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The owner of an upmarket restaurant in Melbourne has broken down after a fire destroyed his venue just three weeks after it opened.
Matti Fallon watched as his restaurant Colt Dining in Mornington went up in flames, with a leak thought to have sparked an electrical fire.
The ferocious blaze quickly spread to other businesses along Main Street, with diners inside and at neighbouring restaurants running to safety as the flames took hold and spread.
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"I've only recovered from brain surgery a couple of years ago," Fallon said.
"To get back on top, now we're back on top, to get it all smashed away, it's just heartbreaking really."
The restaurant was so popular that Fallon and business partner Paul Goddard were already taking bookings for next year.
Several other businesses were damaged including a bakery and an Afghan restaurant.
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"No one was hurt, no one was killed, it's just material stuff but yeah it's tough," Goddard said.
Crews monitored the scene for most of the day but it was difficult to get inside as the heritage building is in danger of collapse.
Colt Dining may have been new but the eatery was making a splash with an upmarket menu and diners treated to the sounds of an expansive record collection.
However, the highly flammable vinyl helped fuel the inferno.
While it will be incredibly difficult, Fallon and Goddard have vowed to rebuild and reopen to continue the journey together they had only just started.
