fbpx
Search
Generic filters
Filter by Suburb
Select all
Broadbeach
Burleigh
Coolangatta
Currumbin
Main Beach
Mermaid Beach
Miami
Nobby's Beach
North Burleigh
Palm Beach
Robina
Southport
Surfers Paradise
Tugun
Water Fun

Fire Cue Bar & Grill

You'll be running over hot coals to get a taste of this one.

You’ll be running over hot coals to get a taste of this one.

With the Coast’s restaurant scene well and truly booming, it’s hard to think how anyone could make it any better? Then in steps Adam Dundas-Taylor, owner of Fire Cue Bar & Grill, the new “hottest” spot in Nobby’s.

Travelling all the way from Bali, home to Adam’s Barbacoa Restaurant, the love for charcoal grill and fun times has now been shared with the Gold Coast. A tapas bar which offers Latin American, Mexican, Spanish and Argentinian inspired food, zesty cocktails, tap beers from Gold Coast locals and smooth tunes.

The inside of Fire Cue is mysterious yet inviting, a concrete look wall with golden metallic highlights (guaranteed you will want to run your hands over it), contrasted by two colour washed walls giving the narrow space a unique edginess. Choose between high tables and stools or a sleek burgundy leather lounge. Exposed lighting hangs from copper piping and a warm glow emanates from the neon “Fire Cue” that sits behind the bar. It doesn’t stop here though, make your way past the kitchen and up the stairs to another bar, brightly coloured walls, communal and high tables and lush greenery that sits on the open rooftop. Upstairs is the perfect location if you want to enjoy the fiery flavours exclusively.

Things are definitely heating up in the Fire Cue kitchen too. The meat of the night is cooked over charcoal in a parrilla barbecue grill for eight hours which ensures you aren’t going to miss out on any of the mouth-watering flavour. The menu offers a variety of delicious choices; Pork Spare Ribs in a chipotle and agave glaze, Fire Cue’s own style Spicy Snapper Ceviche with aji amarillo dressing, Lamb Empanadas, pulled lamb, goats cheese, cumin and green olive, Grilled Corn (you won’t be able to stop at one) served with chipotle mayo, cheese, smoked spice and lime… too much to choose from already? The menu is designed to share, which means you have a totally valid excuse to have one of everything!

Same applies for those with a sweet tooth, order an individual dessert such as the White Chocolate and Honeycomb Ice-cream Sandwich, or try a Dessert Tasting Plate instead, which is going to give you all the good stuff. Speaking of good stuff, it’s important to know that these guys are also offering a $5 Taco Tuesday!

Date night or dinner with the crew, Nobby’s is all fired up over this newest addition.

Open Tuesday – Sunday 5pm – late

11 spots for Wednesday cheap eats

Miami Marketta (image supplied by Destination Gold Coast)
Miami Marketta (image supplied by Destination Gold Coast)

Hump day is always a fun time, the week is half over and it’s a downhill slope to the weekend. You know what else is a fun time? Cheap and delicious foods. Combine the two and you’ve got yourself the best day of the week.

Here you go hungry peeps.

NORTH GC

  • Bavarian: Vegetarians avert your eyes, Wednesdays at Bavarian are all about meat. All-you-can-meat! Bring your appetite and satisy those meaty cravings for just $35pp. At Westfield Coomera, Level 1/109 Foxwell Rd, Coomera
  • Mozza Mozza: Pizza AND pasta? In one dish? This one has our names written all over it. Wednesdays at Mozza Mozza are all about pizza bowl pasta. Two weekly pasta specials served up in their famous pizza bowls. Grab two for $40. At Southport Sharks, Corner Olsen Avenue & Musgrave Avenue, Southport
Pizza Bowl Pasta, Mozza Mozza, Southport (image supplied)
Pizza Bowl Pasta, Mozza Mozza, Southport (image supplied)

