Zum Schilling brings generous, old-school German cooking to Robina
Few cuisines offer the kind of comfort German food does – honest, filling and built around recipes that have barely changed for generations. On the Gold Coast, where German restaurants are few and far between, Zum Schilling feels like a rare find. Now open in Robina, the restaurant serves traditional German cooking exactly as it should be – generous, familiar and made fresh to order.
Owned by the long-standing Australian German Club and operated by Blandina Kobler and Chris Raines, Zum Schilling draws on nearly five decades of hospitality history. The restaurant brings much-loved dishes from the club’s former Merrimac home into a smaller Robina setting.
Despite opening without fanfare just weeks ago, those in the know have already found their way in. Members who grew up with the cuisine, along with locals eager for something different, have been quick to pull up a chair, drawn as much by memory and loyalty as by hunger.
The menu is unmistakably German and built for serious appetites. Everything is cooked fresh to order, right down to the potatoes. Schnitzels are fried to gloriously crisp, sausages come with the accompaniments they deserve, and the pork knuckle is a showpiece, arriving with crisp crackling and tender meat in a portion size that makes sharing the only sensible option, although no one would blame you if you tackled it on your own.
For traditionalists, dishes like leberkäse, which Blandina tells is is kind of like meatloaf, are treated with respect and served as they would be back home in Bavaria. The approach at Zum Schilling is refreshingly straightforward – cook it properly, serve it generously and let the food speak for itself.
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As you might expect, beer plays a leading role. Weihenstephan pours on tap – the world’s oldest continuously operating brewery – alongside steins, bottled German classics and seasonal specials that pair perfectly with the food.
While Zum Schilling offers a more intimate expression of the club’s cooking, it’s also a bridge to what comes next. The Australian German Club has secured the anchor tenancy at the upcoming TEAK Mudgeeraba precinct, where a much larger European-style beer hall and restaurant is set to open in early 2027. With over 200 seats planned, along with live music and regular events, it will mark the club’s most ambitious chapter yet, bringing the same food, culture and community connection to a much bigger stage.
For now, Zum Schilling delivers authentic German cooking, cold beer and a warm welcome.
For anyone craving proper schnitzels and a dining experience grounded in tradition, head to The Directory for opening times.