Savour the flavours of the Med at Mt Tambo’s Mana Souvlaki.
Savour the flavours of the Med at Mt Tambo’s Mana Souvlaki.
If you’re ready to shout OPA! at the top of your lungs while sinking your chompers into some next-level souvlaki, then get excited because Mana Souvlaki serves up a Greek feast worthy of the gods. It’s like a trip to Mount Olympus without the altitude sickness – just pure gastronomic goodness.
This new Tamborine Mountain fave is where big, bold Hellenic flavours meet cosy, sun-kissed island vibes, and every bite feels like a holiday in the Med.
This joint is all about quality produce, relaxed vibes, and good old-fashioned Greek hospitality. It’s a place where plates are full, tunes are chilled, and food is made with love. And you’re guaranteed to leave in a food coma.
At the helm of this flavour-packed operation is Yiani Giannaros, a chef with 25 years of experience and a family legacy steeped in the art of Greek hospitality. If there’s one thing this guy knows, it’s how to turn simple ingredients into something truly mythical.
But it’s not just the food that will transport you straight to the streets of Athens or a beachside taverna in Santorini. The restaurant itself, designed by Spiroula Giannaros, is a stunning mix of Ancient Hellenic charm and breezy island aesthetics, making it the perfect spot to sip on their signature Watermelon Rose Spritz – while contemplating a move to Greece (obvs).
With just 40 seats available inside and out, it’s the kind of intimate, family-style dining where you’ll leave feeling like a lifelong friend, not just a customer. It’s cozy, it’s charming, and you’ll wonder if you can sneak a few leftovers into your bag (jokes – as if there’ll be leftovers).
What would we recommend from the menu and we’re so glad you asked. For starters (or “meze” if we’re being cultured), who can go past the Feta Filos wrapped in feta and finished with honey and sesame (certainly not us). Or for those who love a good mediterranean spud, have a go of the Lemon Patetes with lemon baked potatoes, herbs, and Evgoo. One bite and you’ll be totally starch-struck.
For the main event, let’s talk perfectly grilled, charred-in-all-the-right-places Souvlaki that will have you ready to smash a plate in pure joy. Think chargrilled pita, tzatziki, tomato, onion, and tzips with either free range chicken, grass fed lamb, or everyone’s cheese of choice, haloumi.
Whether you’re a die-hard kalamaki kid, a souvlaki stan, or just someone who appreciates great Greek food made with the kind of love that’d make Yia Yia proud, you’ve just found your new go-to for all things grilled, golden, and Greek.
So, Gold Coast foodies, mark your calendars – your next feta-stic dining experience awaits. And trust us, the only thing better than the food? The fact that you can enjoy it all while daydreaming about a Greek island getaway – no flight required!
Where: 3/11 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain
When: 5pm – 9:30pm Tuesday to Thursday, Friday & Saturday 5pm – 11pm
Words by Bianca Trathen
Images by Carly King
Ooh la la! From the creative minds behind the beloved El Burro Cantina, husband-and-wife team, Marcus McKay and Amalia Tambling, have traded tacos for terrines, blending their culinary expertise with a dash of Parisian panache.
The brasserie takes its name from Saint Marthe, the Patron Saint of Hospitality, and Rue Saint Marthe in Paris, where Marcus and Amalia lived while running the kitchen of a bustling bar and restaurant. Inspired by those years of French adventures, they’ve created a slice of Paris right in the heart of Tamborine Mountain.
Saint Marthe is as much about community as it is cuisine – a gathering place where friends, family and even furry friends like Maisie, their beloved Jack Russell, come together for good food and good vibes. “It’s a beautiful building in the centre of town in a beautiful place where we know so many members of the community,” says Amalia.
With decades of hospitality experience from Europe to Vanuatu, Marcus and Amalia have poured their passion into every detail of Saint Marthe. And we mean EVERY detail. From the large mirrors, bench seating, brass accents and VJ panelling, the couple have had a hand in the floor, walls and ceiling of the restaurant, with the help of their brilliant builder John Ward. It’s Parisian chic meets Queenslander charm, perfectly complimenting the French-inspired menu.