MID GC

  • Harajuku Gyoza: It’s Japanese beer stadium and gyoza bar, but Wednesdays are all about wings at Harajuku Gyoza. Enjoy Tebasaki peppered chicken wings for just $1 per piece, served on plates of 4. At 2/26 Victoria Ave, Broadbeach
  • BineThe team at Bine Bar & Dining are bringing the goods with steak and sides for just $25. If you aren’t full by the time you leave, we’ll eat our hats. At 1/28 Chairlift Avenue, Mermaid Beach
  • Miami Marketta: the place to be on hump day with tons of tasty tapas plates to share with your mates (or not). The original street market on the GC and it’s still serving up the goods. From just ten bucks a pop, you can afford to splurge. At 23 Hillcrest Pde, Miami
Couple at Miami Marketta (image supplied by Destination Gold Coast)
Couple at Miami Marketta (image supplied by Destination Gold Coast)
  • Marilyn’s Bar & Diner: Fire down the grill and book yourself a table at Marilyn’s for $25 rump steaks with fries, salad, and your choice of sauce. Now that is a steak-tacular deal. At 10/90 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
  • Hail MaryWe can always count on Hail Mary’s for a great feed. On Wednesdays, it’s all about their $18 burritos. At 26 James Street, Burleigh Heads
  • Maman Bar & Kitchen: Throughout February and March Maman has your carb cravings sorted. Enjoy a weekly rotation of handcrafted pasta dishes for just $20pp. At 49 James Street, Burleigh Heads
  • Paloma: Burleigh’s favourite wine bar takes things to the next level on Wednesdays with their $14 cheeseburger and fries offering. You’re basically losing money by not treating yourself #girlmath. At 1/12 James St, Burleigh Heads
Cheeseburger, Paloma Wine Bar, Burleigh Heads (image supplied)
Cheeseburger, Paloma Wine Bar, Burleigh Heads (image supplied)

SOUTH GC

  • BurgsterBurgers are great (all time really), but on Wednesdays, this stellar burger joint helps us wing our way to happiness, one bite at a time! $1 chicken wings in Southern, Buffalo, or BBQ. Just wing it peeps. At 4/10 Philippine Parade, Palm Beach
  • Frida Sol: If you don’t like nachos this is nacho day. Side note, who doesn’t like nachos? For everyone else head to Frida Sol for $15 nacho Wednesday! At Level 1, 1176 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Words by Belinda Symons.

Wings at Burgster, Palm Beach (image supplied)
Wings at Burgster, Palm Beach(image supplied)

17 spots for Tuesday cheap eats

Nachos at Crafty's, Harbour Town (image supplied)
Nachos at Crafty's, Harbour Town (image supplied)

Congratulations, you’ve made it through Monday and this calls for a celebratory feed. But do keep the dollars in check so you don’t blow your weekend spend, coz that would be more devastating than a From Scratch binge.

Here are 17 cheap and cheerful Tuesday nosh-up spots for maximum taste with minimum damage to your bank account balance.

NORTH GC

  • Crafty’s: Northerners, get ready for Mexican Fiesta Tuesdays! Sink your teeth into $6 tacos, $12 margaritas and $25 Corona buckets. Leave the wheels at home! At Harbour Town Shopping Centre, 147 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters
  • The Bavarian: It’s all about the 2 for 1 schnitzel at The Bavarian Coomera. It’s a schnitty fest! At Westfield Coomera, Level 1/109 Foxwell Rd, Coomera
  • Southport Yacht Club: Take in the stunning Broadwater views, ogle fancy yachts, and devour a mouth-watering parmi from just $20 per member, or $25 per non-member. Done like a (cheap) dinner! At 1 Macarthur Parade, Main Beach
Chicken Burger at Gold Coast Tavern (image supplied)
Chicken Burger at Gold Coast Tavern (image supplied)

MID GC

  • Gold Coast Tavern: Tuesday nights pasta party will only set you back $22 for a pasta with wine. Mumma Mia what a good deal! At 150 Bundall Road, Bundall
  • Stingray Lounge: Enjoy tacos, tequila and tunes! Stingray has you covered, with $5 tacos, $30 unlimited tacos, and a new Margarita menu to match. Boom! At QT Gold Coast, 7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise
  • The Island: No-one does a burger and chips like The Island, choose any burger with fries it will only set you back $18. At 3128 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
Goldies Super Bowl, The Island (image supplied)
Goldies Super Bowl, The Island (image supplied)

MID GC continued…

  • Finn McCool’s: If ever it was chicken parmy o-clock, it’s on a Tuesday night at Finn McCools, for just $20 buckaroonies. Plus you can test your trivia prowess every Tuesday from 7pm. At 39 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise
  • Bonita Bonita: Our dreams are made of tacos from this cult fave. Every Tuesday enjoy $6 classic Tacos and $20 jugs of Sangria #seeyouthere. At 2460 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

