Thomas Ring, Jack Quinn And Angelo Puelma Open Olas Beach House At Alexandra Headland

Olas Beach House has opened at Alexandra Headland, with hospitality operators Thomas Ring, Jack Quinn and Angelo Puelma turning a former Indian restaurant site into a Mediterranean-inspired beach bar.

The venue has taken over the former Hathi Indian Restaurant tenancy at 15/140-144 Alexandra Parade. Ring and Quinn are running front-of-house, while Puelma leads the kitchen as head chef. The three bring almost 50 years of combined hospitality experience to the project, giving the opening a strong local-operator angle rather than treating it as a generic new restaurant item.

The location matters. Alexandra Headland sits between Mooloolaba and Maroochydore, two of the Coast's busiest visitor and dining areas, but it has a distinct neighbourhood feel. A venue on Alexandra Parade has to speak to locals who want a regular breakfast, lunch or dinner stop as well as visitors looking for a beachside experience. The Olas team appears to have built the concept around that balance: open layout, ocean views, sea breezes and a menu that can trade across the day.

The name is also a signal. Quinn has explained that Olas is Spanish for waves, a choice intended to capture the laid-back coastal setting. That is a simple branding decision, but it shows the operators are trying to connect the fit-out and menu to the site rather than importing a concept that could sit anywhere.

The food offer is described as modern Australian with a Mediterranean twist. Puelma pointed to signature dishes including Crocodile Spring Rolls, King Prawn Cracker, Lamb Baguette and Parmy Lux. Those details suggest the restaurant is not taking a strict traditional Mediterranean route. It is using the label as a broad flavour and lifestyle frame while still leaning into Australian produce, local tastes and beach-bar informality.

For the local hospitality market, the timing is useful. The Coast has had several strong food and drink stories in recent weeks, from The Curated Plate to new owner-led venues and local producer events. Olas adds a permanent venue to that winter attention. A festival can bring a burst of trade, but the day-to-day health of the sector depends on restaurants that can win repeat local support after the launch noise fades.

The trio said early community response had been strong, with locals recommending the venue to other locals. That is the metric that will matter most over time. Tourist foot traffic can help, but a beachside bar becomes resilient when nearby residents see it as part of their routine.

The opening also shows how much pressure and opportunity sit inside small hospitality sites. Operators need staffing, supplier reliability, a clear menu, strong service and a reason for people to choose them in a crowded coastal market. Olas Beach House now has the visibility of a prominent Alexandra Headland position. The next test is whether Ring, Quinn and Puelma can turn a polished opening into a stable local business through spring, summer and the next visitor season.