Sydney Institution Golden Century closes its doors.

[El Presidente]

 

I loved that place 

Great Chinese open until 4am in the heart of Sydney's China town. 

RIP Golden Century 

DAMN yoou COVID! 

Iconic Sussex Street restaurant closes

COVID-19 lockdowns continue to hurt the hospitality industry, with the closure of another Sydney institution.

The Golden Century Seafood Restaurant on Sussex Street in the Chinatown district had announced it has gone into administration after 31 years of serving Sydney's elite.

The eatery, known for its lobster tanks and political guests, was unable to sign a contract as COVID-19 restrictions continue to make operating in the industry difficult.

The notice of administration was posted on the ASIC website on August 17.

Chifley Advisory has been appointed administrator.

[JohnS]

@jay8354 and @Fuzz are not going to like this news, at all! 😥

[Fuzz]

Nope, I refuse to believe it is gone! Administration does not necessarily mean it is being closed down for good!!

[Ken Gargett]

1 hour ago, El Presidente said:

 

I loved that place 

Great Chinese open until 4am in the heart of Sydney's China town. 

RIP Golden Century 

DAMN yoou COVID! 

Iconic Sussex Street restaurant closes

COVID-19 lockdowns continue to hurt the hospitality industry, with the closure of another Sydney institution.

The Golden Century Seafood Restaurant on Sussex Street in the Chinatown district had announced it has gone into administration after 31 years of serving Sydney's elite.

The eatery, known for its lobster tanks and political guests, was unable to sign a contract as COVID-19 restrictions continue to make operating in the industry difficult.

The notice of administration was posted on the ASIC website on August 17.

Chifley Advisory has been appointed administrator.

tragic news. loved it! so sad. 

highlights were going there after we whomped the all blacks in the 03 world cup semi (although i was in disgrace as i got so excited i rushed off end of game and forgot my sister who did not know sydney, did not know her accommodation, did not have nice things to say about her brother and neither of us had mobiles in those days).

planned a repeat visit the following week but jonny sod took care of that - that and that imbecilic matt rogers and the world's worst kick out of pressure. could not bring myself to go in. sat across the road and had a LE Partagas Pyramide from memory. at least that was good. 

[Fuzz]

I still remember when @jay8354 and I first introduced Rob to the wonders of Golden Century. It was after a cigar event organised by Elie at Love Tilly Devine. It seems Elie had invited half of Bankstown to the event (nearly all of them did not smoke cigars), and he was supposed to have organised food. What did come out, if it made it past all of Elie's mates, wouldn't have fed a squirrel. Not to mention that drinks weren't coming out in a timely manner. So Rob, Jase and I were buying food and drinks from the rear bar of Red Lantern restaurant, just a bit further up the alley. Elie was none too pleased as he said he had organised a "special rate" from his mate at Love Tilly Devine.

Any way, night went long and we were all getting hungry. We decided we'd hit Chinatown for supper and told Elie we were off. He kept telling us he'd be out in 5 minutes and to wait. 15 minutes of waiting, we said bugger it (I recall Rob telling me either I get my car now, or he's leaving in a taxi) and went to Golden Century. Found parking right out front of GC and managed to get a table easily. Always have a chuckle at the memory of the maitre d asking us several times if we were sure we wanted 3kg of pipis. She even brought the 2 bags of pipis to the table to confirm that's how much we wanted before sending them off to the kitchen.

Imagine this, but a mountain of pipis piled high onto a platter with fried vermicelli beneath, instead of a plate.

[El Presidente]

One of the great nights 

The other one was when we had to give Di a "time out" and sent her to the sin bin

[Fuzz]

32 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

One of the great nights 

The other one was when we had to give Di a "time out" and sent her to the sin bin

Di was happy after being let out of the sin bin.

Yes, that is a magnum of sauv blanc next to her.

[bayala]

 Sydney's Union Bosses Fly The CFMEU Flag At Half-Mast Following The Closure Of Golden Century — The Betoota Advocate 

 

 

[westg]

Wow must of been popular . I wish them well, not good to continue to see this happening. 

[Fuzz]

Just now, westg said:

Wow must of been popular . I wish them well, not good to continue to see this happening. 

Popular is not a strong enough word. GC would be packed every single night. Probably went through more seafood than all the other Chinese restaurants in Sydney combined. You could always tell who made it big after a night at the casino, as the table would be loaded with king crab, lobster and pipis. Then there would be the ubiquitous table of asian taxi drivers, getting in  meal before or after clocking on.

Long before Kam Fook was the place to be for politicians, there was GC. And after Kam Fook, there was GC. When you had a hankering for a hot meal after a boozy night out, there was GC. When you were celebrating and needed a few banquet tables, there was GC. And when you just wanted to go out with the family for a great Chinese meal, there was GC.

 

[Ken Gargett]

3 hours ago, Fuzz said:

Di was happy after being let out of the sin bin.

