Gold Coast’s biggest and most surprising 2020 restaurant transformations

The Gold Coast restaurant scene is struggling during COVID-19 and we are saying goodbye to a number of longstanding favourites. But a few new spots have taken their place. SEE THE FULL LIST.

THE GOLD Coast restaurant scene is struggling during COVID-19 and we are saying goodbye to a number of longstanding favourites.

But a few new spots have taken their place.

From a new elegant Coast bakery to a new foodie hub, here’s a list of surprising transformations in the last few months.

Foodie reporter Rosemary Ball will unveil the ultimate Bulletin series this week on what to eat, drink and do on the Coast in the coming months.

THE YARD CAFE – NOW THE BACKYARD CAFE (MERMAID BEACH)

17 Lavarack Rd, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218

The hip, rustic cafe had booming trade at their Lavarak Road, Mermaid Beach venue for more than five years — then COVID-19 hit.

Ryan, Karis and the team sadly closed the venue on July 29.

Owner Scotty Imlach has changed up the menu, similar to his old venue Barchino, but kept The Yard baristas and Clique Coffee on board to make sure the coffee is top notch.

READ MORE HERE

Scott Imlach's new Nobby's brunch spot The Backyard Cafe. Scott holding a smashed Avo dish. Picture: Jerad Williams

VECCHIA ROMA – NOW TARTE BAKERY & CAFE (BURLEIGH)

The Italian restaurant called West Street home for more than 20 years.

The prominent premises has been given a new lease on life thanks to Chloe Watts, the former owner-operator of Paddock Bakery.

It’s now called Tarte Barkery and Cafe.

At the new brunch spot you are instantly transported to France, Soho or San Francisco.

The elegant yet playful venue opened in August.

HERE’S A LOOK AT THE MENU AND VENUE

Tarte has opened on West Street in Burleigh Photo: Jason O'Brien

THAI A YELLOW RIBBON – NOW NORTH BURLEIGH KITCHENS (NORTH BURLEIGH)

The authentic Thai restaurant opened in October 2015 and tantalised tastebuds until COVID-19 hit. The empty premises was recently snapped up by Margarita Cartel.

Ivan Lotti and the Cartel crew are using the new space to transform their venue into a Gold Coast foodie hub – to be called The North Burleigh Kitchens

Their menu will include all the Cartel cult classics and include a new Italian restaurant called The Don.

READ MORE HERE

Ivan Lotti, owner of Margarita Cartel is opening a new Italian restaurant called The Don, two doors down from the Margarita Cartel in September. The area will become known as the North Burleigh Kitchens. Picture: Jerad Williams

MELBAS – NOW THE CAVILL HOTEL (SURFERS PARADISE)

A flash new gastropub replacing Surfers Paradise bar and nightclub institution Melbas will anchor a major overhaul of the site’s entire Cavill Ave corner.

Ever-expanding hospitality operator Hallmark Group is leasing the empty Melbas on the Park ground floor from billionaire Bob Ell’s Leda Holdings and plans to reinvent it as The Cavill Hotel.

Among its features will be an impressive corner entrance onto Cavill Ave.

The new venue is part of a wider overhaul for the site, further opening up laneways including one under Surfers Paradise RSL to Beach Road and dining spots Brooklyn Depot, Salt Meats Cheese and Paradox.

READ MORE HERE

Outside The Cavill Hotel which will has been transformed from Melbas on the Park in Surfers Paradise. Photo: Supplied

RISTORANTE FELLINI, MAIN BEACH – NOW THE BARN, MUDGEERABA

The Marina Mirage fine-dining venue has been a hotspot since 1993 but it’s now being transformed into The Barn.

Fellini Italian restaurant owner Carlo Percuoco is launching the “quirky” rustic venue, targeting Queenslanders and local families, at his long-running wedding and corporate function venue EcoStudio Fellini at Mudgeeraba.

READ MORE HERE

Fellini restaurant owner Carlo Percuoco has started a new venture The Barn, on a rustic Mudgeeraba wedding venue site he runs. Interiors and exteriors of the new venue. Picture Glenn Hampson

IF YOU MISSED MY SHOCKING COVID CLOSURES THIS WEEK – HERE’S THE GOSS.

NUDE SISTERS WHOLE FOOD KITCHEN, MERMAID WATERS

Nude Sisters embraced the nourishing, fresh, locally-sourced ethos, its vegetarian menu abounding with vegan and gluten-free options.

Georgia Homer and Bec Askeyare, the girls behind the eatery, had punters lining up at their NightQuarter stall before putting down roots in a 45-seat space at Mermaid Waters in 2017.

The cafe sadly closed a few months ago.

Georgia Homer and Bec Askeyare the co-owners of Nude Sisters Wholefood Kitchen at Mermaid Waters. Pics Adam Head

6729 BAKERY, BROADBEACH

The profit-for-purpose bakery, located on Main Street in Broadbeach, opened in 2016.

When the public bought pies or sausage rolls, they helped to fund training and employment to those with disabilities and other significant barriers.

The little bakery may not have a shop front anymore but it’s gone onto bigger and better things.

The training hub — now known as Active Opportunities — is working with Heart Futures in Southport and producing 40,000 meals for those less fortunate.

6729 is a profit for purpose bakery providing employment and training opportunities to people with disabilities and other significant barriers. Picture Glenn Hampson

JFX CENTRAL, SOUTHPORT

Brisbane Yakiniku Pty Ltd, formerly trading Southport’s JFX Japanese Food Express and Koh-Ya Brisbane restaurant in Fortitude Valley, collapsed into liquidation in August.

READ MORE HERE

JFX Japanese Food Express Southport waitress Maki Kawai, Gold Coast

TOM UGLYS, BURLEIGH

The casual West Street pizzeria, known for authentic woodfire pizza, cold beer and good tunes opened in 2015 and was a local favourite.

>>>> HERE’S A GUIDE TO RECENT QLD RESTAURANT CLOSURES