In the kitchen, Marcus teams up with longtime friend and local chef Angeline Olive to create a menu that’s as comforting as it is sophisticated. While the food sings French classics, the vibe stays quintessentially local, blending Tamborine’s relaxed atmosphere with that irresistible je ne sais quoi.
With everything made in-house – oui, even the pickles and mustard – Saint Marthe doesn’t just serve food, it serves stories on a plate. Pop in for a charcuterie board piled high with pork terrine, ocean trout rillettes, house cured meats, pickles & fresh bread. Settle in for a hearty main, like a classic Steak Frites with house aged, char-grilled hanger steak or rib fillet served with baby spinach, fries, béarnaise & red wine. For a real French feast, dive into the duck confit, served with paris mash, green beans, beetroot marmalade, thyme jus or the souffle of gruyere cheese and caramelised onion, green leaf salad. No matter the size of your appetite, Saint Marthe will leave you utterly satisfied.
Pair your dishes with refreshing sips like the house-fermented lemonade or lemon mint ice tea. For something a little stronger, the extensive list of classic cocktails will leave you satiated, where the wine list will transport you to Bordeaux and beyond.
If sweets are your vice, the in-house patisserie is serving up desserts that could make the Eiffel Tower swoon. Crème brûlèe is served with a strawberry and mint salad and sablé biscuit, molten chocolate pudding oozes French royalty with vanilla mascarpone, raspberry coulis as well as lavender ice-cream with green grapes in honey & cognac, brandy snap.
Whether you’re a foodie, a Francophile or just someone in search of a stellar dining experience, grab your friends and even your furry companion for a meal to remember – just as Saint Marthe intended.
Where: 13 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain
When: 10:30am to 8pm Wednesday–Sunday
Website: saintmarthe.com.au
Instagram: @saint_marthe
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Carly King
Mount Tamborine has recently become home to a brand-new brewery and its creators are people whose work you would know well if you’ve ever made visited our hinterland friends. Boxer Brewing Co. is the work of the (award-winning) Witches Falls Winery team, so you know when it comes to quality sips, this frothy newbie is the place to be.
A love of beer and good times is the name of the game here and the Boxer Brewing ethos is that every sip should be a moment of pure joy and in reality – particularly due to the fact that bringing your beloved pup along is encouraged – the entire experience is one you’ll absolutely love.
The space boasts a large outdoor deck overlooking the Witches Falls Winery Vineyard and there’s room for approximately 50 people throughout. An open plan concept inside allows you a look into the inner workings of the brewery while you sample the goodies.
Found within The Kennel Tap Room and Sports Bar, Boxer Brewing have enlisted Abby Heslop as Head Brewer, and her resume reads like a beer lovers dream. The has spent the last few months as Head Brewer in London’s Wimbledon Brewery and before that was the Head Brewer at Brisbane’s Sea Legs.
Currently Boxer Brewing’s core range consists of four beers; an IPA, a Pale Ale a Lazy Ale and a Cerveza and of course there’s a rotating selection of guest beers from local brewers, the entire Eight Day Cider range and of course a selection of wine from Witches Falls Winery.
The Kennel has plans to put in a pizza oven and introduce a delicious pizza and jaffle menu in the coming months. Until then, enjoy complimentary popcorn while you sip your favourite brew or purchase a DIY cheese and charcuterie board from the Witches Falls Winery Cellar Door (located adjacent to The Kennel) and nibble while you sip every single beer on the menu. You can also nip over to the cellar door and grab a bottle of wine to enjoy within the brewery if you’d prefer.
Boxer Brewing Co. is the only venue of its kind on Tamborine Mountain and with some exciting additions due in the very near future, it’s one that’s absolutely worth a trip up the mountain for.
Why not stay the night and enjoy many of the delightful activities on offer on the Mountain and stop in at Witches Falls on the way home for a takeaway bottle of wine or two?
Where: 79 Main Western Road, Tamborine Mountain
When: Sunday – Thursday 10am – 5pm and Friday – Saturday 10am – 7pm
Words by Kirra Smith
