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Chevron Island Seafoods

In the same way beach barbeques and icy cold beers have become an Australian institution the good old fish ‘n chipper has long been an iconic staple of seaside cities across the nation.

Unfortunately, as the chipper institution has grown in this country, so too has the culinary murder of the simplistic fish and chip. I, myself, have more than once been lured into a quick bite only to be left reeling with disappointment from an inferior, poorly prepared piece of frozen fish or rubber like calamari.

On the Gold Coast there is one local ‘chippy’ that is not only a pure testament to our country’s love for crispy, battered fish and starchy golden spuds, but that also lives up to the reputation of this iconic household favorite.

Established in 1972, Chevron Island Seafoods is one locally owner-operated business that offers a tasty traditional menu with a fresh, modern twist, in a location just far enough away to avoid the hustle and bustle of the coast's overpopulated tourist strip.

From their extensive selection of fresh shellfish and cooked seafood, battered, crumbed and grilled fish, marinated octopus, steak sandwiches and monster burger range; to their healthy homemade salads, fried rice, fishcakes and sauces, this is one takeaway joint where you are spoiled for choice and served with that wholesome old school smile.

According to Chevron Island Seafoods Owner Warren, despite the seemingly straightforward nature of a fish and chip feast, a commitment to top-notch produce and passion for providing fresh and tasty food is paramount to a chippers success.

"The plain truth is you can’t expect to serve up flavoursome seafood or maintain a healthy comeback business without making quality a priority, or incorporating passion into what you do,” he said.

"As owner-operators we love nothing more than seeing people enjoy what we have prepared for them, and knowing that they feel so satisfied that they come back next week for more.”

Apart from their commitment to providing the highest quality takeaway and their passion for making simplistic food that caters to all their customers cravings – even the health nuts and dietary challenged – what makes at Chevron Island Seafoods so appealing is their fastidious attention to detail.

All their produce is sourced on a daily basis from local Queensland suppliers. Their menu is prepared fresh and made-to-order. All their sauces, salads and specialty items, such as steamed dim-sims and fried rice, are made on the premises and there is not a drip or drop of dirty oil in sight.

Nobbys Arc Pizzeria and Bar.                    

With a heavenly menu in which I could have easily devoured two of each and every dish, there is in my opinion, no more appropriate name for my most recent Gold Coast dining experience.  

Exuding a contemporary upmarket feel without the elitist attitude, Nobbys Arc Pizzeria and Bar is one local haunt reinvigorating the trendy Nobbys Beach dining strip, one sumptuous sharing plate at a time.  

Abuzz with an electric vibe that spills beyond the interior and onto the sidewalk, Nobbys Arc effortlessly enveloped me with its intoxicating communal atmosphere before I even had a chance to take my seat.  

Decked out with an understated décor that features solid timber and steel table settings, fisherman light fittings, exposed pipes and brushed concrete walls, Nobbys Arc delivers a modish industrial design without feeling cold or uninviting.  

At just one look at the menu with its ambrosial tapas sharing plates, inventive gourmet pizzas, simplistic pastas, soulful desserts and creative drink list, it is pretty clear this place was designed to be enjoyed in the company of friends.  

Being the glutton that I am, I opted to indulge in the tapas sharing plates – a choice that literally took to my palate to paradise! I just could not get enough of every magnificent mouthful of lemon pepper calamari with aioli and burnt lemon; lamb meatballs with side of spicy tomato salsa and garlic yoghurt; the zucchini fritters topped with dill crème fraiche; grilled haloumi with fresh parsley; and my absolute favourite, the spiced pork belly on caramelised apples with crackling.  

The flavour, quality and affordability of each sumptuous sharing plate at Nobbys Arc is impeccably matched by their cool collection of local beer and wine, and their creative cocktail and shooter concoctions.   

From the Oreo, Bomber and Plush shooters, the Chilli Bin, Lemon Meringue and Apple Rhubarb Crumble cocktails, to the ever-popular local brews including the Hef, My Wife’s Bitter and Matilida Bay Beez Neez, there is something on the menu to appease the thirsty and impress even the staunchest alcohol enthusiast.  

Aside from their unsullied ability to deliver top-notch cuisine and blissful beverages in an uber-cool setting, and at prices that don’t leave you high and dry, what makes Nobbys Arc so appealing is their authentic all inclusive approach.  

As Nobbys Arc Owner Scott explains, this is one venue with a passion for providing an all-round experience where locals and visitors alike can come in and share a drink, bite to eat and quality live entertainment.  

“We want customers to feel relaxed and like they have had a great night of entertainment… and that’s what we try to achieve by providing an affordable entertainment package which allows people to come in, enjoy their food and drinks, and just kick back and listen to the live music,” Scott said.  

“We foster this approach and maintain our chilled out atmosphere by offering a menu that can be shared with friends, engaging friendly staff, providing professional customer service and by avoiding express dining… you will never find us double booking tables, if you book a table it is yours for the night, whether you stay five minutes or five hours.”  

