5 of the best Italian eateries on the Gold Coast

IT’S hard to go past Italian for food that embraces passion, comfort and simplicity. These five eateries on the Gold Coast kick all the goals.

NOW summer is over we’re free to pursue our passion for pasta and pizza.

Denise Raward finds five Italian eateries on the Gold Coast fit for indulgence

Goccia Italian Pizzeria

2375 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

This small pizzeria is the passion project of Verona couple Loris and Anna who worked for seven years in fine Italian restaurants in Sydney, learning all they could.

On a trip to the Gold Coast, they fell in love with the climate and lifestyle and knew it was the place to open their own pizzeria and restaurant.

In a whirlwind six months, locals have claimed Goccia as their own.

Anna says it’s because Goccia doesn’t pretend to be what it isn’t.

Anna Gazzola with a Rita pizza; tomato base, mozzarella and basil and Loris Perobello with a Giosa pizza; tomato base, mozzarella, fresh mushroom bresaola and parmesan at Goccia Italian. Photo by Richard Gosling

With a pizza oven imported from Verona, it prioritises top quality ingredients and simplicity. “The food is humble, authentic and true and we put all our passion into it,” she says.

The must-try dishes are the carpaccio di manzo — raw eye fillet served with rocket and shaved parmesan — and for dessert lovers, the frittelle di mela, a lightly fried apple pastry with vanilla gelato.

Tasca

114 Griffith Street, Coolangatta

Tasca, or “pocket” in Italian, prides itself on its carefully curated wine list featuring biodynamic, organic and low-intervention wines sourced from Italy, Spain and Australia.

It’s also serious about its cocktails, with classic Italian aperitifs on the list alongside more fashionable offerings.

The Caprese Salad, mozzarella, cherry tomato, basil at Tasca restaurant in Coolangatta. Photo: Steve Holland

Owner Carlee Bufalino comes from Sicilian stock and describes the Tasca menu as a mix of modern and classic, with a casual, coastal influence and a nod to southern Italian flavours and freshness.

The food is designed to be communal from bar snacks to small and large share plates.

The pumpkin gnocchi is the locals’ favourite, closely followed by Mama’s home-style crumbed pork cutlet.

The pumpkin gnocchi from Tasca Coolangatta

Gemelli

2/2685 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach

After five years on the Gold Coast, Gemelli has staked its reputation on traditional handmade food.

The recipes are straight from Nonna: sauces are slow-cooked for more than eight hours, pastas and breads are made from scratch and the wood-fired pizza oven is the heart of the establishment.

The grilled octopus at Gemelli. Pic by Luke Marsden.

Gemelli’s general manager Tom Turchut says it’s the attention to detail that keeps diners coming back.

“It’s in everything we do, from the food to the wine list to the service.”

The owners are twin brothers — gemelli is Italian for twin — who are serious about putting the food up with the best Italian you can find in Australia.

“We monitor it whenever we travel,” Tom says. “And we truly believe we are there.”

Ali and James Carney with a bread gnocchi bowl at Gemelli in Broadbeach. Photo: Steve Holland

Rivea

89 Surf Parade, Broadbeach

A move across the highway from Pacific Fair has created a semi-alfresco space in the new-look Rivea, perfect for long lunches, afternoon cocktails or dinner.

The menu keeps its classic Italian casual dining offerings: house-made pastas, pizza and seafood.

Signature favourites include gnocchi with sauteed mushrooms, spinach, asparagus and white wine truffle cream sauce and the porchetta pork belly filled with spicy Italian sausage and pesto.

Sweet-toothed diners do their best to save room for Rivea’s much-loved dessert pizza with nutella, caramelised banana and marshmallows.

Margherita pizza served at Rivea Italian. Photo: Regi Varghese

Cucina Vivo

The Star Gold Coast, 1 Casino Drive, Broadbeach

Inspired by the clifftop restaurants of the Amalfi coast, Cucina Vivo overlooks a more Gold Coast style water feature, the Star’s tropical pool.

It was the first indoor-outdoor dining venue to open as part of the casino’s transformation and made a name for itself by winning the Queensland Hotels Association Best Restaurant — Accommodation award in its first year.

It’s been a consistent performer ever since.

Cucina Vivo’s antipasto del salumien

The wood-fired pizza oven is the centrepiece — it’s a show in itself watching the chefs toss the pizza dough in the air.

Chefs spend all day preparing the pastas and sauces from scratch. It’s hard to go past meats and fish cooked on the charcoal grill.