The Gold Coast foodie scene is thriving! This year alone over 90 restaurants, bars and cafes opened their doors in the city. More Gold Coast has compiled a list of your favourite restaurant reviews for this year. Add them to your dining bucket-list for 2016 if you haven’t already…
Here’s a list of your favourite Gold Coast restaurant reviews for 2015
You can also check out a complete listing of all our Gold Coast restaurant reviews here.
Cicchetti – the new Italian kid on the block
ITALIAN | FANCY | FINE DINING
Highlight: The bar is impressive and the Italian waiters even more so.
Cicchetti’s opening was one of the most anticipated restaurant events of the year, not so much for the event itself, but for the excellence it would inject into the dining scene.
Situated on the southern face of Capri on Via Roma, the venue has been completely redesigned to achieve an elegant masculine space. There’s no attempt to allude to casual beach culture, no fusion of elements; instead, Cicchetti is a modern international standard 130-seat restaurant. There are several specialty items difficult to find on the Gold Coast, such as Baccala (creamed salted cod, a post-war dish, served on charred grilled polenta) and the hypnotic Black truffle burrata, imported directly from Italy, served with a handmade ciabatta baked in a wood-fired oven. Sensational!
In short, Cicchetti is a modern ‘fast fine’ Italian dining in elegant surroundings with impeccable service. A gorgeous taste of Venetian culture.
To find out what else is on this decadent menu read the full More Gold Coast Chicchetti review here.
House made beetroot & ricotta ravioli, goat cheese curd, candied walnuts, poppy seeds
Italian black truffle burrata, grilled zucchini, ciabatta crostini
Popilo, slow cooked WA Fremantle octopus tentacles, heirloom tomatoes, crunchy celery,
baby spinach, smoked paprika oil, matchstick potatoes
Dessert from Cicchetti
Salt Meats Cheese - Black Lobster Pizza
Paradox Coffee Roasters
Brooklyn Depot
Cha Tea Providores - Cakes
The 4217 and everything inside it
SALT MEATS CHEESE | PARADOX COFFEE ROASTERS | CHA | THE BROOKLYN DEPOT
Highlight: Salt Meats Cheese makes a squid ink based lobster pizza. We think this is what gets served in heaven.
Named after the postcode of Surfers Paradise, The 4217, housed in the old Transit Centre, has the ethos of a village where locals and tourists can be equally at home. The 4217 contains retail outlets, art and creatives, lifestyle and community service endeavours, all under one roof.
Salt Meats Cheese: Salt Meats Cheese is an Italian concept store completely different to anything we’ve seen on the coast before. Think upmarket pizzeria meets warehouse deli and charcuterie in a Little Italy NYC style of venue. Start with a cheese and/or charcuterie grazing plate to share before launching into the pizza menu. It’s pizza as it should be in its rustic greatness: perfectly light chewy leavened crust, topped with a not-too-sweet tomato base and primo toppings such as fior di latte, San Daniele prosciutto, Parmesan Reggiano, fresh chorizo, lobster and truffles… Top with a little chilli oil… Perfect!
Paradox Coffee Roasters: Paradox Coffee Roasters was one of the first to open, taking up the western end of the building. For Dennis’ loyal followers, you’ll find many of his trademark dishes: pork, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, melt-in-your-mouth handmade pastas, and his signature polenta chips. Tuck into the rustic ‘posh nosh’ meals, shown off in a short menu that follows the seasons, or venture onto the specials board.
Cha: There’s no better place to take time out than at Cha Tea Providores. A contemporary teahouse focused on reinventing the traditional tea experience, Cha seats just twenty people. Cha is a place to enjoy the best, and that includes their food. There are lots of small cakes, tiny brownies wrapped in twine, tea themed biscuits, ribbon sandwiches, squares of frittata and seasonal cupcakes, all baked daily by the in-house pastry chef, on offer in the glass cabinet.
The Brooklyn Depot: The Brooklyn Depot brings tones of trendy Brooklyn to downtown Surfers Paradise.
Read the full 4217 restaurant review to see what else is on the menu.
Mamasan's pork and prawn wontons
Smoked Fish on Paddock Rye
Spoonfull's Chorizo meatballs with caramelised onion and smoky paprika jam
@espressomoto "Oh, you know, just getting stuck into our new single origin from @allpressau! An extremely small batch from Ocotepeque in Honduras.
Mamasan
ASIAN FUSION | MODERN | SOPHISTICATED
Highlight: The Pork bao is the best we’ve tasted
Mamasan Kitchen & Bar is a sophisticated, upscale eatery serving modern Pan-Asian food, with particular influence from China. While there are some influences from Southeast Asia and even Europe, many of the flavours and inspirations come from East Asia.