Yes, that is a magnum of sauv blanc next to her.

they make that stuff in magnum? end of civilisation. 

[Duxnutz]

Was a great place! I remember going there after some Sydney cigar gathering and quickly made it a favorite. I can taste those damn Pipis!!! 
 

Fuzz go get the XO sauce recipe. 
 

I’m sure they’ll prob come back as something else when the madness stops. 

[Ken Gargett]

for the article plus photos - https://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/news/restaurant-news/golden-century-administration-19338?ref_email=a2JnYXJnZXR0QGJpZ3BvbmQuY29t&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2021-08-20-TUE&utm_term=list_gourmettraveller_newsletter

 

Goodbye Golden Century?

After 31 years, the long-running restaurant in Sydney’s Chinatown has gone into administration. But this might not mean the end.

AUG 20, 2021 10:15AM

BY YVONNE C LAM

 

A staff member cleans the entrance to Sydney's Golden Century. Photo: Getty

Iconic Sydney seafood restaurant Golden Century has gone into administration, but this doesn't necessarily spell the demise of the long-running Chinatown restaurant.

Restaurant manager Billy Wong, son of founders Linda and Eric Wong, says the restaurant was having trouble securing a lease agreement with its landlord.

 

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"The 20-year lease at Sussex Street is coming to an end, and we haven't been able to agree on a lease renewal with the landlord," he says.

"Without a lease renewal, we will have to move out of the premises."

Tributes to the restaurant have flowed on social media, with chefs and diners bidding farewell to the celebrated late-night eatery.

"A restaurant that inspired me to want to learn and cook Cantonese cuisine. A restaurant that was a treat after a hard week at work or when I would return home from overseas. A restaurant where I met so many amazing people and have so many early memories of my early career," posted Stanley executive chef Louis Tikaram. "Goodbye Golden Century, You will be missed."

But insolvency lawyer Thomas Russell of Piper Alderman says this doesn't necessarily spell the end for Golden Century. The administration process could be a manoeuvure to provide some "breathing space" for the restaurant's owners.

 

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Golden Century founders Linda and Eric Wong, with their son Billy, in 2019. Photo: Steven Woodburn

"Ordinarily if a restaurant has made a definite plan to close, they will appoint a liquidator rather than an administrator. A liquidation process is designed from the start to result in the shutting down of a business. In contrast, the administration process is designed to save the business and see it emerge through the other end in a sustainable way.

"With an administration process, you also have a period of four to six weeks where creditors are forbidden from enforcing their claims, and landlords are forbidden from kicking you out.

"There's absolutely no doubt if they're trying to get out [of their current situation], then this is an acceptable and orthodox way to do it."

Since opening in 1989, Golden Century has built a reputation as a meeting spot for politicians and business people; its 4am closing time meant chefs would flock there for post-service suppers and its signature XO pipis.

In Golden Century's 31-year history Lady Gaga, Rihanna and visiting dignitaries have passed through its doors; Chinese President Xi Jinping famously requested Golden Century catering to his Sydney hotel during a 2014 visit.

Like many businesses in Sydney's Chinatown, the restaurant has been affected by declining trade in the historic precinct.

Golden Century has been closed since June when the Greater Sydney lockdown came into effect.

The Golden Century Group portfolio includes The Century at The Star casino complex, and XOPP in the Darling Square precinct.

[Ken Gargett]

sad as it all is, i'm still not eating pipis. so many better things. 

[Duxnutz]

2 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

sad as it all is, i'm still not eating pipis. so many better things. 

My mother said the same thing. I think she was actually spotted crying today. THAT BLOODY GOOD. 
 

If committed atrocities thats the meal I’d have as my death row meal. 

[WarriorPrincess]

Ok enough already about my time out that night and yes Ken they do make Magnums of Sav Blanc   

My son was not impressed when he joined us (he was down there for work ) that he had to sit with me while I was in time out, you would think he was the parent 

Not sure what i ate that night so it must have been good 

Sad to hear that it has closed down not good 

[99call]

Never been to this place, but just looked at the tripadvisor images, and can instantly see why this is such a heartbreaker. 

Worse than closing for good, is when different people take over places like this, and bury the previous reputation with sub standard stuff. 

[Fuzz]

8 hours ago, WarriorPrincess said:

Ok enough already about my time out that night and yes Ken they do make Magnums of Sav Blanc   

My son was not impressed when he joined us (he was down there for work ) that he had to sit with me while I was in time out, you would think he was the parent 

Not sure what i ate that night so it must have been good 

Sad to hear that it has closed down not good 

That night we ended up at La Bodeguita del Medio.

It was the next CUNTAS event at the Lebanese restaurant that we ended up at GC for dinner. For some reason, you didn't want to go anywhere near the pipis or duck tongue. You also had your first vape experience.

Or maybe you remember the day by the shoes you had?

[El Presidente]