Nobbys Arc Pizzeria and Bar is without a doubt one dining experience that embraces the idea of treating meal time as a celebration, it encourages you catch-up and enjoy some wining and dining time with friends and undeniably delivers on all fronts with their grade-a dishes, drinks and approachable service.  

Present your ThinkPink Card and receive a Pizza and Boutique Beer or Cider for $20.

New York Slice - Broadbeach

Whether you savour the simplicity of a margarita, are a barbeque meat lover, or salivate at the thought of a chicken, spinach and béchamel sauce combo, New York Slice at Broadbeach is one pizza slice well worth the dough.

Inspired by the authentic pizzerias of New York City, New York Slice in Broadbeach is bringing that quintessential pizza pie flavour to life, one tasty slice at a time.

Featuring that distinctive extra-wide, hand-tossed and foldable crust, and a delicious range of toppings and homemade sauces, New York Slice embodies the iconic New York pizza style.

Store Manager Monique Gold said New York Slice at Broadbeach prides itself on offering a personal pizza experience which will leave each customer superlatively satisfied and hungry for more.

“What really sets us apart is our commitment to achieve complete customer satisfaction; we want customers to remember our shop for both the food and the friendly and fun experience,” Monique said.

“As a family business, we aren’t just in this for the money, we all work the floor, we all have a passion and we try to have a bit of fun – we want customers to say ‘those people at New York Slice Broadbeach are really cool, let’s go eat there,’ so we try and make it fun.”

With each pizza pie measuring 18 inches in diameter and delivered twice a day, you can be assured each New York Slice experience offers fresh flavoursome pizza without compromising value for money.

Although the pizza menu does not change, Monique explains they are forever looking at ways to branch out and create a point of difference with their franchise.

 “I like that the pizza menu stays the same as I think there is nothing worse than discovering the most delicious pizza combination and then it not being on the menu next time you go to order it,” she said.

“However we do think it is important to offer variety and keep customers interested, which is part of the reason why we have recently introduced a gelato bar.”

With evolving to-die-for flavours including Mars Bar, Toasted Marshmallow, Lemony Lemon and Cookies Night Out, this homemade gelato is the perfect accompaniment to your slice of pizza heaven.

You can stay up-to-date with all the latest in-store New York Slice giveaways and specials, or simply drool over the delicious pizza and gelato pictures through their newly launched Facebook and Instagram pages.

Get a complimentary ThinkPink loyalty card and receive a free garlic bread and can of drink with any pizza slice purchase. 

Kaizen Sushi - Biggera Waters

Whether you are a traditionalist or prefer a modern take on Japan’s best known delicacy, Kaizen Sushi is one dining experience set to change the way you think about sushi.

With a fully licensed Saki Bar, experienced chefs and an innovative menu, this newly established eatery has both reinvented and raised the bar for sushi dining on the Gold Coast.

Inspired by the sushi bar scene of New York, Kaizen Sushi uses only the freshest, local produce and incorporates traditional techniques with innovative flavour combinations to deliver a winning westernised take on traditional Japanese dishes.

With a lavish selection of sashimi, sushi ships and nigiri, moorish mains and cold dishes, imaginative fusion rolls and sumptuous in-house sauces, everybody – from the traditionalist to the modern man – will find something to tantalise their taste buds at Kaizen Sushi.  

Seafood lovers will take delight in the Coast Kiss with deep fried shrimp, soft shell crab and tuna drizzled in tangy sauce; the Kaizen Roll with lobster salad, soft shell crab, avocado and Unagi sauce; and the Scallop Volcano featuring crab, avocado, cucumber and scallops cooked with fresh mushroom and Unagi sauce.

Those who wain at the words Wagyu beef, should not pass-up the Wagyu Steak or Reef n Beef roll with its prawn, lobster salad and avocado centre, adorned in freshly sliced Wagyu beef. Subsequently, if your penchant is for poultry, be sure to get those chopsticks into the tasty Chicken Teriyaki, Chicken Karaage and Chicken Katsu dishes.

Vegetarians will also relish in the flavour fusion at Kaizen Sushi with the succulent sweet omelette nigiri, crispy tempura vegetables, Agendashi Tofu with tempura sauce, Miso or Edamame soup and the delectable bamboo roll with cucumber, seaweed salad, yellow radish, avocado, Kanpyo and asparagus.

While the adventurous menu and stocked Saki bar are both defining features of this restaurant, Kaizen Sushi has another major drawcard which sets it apart from other  sushi dining experiences on the Gold Coast.

In fact, one of the most appealing aspects about dining at Kaizen Sushi is that there are no pre-made plastic plates being churned out on a revolving train, you don’t have to eat your meal crammed side-by-side on bar stools and there is not a single disposal chopstick, moister wipe or sauce satchel in sight.

With their clever balance of flavours, welcoming and optimal standard of service and inviting restaurant and bar layout, Kaizen Sushi offers a casual Japanese dining experience with a dash of class.