In a modern menu packed with unexpected twists of exotic flavour, traditional dishes are turned on their head and given new inspiration. While pig’s ear, a famous Sichuan delicacy, is usually boiled and served with Sechuan red oil, in Mamasan’s kitchen it is sliced finely, cooked, then flash fried, rendering crisp slivers of crackling pork to be tossed through a salad of shallots and coriander leaves.
The Pork bao is the best we’ve tasted. Inspired by the original street food of Asia, the pork has been Sichuan salt cured for three hours before being cooked for ten hours in the sous vide.
Tip: The best way to do Mamasan is to order an array of plates and share.
Read the full Mamasan restaurant review here.
Bam Bam Bakehouse
CUTE | ECLECTIC | BREAKFAST
Highlight: Nasi Goreng for breakfast, go on, treat yourself!
A modern smart café with wider appeal, Bam Bam Bakehouse has a very grown up eclectic feel. Simple yet sophisticated, rustic but on trend, the décor references our heritage with its pressed metal hung ceiling above the espresso bar, copper bar lights, black vintage subway tiles and lawyer cane lampshade. Brick and rough-hewn wood complete the look.
The menu covers the coast’s favourite brekkies (avo on toast and eggs bene), but takes us away from childhood standards such as dippy eggs, branching out to place footholds in all our favourite camps: american street food (shaker fries), burgers (available for brekkie and lunch), French cuisine (from pain au chocolat, brioche and croissants to Croque Madame) and Asian (two egg nasi and ramen salad).
Bam Bam Bakehouse ticks all the boxes – delicious grounded whole food, environmentally friendly takeaway packaging, and great Single Origin Roasters coffee. The venue’s even licensed, albeit with mainstream beers (XXXX Gold on tap) and a tiny but interesting selection of wines.
Find out more about Bam Bam Bakehouse.
Spoonfull
TAPAS | CLASSY | UNPRETENTIOUS | DOWN TO EARTH
Highlight: The Fairy Floss Fuzz Cocktail and the Spanish spare ribs.
Jason’s ‘Pizza tapas bar’ Spoonfull in Palm Beach ticks all the boxes.
Spanish spare ribs which fall off the bone, Chorizo meatballs lifted nicely by the spice, Proscuitto-wrapped prawns, Roasted Haloumi with grilled peppers, and a fabulous Mexican tostada basket which would be fun dish to share – nothing like all hands in! It’s nothing too fancy – just good tasty nosh to share.
With a mix of high and low tables, main area, portico or bar dining, there are possibilities for small or larger group dining. It could as equally be a relaxed date night venue as a fabulous area for a small party.
Tip: Spoonfull is licensed; a tight list of wines and beers, fairly priced, especially noting the size of the cocktails – absolutely massive!
Read the new Spoonfull Restaurant Review.
Espresso Moto
BEST COFFEE | GREAT SERVICE | PEARLY SMILES
Highlight: Service as good as your coffee and coffee as good as your food.
Espresso Moto is the brainchild of business partners Jordan Stubbs and Shannon Baier-Dry who, with their partners Nikki and Krista, came up with the idea of melding a bike shop and café – a first for the Gold Coast.
The bacon and egg roll is packed with delicious lashings of bacon, two eggs, aioli and relish. Moreover, the roll’s amazing! Competitively priced, it’s one of the house favourites, along with the lamb sandwich, a crisp bun filled with a lamb patty, onion jam, gruyere cheese, and house aioli, served with dill pickle and rustic kipfler rounds.
Espresso Moto uses Allpress Espresso’s air-roasted Supremo House blend, earthy and sweet with flavours of cocoa, but there’s also a single origin on offer, this month the Patagonian. The exotic tea choices are enticing too: exotics such as Chinese white, Gyokuro green and their own House chai.
Tip: We dare you to try their coffee and tell us it’s not the best on the Coast.
Check out the top nosh in our Espresso Moto Restaurant Review.
Heavenly Pork Cubano with house-made onion jam and whole grain mustard seed @burgster
Etsu Izakaya
Kingfish ceviche with oyster cream - a must try
Etsu Izyaka
Burgster
CRAFT BEER | BURGER HEAVEN | BRIOCHE BUNS
Highlight: Eggplant chips and the Pork Cubano Burger
It’s this beating heart hospitality which makes Burgster shine. The Kingfish ceviche is an absolute hit – small pieces of sparkling fish served on discs of oyster cream are a taste sensation, Crispy chicken skins with kale, anchovy and parsley dressing is an unusual novelty dish with balance of taste and texture, as has the Tempura fish burger, the crisp fillet of fish enveloped in a cloud-like brioche bun. Lamb ribs with skordalia and cumin paprika oil are delicious, while their Quinoa salad ticks the DF GF V boxes but makes us think they’re missing out on the fun!
Fully licensed with no BYO, Stone & Wood’s Garden Ale and Newstead Brewing’s Golden Ale are on tap, and there’s a select choice of bottled beer and interesting boutique wine.
