Little Truffle may be closing…but will wow with an exciting new look in 2023
Little Truffle may be closing…but will wow with an exciting new look in 2023
Trigger warning; we have good news and bad news for fine dining fans but fear not friends, because the good trumps the bad one-hunji-fold.
Local eats icon, the esteemed Little Truffle Dining Room & Bar is shutting up shop on Saturday 5th of November, and yes that’s the sound of the entire Gold Coast weeping. This may leave us feeling saltier than a pack of Samboy chips, however it’s a classic case of ‘short term pain, long term GAIN’ (shouty capitals intended). The closure is only temporary and just like that, the sun has re-emerged from behind the dark clouds. Not only that but when those famous timber doors reopen, our beloved Little Truffle will have a whole new lease on life. That’s right, it’s reno time and we have every confidence that award-winning Chef and Restaurateur Daniel Ridgeway and wife Ruggie have something AH-MA-ZING in store (more caps lock and senseless hyphens for impact).
The Ridgeways have planned the extensive makeover to coincide with Light Rail works in their zone, and well played sir and ma’am, well played. Little Truffle 2.0 entails a complete redesign of the floor plan to include a larger private dining room and a dedicated bar area. We’ll cheers to that (with a very fancy glass of bubbles of course) because we have big feels for anyone who turns lemons into limoncello.
Founder Daniel is describing the redesign as “refined but approachable”, the perfect union for a venue with more accolades than you can poke a chef’s knife at. Complete with an extensive new menu featuring some crowd faves, plus more contemporary Aussie dishes with a hint of Euro goodness, we’re more excited than Big Kev on a 2001 informercial. And speaking of iconic dishes, book yourself in for a final hurrah at LT1.0 with the likes of Fried Zucchini Flowers, the signature Beef Tartare and the Berry Souffle making a reappearance during the final month of trade. Oh and if you have a reservation or a voucher don’t fret, because you’ll have the option to use it at a sister venue, extend the expiration date by 12 months, or receive a full refund.
If you’re simply not going to cope without your Little Truffle fix, pop along to Ridgeway Group’s newly opened art-deco-inspired beachside restaurant, Palm Beach Ave (PBA). Long-standing Little Truffle Manager, Josh Webber, and the entire kitchen team will be heading down to continue working alongside Daniel, adding a selection of Little Truffle bangers to the PBA menu. Think Bug and Prawn Tortellini and the signature White Chocolate Vanilla Panna Cotta, as well as an expanded (and more posh) vino offering from the Little Truffle cellar.
So when you’re experiencing PTS from the temporary closure of your favourite restaurant, remember every cloud has a silver lining….and this one will elevate the already illustrious Little Truffle to the epitome of unforgettable fine dining.
Where: 2444 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
When: Reopening 2023
Words by Bianca Trathen.
It’s no secret that The Oasis Shopping Centre houses some stellar eateries, and leading the pack is the new look Coastal European stunner, Sofia’s Restaurant & Bar. Now a hop, skip and a jump up the road from its original spot, it’s bigger and more beautiful than ever. Everything about this luxe Mediterranean people pleaser is perfectly executed, from the on-fleek new fit-out, to the carefully curated menu championing simple, delicious food. In fact, even the plates were imported from Italy, handmade and hand painted to order and yeah, this makes our Ikea plates at home look like the poor cousins that they are.
Owner Henry Hunt has stayed true to his euro chic roots, keeping just the right amount of refined Mediterranean feels mixed with a very fresh and current aesthetic. Engaging Bridgette Ford for the interior design and Shopfit & Co. to manage the build, the result is everything we’d hoped for…and more.
The duck egg blue, white and gold ‘Sofia’s’ entry station still stands loud and proud out front of the undercover dining area, flanked by two beautiful fringed umbrellas in the same colour palette. There are marble tables with coastal wood and white hued chairs leading into the showstopping inside, boasting elegant booths, more tables and chairs, and THAT BAR. Yes, it deserves upper case. The benchtop surface is a stunning juxtaposition of grey, black and white terrazzo triangle slabs, set alongside equally lush peach, black and white triangle slabs. Adorning the bar back and restaurant wall, you’ll see statement wide archway shelves housing an iconic selection of spirits and srsly, arches get us every.single.time. Add a healthy dose of overhanging greenery and capacity for 100 people and voila, it’s the perfect destination for your next lunch, dinner, or private function.
