Meet John and Reina, as they prepare to open Lyrics Restaurant, and bring fine food to the Commercial Hotel, Kaniva. After fifty years of working all around the world in hospitality, John decided that “now was the time to run things his way” and create a new venture.

John is hoping to fill the gap and build on the destination pub experience of the eclectic Commercial Hotel.

He has a passion for food and is incorporating local produce into the new menu, which will include local flavours such as lamb, duck, pasta, lentils and chickpeas. John endeavours to “bring good wholesome food with a twist” and his menu will continue to evolve and change to meet customer demand. Gluten Free, Vegetarian and Vegan menus are also being added.

Many of you may remember John from his days as the chef at the Mundulla Hotel. He trained as an apprentice chef in Adelaide in 1972, opening his first restaurant in Victor Harbor as a 21 yr old. He’s no stranger to tourism, working as the executive chef in the Blue Mountains, 3 years as an executive chef in Papua New Guinea. He has worked in a variety of hotels and restaurants in the UK, including a Country Manor, plus the Philippines and Adelaide. His catering business has included large corporate functions and wine festivals of up to 2,500 people, plus Variety Club bashes, weddings and even Pro Hart’s 50th in Broken Hill. Reina is a Civil Engineer by trade, but also became a Restaurateur in the Philippines, before moving to Australia in 2012.

Lyrics Restaurant will welcome guests on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 pm starting May 2nd, with a special Mother’s Day lunch from 12 to 3pm.

For bookings and enquiries regarding special functions, please contact John at 0467 007 954.

Additionally, John extends an invitation to musicians interested in performing for Mother’s Day and other functions.

This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 1 May 2024.