The Cuckoo Restaurant Information

Situated in the Dandenong Ranges, The Cuckoo Restaurant is today one of the world's most renowned smorgasbord restaurants receiving visitors from all over the globe. It is hard to believe that this buzzing 450 seat family restaurant started out as a modest refreshment stop for travellers. Called the Quamby and built in 1914, the café operated for 44 years remembered fondly for its strawberries and cream sold at 6d. a dish. In 1958 the Quamby was sold to Willi and Karin Koeppen. Shortly after they moved in, Karin heard the sound of a cuckoo calling in the darkness. She woke her husband and said "We will call the café The Cuckoo". What Karin did not realise at the time is that the word cuckoo can also mean a bit crazy. Although she had some reservations about this in the early days, the quirky and highly amusing Bavarian style floorshow has warmed hearts from all over the world in the unique "Cuckoo" way. The smorgasbord style restaurants were very popular in Germany in the 1950's. Willi, who had spent some years in Germany as a chef created the first smorgasbord restaurant here in Australia and the family has worked hard since to build the Cuckoo into what it is today one of Australia's most successful restaurants.