Maurice Terzini to take leave from Icebergs, investors launch investigation

Through his lawyers, Maurice denied he had engaged in any inappropriate conduct by employing his son at his venues, and denied there was any violent behaviour by Sylvester at those venues.

“As far as our client is aware, our client’s businesses have no record of any allegation of sexual misconduct having been made against any of its employees or managers arising out of its venues,” his lawyers said.

Maurice founded the Bondi institution in 2002, but he is now a minority shareholder in a larger Icebergs group co-owned by hoteliers Damien Reed and Deke Miskin.

The company has leveraged Terzini’s reputation to market the Icebergs brand beyond its Bondi clifftop home described as “the jewel in the crown” of his hospitality empire, which has hosted celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Nigella Lawson and Chris Hemsworth.

In 2023, Good Food (owned by Nine Entertainment, the publisher of this masthead) described Icebergs as arguably Sydney’s only “iconic” restaurant after it underwent a $1.3 million renovation.

The Icebergs brand has since grown to include franchises in Crown Barangaroo and a new outlet in Sydney Airport due to open later this year. Crown and Sydney Airport declined to comment.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed on Friday that several victims had come forward detailing claims of sexual assault and violence by Sylvester. Through his lawyers, Sylvester denied the allegations but declined to answer specific questions about each incident.

“Our client has no criminal history for violence or sexual misconduct,” his lawyers said. “We do not intend to address all of the allegations raised by your email. However, we advise that our client denies any sexual misconduct and the allegations of violence.”

The alleged attacks have destroyed relationships in the industry, with several alleged victims having close ties to the Terzinis.

None of the alleged sexual incidents occurred inside Terzini’s venues, but multiple of his alleged victims first met Sylvester at one of the hospitality veteran’s restaurants or connected businesses.

Sylvester has also denied allegations of violent rages, including pulling out a knife in front of colleagues at Icebergs Dining Room and Restaurant Hubert.

Terzini’s other investment partners including DTL Entertainment’s Michael Broome did not respond to requests for comment.

Broome, Maurice and Sylvester opened Billy the Pig in Bondi Junction on Wednesday.