MexiCali Bar Y Taqueria

You never know who you’ll meet in a bar. It may be the future king of Denmark or, in the case of Luke Johnson and Will Hudson, that person may be your future business partner! Fortunately for us, their chance encounter in a bar in Mexico would later come to fruition in MexiCali, a Cali-style […]

Bine Bar & Dining

There’s a beer revolution going on in Australia. Not long ago there were only a handful of beers to choose from, with the choice being dark, light or Guinness. As quickly as the larger breweries were bought up by multinationals, microbreweries have sprung up. Eager to design newer cleaner flavours, microbrewers have discovered and tweaked […]

Bonita Bonita

If the spirit of Frida Kahlo descended onto the Gold Coast, I am sure that she would come to rest in Bonita Bonita. Besides being kindred Mexican spirits with their own unique artistic styles, Bonita’s owner/chef Morgan Walsh (ex Commune) bears a striking resemblance to the famous Mexican artist (minus the monobrow)! By day the façade […]

Black Sheep Bistro

NOTE: You will find a newer review of Black Sheep Bistro here. “Black Sheep Bistro pays homage to the underdog, bringing Nose-to-Tail dining to Oxenford.” It’s enough to get any foodie excitedly following the scent of a story – nose-to-tail dining. It’s one of the top trends for dining in other cities, so it’s exciting […]

Gemelli Italian

Excitement! There’s no other way to describe my reaction to the news of Gemelli’s opening. Hand-kneaded, thrown dough, wood-fired, handmade pasta… the words bring little ripples of anticipation. I’m a traditionalist when it comes to food. Yes, I enjoy experimentation, but let’s not kid ourselves that incongruent ingredients improve a regional dish! And let’s not […]

Dune Cafe

The Dune Café is a bit of a secret. Located in one of the most beautiful spots on the Coast, it’s well frequented by southern Gold Coasters, but apart from that, many other people don’t know of its existence. Bit of a shame, really, because a trip to Palm Beach Parklands’ Dune Café reminds you […]

Commune, Burleigh Heads

UPDATE January 2014: Commune has achieved cult status on the Goldie, with a huge band of loyal followers won over by its rustic organic food and generous servings. It’s also highly affordable, with the most expensive dish priced at $17. Whether you want blueberry pancakes, Mushrooms and asparagus piled on toast with Persian fetta, the […]

Stairwell Coffee, Surfers Paradise

There’s something Tardis-like about Stairwell Coffee. Landed smack in the middle of ‘Asian Alley’, Surfers Paradise, its smart fire-engine red frontage and clear vintage branding stand out against the surrounding Babel-like confusion of hand-written signage and dishevelled shop fronts. The Centre Arcade is one of the oldest and least aesthetic arcades in Surfers, commonly termed […]

Social Eating House + Bar, Broadbeach

UPDATE: We’ve eaten several times at Social, including with vegans, gluten and lactose intolerants all at the same table! On every occasion our needs were gracefully accommodated, with Matt’s food surpassing our expectations. We give Social our highest recommendation for both food and service. —————————————————————————- Social Eating House + Bar takes ‘smart’ to a new […]

The Woodbox Café

I walked into the Woodbox Café at West Burleigh and felt right at home. There’s that spacious ‘earth mother’ vibe going on which is rare on the Gold Coast: that of a large open country kitchen, where the bread is freshly baked, the heady aroma of coffee wafts through the room, produce picked in the […]