Best of the Gold Coast 2019: Gold Coast’s most romantic Valentine’s Day restaurant experiences

LOOKING for a restaurant to spoil your soulmate? Or perhaps your first date needs a good first impression? Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or your 20th anniversary, Amber Macpherson has found the top 9 venues that roll out the romance.

Get romantic this Valentine’s Day

LOOKING for a restaurant to spoil your soulmate? Or perhaps your first date needs a good first impression? Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or your 20th anniversary, Amber Macpherson has found the top 9 venues that roll out the romance.

Pethers

28B Geissmann St, Tamborine Mountain

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Pethers Rainforest Restaurant

With nothing but lush tropical rainforest surrounding this small restaurant and retreat, Pethers is the ultimate tranquil haven where you’ll have nothing but delicious food to distract you from your loved one. The dining room caters for 10 two-person tables, making it one of the most exclusive date night diners in the region. “Set among five acres of rainforest canopy, with our three metre open sided fireplace taking centre stage, Pethers Rainforest Restaurant is the most romantic spot on Tamborine Mountain for lovers,” general manager Shona Philps says. The team are happy to help out with special occasions including your sneaky plan to put a ring on it. “The Pethers team often enjoy taking part in special moments with our guests,” she says. “One particular proposal involving a beagle, an acoustic musician and the entire restaurant as an audience was especially a stand out for us. The adorable puppy carried the ring in while the musician played ‘their song’ and the entire restaurant stopped to watch. Lucky for everyone she said yes.” Pethers will offer a three-course fine dining experience on Valentine’s Day for $85 per person with a selection of menu items including confit duck with carrot, house made spring rolls and plum gastrique and spanner crab with Pethers-grown avocados and summer gazpacho. If the pressure of a romantic dinner is getting too much, liquid courage will be offered in the form of cocktails and Witches Falls wine.

Fellini Italian Restaurant

74 SeaWorld Drive, Main Beach

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Fellini

If there’s one culture that knows how to woo their boos, it’s the Italians. With picturesque views over the Marina Mirage, luxurious ambience and award-winning dishes, Italian restaurant Ristorante Fellini can turn on the charm any night of the week but Valentine’s Day is when they go the extra mile. Book the San Valentino dinner and you’ll be treated to a six-course feast, starting with an Australian King prawn salad and slow roasted duck ravioli, before a choice of three main meals and rounding off with a ruby chocolate and 23 carat gold ingot on an almond sponge, followed by chocolate dipped strawberries. Spots are $160 per person with the seatings likely to sell out, so make sure to book early.

Little Truffle

2444 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

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The signature pannacotta at Little Truffle, Mermaid Beach.

Little Truffle has been making magic nights happen for eight years, so the Mermaid Beach restaurant knows exactly how to help you wine and dine your significant other. Owner Daniel Ridgeway says Little Truffle offers the whole package, from the French-style furnishings, the sparkling chandeliers and the more-ish European-influenced menu. The restaurant will present a set menu on February 14, highlighting Little Truffle’s most tempting dishes including a selection of desserts. “This year will mark our eighth Valentine’s Day,” Daniel says. “We convert our two private dining rooms to accommodate a few tables of two — these are the most sort after tables. The tables are well placed so that you are not too close to the table next to you.” Little Truffle offers an early and later sitting for $110 per person.

Videre RACV Royal Pines

Ross St, Benowa

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Camomile Tea Creme Brulee at Videre. Picture: Jerad Williams

With the glittering metropolis below and the sparkling stars above, Videre at RACV Royal Pines takes dreamy dating to new heights. Perched on the 21st floor, Videre serves first class food from chef de cuisine Grant Parry in its spaciously appointed dining room and hosts a live band every weekend to set the mood for love birds. “With a great ambience for that special occasion and a tremendous menu to match It really is the place to spoil your loved one,” marketing manager Hollie Dymock says. The restaurant will hold two sittings on Valentine’s Day with a set menu and matching wines, plus a parting gift for the ladies. The sunset three-course option begins at 5.30pm ($119), followed by the romantic indulgence five-course menu at 7.30pm ($169).

Kiyomi at The Star

Casino Drive, Broadbeach

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Kiyomi

Sleek, refined and exclusive, booking a dimly lit booth at Kiyomi at The Star will have your partner impressed by your classy taste. “Kiyomi’s refined interior and intimate environment creates the perfect ambience for a romantic dinner with your loved one,” The Star manager Richard Gush says. Couples are welcome to book a table on Valentine’s Day and order off the a la carte menu, with most dishes prepared as bite sized share plates. Afterwards you can request the shared Valentine’s Day dessert for $40, a white chocolate and raspberry sorbet lollipop with marshmallow and chocolate crumble paired with two special cocktails.

The Fireplace

InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, Manor Circuit, Sanctuary Cove

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The Fireplace Sanctuary Cove

Located in the opulent InterContinental Resort, The Fireplace is a cross between a country club and a fine dining restaurant. As name suggests, the signature dishes are prepared over a crackling wood fire oven, creating a cosy, warm ambience in the dining room while offering smoky flavours through the food. The Fireplace chef Matt Hart has spared no expense for Valentine’s Day, developing an enchanting three-course supper menu including poached duck breast, spiced beef fillet or barramundi, a roasted pistachio panacotta, finished with a petit fours dessert. You’ll leave feeling very well cared for after such a sumptuous meal. Seats are $79 per person with a glass of Chandon Brut NV on arrival.

Glass Dining and Lounge Bar

74 SeaWorld Drive, Marina Mirage, Main Beach

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Seafood platter from Glass Dining and Lounge Bar, Marina Mirage, Main Beach

Million dollar water views, a superb seafood menu and superior table service is match made in heaven at Glass Dining and Lounge Bar. Overlooking the Marina Mirage waters, guests can book a five-course sunset sitting ($95) or seven-course moonlight sitting ($120) on Valentine’s Day. The set menu offers a choice of entrees and mains, including Shark Bay scallops, duck carpaccio breast and confit leg or chargrilled bugs and Mooloolaba King prawn Asian salad, with a post-dinner shared dessert platter and cheese board. Vegans, vegetarians and gluten intolerant are also catered for on the set menu, so food sensitive people can share the love too.

Glenelg Public House

2460 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

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Glenelg Public House, Mermaid Beach. Pictures: Supplied

So we’ve listed some restaurants that might make a woman swoon, but what about sweeping a bloke off his feet? Described as the Gold Coast’s first “gastropub”, Glenelg Public House’s industrial decor is dimly lit with candles and pendant lights, with the polished timber tabletops matching the bronze tones of simply exceptional steaks. The menu features a dozen varieties of Australian-grown beef including wagyu, sirloin, rump, rib and eye fillet, as well as delectable entrees and desserts. The kitchen has even thought of the herbivore in your life, with an appealing pan roasted gnocchi with truffled cream, mushrooms and pecorino.

The Fish House

50 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

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Hawada Zakout holding Balmain Bugs at The Fish House. Picture: Jerad Williams

With beachfront views and southern European dishes, The Fish House in Burleigh Heads has charmed many a Hollywood A-lister and captivated the local folk. Not to mention its seafood menu featuring plenty of known aphrodisiacs in the form of oysters and salmon (wink wink). “Our atmosphere is quite romantic, the ambience, the music, the beautiful sea view,” general manager Hawada Zackout says. “We’re very much an anniversary or occasion place.” The Fish House will host a seven-course dinner for Valentine’s Day for $110 per head, with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, moonlight kiss oysters and caviar, pickled petuna ocean trout, prawn bisque risotto and, of course, a chocolate and sorbet dessert.