Over the last few years, a lot of attention has been cast around our city by way of new up-and-coming eating precincts and suburbs with hospo prowess to rival our southern neighbours. One such stretch of the Gold Coast which has always been a hotspot for good dining experiences is Main Beach. Sure, it may have been a little in the shadow of other areas in recent times, but we certainly believe there is still a serious collection of great restaurants deserving of your hard-earned eating-out budget! Plan ahead, people: start blocking out next weekend and booking tables, as we run through our picks of the suburb.

Omeros Bros Seafood
If you’re in the market for fresh, first-class seafood, Main Beach is where it’s at: and more specifically, it’s at Omeros Bros Seafood at Marina Mirage. A multi-award-winning venue with the most fabulous to-die-for seafood platter around. It’s called Omeros Indulgence, and it’s a mix of hot and cold seafood and possibly the most decadent dish you’re likely to find in the city. Do you know what else goes well with quality seafood? Quality beverages. You’ll find a superb drink offering here to match the food also.
Where: Shop 55/74 Marina Mirage, Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

Main Beach Fish Grotto
New to Tedder Avenue dining scene is this luxe adaptation of a humble fish and chip shop worthy of anyone’s attention. This nautical-themed and whitewashed eatery serves only the best seafood alongside crispy chips and a wisely sized selection of wines and beers. There’s ample reason to stay and dine in with comfort, but if you do decide to takeaway, a drink or two can’t hurt whilst you wait.
Where: 20-22 Tedder Avenue, Main Beach

Terraces – Sheraton Grand Mirage
Should a 5-star experience be on the cards for your break from the kitchen, then strip off your apron and make a beeline for this Main Beach culinary gold mine. You’ll be spoilt with a luxurious setting overlooking the renowned Sheraton Grand Mirage swimming pool and grounds before you even take your first glance at the food. A deluxe buffet-style arrangement means you’ll have a sophisticated ocean to plate favourites hand-delivered to your table, so you can focus on all the coastal tranquillity this fantastic property has to offer.
Where: 71 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

Shuck
This Main Beach institution has been around since 2001, and affection for the cleverly named venue has only grown in that time. The team pride themselves on sourcing the outright freshest seafood; so much so their Crab Lasagne is absolute proof, and out of this world! Take in the tranquil tree-lined street of Main Beach while you enjoy your dishes and wash it all down with an icy glass of Chardonnay — or two.
Where: 20 Tedder Avenue, Main Beach

Glass Dining & Lounge Bar
Another Main Beach restaurant, another mind-blowing view. Glass Dining & Lounge Bar is found at Marina Mirage overlooking the water and serving up fine dining treats and some pretty sweet cocktails too. The menu uses only the best quality produce, meats and fresh local seafood, and it’s long been a local favourite. We highly recommend the Tempura Battered Bugs marinated in garlic and chilli served with mayo and grilled lemon. Just wow.
Where: Level 2, Marina Mirage, 74 SeaWorld Drive, Main Beach

Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern
Picture the scene: the sun is dipping behind the hinterland, the last light is caressing the still water over the Broadwater, and you’re sat soaking it all in with some fantastic food. Sounds too good to be true, but, at Fisherman’s Wharf, it’s yours for the taking. Right on the water, the casual setting is unflawed when it comes to relaxing over eats whilst enjoying drinks and taking in some wonderful regular live music.
Where: Shop 40, 60-70 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

Southport Yacht Club
Overlooking the sparkling Broadwater, Southport Yacht Club is the ultimate in epic views and affordable eats for not just you but the entire family. It’s a casual eatery open for breakfast (weekends only), lunch and dinner! Or why not just head in for a drink to overlook one of the most beautiful stretches of water (and yachts of course) you’re going to find in Australia.
Where: 1 MacArthur Parade, Main Beach

