Gympie Terrace, YOYO has now taken over the former site of IS Tapas (yep, the place with the big wooden horse) but Marc and Lara want it to be known as a casual, relaxed dining space that is as much a part of your week as your weekly yoga class.
They are putting their own touch on the iconic venue known for its exceptional and rare water views thanks to the site’s elevation. The wooden horse will stay (Instagrammers rejoice) and of course, the spectacular open-air dining experience will also be on offer.
As Marc explains, YOYO is an expression of what he and Lara love most about dining.
“We are all about grazing, sharing good times and good wine,” he says.
When it comes to the menu, local chef Fraser Hogg is on hand to create Spanish-inspired sensations designed for grazing and sharing. Seasonal produce is used so you can experience a new menu seasonally with fresh and local foods on show.
The bar is impeccable, stocked with 11 beers on tap, most of which are locally-brewed beers and the cocktail menu is cleverly called a Tricks List, paying homage to classic yoyo tricks such as Walk the Dog, Rock the Baby and the Elevator.
Proving her impeccable palette, Sommelier Lara has created an abundant wine menu that was already been awarded two glasses in the Wine List of the Year after only one year in operation. Quite the coup!
The wine list has now tripled with delicious drops sourced from around Australia and the world that will be stored in
a custom-made, temperature-controlled wine cellar. With river views, an impressive drinks list and a menu designed
for sharing, check out what’s tricks at YOYO.
