Led by Chef de Cuisine Paul Smart, Sofitel Gold Coast's multi award winning Room81 Restaurant and Bar proved an unstoppable force taking out three awards including 1st Place in the Queensland Gold Box Awards - widely acknowledged as the most sought after accolade at the event held at Royal Pines Resort on the 23rd November 2009.  The restaurant also won 1st Place for 1st Course and 1st Place for 4th Course at the competition.

Room81's 1st place win makes it the sole holder of the major Gold Box award since the competition's inception in 2007, the restaurant earning a culinary hat trick having successfully defended its '07' and '08' titles.

"We're absolutely ecstatic", says Chef de Cuisine Paul Smart.  "We were up until 4am on Monday morning and only got about an hours sleep before we returned to prep for the gala dinner.  We were exhausted and running off pure adrenaline but a result like this makes it well and truly worth it!"