Gold Coast Valentine’s Day top 5 last-minute eating options

It’s just days until that special time of year, but fear not — there are still spots available at some restaurants for Valentine’s Day. Here’s our top five last-minute options.

It’s not too late to woo that special someone this Thursday. Denise Raward has some last-minute options.

Videre Restaurant

RACV Royal Pines Resort

Ross Street, Benowa

Romantic dinner for two at Videre, and with a view.

Royal Pines Resort’s special events notoriously sell out fast but marketing manager Hollie Dymock says it’s curious Valentine’s Day bookings are usually available right up until the last minute every year.

Far be it from Hollie to suggest it’s because menfolk are generally tasked with organising the occasion, but the good news is there are still romantic tables to be had at the Royal Pine’s fine dining establishment Videre.

Perched 21 floors up, the sweeping view of the coast and the city skyline is the perfect backdrop for Videre’s modern and refined fare.

There’s a sunset sitting from 5:30pm — 7pm with a three course set menu or a five course indulgence menu at 7:30, both served with paired wines.

On the menu is ballotine of Atlantic salmon with tartare dressing, cultured cream and toasted brioche; spiced lamb rump with eggplant caponata, confit cherry tomatoes and sherry vinegar sauce followed by lemon and lime tart, served with summer berries, puffed buckwheat and toasted almonds.

Spanner crab brik with avocado, herbs and petals and a 12-hour braised beef short rib with carrot and anise puree, herb oil and juices are added for the later diners.

There’ll also be live entertainment to set the mood and a special gift for the ladies (who’ll never know how last minute the booking).

The Tropic, Burleigh Pavilion

43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

The Tropic, Burleigh Pavilion.

Despite its early reputation as arguably the Gold Coast’s best situated meeting place, Burleigh Pavilion is staking its claim as a perfect location for that next step, the romantic tete-a-tete.

The Tropic, at the northern end of the Pavilion, is offering a special Valentine’s Day banquet, kicking things off with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Rose on arrival before serving a selection of its signature dishes.

There’ll be freshly-shucked oysters (of course) followed by stracciatella with watermelon, fresh mint and lime.

Also on the menu is kingfish crudo with citrus dressing, finger lime and dill oil and ocean king prawns with dry vermouth butter, shellfish oil and basil, served with heirloom tomatoes and butterbeans.

But it is sweets where head chef Guillaume Zika is setting the tone for what might come later with his passionate “red chocolate” dessert with raspberry, beetroot and ginger.

The Tropic will open from midday with the banquet available for dinner.

BSKT

4 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach

Breakfast at BSKT Cafe, Miami. Photo: Kit Wise

This popular Nobbys cafe is turning on its mood lighting and opening its doors for a special Valentine’s Day event, a bespoke share platter dinner and outdoor cinema screening under the stars.

The tables will be for two and couples will be invited to choose their platter selections from a menu featuring such delights as stuffed eggplant roasted with caponata and cheese, Sydney rock oysters, half lobster with chilli herb butter, deep fried soft shell crab, pork shoulder with sticky sauce and macadamia-crusted lamb rack with lemon and herb sauce.

Dessert is a BSKT heart brownie with sweet strawberry filling, served with a warm chocolate sauce and a side of Cocowhip, the perfect finisher before the post-dinner film screening.

Manager Rachael Ierna is giving no clues as to what cinematic offering will heighten the romance burgeoning in the beachside air. Suffice to say, it will probably not feature Will Ferrell.

Kokum

Versace

94 SeaWorld Drive, Main Beach

Kokum Restaurant at Palazzo Versace, Main Beach.

If it’s a taste of the exotic you’re after, you’ll be well served by Kokum, Palazzo Versace’s newest establishment with its romantic waterfront location and Michelin-starred overseer.

It will be couples only for Valentine’s evening with Chef Sabir Merchant creating a unique three course offering of Indian and Asian inspired flavours combined with contemporary Australian elements and top quality local ingredients.

In less than three months, Kokum has created a niche for itself with its distinctive fusion cuisine, with its Tandoori-oven cooked sambal barramundi and eight-hour slow cooked lamb flambe with Kashmiri spices stamping themselves as menu favourites.

The Valentine’s Day menu promises to capture the essence of Kokum’s unique style, starting with an amuse bouche on arrival and featuring champagne and cocktail specials.

Restaurant Labart

2a/8 West Street, Burleigh Heads

Restaurant Labart Valentine's Day dessert — chocolate mousse, popcorn ice-cream and hazelnut.

Chef Alex Munoz Labart has conjured a special six course set menu for Valentines young and old, featuring some brand new dishes.

Among the debuts will be smoked rainbow trout with tarragon, pea and mint and duck served with witlof and caramelised apricot — only be on the menu for Valentine’s Day.

They’ll line up alongside some Labart favourites including the local spanner crab, leek and roasted crab broth and, for dessert, classic chocolate mousse served with popcorn ice-cream and hazelnut.

“I think regulars would kill us if we didn’t have that on there,” Alex laughs.

There’s an option to add matching biodynamic wines with the Labart front-of-house team which Alex says will give diners a chance to try some new, interesting wines they may not have come across before.

“It’s our first Valentine’s Day at Labart and we’re very excited to host this special night,” he says.