Fresh User Reviews for Modern Australian in Gold Coast

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

Delicious food and cocktail list! The aroma when our mains were brought out was sensational. Great value for money offering a 2 course set menu for $29 and looking after me for my birthday.

Friendly staff and cool atmosphere to start a night out. Will definitely be back to try a different meal!

May 20, 2012

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  3      Drinks  3      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

In 9 years we have been to this pub 3 or 4 times. This time we were hoping that it has improved. How wrong were we. We booked for dinner on a Friday night at 6.30pm we were one of three tables in the whole restaurant at the time. Then meun is very, very limited. We ordered a kids fish and chips, a kids burger, a pork belly and lamb wrapped in filo pastry. T

he pork belly was under done but still edible, the kids burger was a frozen patty cooked for too long served with no tomato sauce!. The lamb filo was left in the oven too long so instead of golden brown it was brown leaving the lamb on the chewy side and the potatoes was missing the mint butter. The kids fish and chips was the best meal out of all of our meals.

The service was very slow, meals took a while to come out. No ambience what so ever. Very disappointed as locals who live only 2 minutes away we will be never coming back again. Will have to look some where else to become our regular dining spot.

May 15, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  7      Value  10     

We recently had dinner at East on a Thursday night. They have this great promotion where it's half price off your total bill. This is a great deal, and we made the most of it, keeping the bartenders busy supplying us with yummy cocktails! We also made the most of the deal and had a bunch of entrees to share.

The food was great! The food took a while to get to the table (it was a busy night), but we were cool with this, as Sex n Chocolate were on stage keeping every one entertained. We had a great night, and will be back, next time we will get the babysitter to stay a bit later so we can enjoy the late night club!

May 09, 2012

9.6 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Drinks  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Coomera Lodge is great for Sunday lunches with family or friends. Playground for kids is the bomb. Staff are all very nice and easily approachable about anything. Live music on weekend.

May 06, 2012

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  1     

Invited to Absynthe to help celebrate a friend's wife's birthday. Not sure how much he paid for the gustation experience, but we were surprised at how tiny the portions were. Their outdated menu (2011) on this site, says $140pp. I hope my friend didn't pay that much. My wife ordered a cocktail from their list, to have the waitress return and inform her they didn't have all the ingredients. She ordered a simple Brandy Alexander next, to again have the waitress come back and inform her the barman didn't know how to make one.

I needed to go to the gents toilet. Another waitress informed me that I had to go into another building and gave me some sketchy directions to get there. When I eventually found it, I discovered I needed a code to tap into the keypad locking the door. I had to go back to the restaurant to explain to another waitress my predicament who informed me that I actually needed a 4 digit code to get into the toilet.

The drinks were ridiculously over-priced. $17 for a stubbie of beer, or a glass of wine. A bottle of Amiri Sauv Blanc, $16 a glass, $56 a bottle - same bottle, $7.00 @ Dan Murphy's - seems indicative of the overall impression we have of our 1 time experience of Absynthe, highly over-priced and over-rated and very poor value for a hard-earned dollar, in short, a rip-off.

May 05, 2012

5.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  3     

I found very little of Mr Mangan's influence at Salt Grill. I'd describe the menu as standard 5 star hotel fare with a few (I recall three or four) "signature dishes."

Someone once said to me "don't sleep in restaurants and don't eat in hotels." Me thinks that's wise advice.

Apr 21, 2012

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

A restaurant that truly delivers on fine dining. If you aren’t based on the Gold Coast, I can assure you, the drive / trip to dine at Absynthe is definitely worth your while. Had an absolutely delightful evening at dinner. The food was outstanding… so rich and full of flavor. Dessert is always my favourite course and the chef’s at Absynthe knew exactly how to deliver. I chose the Crème Brulee with a light sorbet…this was divine!

Entrée (risotto) was exquisite. Cocktail menu is another must to sample! My favrouite was the cucumber martini – sounds different but I can assure you it will leave you wanting another! Exceptional service, lovely ambience - all I can say is, well done Absynthe!

Apr 14, 2012

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  7     

Went here while on holidays in Queensland and could not have picked a better restaurant to dine at. They had a special on at the time 3 courses for $65.

I started with the king prawn risotto and my partner had the seared scallops and we both absolutely loved our entrees. We both had the lamb for a main and the rolled shoulder melted in your mouth as it should and the rack and loin were cooked to perfection.

