After reading about some great reviews on the GC Food Guide review page we decided to try out George’s for lunch and take advantage of the half price special menu which apparently is available every day.

This restaurant is located right on the water overlooking multi million dollar boats at the marina and with large boats cruising past or zippier jet ski’s buzzing around in front of you to provide plenty of conversation starters such as ‘one day when I can afford a boat like that….’

We were greeted by the owner (his picture was on the menu outside) who seated us in the middle of their large dining room. We though it would be quieter as we’d arrived at 1:30pm but the restaurant was packed and buzzing with large family lunches and kids vying for attention. The restaurant is large and there is an inside area and an outside area on the boardwalk which is nice on a sunny day. Throughout it is decorated in Greek style - blue table cloths and painted walls with scenes of the Greek islands. Even some of the staff have heavy accents.

We ordered taramasalata with pita bread for entree $8.75 and for mains the Kanoni - grilled snapper, half a Moreton bay bug and a BBQ king prawn with chips and vegetables $20.45 and fettuccine prawns in a pesto creamy sauce $14.45.

The taramasalata was fantastic however we had to order another serve of pita bread (a little steep at $6) as the dip was a large serving. The pita bread was brushed with oil and served hot.

The Kanoni was grilled snapper, half a bug and a BBQ king prawn. The snapper was beautiful, cooked in a buttery sauce, the Moreton Bay bug was tender and the prawn delicious. Even the vegetables were tender and were cooked in a flavoured stock. The portion size of the seafood was fantastic value for $20.45.

The other main was fettuccine prawn. For a meal that only cost $14.45 I was very impressed to count 8 king prawns. Again this was a huge sized meal and the creamy pesto sauce was given some kick with chili and a bit of crunch with some toasted pine nuts throughout. Unfortunately I couldn’t eat it all not even all the prawns but it was not without trying.

Overall I was very impressed and will definitely be back with a group of friends. The quality of service in this restaurant was brought up a few notches with extra effort such as when I noticed each customer being served their piece of garlic bread rather than dumping the bread basket in the centre of the table, waiters fussing over and talking to children at the tables, regularly walking around tables to top up beers etc. Service at this level is rare to find unless you go to a fine dining restaurant on the Gold Coast so it was nice to find a more casual restaurant going to this level of effort.

George’s Paragon Waterfront Seafood Restaurant
Steak/Seafood

The Promenade Marine Village
Sanctuary Cove, 4212

Phone: 07 5577 8420

The taramasalata dip with warm pita bread

The view from inside looking to the boardwalk dining area

Kanoni - grilled snapper, half a Moreton bay bug and a BBQ king prawn with chips and vegetables $20.45

Painted scenes of the Greek islands

Fettuccine prawn pasta for $14.45

Technorati Tags: George’s Paragon Waterfront Seafood, Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast, seafood, restaurant, review, dining

Caught up with a few friends over the Easter long weekend and we decided to try out 1 Two 3 in Broadbeach.

I haven’t heard much about the restaurant or knew of anyone that had dined here so was keen to try it out. Many meals are available in three sizes: taster, entree and main to encourage sharing between large tables of friends. We all ordered our own meals however.

The restaurant is divided into two sections with a wall running down the middle. On the left is a bar area with loud singers for entertainment and on the right is the dining area. We sat outside in the dining area which was great for people watching.

This restaurant is popular catch up place for friends, hens nights etc and the noise and party atmosphere from the bar next door would make you reluctant to visit for any other reason such as a romantic date. It was near impossible to hear anyone at our table and you basically had to yell at each other - or just talk loudly to the person next to you.

I ordered the salt and pepper calamari in entree size as I’d had a large lunch earlier and wasn’t too hungry. Besides we’d mainly come to catch up and have a few drinks. The calamari was, as claimed on the menu tender and had plenty of salt and pepper. Comments from other diners at the table stated that their food was nice but as expected, nothing spectacular but reasonable portions for the price.

The paella was only lukewarm though which was a disappointment but was eaten anyway. I wasn’t that impressed with the menu - nothing in particular grabbed my eye and some of the meals such as steaks can become quite expensive.

