Gold Coast restaurant dynasty torn apart as founder sues son
A bitter legal battle has erupted at the heart of one of the Gold Coast's most celebrated dining institutions, with seafood restaurant pioneer Nick Omeros launching Supreme Court action against his own son to block the operation of a new Isle of Capri venue.
Nick Omeros, 83 and co-founder of the iconic Omeros Bros seafood empire, filed proceedings in the Supreme Court of Queensland in Brisbane on May 20 against his son John Omeros and his newly incorporated company Omeros Capri Pty Ltd — the entity established to operate waterfront restaurant Johnny Omeros on Capri.
According to court documents obtained by the Gold Coast Bulletin, Omeros senior is seeking declarations that his son breached his duties as co-director of Omeros Bros Pty Ltd, the company that ran the family's famous Marina Mirage restaurant until its recent closure due to redevelopment. He is pursuing permanent injunctions preventing his son from trading on the Omeros name and its goodwill, and from drawing on the original company's funds in pursuit of the Capri venture. Compensation for the alleged misappropriation of company assets is also sought.
As an alternative, Omeros senior is asking the court to wind up Omeros Bros Pty Ltd in insolvency, alleging liabilities exceeding $2.15 million, including close to $1 million allegedly owed to the Australian Taxation Office and more than $400,000 to trade creditors.
In an affidavit supporting his application, Omeros senior recounts founding the original Omeros Bros at Marina Mirage alongside his late brother Angelo in 1989, with his son John joining as co-director in 2006. When the Marina Mirage redevelopment forced the restaurant's closure, he said both men explored a new location together, attending three meetings with a prospective Isle of Capri landlord.
"It was my intention to continue myself in the operations at a new premises in the same manner as I was at the Marina Mirage premises," he states in his affidavit. "I was not, and still am not, ready to retire."
He claims he was blindsided when he discovered John and daughter Sara had quietly incorporated Omeros Capri Pty Ltd — with John as sole director — to run the new restaurant without him. Sara is not named in the proceedings.
"John and Sara did not inform me ... the restaurant at the Capri location would be any different from the original Omeros restaurant ... and I would be excluded completely from the operations of the restaurant at the Capri location," Omeros senior states.
He further alleges the new venue's menu borrows heavily from the original, and that public perception — supported by prior coverage in this masthead — is that Johnny Omeros on Capri is simply a continuation of the family brand in a new setting.
John Omeros and his lawyers Delphi Partners did not respond to requests for comment. The matter is listed for hearing on June 10.
Johnny Omeros on Capri is already trading at the Capri On Via Roma complex. When the Gold Coast Bulletin visited during a recent Friday lunch service, the venue was operating well below the capacity of its established neighbours, with no external signage marking its presence.
Jonathan Jackson, 26th May 2026
