8 amazing new Gold Coast eateries
NEW year and new Gold Coast eateries — make it your resolution to be the first to try them.
Best of Gold Coast
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NEW year, new Gold Coast eateries — make it your resolution to be the first to try them.
RICK SHORES
43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads
Opened on the first day of 2016, it was one of the most anticipated new restaurants in years. While the team behind Rick Shores is well known for their Asian fare at Longtime in Brisbane’s Valley, it’s not just the menu but the venue that has diners salivating here on the Coast. Occupying the sea-sational spot on the sand that once housed Mermaids cafe and Meesh’s restaurant, co-owner Dave Flynn says he’s not troubled by the previous sunken ventures.
“This is a new slate for us and the building, it all just came together,” Dave says.
“This spot has been on our radar for a long time, but it was never the right time.
With this sort of blue-chip location you don’t have a huge margin for error, but because we have Longtime and a fantastic staff, we were ready to flow into Rick Shores and bring this venue the food, service and vibe it deserves.”
Dave says many of his staff voluntarily moved from Brisbane to the Gold Coast to oversee Rick Shores’ success.
“When we offered this opportunity, there was just a sea of hands of people who wanted to come down and work on this,” he says.
“We have a lot of Gold Coast locals as well, so it’s a great mix.”
Dave says the Burleigh community has been overwhelmingly supportive, with diners and fellow restaurateurs stopping by to wish him well.
“From day one, we’ve just been flooded, which is a good problem to have. It’s a great community here, it’s so creative and supportive.
It’s like Cheers on the beach.”
Rick Shores, which Dave says is named for its pun on Asian and beach influences, is open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch, dinner and drinks.
HENDRIXX BOUTIQUE COFFEE HOUSE
Palm Beach Ave, Palm Beach
The gentrification of Palm Beach continues with new cafe Hendrixx, and it’s certainly something for locals to smile about.
Manager Glen Meacham says, as well as great coffee and food, staff deliver on a positive attitude.
“As much as we love our coffee and cafe fare, I think our best point of difference is the service,” Glen says.
“No one here is too cool to smile.”
Glen says Hendrixx opened on December 1 and, despite some delays with renovations, business is flowing.
“Our menu is still evolving as our kitchen finishes took a bit longer than we expected, but we’re really focused on a simple and wholesome food experience,” he says.
“We have a breakfast and lunch menu with items like an avo smash, raisin toast, acai bowls, fruit salad … it’s simple stuff done well.
“We’ve been really pleased by how much the community has welcomed us. I think the cafe culture is really growing in Palm Beach but in a way that suits the suburb’s soul.”
THE CHEF’S DAUGHTER
Shop 71, 2 Arbour Avenue, Robina
Hospitality is in the blood for the family behind The Chef’s Daughter, which debuted December 20.
The team is made up of chef’s daughter Lily Ma, her mother and chef Jain Chen, father and chef of 15 years Hart Ma, Lily’s boyfriend Ryan Sterling and their business partner Lily Chou.
“I have restaurant experience in the States and my whole family is in the industry too — this is what we all do,” says Ryan, who met Lily at high school in China.
“We’ve never opened anything in Australia before, so decided to start off with a little cafe.”
It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 6.30am to 2.30pm, with the menu in two main parts.
“Our breakfast is Australian cafe classics, like avo smashes, pancakes and granola fruit bowls,” Ryan says.
“For lunch it’s more Asian fusion and dumplings are our specialty. We have three types: spinach, fetta and sun-dried tomato; pork and cabbage; and beef, carrot and onion. Everything is made fresh in-house and we use a lot of organic ingredients. We also use a really great coffee bean called org, which is organic from Peru.”
BLACK OAK
130/685-707 Casuarina Way, Casuarina
Just like its name, Black Oak is a sexy but sturdy proposition that’s here to grow.
Nestled beneath Cotton Beach resort at Casuarina, co-owner Stephanie Calyk says the cafe is set to expand its 9am to 4pm hours to include both the breakfast and night trade.
