Gold Coast recommendations

[k3nnis]

Hi All,

I will be travelling to the Gold Coast for 5 nights in September. Could anyone recommend any nice restaurants/cafe's to have lunch/dinner at? Must be kids friendly as I have a 2.5 year old child

Preferably accepts AMEX but not a must

I will be staying at the Hilton. Speaking of which do you recommend dining at Salt...

Thanks,
K.

 

[Ricardo]

I had a dinner a salt about this time last year for my sister in-law, she had just completed a Diploma and it was a celebratory dinner, I though the offering was average to be honest given the hype and Luke Mangan influence.

I believe also that last years AFF dinner was at salt, so others may also weigh in with comments.

I don't go to Surfers much to be honest, too many road works (light rail) for my liking, I would try the Chevron renaissance area maybe, or even the Hard Rock....

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks Ricardo.

 

[knightman7]

Rocksalt Modern Dining in the Aria building I thought was good when I tried it. Wasn't a fan of Salt Grill though. Ate there on two occasions with friends and was unimpressed both times. Ten Japanese was possibly one of the best meals I've had on the Gold Coast.

 

[k3nnis]

Thx. Yeah was thinking Gold Coast would have some nice Japanese food.

 

[BoyZeus]

Try the market place style "interactive" buffet at the QT. Great selection of seafood and everything else you can think of. Really good service with a classy yet casual vibe. We went twice in February this year and it was really well priced. Kid and Amex friendly too I believe.

 

[knightman7]

I second the QT buffet. It's quite good and the service is spot on.

 

[ronaldh]

I recently moved up to the Gold Coast from Melbourne at the start of the year...there really isn't much in the way of great restaurants in Surfers Paradise compared with other cities in Australia! But lots of gems in the surrounding areas.
Apart from those already mentioned, Glass in Marina Mirage is excellent.
There are plenty of nice cafes along Tedder Ave in Main Beach, ranging from simple to fine dining like Chill on Tedder.
Otherwise, Broadbeach has lots of good offerings as well, just take a stroll down the main strip next to Oasis Shopping Centre and you'll find plenty of decent eateries. There is a particularly good Spanish Tapas Bas called Espana which I visited last week. I also believe that Samphire is moving to Broadbeach as well - a great restaurant originally on Chevron Island.
You'll also find lots of nice cafes/burgers/small bites in Burleigh Heads and Nobby's Beach.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Homer]

I just wanted to add another vote for Ten Japanese at Broadbeach. I remember the 80's (well, most of it) and my wife's cousin was working for a large Japanese corporation on the Gold Coast. Back in those days they had great Japanese restaurants with wonderful produce flown in daily. That doesn't happen any more. But Ten Japanese has poached a couple of chefs from Sydney and is probably the best of a very average bunch.

Also the last time we were up there some local friends took us to Brumbles Cafe at Budd's Beach. It's a little bit more "real" than a lot of the cookie cutter stuff up there; like a little piece of Bondi or St Kilda transported to the Gold Coast.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks homer. Bumbles looks good. Will give it a try I think. Also is ten Japanese kid friendly? Or too fine dining...

 

[Homer]

The Gold Coast is fairly family friendly but, like anything, it does depend on the child. We took our then six year old plus our baby who was asleep and we were meeting another couple. They gave us a semi-private room (I hadn't reserved one though) which was closed in on three sides.

 

[k3nnis]

Ok thanks. Hmm we'll see how she behaves.