Oskars on Burleigh - Burleigh Heads

If you are seeking a dining experience encapsulating the essence of fine coastal cusine, you just can’t go past Oskars on Burleigh. Exuding excellence and an understated sophistication, this highly renowned restaurant will leave you both supremely satisfied and hungry for more.

Home to an ever evolving menu of innovative modern Australian cuisine, unrivalled reputation and million dollar views, Oskars on Burleigh has been at the heart of a Gold Coast dining love affair for more than 30 years.

With a an infallible commitment to the freshest produce, a strong emphasis on seafood and dishes which extend far beyond the ocean, it is easy see why Oskars on Burleigh has been relished by food lovers alike for more than three decades.

Stepping inside you are immediately captivated by an undeniable nautical charm that has been cleverly created to complement the seaside taste sensation that awaits you. From the whitewash interior decked out with understated décor in black accents, to walls adorned with bottles of Moet, a cool selection of coastal tunes sounding on the stereo and the frameless floor to ceiling windows that give way to picture perfect views.

This charming ambience and spectacular outlook is matched  by an impeccable award-winning menu and pride in providing a premium grade service to all diners who walk through the door. From an enticing entourage of entrees, morish mains, succulent selection of side dishes and sultry desserts which will make you shiver with delight, Oskars on Burleigh takes you on food journey far beyond the blue horizon.

As I sat on the deck, perched perfectly over Burleigh’s golden stretch of sand, with the salt air kissing my face, beach break lapping at my feet and the famed glitterstrip staring me in the face, I just could not pass up the opportunity to indulge in Oskars’ delicious delicacies of the sea.

Sipping on my Sauv Blanc, I made the most of every magnificent mouthful of the freshly shucked oysters with baked creamed spinach and gruyere; seared scallops served with celeriac puree, chorizo sausage and roquette cream sauce; signature Oskars prawns with fried coconut, macadamias and curry mayonnaise; a side of English spinach, crispy bacon, pear and walnut salad drizzled with a blue cheese dressing; and the chocolate symphony dessert consisting of chocolate gelato with pistachio sand, chocolate panna cotta and chocolate meringue tartlet.

With fresh, flavoursome and innovative cuisine, a reputation backed by a long list of industry awards and an unforgettable iconic location, Oskars on Burleigh provides guests an extraordinary dining experience like nowhere else on the Gold Coast.

Little Truffle - Mermaid Beach

If you are looking for a little more finesse, elegance and intimacy in dining, Little Truffle is one precious little gem you can’t go past!  Oozing with a unique blend of opulence and informality, this charismatic and charming restaurant offers locals three dining experiences to ignite and indulge the senses in a flavoursome journey like no other.

With a palatable menu of modern Australian cuisine that incorporates flavours accentuated from the regions of Italy, Spain and France, a worldly wine list and a classy collection of eclectic furnishings, this is one restaurant where attention to detail is at the centre of its appeal.

From the moment you step foot inside each unique dining space, it is instantly apparent every square inch of this restaurant has been carefully cultivated to create an alluring ambience, that at times takes your breath away. From the Private Dining Room with its authentic solid wood Italian tables, luxurious velvet theatre drapes, imported London lamps and exclusive Plum glassware; to the Contemporary Dining Room with its elegantly upholstered seating, minimalist table dressings, remarkable modern artwork and simple bistro and bar style dining; to the innate intimacy of the Classical Dining Room complete with French crystal chandelier, provincial mirror feature wall and decorative antique ceiling. 

The intricacy and pointed precision of Little Truffle is not lost on the decor, this impeccable attention to detail seamlessly extends to the heavenly menu and is enhanced by the premium and personable service provided to all guests.

The menu prepared and executed by Chef Daniel Ridgeway and his expert team is the pinnacle of perfection in modern city cuisine, with its first-class charcuterie, succulent hot and cold starters, perfectly polished mains, subtly indulgent sides and delicate desserts designed to seduce that sweet tooth.

As a self-established ‘foodie’ I thought I had well and truly set my top five restaurant experiences in stone, that was until I discovered this little gem! In fact, since dining at Little Truffle, I have not stopped dreaming of each and every portion of pure magic which I devoured.  

Every magnificent morsel melted in my mouth! From the beef carpaccio with quails egg, truffle mayonnaise, fried capers and parmesan croquettes; the tempura zucchini flowers stuffed with Persian fetta and served with tomato relish; the braised rolled pork belly with seared scallop and pea and mint puree; to the assiette of desserts including a chocolate petit pot with cherry compote and hazelnut praline; vanilla bean panna cotta with raspberry rose jelly and rose granita; warm chocolate pudding with caramel, double cream and honeycomb; and petit strawberry soufflé de jour. 

Little Truffle is by all sense and meaning of the word, a little gem. It is not just somewhere to eat, it is a place to experience passion and hospitality at its finest, a place to indulge on a sensational journey and a place that I now consider as the epitome of dining on the Gold Coast.  

Be sure to taste a little piece of heaven today and take advantage of Little Truffle's three course fixed menu lunch special for only $48.