 

Hail Mary (image supplied)
Hail Mary (image supplied)

MID GC continued…

  • Bine Bar & Dining: There’s always something on at Bine, including on a Tuesday where you can nom your way through $5 tacos whilst enjoying daily live music #SoSold! At 1/28 Chairlift Avenue, Mermaid Beach
  • The Arc at Nobby’s: The Arc embraces Margi’s and Bahn Mi Tuesday. Offering $12 Bahn Mi, $5 chips and drink specials from 2PM. See you there! At Shop 3/28 Chairlift Avenue, Miami
  • Burleigh Pavilion: Any excuse to get down to the Burleigh Pav is a good one, but this is a clanger – Taco Tuesday enjoy $6 Tacos and $15 Frozen Margaritas, from 4 – 9PM, #CallAnUber! At 43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads
  • Hail Mary: Another Burleigh fave doing Taco Tuesday from 5pm, Hail Mary is whipping up classic tacos for $6 #areebaareeba. For an extra $1.50, you can get stuck into the pork belly taco #GetSomePorkOnYaFork. At 26 James Street, Burleigh Heads
El Camino Cantina, Paradise Centre, Surfers Paradise (image supplied)
El Camino Cantina, Paradise Centre, Surfers Paradise (image supplied)

SOUTH GC

Currumbin RSL (image supplied)
Currumbin RSL (image supplied)

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

  • El Camino Cantina: Ok hold the phone coz it doesn’t get any cheaper than this! Soft shell tacos are just $2 on a Tuesday (say what?), plus you can upgrade to the best-selling Cadillac tacos for just $4! At 2 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise & Robina Town Centre, 19-33 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina
  • TGI Fridays: At $1 a pop, just wing it we say! Signature wings in serves of six, tossed in your choice of sauce. You’re going to love Tuesdays so much, you’ll want to put a wing on it. At Paradise Centre, 2 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise & at Robina Town Centre: Robina Town Centre Drive

Words by Bianca Trathen.

TGI Fridays, Surfers Paradise (image supplied)
TGI Fridays, Surfers Paradise (image supplied)

Simon Gloftis

We’re going to call it, Simon Gloftis is the man who started the foodie revolution on the Gold Coast. Starting with Little Beans, then now-iconic Greek eatery Hellenika and finally The Fish House, the restaurateur has a slew of local firsts under his belt.

His passion for the Gold Coast’s dining scene has seen him become one of the most familiar faces in town and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

We chat with Simon about Hellenika’s soon to be opened rooftop bar and the game-changing plans he’s got in store for the Coast.

How did your passion for food came about?
I didn’t realise but obviously growing up in a European family, it was ingrained in me when I was a kid. My godfather has one of the most famous Greek restaurants in Melbourne and we used to go there as a family but I wouldn’t sit at the table I’d go and stand at the door of the kitchen and they’d pass me food and I’d take it out. Then I got a job delivering pizza, worked in a few restaurants, then went to pizza maker and floor manager then I went back to the kitchen. I eventually left hospitality and got my real estate license but every night I was going home and instead of studying the real estate course I was looking at cookbooks so I realised what I loved. I had three cafes on the Gold Coast and then from the cafes I opened Hellenika then Fish House.

What is it you love so much about it?
I literally wake up in the morning and start thinking about food, then I eat food and I don’t stop until I go to bed. It’s my life. I don’t travel anywhere other than for food. When I go to Europe I book the restaurants before I go, even if I’m popping down to Sydney I book the restaurants before I book the flights. It’s all I want to do.

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I went to Marymount College from year four. I was born in Melbourne then we moved to Brisbane, back to Melbourne then to the Gold Coast.

What do you love most about living here?
I just think there’s an energy here on the Gold Coast that the bigger cities could only dream about. We can actually make an impact with such a small decision. When I opened up Little Beans in Nobby’s it was probably the only real espresso bar on the Coast and people followed it straight away.  We needed these places. In a big city you can make an impact but you get lost. My whole success on the Coast has been because people supported me. They followed me from Three Beans to Little Beans to Piccolo to Hellenika to The Fish House and now back to Hellenika. I’ve got the same customers from back then and some of my staff have worked in all those venues. The Coast has been a massive support for me.

