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

Yum Cha is one of my absolute favourite weekend destinations. It’s particuarly good for brunch and I find it works wonders when you’ve got a hangover.

From memory Top One opens around 12pm. It’s best to book here because it’s always packed - and the restaurant is pretty big! Located at the Australia Fair shopping centre in the food court it’s a welcome addition to the Gold Coast dining scene and I think the best yum cha on the Gold Coast.

When we arrived we were given a number and had to wait around 10 minutes for a spare table - and this was at approximately 2pm so definately book if you hope to get in earlier and especially if you’re going with a group.

There are so many staff working at this restaurant that you don’t have to jump up and down to get someone’s attention. The yum cha girls are friendly and thankfully, not pushy unlike many other’s I’ve been to. You can also order off the menu if you aren’t into yum cha or want some additions such as fried rice.

If you’ve never been to yum cha then basically the way it works is that you get an A5 sized piece of cardboard which sits on your table. The piece of card is divided up into different priced sections. The yum cha trolleys are pushed around the restaurant and they explain and show you each dish so you can choose what you want to have. Don’t feel guilty at not ordering anything from the trolley - just wait until the next one comes around which will have a different selection.

Once you choose your item they will stamp your piece of cardboard under the appropriate price depending on what you ordered. At the end you take the piece of cardboard up to the cashier.

Some more hints: If you order chinese tea and you’ve run out of water, simply turn the lid upside down or leave it off the teapot. This signals to the waitstaff to refill your pot. Also ask for soy sauce and chilli sauce to give your dim sims some kick.

Inside the Top One Seafood Chinese Restaurant

Yum Cha selections - chinese broccoli, turnip cakes (on left, the square shape) and from memory seafood dumplings

One of the yum cha trolleys bustles past with custard tart desserts

More yum cha goodies - prawn fried dumplings on the right and some other steamed dumplings in the middle

The live seafood tanks. Personally I couldn’t bear to have a live fish or lobster brought to my table

Technorati Tags: chinese restaurant, top one chinese, southport, restaurant review, gold coast restaurants, seafood restaurant, chinese restaurant review

Capri pizza is located underneath some shops off station street.

You can drive down the driveway and park underneath. The restaurant feels like it’s in a basement and yes it’s daggy and home decorated but we’ve been back a few times. Why? because they make awesome pizza and home made pasta. It’s a simple, suburban restaurant and they know it. They don’t try to be anything they’re not and they focus their energy on producing good food, not on flashy decor, cutlery or tableware although they could do with some knives that are serrated to cut through the pizza - we ended up just eating each slice by hand.

The woman who manages the pizza oven at the front is always friendly and happy and has been in the industry for over 25 years.

We brought our own six pack of beers which helped keep the costs down and ordered one medium pizza with two different toppings on each half to share. The young scottish waitress was friendly and smiling and apologetic when our pizza’s took a while to come out.

If you’re after a simple, affordable and homey tasting Italian restaurant then Capri Pizza is perfect. It’s the sort of restaurant where customers bring their own beers and stubby coolers and can feel completely relaxed dining out in old jeans and a tracksuit top.

Capri Pizza
Italian

3 - 27 Station Street
Nerang, 4211

Phone: 07 5578 2499

Inside Capri Pizza

We ordered a medium half vegetarian and half mexican approx $21

Technorati Tags: capri pizza, nerang restaurants, restaurant review, italian restaurant, nerang restaurant, capri restaurant nerang