Vanitas
An utterly remarkable European dining experience is found behind the golden doors of Palazzo Versace by way of Vanitas. A five-star dining setting with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients that make up some of the most stunning dishes you’ve ever sampled. If you needed any more convincing, Vanitas has won a multitude of awards over the years and can boast of A-list celebrities, from far and wide, enjoying the deluxe dining experience regularly.
Where: Palazzo Versace, 94 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

Domanis Café Restaurant & Bar
For nearly a staggering 30 years, the team at Domanis have been serving up good times and even better food — and it shows in the hordes of people constantly streaming in and out. Their pizzas are award-winning and putting it simply: epic. Perched on the corner of Tedder Ave, it’s the perfect spot for a frosty cold ale and relaxing lunch or dinner. Try it for yourself, and you’ll see what all the fuss is about.
Where: 1/19-21 Tedder Avenue, Main Beach

Words by Alex Mitcheson.

Obviously, eating is life. Period.

And sometimes the only real issue with this beloved pastime is having to decide on just one dish when you’re out and about. Sure, there are share plates — but there never seems to be enough of those either. What’s an ever-hungry gal (or guy) to do?

DEGUSTATIONS that’s what. The definition of which is carefully selected dishes focusing on the sensory aspects of eating and often involving a Chef’s selection of signature dishes. Think of it as a culinary journey from the first bite to when you finally lay down your fork. How fancy.

Luckily, we on the Gold Coast have a fair selection of great restaurants which offer degustations to die for. Here’s our rundown of the places you must visit when three courses simply won’t do.

Labart
When Chef Alex Munoz Labart strolled into Burleigh Heads three years ago and decided he would open a restaurant; the Gold Coast dining scene would never be the same. From day one the crew at Restaurant Labart have been serving up incredible food with top-notch service and a carefully compiled wine list to boot. The evening set menu of $125pp consisting of nine dishes is ever-evolving and hinges itself on whatever fresh and tantalising produce Chef/Owner Alex can get his hands on. Expect great flavours, seasonality and local produce like you’ve never seen before.
Where: 2a/8 West Street, Burleigh Heads

Little Truffle
The Mermaid Beach gem is absolutely adored for its Modern European fare and if you’re yet to sample it, we highly suggest you do so stat. Conveniently, a good way to treat yourself to a variety of dishes is with a degustation and here we are. Little Truffle’s set degustation menu is priced at $110pp. With dishes like Braised beef cheek potato gnocchi with truffle cream sauce and Fried Zucchini Flowers filled with Persian feta and pine nuts, you know it’s going to be a mind-blowing affair. You can also wine match at $60pp.
Where: 2444 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

Mamasan Kitchen + Bar
Serving up the perfect blend of modern and traditional Asian cuisine is Mamasan in Broadbeach. It’s a share plate-style situation with many a delicious flavour to try. You can grab yourself a Yin or Yang degustation and each is filled with incredible, must-try dishes. The Yin will set you back $55pp and comes with dishes like Panko Fried Squid and Wagyu Beef Red Curry (YUM). The Yang is $69pp and you get a few extra dishes including Spanner Crab Ravioli Dumplings and Sichuan Salted Duck. Count us in.
Where: 3 Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach

Kiyomi
When it comes to a deluxe Japanese dining experience there is only one place you need to visit, and that’s Kiyomi at The Star Gold Coast. Executive Head Chef Chase Kojima spares no expense in sourcing the finest ingredients and then delivering an authentic albeit modern taste of Japanese cuisine. For $150pp you start with sparkling sake and dishes like Ocean Trout with Wasabi Salsa and Yuzu Soy before then moving onto the likes of Cuttlefish Tempura, Wagyu Beef Cheek, artichoke and hatcho miso.
Where: Lobby Level The Star Gold Coast, 1 Casino Drive, Broadbeach