Tip: Burgster is now taking bookings, if you’re four or more phone ahead and request a booth.
Read about everything on their menu in the Burgster Restaurant Review, seriously, we love it!
Also check out our Burger Wars article for the complete guide to the best Gold Coast burgers.
Etsu Izakaya
UMAMI FLAVOURS | AMAZING INTERIORS | TRENDY BAR
Highlight: Pork Belly and amazing interiors
Etsu Izakaya is dining experience for all our senses which transports us to another place; a modern izakaya bar viewed from a unique Australian perspective.
The freshest Edamame we’ve tasted, Salmon and kingfish tatake laced with seaweed and pickled cucumber, Pork gyoza, ‘Omakase’ mixed tempura with light crunchy batter, Crunchy softshell crab and Amiyaki Wagyu steak. It’s beautifully rendered classic izakaya fare, paired with a good range of Japanese drinks.
As sophisticated as the unfolding of an enchanting story, Etsu may not be our first izakaya lounge, but it’s certainly got the whole package!
Tip: It can turn from mild to wild pretty quickly at Etsu, so if you’re after a more intimate meal opt for an early weeknight dining option.
Find out why we keep going back to this amazing place in the Etsu Restaurant Review.
The spectacular beachfront view from Seaduction
Baked egg pita from Taboon
Can Tho Kitchen and Bar
Boom Boom Burgers
Inside Bin 72
Obsessions Burger
Stuffed zucchini flowers from Bin 72
Simon Gloftis outside his restaurant The Fish House
Bin 72
SHARE PLATES | SMART | BEACH VIEWS
Highlight:
The southern end of the coast gets a taste of the successful Bin 12 concept in Bin 72, award-winning local chef/restaurateur Daniel Ridgeway’s third eatery. With Little Truffle and Bin 12 well established, it was time to expand to the southern end of the coast, snapping prime position in the Strand development, a bird’s eye view upstairs overlooking the beach.
The beautifully lit recycled timber bar, accented by shades of copper, runs from the entrance back towards the beach. Well-stocked, it’s the site of liquid action of every description – local beers poured from tap, a shakeup on the cocktail front, and some great vintage wine emerging from the cellars.
The food’s design interests us as much as that of the venue. Open for both lunch and dinner, Bin 72’s menu is built around small and large plates, supplemented by specials. Share plates of exciting contemporary food exit the kitchen with seemingly effortless ease. It’s in the ‘need to try’ category – some of our best casual cuisine on the coast.
This is a smart professionally-run eatery with the highest quality food and drinks.
Find out more about this classy beach side bar in our Bin 72 Restaurant Review.
The Fish House
Highlight: At $75 per head, the Chef’s Selection is fantastic value for cuisine which allows the top quality ingredients to shine.
ELEGANT | AWARD WINNING | FANTASTIC VIEWS
Ranked number 1 restaurant on the Gold Coast The Fish House is not to be missed.
With knowledgeable, unobtrusive service, ambient, relaxed yet understated surroundings and a fine wine collection of over 200 handpicked wines from Australia and Europe, The Fish House provides an exceptional wining and dining experience. A celebration marked by great food.
Tip: Parking isn’t always easy so arrive before your reservation.
Read more about The Fish House here.
Hot Cuisines
Hot Asian Eats on the Gold Coast
21 RESTAURANTS| CHEAP EATS TO FINE DINING
Highlight: Mamasan is the newest Asian restaurant on the block and well worth a look in.
Whether it be a hot steamy night after a day at the beach or a blustery evening when the cold seeps into your bones, there’ s nothing like a cheap night out, a ‘ slurp your way to goodness’ heaven with a hot Asian eat.
Tasty and nutritious, many of these ‘ layers of meaning’ meals give you a bang for your buck – fresh, affordable and cheerful, as well as BYO.
Check out the full list of our Top Asian Eats on the Gold Coast here.
A taste of the Middle East
FROM MOROCCO TO IRAN| 6 OF OUR FAVOURITES
Highlight: Taboon is as good as it gets, full of flavour, you can’t go wrong with 12 hour slow cooked lamb
The food of the Middle East, spanning from Morocco to Iran, takes us through ancient lands, diverse in history and tradition.
Torn apart by political upheaval, sewn together by trade and the movement of people between countries, the food of the Middle East has influenced and been influenced by many other cuisines.
“Food brings people together. When we travel, we try the food of a different culture and often it’s the beginning of an understanding of similarities and differences. When we see different races and different cultures around a table, there’s no arguing. Sharing brings us together.” These words of acclaimed chef and restaurateur Zahi Azzi, owner of some of Australia’s most successful Middle Eastern restaurants, including Kazbah in Coolangatta.
Check out the full list of Middle Eastern Restaurants on the Gold Coast here.
The post Top 10 Gold Coast Restaurant Reviews of 2015 appeared first on More Gold Coast.