SAME MENU, NEW VENUE: Danny’s Kitchen reopens at the Red Cow

DANNY’S Kitchen will reopen this week, almost eight months after severing its near-30-year relationship with the Junee Ex-Services Memorial Club amid allegations of bullying and discrimination.

Following a successful test run on Saturday night, the famed Chinese restaurant will welcome its first paying customers back on Tuesday, serving its first meals from its new home at the town’s iconic Red Cow Hotel, much to the delight of the community.

Originally slated to reopen in December, renovation delays pushed the launch to February, further heightening anticipation among loyal patrons eager to once again enjoy Danny’s renowned cuisine.

Red Cow Hotel licensee James Tracey told The Junee Bulletin he was grateful for the community’s patience and support and said he was excited to embark on this new chapter with Danny’s Kitchen.

“The Red Cow Hotel is appreciative of the public’s patience in waiting for Danny’s extremely sought-after reopening,” he said.

“We are extremely privileged to have Danny and Emily serving out of our hotel. They are very easy-going people, and we look forward to a long association.”

Junee residents and longtime supporters of Danny’s Kitchen, Chris Lawson, Liz Cowled, Kerri Walker, and Dot Thornton were among the lucky few to visit the newly reopened restaurant on Saturday, with Mr Lawson describing the experience as a seamless continuation of what locals have loved for decades.

“Nothing has changed,” Mr Lawson said. “I ordered my usual, and it was just as excellent as ever.”

Ms Thornton echoed Mr Lawson’s comments, and commended the Red Cow Hotel for offering Danny’s Kitchen a lifeline.

“We dined there last night in a group and it’s still as good as it was before, the restaurant is very comfortable and clean,” Ms Thornton said.

“Big thank you to Steve Lidden for his hard work and support, and to James Tracey for all the hard work labouring on the premises, it’s amazing. Danny and Emily feel very comfortable and secure so a big thank you for believing in them.”

The Junee Golf Club also extended its best wishes to Danny’s Kitchen and the Red Cow Hotel as the news spread of the reopening on Sunday.

“We wish longtime member and supporter of the club, Danny Yap, and his team all the best for the opening of the new kitchen,” the club said in a Facebook post.

“We are sure that the partnership with the Red Cow Hotel will be fruitful for both teams.”

Danny’s Kitchen has been a beloved staple in Junee for more than a quarter of a century.

With its doors open once more, the restaurant is poised to reclaim its place as a cornerstone of the town’s dining landscape.

Locals and visitors to Junee will be able to savour the flavours of Danny’s Kitchen at the Red Cow Hotel for lunch and dinner from Tuesday, February 18.

The restaurant will still be offering takeaways, while those wishing to dine-in are urged to call ahead and reserve a table to avoid disappointment.

Danny’s new menu and phone number will be posted to the Red Cow Hotel’s Facebook Page on Monday.

The reopening of Danny’s Kitchen stands as a testament to the resilience and unwavering support of the local community, following a highly publicised and controversial split with the Junee Ex-Services Memorial Club in mid-2024.

Owner Danny Yap had leased the club’s dining and kitchen space for over 25 years before tendering his shock resignation in April.

Mr Yap gave the Club three months’ notice, serving his last meal at the premises at the end of June.

At the time, the Club assured members that “nothing untoward” had occurred, but the restaurant owner claimed he was pushed out to make way for the club’s new bistro, Harvesters, which opened in October.

In an open letter to club members, Mr Yap accused the Board of Directors of taking advantage of his limited English and imposing multiple unfair rent increases outside of their agreed contract—claims the club has strongly denied.

The Junee Bulletin’s coverage of the fallout sparked widespread support and sympathy for Danny’s Kitchen, with hundreds of people expressing their frustration and disappointment online.

Following a public campaign to save the local business, it was announced in October that Danny’s Kitchen had secured a new home at the Red Cow Hotel.

“We look forward to having Danny and Emily making the Cow their home and providing the quality food they are so well known for,” the hotel said at the time.

The partnership promises to inject fresh energy into both businesses and further solidify their place in Junee’s vibrant hospitality scene.