The Fireplace
At the northern end of the coast, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove is home to a wood fire restaurant like no other. The Fireplace is guaranteed to impress from the word go — and you can expect delicious big flavours all backed by an unmistakable smokiness that has been infused to perfection. Their degustation menu is a six-course extravaganza and includes Moreton Bay bugs and seared duck breast, costing $118pp or $150pp with matched wines. A definite winner with all of you barbeque fans out there!
Where: InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, Manor Circuit, Sanctuary Cove

Vanitas
Everything about the Palazzo Versace is designed to wow you. From the moment you walk through the door until you take your seat at restaurant Vanitas, you can be assured you are at one of the finest restaurants on the Coast. At $238pp the six-course Signature Degustazione is something to behold: with simply some of the finest lobster, quail and Wagyu Australia has to offer. The service here is impeccable, the setting elegant and the matched wines to wash it all down are nothing short of mesmerising. This is the kind of experience you must do at least once… or perhaps multiple times?
Where: 94 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

Words by Alex Mitcheson

Look we’re all partial to a good hat but if you’re a chef, a hat is all that and a bag of chips. Each year, the Australian Good Food Guide awards hats to the crème de la crème in the restaurant world. Although many of our neighbouring states and cities may have once turned their noses up at the GC dining landscape, sir, times are a’changin!

This year, a whopping 24 of our fave local eats destinations scored at least one hat, and we are proud as punch!

In a twist everyone saw coming, Broadbeach cleaned up with nine venues receiving hats, including Social Eating House and Bar, which once again notched up not one but two hats and earned a special mention for its award-winning share plates.

Their Italian sister up the road Orzo also brought home a hat, once again proving that Owner and Executive Chef Matthew Jefferson doesn’t do anything by halves.

Of course a couple of The Star Gold Coast’s restaurants collected gongs, including Japanese sensation Kiyomi (2 hats), Modern Australian go-to for a fancy night out Nineteen at the Star (1 hat) and Cantonese newcomer Uncle Su (1 hat).

Miss Moneypenny’s marvelous Mediterranean menu (say that a few times) earned itself a hat, as did The Oracle’s melting pot of Asian goodness Mamasan Kitchen and Bar.

Rounding up Broady’s winners are grinners list with one hat is longstanding steak restaurant, Moo Moo The Wine Bar and Grill.

Moving slightly south now to Mermaid Beach and once again, esteemed Japanese restaurant Etsu Izakaya earned a hat, as did boutique dining superstar The North Room.

Nobby Beach also served up a winner in the form of Ally Chow in all her amazing Asian glory.

Robina’s Eddy + Wolff represented with a well-earned hat. It just goes to show that the ‘burbs can cook up a winner too, not just the Insta-set-favoured pockets.

Now let’s talk Burleigh and again, there are a few to unpack here. Rick Shores scored a hat for its delectable contemporary pan Asian cuisine, along with Vietnamese pin-up boy Jimmy Wah’s.

Burleigh’s Modern Australian offering also got a nod with The Tropic receiving a hat.

Palm Beach’s ever-popular Balboa Italian was shown some love with one hat.

Let’s journey back to the central neck of the woods, starting with Surfers Paradise’s Modern Australian superstar Palette, proudly taking out two hats.

The QT’s Japanese phenomenon Yamagen scored one hat, as did The Langham Gold Coast’s new Cantonese jewel T’ang Court and the JW Marriott Gold Coast’s seafood superstar Citrique.

Neighbouring Main Beach favourite Glass Dining and Lounge Bar and Gods of the Sea. were awarded one hat along with modern Australian newcomer La Luna.

Palazzo Versace’s relaunched Vanitas took out two hats and was ranked highest on the Gold Coast list with a seriously impressive 17 points out of a possible 20 (no restaurant has yet achieved the holy grail of 20 points) for its sophisticated Italian.

Anyone who still says we’re lacking in the quality eats department here on the Goldie, now is the time to concede defeat because this list of local victories confirms what we already knew – our foodie scene has officially become a force to be reckoned with and there’s plenty more to come…

Words by Bianca Trathen.