Chef Dan Paulman cooks up handmade pastas, woodfired bread (#CarbsOnCarbs), fresh seafood, and beautiful sharing plates galore. To get into the nitty gritty, let’s go with a starter of Sofia’s famous house-made bread with extra virgin olive oil, oregano and salt, and perhaps a Baked Eggplant stuffed with mascarpone and parmesan. But wait, we just spotted the long list of cheese and salumi varieties to share and we’re so grabbing a Gorgonzola and a Truffle Salami #idie.
Moving on to the main event and the signature dish, Sofia’s Cacio e Peppe with linguine, cream, cracked pepper, sea salt, served at the table in our 40kg Parmesan wheel aged for 2.5yrs is a must! It serves two so bring your love, your besty, or just a really big appetite and decimate the lot. This will go nicely with a Heirloom Tomato Salad with fresh basil, truffle and balsamic reduction and whaddaya know, that’s on the menu too! If you’d prefer something for the grill, may we draw your attention to the Fish of the Day served with saffron broth, clams and muscles, with a side of Shoestring Fries garnished simply with oregano and sea salt. That’s amore alright.
Now let’s talk cocktails and thank God we hear you all say. They do a sensational Spicy Margarita and avid Inside Gold Coast readers will know we’re rather partial to one of these so when we say it’s good, it’s fricken good. Sofia’s make theirs with bird’s eye chilli infused Olmeca Altos tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, passionfruit puree and house made syrup and trust us, catch an Uber *orders several more*.
Speaking of Ubers, the epic mile-long wine list is another reason to resign from DD duty. They stock over 200 labels of wine and despite being mildly overwhelming for the indecisive, even the fussiest grape juice drinker will be on cloud wine.
So there you have it. The new Sofia’s certainly gets our tick of approval, and we look forward to saying “salute” (on repeat) at THAT.BAR too many times over the coming months.
Where: The Oasis Shopping Centre, Victoria Avenue, Broadbeach
When: 12pm – 3pm & 5pm – 10:30pm, Monday to Sunday
Words by Bianca Trathen.
Images by Brittany Kreskas.
Some might call it the heart of the Gold Coast. Mermaid locals will call it the only suburb worth visiting. While we aren’t ones to pick favourite children – I mean, suburbs – Mermaid Beach is definitely up there with the best of the best.
And when you’ve got these spots right on your doorstep, we can kind of understand why. So come with us and explore what locals love so much about our beachside beauty, Mermaid Beach.
Little Truffle
It’s back baby and we might just say, better than ever. Little Truffle had the glowiest of glow ups last year and we’re just oh so glad those glamorous doors are officially open again. The food is just as fancy as you remember it was but elevated to a whole new level with the mastermind chefs behind the icon among us. If you haven’t been back since Little Truffle got her face lift, it’s time to rekindle your love…
Where: 2444 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Cheese Me Baby
They say sweet dreams are made of cheese, or something like that anyway. So what’s sweeter than a place dedicated to the humble cheese toastie. Okay so Cheese Me Baby actually brings a whole lot more to the table than just cheese toasies, but it’s practically illegal to not get around their signature three-cheese blend sando at least once. If you’re not about the carb load (sorry, we’re judging you) then their breakfast boards and acai bowls have your name all over them.
Where: The Pod, Mermaid Beach Village, 2375 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Six Tricks
Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us. But take that up to Six-Tricks? Now you’re talking. The Six-Tricks Distilling Co. is the ultimate new addition to the GC and Mermaid distillery scene, a carnival of cocktails it’s our favourite local haunt to settle in and sip on some spirits with their menu of seriously spirited flavour combos. Sip back, relax and soak up the great booze and good vibes all day long.
Where: 3 Brightlands Court, Mermaid Waters
The North Room
The North Room is one of our favourite spots not just in Mermaid, but the whole Coast for that signature, relaxed, fine-dining feel. An intimate restaurant serving up some absolutely stunning contemporary dishes that you’ll want to wrap your mouth around ASAP. Bookings are essential and they open for lunch Friday and Saturday and dinner Thursday to Saturday so you’ll want to get in quick to snag a spot. Huge fans of this place.
