The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

Why gourmands should give the Gold Coast a go

Natascha Mirosch

Just opened ... Bin12 at the Gold Coast.
Just opened ... Bin12 at the Gold Coast.Wendy Maley

The Gold Coast isn't famous for its food, but new venues mean gourmands might now enjoy a visit.

There's the recently opened Pigs and Pints on Chevron Island, the casual younger sister of the quite fabulous Samphire Bites next door.

Nobby Beach and Burleigh are proving hot spots too. Hellenika at Nobby Beach now has a sibling – Fish House at Burleigh – and a group of friends has opened a pretty cool bar named after a shipwreck, The Cambus Wallace at Nobby.

Growing food scene ... Sliders are on the menu at Pigs and Pints.
Growing food scene ... Sliders are on the menu at Pigs and Pints.Supplied
Advertisement

Back at Burleigh and the latest opening is Bin 12. The brainchild of the owner and chef of the one-hatted Little Truffle at Mermaid Beach, Daniel Ridgeway says, with cheffy sarcasm, that he was "looking for something to occupy him on his day off".

“The Gold Coast is great, but to be honest, there just aren't a lot of great bars – somewhere nice that also does good food," he says.

As the name suggests, there's a focus on wine matched with upmarket bar food divided into "small cold" and "small hot" plates, such as white fish sashimi, pickled onion and citrus vinegar and sticky soy pork belly with mustard apple pickle. And where would a good bar menu be these days without some American-influenced, re-worked, fast-food specialties, such as Southern-fried chicken with chilli mayo or a chorizo corn dog with pickled cucumber and mustard?

"I wanted to keep it really affordable," Ridgeway says, "and with dishes priced from $8 to a maximum of $16, people can experience a few different dishes."

There are about 16 choices of wine by-the-glass from a well-priced list; the most expensive bottle priced at $65, and most sitting at a very reasonable $45.

Advertisement

A roll of butcher paper announces specials, including a Friday and Saturday night glass of "something a bit different", such as a recent Rockford Rod and Spur Cabernet.

Bin 12 is currently open Tuesday to Sunday nights, but there are plans to open on Monday nights – for as late as possible, Ridgeway says, to cater for hungry, thirsty hospitality folk.

Bin 12, 12 James Street, Burleigh Heads 5535 3085

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.

Sign up

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement