The Dish: Gold Coast food news you might have missed this week
A lot is happening on the Gold Coast (and surrounds) these days, it’s almost too much to keep up with. The Dish is a rapid-fire rundown of the coast’s food news – quick taster-sized tidbits to keep you in the know and, perhaps, tickle your taste buds. This week we’ve got word of a new venue from the Rick Shores crew, half-price steaks and a seriously saucy sanga.
Enjoy half-price steak at Lars Bar & Grill for three-days only!
Lars Bar & Grill is turning one, and to mark this exciting milestone the Mermaid Beach favourite is celebrating with a sizzling steak special. From August 6–8, guests can enjoy 50-percent off two of the most popular premium on-the-bone steaks – the t-bone Black Angus and sirloin Black Angus grain-fed cut. Available for three days only, this is Lars’ way of saying thank you to the local community who have supported them from day one. “It’s been such an incredible first year. We have put in a lot of long hours and hard work, but opening this restaurant has been a lifelong dream, and we are so happy with what we have accomplished and created,” says owner and executive chef Lars Kollrepp. To book your table, head here.
Clay Cantina is set to take over Farm & Co for a Mexican-inspired feast in the field
When Kristal Smith, owner of Coolangatta fave Clay Cantina, packed her bags and head north, it left a giant taco-shaped hole in our hearts. Luckily for us, her love for the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers runs deep – she’s heading back our way, for one day only! If you have been craving a Mexican feast, mark your calendars for Sunday August 31, because things are heating up on the lawn at Farm & Co for The Clay Cantina Takeover. Kristal will be firing up the coal barbecue for a proper Mexican asada feast, served with serious flavour and a side of lawnside vibes. You’ll be greeted with your choice of a Patrón frozen marg or Ventura Brewing cerveza, then left to graze, sip and soak it all in. Expect $12 margaritas, $7 tinnies, $15 cocktails and a snack menu worth clearing your afternoon for. Add in live tunes from Thadius Music, margarita bar action, and family-friendly fun with crafts and face painting by Kakes Biscuits, and you’ve got the ultimate Sunday session. The last remaining tickets are available now!
Kids Eat Free at Robina Town Centre from Monday to Wednesday
Heads up, hungry families — Robina Town Centre is making midweek dinners a whole lot easier (and cheaper!) this August with the launch of Kids Eat Free. Every Monday to Wednesday from 5:00–9:00 pm, little ones aged 12 and under can score a delicious dinner on the house at a selection of popular eateries across The Promenade and Level 1 Kitchens. No minimum spend, no catch – just good food and happy kids. From Ari Thai’s spring rolls and nuggets to kid-sized margherita pizzas at Double Zero and mini burgers from Grill’d, the options are fun, filling and fussy-eater friendly. There’s also crispy karaage chicken at Mad Asian, Japanese-style fish and rice at Motto Motto, teriyaki chicken at Saiko Teppanyaki and all the usual suspects at TGI Fridays and The Sporting Globe – think mac ‘n’ cheese, hot dogs, fish and chips and more. With a line-up like that, it’s the perfect excuse to ditch the cooking, round up the crew and enjoy a relaxed family dinner in one of the Gold Coast’s best dining precincts. Just don’t forget – it’s for a limited time only, so make the most of it while it lasts!
Turn up the heat with a sizzling plate at Harajuku Gyoza
Harajuku Gyoza is known for pushing the culinary envelope with creative takes and tasty twists. Now, the team is turning up the heat once more with its brand-new sizzling plates range, available for a limited time only. The menu features three savoury showstoppers – golden pork gyoza, crispy karaage chicken and juicy Japanese Hamburg steak – all served on scorching iron plates and finished with rich, bubbling kimchi cheese sauce poured at the table. Sweet tooths can get their fix with thick-cut Japanese French toast, available in vanilla or matcha, complete with toppings like honey drizzle, custard, strawberries and crushed Oreos. Available now at Harajuku Gyoza Broadbeach.
The team behind Rick Shores and Norté is adding another gem to its collection
A nostalgic, produce-driven bistro is set to open this September in South Brisbane’s heritage-listed Merivale Flats. Led by acclaimed chef Ollie Hansford, Marlowe blends old-school Australian charm with a modern bistro edge, serving up dishes like coral trout Wellington, braised-duck pie and prawn-cocktail tartlets. A raw bar, custom-built woodfire hearth and deep-diving Australian wine list complete the picture, promising a multi-sensory dining experience layered with history, flavour and a true sense of place. Read all about this eagerly anticipated newcomer here.
Runaway Bay Tavern scores big with new-look Sports Bar
Runaway Bay Tavern has officially unveiled its revamped Sports Bar, kicking off a new era for the popular northern Gold Coast pub. Now double the size and fully decked out for serious sport-watching, the refreshed space boasts a mammoth 7.2-metre LED screen, 22 extra TVs, upgraded race-day viewing and sleek new pool tables — making it the ultimate spot to catch every big moment live and loud. The update is part of a broader venue makeover, with a new social layout, upgraded seating and a stylish beer garden extension complete with its own bar and pool table. To celebrate, the pub is hosting a Launch Weekend from August 8 to 10 with giveaways, live music, meat raffles and free nibbles all weekend long. There’s also a bunch of fun extras for punters, including Second Chance Draws, TAB giveaways and special appearances from racing personalities. With more upgrades still to come, including a new bistro and gaming area, this is just the beginning of Runaway Bay Tavern’s next chapter.
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Joe’s Deli and Chef Frankie have joined forces for the ultimate winter sandwich – the LaSanga
For a limited time (and limited to just 20 a day), this saucy lovechild combines Joe’s cult-favourite sangas with Chef Frankie’s wildly popular wagyu lasagna. Served on a parmesan brioche bun and loaded with Napoli sauce, truffle mayo, salsa verde and shaved parmesan, it’s the kind of sandwich dreams are made of. With Joe’s slinging 2000 sangas a week and Frankie’s lasagna in sky-high demand, this mash-up won’t last long – wrap your mitts around it at Joe’s Deli until August 10, or risk eternal food FOMO.
George’s Paragon quietly reopens its Mount Tamborine outpost
In news that is guaranteed to pique the interest of seafood lovers, after a four-year hiatus, George’s Paragon has reopened on Mount Tamborine. Without so much as a post on Facebook, the doors of the white building on Gallery Walk just suddenly opened for lunch. Word quickly spread when diners confirmed that the elusive owner, George Tassis, himself welcomed guests at the table. The Mount Tamborine venue has resumed operations as a walk-in spot (with large-group bookings available) and joins the brand’s line-up alongside its Sanctuary Cove, Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta locations.
Crafted Beer Festival returns with brews, barbecue and beats by the beach
The Gold Coast’s favourite frothie fest, Crafted Beer Festival, returns for its ninth edition on Saturday September 13, promising more than 50 breweries, 400-plus brews and a full day of seaside sipping. Expect exclusive drops, small-batch rarities and the return of local legends like Balter, Black Hops and Burleigh Brewing, plus newcomers including Kaiju! Beer and Perentie. This year debuts Crafted Smokeshow, a fiery barbecue zone serving up brisket, wings and burgers alongside live demos and eating comps. Add in Beddy Rays headlining a killer music line-up, creative cocktails from Granddad Jack’s, and wine masterclasses from Carafe Wines, and you’ve got a full-sensory festival of brews, beats and beachside bites. Tickets are on sale now.
Got a hot tip for us? Shoot us an email at [email protected], we’d love to hear it!