Where: 1/2527 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
La Macelleria
Filling the gelato-shaped hole in our hearts (and stomachs), La Macelleria has been a very welcome addition to Mermaid Beach. Don’t just listen to us waffle on about it, we’ve given you the scoop now taste it for yourself. Made onsite at La Macelleria, you can watch your gelato churn, baby, churn before they dish up your flavour of choice – which is obviously pistachio, right? It’s legen-dairy.
Where: 90 Markeri Street, Mermaid Waters
Little Mermaid
There’s a lot to be said about infusing a space with tropical, feel-good vibes and Little Mermaid, on the highway, has done exactly that. Decked out with plenty of greenery, a laidback beachy feel, and tons of space for all your friends this is the place to be. The bar and restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the vibe is always pumping so it’s our go-to when you’re looking for a guaranteed good time. We can’t go past the classic beachy fit-out and epic cocktails, you know it’s good when the venue lasts the test of time like these guys have.
Where: 2557 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Mermaid Beach Surf Club
Have we every mentioned how Gold Coast surf clubs have the best views in town? Mermaid’s is no exception, with uninterrupted ocean views, delicious meals that will fill you right up, and of course, a sweet selection of drinks to sip on. It’s an amazing spot to watch the sun go down with the crew and always provides a quality atmosphere with a buzz of people – bonus if you manage to go home with a cheeky meat tray in tow.
Where: 172 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
The Borrowed Nursery
Never before has a plant nursery gained such a cult-like following so quickly (or perhaps ever), it’s the Gold Coast’s go-to for a hint of (green) retail therapy. The Borrowed Nursery draws plant lovers and photographers in droves due to its ‘gramworthy aesthetics and bespoke greenery. Fusing in a mix of uber chic homewares, pots for said plants and more to make the ultimate gift for you or a loved one, there’s something for all – no green thumb required. The stunning space also hosts workshops and yoga classes amongst the leafy greens but if that’s not your jam at least pop in for some healthy retail therapy and an Insta-snap.
Where: 42-44 Cronulla Ave, Mermaid Beach
Easy Street Diner
Blink and you might miss this beauty along the Gold Coast Hwy, so keep your eye peeled! What these guys knock out of their kitchen will have you coming back time after time. Menu items such as Jalapeño Bites, Pickle Poppers and their infamous Pork Belly Nuggets are absolute crowd-pleasers. But who are we to take the shine off their fantastic lineup of burgers, Give us the Royale with Cheese all the way!
Where: 12/2563 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Soak Bathhouse
Did someone say R&R? The team at Soak Bathhouse have it down to an art, bringing the ultimate oasis for recovery and tranquillity, right in the heart of bustling Mermaid Beach. With magnesium pools, massage rooms, tradition and infared saunas, steam room spa and a cold plunge pool if you’re brave, pop in for an hour or stay for the day and really treat yourself – you’ve earned it.
Where: 2532 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
The Glenelg Public House
Serving up premium steak and boutique wine (among other delicious things), The Glenelg Public House is an absolute must-visit in Mermaid Beach and just generally on the Gold Coast. If for some reason you’re not into steak (it’s okay, we won’t tell anyone), everything on the menu is top-notch and they have a selection of some of the best seafood and sides we’ve ever sampled. If you’re partial to a solid serving of cheese then you must try to raclette with pear, fig relish and hazelnuts. Keen to try something a little different? The roast bone marrow with onion jam, mustard and toast is next level. Just. Trust. Us.
Where: 2460 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Bonita Bonita
Mexican eats at their absolute finest can be found at Bonita Bonita. One of the longest standing taco joints on the Coast, their Taco Thursdays are a favourite amongst the locals and there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options should that be your thing. Right next door is Bon Bon Bar so head in there for a cheeky margi before sampling all of the epic eats on offer. Our marg of choice? Well the Mezcal Margarita of course.
Where: 2460 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Words by Jacqueline Bojanowski.