Why are you so passionate about bringing such quality dining venues to the Coast?
Some of it’s a bit selfish, I actually do things I like and then hope enough people like the same thing. I’m a big fan of healthy food, not as in quinoa salad, as in King George Whiting and Greek salad. When you come to one of my restaurants you will get the best produce in Australia, bar none. We’re either equal to, or better than, every other restaurant in the country and that’s my whole motto.                                               

Do you have a personal favourite of all the ones you’ve opened?
Hellenika. I love every one of my venues because they’re all a piece of me but when I walk into Hellenika I feel like it’s home. I eat there five or six nights a week, I’m happy there. I love the nice big wooden tables, the Greek music, the food, and the wine, the feeling. We all say there’s something in the walls at Hellenika, it’s looked after so many people. It feels like it’s been around for 40 years.

What have you got in store for Hellenika?
We renovated the whole building and I put a whole new level on it. Downstairs will be opening next Friday (1st September) and upstairs is probably about eight weeks away. Upstairs will be a bar with a retractable roof. Downstairs has gone from a taverna-style venue. It had that real rustic Melbourne-style Greek restaurant feel. It’s gone away from that now so when you walk in you’re going to feel like you’re in a Greek restaurant in Athens but something that’s modern today. We’ve gone from 110 wines on our list to 500, it’s amazing, there are 50 indigenous wines from Greece alone. We’re taking everything to the next level. We’ve added some new dishes to the menu – kept about 60% of the favourites – but added some really traditional Greek dishes. Things like Corfu Bianco which is my favourite dish, it’s potatoes and Kingfish baked in the oven with olive oil and lemon juice. So simple but so beautiful.

It’s going to be a touch more formal downstairs and then upstairs is a lot more casual. It’ll be all the mezze food, which is tapas in Greek. Things like pork belly, meatballs, zucchini chips, all that lighter stuff. The bar upstairs will be the main focus, we just want people to be able to come and have a light dinner or snack and drinks. We’ll try and be open until midnight every night upstairs so there’s no guessing if we’re open. You can feel comfortable to go at 10 o’clock at night and have a wine.

What are your thoughts on the rapidly growing dining scene of late?
To give you an example, seven years ago I had to explain what share food was. We had to tell people that food comes to the middle of the table and it’s sort of like a Chinese restaurant. Hellenika was also the first one to do double sittings. Now, that’s commonplace. Nine of my ex staff have opened up venues between Broadbeach and Palm Beach, most of your favourites were opened by my ex staff. I’m really proud of what’s happened on the Gold Coast, if I had a small part to do with it, that’s great.

How would you like to see our foodie scene change or grow over the next few years?
We’ve opened up all the venues I think it might be enough now, there’s nearly one restaurant per person. I think there might be a little bit of hardship to come, just because I know how hard it can be. I’m hoping we consolidate a little bit and maybe get more quality into what we’ve already got before we think about expanding too much further. We need all these local restaurants to make sure what they’re doing is the best they can do. I think it’s neglectful to customers if you start giving them things that are making them sick like artificial flavours and enhancers. I’m hoping we improve on what we’ve got before we grow too much more.

What’s happening after the rooftop is up and running?
I sold The Fish House to do an amazing project, which I can’t mention for a few months but that’s the next big one. Hellenika will always be my baby but I’ve got plans for something that will really be game changing. I can’t wait to launch it.

Being a Gold Coast local, we have to ask your favourites…
Beach: Nobby’s
Café: For someone who’s owned cafes, I don’t hang out in cafes. I do pop down to get a smoothie or juice from Smoothie Shack, that’s about the extent of it.
Restaurant: Can I mention a few? For steak, Glenelg Public House, again Aaron used to work with me. For soup I go to New Saigon and get my Pho. For ribs I go to Fire Cue. For sushi I go to Sapporo in Broadbeach, they’re the only ones on the Gold Coast that I know buys the same quality seafood I do (just ask them what their best dish of the day is and go with that). For hot pot I go to Itoshin in Mermaid Beach. My cousin owns The Lamb Shop in Burleigh so I’m always up there. Pinocchio in Mermaid Beach do a really good fennel salad.
Weekend hang: I’m working on weekends but my weekend is during the week. I’m just hanging out in Nobby’s. The boys and I always get together on a Tuesday and have dinner, that’s my thing. My family owns Miami Marketta so I’m there a lot to watch a band and hang out.

© 2024 All Rights Reserved.