The beauty of the Gold Coast’s burgeoning café culture is that no two establishments are the same.
Each one has distinct features. From the blends of coffee each café uses to the slant on its menu; we can see ethnic influences in some, while others pride themselves on great modern Aussie fare. Then there are special features of service or intention which make a place stand out. We take a look at five cafés spread out on the coast which demonstrate this diversity.
Social Brew
Burleigh Arcade, James Street, Burleigh Heads Ph: 0487 981 781
The Richards family have been responsible for a string of successful ventures: a deli café at The Pines, Lola’s, Plantation House, Department of Coffee and now Social Brew in Burleigh. It came as no surprise that whenever we spoke to one of the team they were really clear about the essential elements needed for a café to succeed.
“Dad has a concept that there are three things which are important: price, service and quality,” Amanda tells us.
If all three are covered; if the coffee, front of house and kitchen are right, if each dish is top quality, and if we price our dishes cheaper than competitors, then we’ll succeed.”
Social Brew takes up one corner and side of what was a pretty ordinary T-shaped arcade. Now occupied by this smart café, a long stone-fronted counter and wood-clad seating booths in a jungle of hanging baskets and planter boxes, it’s a transformational makeover. Beautiful!
“When people turn a corner into the arcade, I love seeing their faces. Those who haven’t been here in a while are amazed!
We’ve made judgements about what’s important to keep our price point as keen as possible, including the removal of full table service, but we’re quick with the coffee,” Nathan says.
“We’re also offering three types of self-serve free water (room temperature, cold and sparkling), all filtered. It’s a point of difference and really appreciated in this climate.
Social Brew’s menu is heavily influenced by trends. Most of the meals are plant-based and you can add meat to them. You’ll see gluten intolerant, vegetarian and raw influences right through this menu, balanced by ‘favourites’ or classics. Coffee is huge. The conversations have changed from what particular brand of coffee people like to what sort of coffee they like, so the barista can find the bean that suits. Cafés need to evolve and maintain interest and appeal to stay on trend.”
Coco Soft Granola Bowl at Goji Granola Bar and Cafe
Donuts at Goji Granola Bar and Cafe
Big brekkie at Social Brew
Social Brew at James Street, Burleigh
Goji Granola Bar & Café
7/60 Santa Cruz Boulevard, Clear Island Waters Ph: 0414 428 773
The name of the café – Goji Granola Bar & Café, run by husband and wife team Monica Tjong and Gabriele Pirotta, gives us a clear idea of one of the café’s main menu items.
“We thought it would be a great idea to be able to choose what fruit and nuts you wanted in your house made granola.
“We’ve got two versions: a dairy-free vegan one made from oats, barley and spelt; or you can choose the gluten-free (DF and V) version with buckwheat, quinoa and rice flake combo, cooked with coconut nectar sugar and oil. We top it off with our Coco Soft (a vegan, dairy and gluten free, organic frozen yoghurt made on coconut water) and add fresh fruit on top,” Monica says, shedding light on the café’s name.
“We’re the first café in Australia or New Zealand to use activated charcoal in our Coco Soft, so we’re pioneers.”
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Running an ‘all day’ breakfast and lunch menu, the Granola Bowl is certainly the star, a delicious one at that. But there are many other options, from Banana and walnut bread topped with Coco Soft ($5) or Eggs on Sourdough ($8) through to the Big Brekkie and lunchtime’s Halloumi Burger with smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, rocket and red onion ($19.50). No meal crosses the $20 line; a marvel for a little place with true hospitality including full table service.
While health is the main focus of the menu, there’s a valiant attempt to cater for all tastes, gluten and dairy free, vegan and organic dishes clearly marked with symbols. We love the Italian-style Nero blend coffee from award-winning Silipo, a local roaster, with other drinks options including organic Somage Tea, smoothies, bottled kombucha and cold-pressed juices.
Goji is a friendly little place, perfect to have around the corner in the ‘burbs; a dream come true for Clear Island Waters residents.
Nest
Tree Tops Centre, 1/3 Classic Way, Burleigh Waters Ph: 07 5522 1002
With the sale of Griffith Street Larder, it was time for the Blackboard crew to give Burleigh’s Larder a rebrand. Not only that, but with the menu exiting stage left with the name, ‘the larder was empty’. Consequently, a whole new concept and menu was born.
Nest. Fresh and new, it’s as though the place has finally found itself. With beautiful branding comes a meaning and purpose. Birds. Home. Nest. In Treetops.
This is a place where you can stop and rest awhile, nestle in and replenish, before you ‘fly’ off again. It’s comfortable, quiet and, dare I say, beautiful. Feminine but simple. Not over-tricked. The new artwork on the wall takes in birds and, the nest allusion continued in lampshades, menus, windows… subtle and welcoming…
Somehow, in building their Nest, the crew have come up with a more grounded, mainstream menu. The menu has landed with the obligatory Smashed Avo, Granola and Bene for Brekkie; Salads, bowls and burgers for lunch. Safe territory, with nothing over $16, the menu is a lot more self-explanatory and oh so trendy in its brevity and expression. Short menus are the go, it seems. No room for food envy.