“Our plan is to open early for the cafe crowd and then in the evening transform into a tapas venue with cocktails and a huge wine list. Even with our limited hours right now though, we have just been smashed by customers.
I can’t believe how busy it’s been. Right now, we’re doing traditional breakfasts like acai bowls and fruit plates, and burgers and salads for lunch, but in a couple of weeks we’ll be branching out again.”
Stephanie, who runs the eatery with her parents, says locals have been waiting weeks for them to open. She says the growing northern NSW precinct, which is set to welcome a new Coles within weeks, is ravenous for new dining options.
“The day we opened, which was New Year’s Eve, we had a line waiting when we unlocked the doors.”
GIRVEN ROAD
26 James Street, Burleigh Heads
After a career playing rugby overseas and a decade as a teacher, Girven Road owner Rhys Horne is ready to tackle a new challenge.
Judging by the popularity of his James Street burger joint, he hasn’t bitten off more than he can chew.
“It’s definitely a steep learning curve,” he says.
“We’ve been open just over two weeks and every day there’s something new.”
Rhys says it was his children who inspired him to bite the bullet.
“It was a case of the right place, right idea, right timing. I wanted to create somewhere that parents can take the family to for a great burger and thickshake, have a drink themselves, listen to some music … but not break the bank. My son is a surfer for Billabong and he’s loving coming up for a burger after a surf with his mates. It’s like n milk bar with a sophisticated twist.”
Rhys says while he’s still a student of the hospitality game, he has a great teacher in his chef. “I know what I want and he just does it — better than I imagined. This whole thing has been like being on The Block, there’s new challenges every day.”
SALTY GROMS
Shop 7, Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach
Surfing is in Palm Beach’s DNA. It’s a laid-back way of life that long-time locals the Mason family have captured in their cruisy cafe.
A team effort from mum Jennifer, dad Paul and daughters Ruby, 13, and Hayley, 16, Salty Groms Palm Beach serves up classics like the Ultimate Party Wave — a giant milkshake bowl for four — and buckets of hot chips with gravy.
Jennifer says it’s about keeping things simple, cheap and fun for families.
“There are a lot of awesome trendy places, but they can be a bit pricey and super healthy, whereas we’ve got the naughty as well as nice options. As a family, we go out for breakfast and it’s $100, so here we’re trying to keep the price down so it becomes that local hang.”
Alongside breakfast and lunch favourites, expect blasts from the past.
“Every milkshake has a doughnut,” Jennifer says.
“We also have the old-fashioned ocean blue milkshake and lime, the two from my era. My husband and his mates surf and we call them the Old Groms, so they’ve got a burger named after them, and there’s a matching one in slider size called the Little Grom.”
While they’re a laid-back lot, Jennifer says there’s one thing they do take pretty seriously and that’s their Blackboard coffee.
GEMELLINI
Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach
Gemelli, the hip Broadbeach eatery, means “twins” in Italian, and Gemellini is its little — funkier — baby brother.
Set to open on Thursday, the fitout is small, dark and handsome. It’s owned by a trio of brothers, Paul and twins James and Alec Carney.
“When we opened Gemelli, we really wanted to create a bar scene, but it’s always so popular with diners that all the tables are used for eating,” says James.
“What we’re aiming for at Gemellini is a really intimate atmosphere — it’s only about 50 seats and the vibe is very European ... it’s cocktails, share plates and pizza.
It’s like a Melbourne back alley near the beach.”
GARDEN KITCHEN & BAR
Jupiters Gold Coast, Broadbeach
It may be on the old Prince Albert Pub site, but everything about Garden Kitchen & Bar is fresh, from the foliage-filled entrance to the hand-picked herbs gracing the seasonal produce.
The modern communal dining area is complemented by a 13-metre indoor bar, serving boutique beers, wine on tap, a variety of signature cocktails and shared pitchers full of local ingredients. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7am until late.
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