Overall a good place to catch up with friends.

1 Two 3
Mediterranean
Shop 22 Phoenician Tower East Surf Parade
Broadbeach, 4218

Phone: 07 5538 4123
Web: http://www.1two3restaurant.com.au

The garlic prawns with  a serve of rice and small salad

The paella which was served only lukewarm

prawns and vodka spaghetti

Salt and pepper calamari

Technorati Tags: gold coast, restaurants, 1 two 3, broadbeach, mediterranean, dining

I was so, so excited to discover that a Grill’d has finally expanded onto the Gold Coast!

I first discovered Grill’d in Melbourne and used to regularly visit and even convinced my co-workers to make trips to Grill’d for lunch. For those Queenslanders that haven’t experienced Grill’d then you’re in for a treat. They make amazing tasting, healthy gourmet burgers with fresh ingredients and seriously yummy chips.

They’re not the cheapest but they are incredibly filling and their range is diverse -from meat to lamb, chicken and vego. I tried the moroccan lamb which had roasted capsicum, tzatziki, salad and relish.

Grill’d
Shop 23, 72 Marine Pde
Coolangatta, 4225

Phone: 07 5536 3555
Web: http://www.grilld.com.au

Outside Grill’d at Coolangatta

The Moroccan Lamb burger $10.90 and chips $3.90

Inside Grill’d

Technorati Tags: grill’d, grilled burgers, gourmet burgers, healthy burgers, coolangatta, restaurant review

I remember coming to twenty one espresso about 15 years ago and I swear the decor, the menu - everything! has not changed one bit.

It’s a simple cafe in Double Bay and they’re famous with the local Jewish community for their matzo ball soup. We both weren’t too hungry after having a late lunch so we both ordered a soup. The prices for the soups were reasonable at $10.90 each and we were given complimentary rye bread with butter as a starter and to dunk into our soup.

The main meals ranged from around $20 and crept up to $30 or more. They serve a lot of traditional European food here such as Stroganoff, cabbage rolls and schnitzel so this cafe is popular with Eastern Europeans.

The service was prompt and friendly and the meals came out within about 10 minutes of ordering. The only downside is that they cram so many tables in there that you’re only inches away from the table next to you.

Twenty One Espresso
21 Knox Street
Double Bay, NSW
02 9327 2616  

The Cafe 21 Menu - I swear this hasn’t changed since I was last here about 15 years ago!

Matzo dumpling soup $10.90

We both ordered a soup for $10.90 each but most of the other meals were affordable. Some of the mains creeped up to $30 or more.

The chicken noodle soup was also $10.90

Technorati Tags: matzo ball soup, matzah ball soup, cafe review, double bay, chicken noodle soup, rye bread, sydney

I came down to Sydney for a long weekend a few weeks ago with my mum and we decided to treat ourselves by staying in Double Bay.

Double Bay is notoriously exclusive and snooty and is known as ‘Double Pay’ by Sydneysiders. We ate lunch at this casual open air cafe called Bar Indigo which had seating both inside the cafe and also on the traffic island in the middle of the road. It’s a quiet road in the middle of Double Bay so the (expensive) cars are only slowly driving by. It was really nice to sit out in the sunshine under the trees.

The staff here were really friendly and the service was very fast. The meals were also very well priced and averaged around $15 for most meals.

Most of the other diners were 50+ and we were surprised that the area was so quiet given that it was a Saturday. Walking around Double Bay it seems like it’s lost some of it’s lustre over the years - the famous star spotting cafe with the green and gold chairs under the Stamford hotel has gone and is undergoing renovations. Overall there were few people around and a lot of the boutiques seemed a bit drab and dull.

Bar Indigo
6, 15 Cross Street
Double Bay NSW
02 9363 5966

Bar Indigo

The falafal vegetarian wrap was $13.90

The seating in the middle of the road

Spaghetti and meatballs was $19.90

Technorati Tags: cafe review, double bay, sydney, bar indigo, spaghetti and meatballs, falafel