‘Crunchy Granola – Hung yogurt. Season fruit. Nut mylk……$12′
We indulge in a couple of ‘Brunch’ dishes: Birds in a Nest (basically a reincarnation of Eggs bene in a hash brown nest $16.5) and Beetroot Brekky (think Avo smash made from beetroot relish with two poached eggs $16). Haloumi and greens optional. Both delish, of course, because these guys really know how to make their stuff… and this menu fits the clientele perfectly. The lunch menu contains a bit more excitement, such as the Crispy lamb bowl with hummus and tabouli served on a pannikin, or the Fresh chicken salad with quinoa, greens and stone fruit.
Then too, of course, there’s the excellent Blackboard coffee, made particularly well at Nest by Justin. After all, it’s their nest.
Nest at Burleigh Waters
Eggs Bene at Nest
Vice Baby located in the Outrigger Resort
Duck Noodle Soup at Vice Baby
Vice Baby
Outrigger Resort, 2007 Gold Coast Highway, Miami Ph: 0468 906 356
“Welcome to Vice Baby. Your own tropical cafe and bar, serving Five Senses specialty coffee, breakfast and Malaysian hawker food lunch.”
Located in the back garden of her father’s restaurant, Miami Rice, Vice Baby certainly adds some spice to the little dining patch. Stepping around the corner, our first glimpse of Vice Baby is a ‘déjà vu’ experience, bringing sweet memories of Asian restaurants in the tropics: bold flavours and a bite of freshness, the edgy quirkiness of the eclectic pop ‘objets d’art’ décor only adding to their appeal. We’ve fallen in love even before the food arrives!
If you haven’t eaten Asian hawker food before, Vice Baby is a great place to start. Not too challenging for the novice, the menu brings us a mix of tropical breakfasts and Chinese Malay lunches, with a boxed section bridging across the two as ‘Bruce Lee’s Kick Ass All Day Specials’.
Noodles, meat and rice dishes such as Hainan Chicken, Beef Rendang and Kari Chicken, and a variety of noodle soups ($10.90 – $12.90) form the bulk of the picture. With a choice of over twenty dishes for lunch, there’s a wealth of culture to explore.
We play ‘hungry mouth’ with Chairman Bao ($14), a plate of four Chinese buns (think Asian sliders) sandwiched over char siew, the tender meat yielding easily to the bite, juices dripping down my hand. Thank goodness we’re out in the garden! Or how about a feast of Roast crispy BBQ duck and Roast Duck Noodle Soup (both $12.90) accompanied by some rather interesting drinks: Vietnamese coffee – an espresso poured over condensed milk $5 or The Kaffe Tonic $6 – Espresso over sparkling ‘Fever-Tree’ tonic finished with luxardo maraschino cherry; a racy little number with a bright edge of quinine bitterness $6. Vice Baby is licensed as well, serving a small range of beer and cider, making it a great place to book as a venue for a private party or to spend a Sunday session.
Pay it Forward board at Junction - we love this!
Hash Stack from Junction
Garlic Bread from Junction
Buffalo Wings at Junction
Junction
Coomera Square, Cnr Days Rd & Old Coast Rd Ph: 07 5580 0060
Just as business is not always about profit, so the hospitality industry is not only about food and wine. It’s also about making people feel welcome and a part of something, about value-adding to the community and giving something back.
Junction is a family-run business owned by Joanne Henderson and her husband, with their son Chad as Head Chef, teamed up with chef Sarah Norman (ex-The Copper Room, Auckland). Advertised as the place “Where food and people come together”, Junction shows good awareness of its demographic. This is a relaxed family café with extensive indoor and outdoor dining areas, a kids’ area as well as a couple of well-loved lounges to help you rest awhile after that difficult grocery shop!
The menu, too, carries a casual comfort street food vibe. Divided into Bagel burgers, Soft Tacos and Shared dining experiences, some dishes show off the chefs’ Kiwi origins, while others have a distinct American twist, perhaps influenced by Chad’s time serving in Afghanistan: a huge plate of Buffalo wings dripping with sauce, Loaded onion rings, Sweet potato fries, Chilli dog and even a Cob loaf (a baker’s loaf filled with chilli beef, melted Valley cheese, sour cream and ripped croutons). On the specials board you’re likely to find the Kiwi Special Brekkie, Market Fish and even Seafood Chowder! With all dishes priced under $20, many are perfect to either share or go alone, bridging both lunch and dinner as well as Friday night’s Happy Hour.
But even more impressive is the café’s ‘Pay It Forward Board’.
“It was Chad’s idea,” Joanne tells us. “He thought we should give something back to the community. Instead of a tips jar to be shared among the staff, we’ve all agreed that people can ‘pay it forward’ to the community and buy lunch, dinner or coffee for the aged.
“We have a lot of older people in our community and once a month we hold a free morning tea for aged care, paid for by Pay It Forward. I would love to see more cafés on the coast doing a similar thing,”
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There’s a silence as we take this in. It’s so simple an idea, yet so deep a motive, looking outward instead of inward. It’s as if this joint project with their son returning home from service has in turn been ‘paid forward’ to the community. Yes, we’d love to see more of this too.
Goji Granola Bar and Cafe at Clear Island Waters
Healthy Start at Social Brew
Blackboard Coffee to get your day started at Nest
Chairman Bao at Vice Baby
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