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General News

5 January, 2023

Caroline’s closes after more than 40 years on the menu

While a new year is often synonymous with fresh beginnings, for one beloved local restaurant it marked a bitter-sweet end — taking their final order on New Year’s Eve, the business closed its kitchen after cooking up a storm for over 40 years...

By Prealene Khera

Sally and Michael Turton, owners of Caroline’s of Carisbrook have made the hard decision to shut up shop after running the eatery for over 40 years.
Sally and Michael Turton, owners of Caroline’s of Carisbrook have made the hard decision to shut up shop after running the eatery for over 40 years.

While a new year is often synonymous with fresh beginnings, for one beloved local restaurant it marked a bitter-sweet end — taking their final order on New Year’s Eve, the business closed its kitchen after cooking up a storm for over 40 years.

With trademark quirky displays and decorations, Caroline’s of Carisbrook is known for more than just its food. The memorabilia it houses, gathered over the years by Michael and Sally Turton who took over the restaurant in 1981, has been a draw card for the eatery.

Set up in the town’s first grocery store, Caroline’s has a long and rich legacy that has seen visitors and diners flock from places far and wide — and while the Turtons have decided to close up shop, they know its essence will continue to be remembered.

“The restaurant first opened on the 18th of September 1978, and we took ownership in February 1981 so the place is just short of 45 years and that’s why there’s mixed feelings about closing it up,” Mr Turton said.

“When we bought the place, there was one picture on the wall, there was no fireplace. We put all the pictures in, all the taxidermy, all the historic stuff and everything else.

“It’s been great working here but we’re getting older and we can’t take bigger numbers because you put too much pressure on yourself. We’ve realised you’re better to finish while you can still do the job.”

A cultural time-machine, stepping into Caroline’s doesn’t only take you back in time but also gives you the opportunity to appreciate diverse cultures — its oddity is rooted in preserving traditions, a reason why the menu has only undergone minimal changes in the last four decades according to Mr Turton.

“The place is quite quirky and there’s nothing wrong with that. To me, eccentricity is a good thing not a bad thing,” he said.

“We’ve changed our menus, probably three times in 40 odd years. 50 percent of the stuff on it is stuff we’ve had from day one and that’s the food that sells best.

“It’s all traditional French food with a country twist to it and it is really popular.”

Going on for so long, Mr Turton said it’s the community’s support that has made all the difference to the restaurant.

“We’ve served their grandparents, we’ve served their parents, and now we’re serving them. We’ve gone into like three generations and they keep coming back,” he said.

“The same people continue to support us the most and that’s kept us going longer than we would have, because you don’t want to let people down.”

While Caroline’s has shut its doors, the Turton’s will continue to use the space for family events and functions — keeping their valued artefacts intact.

With relics of the past on display at Caroline’s, Sally uses a vintage till from decades ago.
With relics of the past on display at Caroline’s, Sally uses a vintage till from decades ago.
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