Dessert I had the affogato which was beautiful and my partners had the pannacotta which was silky and delicious.

The staff were lovely and the mood in the restaurant was very pleasant and easy going with customers discussing their meals between tables. The only conplaint I have is the pricing of the wine menu.

Will be going back when I am up there again.

Apr 13, 2012

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  2      Value  1     

Two ordinary steaks. The eye fillet my wife had was tender enough but not tasty and lacked any juices?!

My Waygu was chewy, not on. Service was average at best. They seemed to know that what they were serving was disappointing and were happy we left without complaining.

Apr 11, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  8     

Pork is superb along with the salt and pepper calamari. Give the spicy wagu meatballs a try, great! Pizza nice and light and crispy. All delicious. Service exceptional. Friendly staff very helpful. Nice ambience along Tedder avenue. Would thoroughly recommend.

Apr 07, 2012

5.3 Average

Drinks  5      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  4     

How oh so lucky Titanium Bar are listed here as a bar and not a restaurant. Whilst over in Surfers for a weekend away, we wanted to see the first AFL game on a Saturday night and after a few Google searches for sports bars, this place came up again and again. So here we are.

A Titans game was just finishing which emptied up the bar for us to see the game on one of the smaller screens in the main area. Look for just drinks, shits and giggles this place is fine. But whilst we watched the game, a staff member started getting disco lights at the ready, switching their LED changing colours on, at 7pm. Continually standing in front of the one sole plasma we were watching whilst he played around with what I can only assume was their virtual DJ.

But it doesn't matter, the beers were comparatively cheap and at half time we ordered a couple of chicken schnitzels w/chips and salad. Now we witnessed so many other patrons order food from the next room (classed as their restaurant) so it's fair to say it's more than a bar. After paying $40 for food, given a buzzer we collected some 15 minutes later two plates of fairly disgusting food.

The pre-bought, probably food services style frozen schnitzels were so deep fried, my knife nearly smashed the crockery it was served on trying to cut through the outer edges. The chicken on the inside was disappointingly thin, the chips anaemic and the salad offered pre-cut tomato suitable for nothing more than turning into sauce or preferably the bin.

And do you know, it wasn't just our view of what was served, I saw plate after plate of insipid, bog standard food waltzing out of that kitchen to other diners who seem to me as accepting of such standard. I don't much expect worldly cuisine when paying $20 for a schnitzel with mushroom sauce (and chef, when mushroom sauce is prepared, it's not a gravy base with one heavy mushroom floating in it), I just want it prepared fresh. If I have this assumption wrong and it is fresh, then time for new kitchen staff.

This bar/kitchen has a good space, it's trying to be a few things and maybe that's the problem.

Mar 26, 2012

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  1     

This should have been a lovely night for my partners birthday at the Absynthe Restaurant at Q1 Surfers Paradise. Instead it turned into a nightmare.

The food was disappointing to say the least. We were asked do you want sparkling water or still water and we asked for tap water and was hit by a $32 water bill at the end of the night. This was for 4 bottles of 500ml water we supposedly drank. The bottles were never left on the table and our glasses were just refilled at anytime without letting us know that it was bottled water that cost $8 a bottle.

I refused to pay $32 for the water and said I would replace the water bottles. When I purchased the water to give back to the restaurant we bought another bottle for ourselves and we were very surprised because it was not what we had the night before because it was sparkling water and we had still water on the night. I was able to buy 5 bottles of the water for $14.

Mar 24, 2012

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  3      Value  1     

This place wouldn't get a michelin star from me if I took my tyres there! The degustation was at best, fair, but the usual fair sized main course had a piece of chicken the size of a walnut. Tried the wine flight (not in the deal), $15 for a SSB, $5 a bottle on line, served at room temp followed by a "Se Australian" wine of dubious origin and taste billed as a coonawarra shiraz! Tasted like the label too!

Didn't wait to try the sticky. Senior staff was surly from the start, when I complained even more so. Only good thing was he refunded my 2nd voucher. I have never been moved to write a restaurant review in oz before but people need to be warned about this place.
.

Mar 05, 2012

5 Average

Food  3      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  3     

Fantastic food, big servings, the staff were great, friendly and polite. We went back 2 days in a row and relatives up from melbourne dined there 4 out of 6 days and the topper its BYO. What more could you need in a restaurant.

Wow march 2012 and my recommendation, go elsewhere. It's really sad that this place has fallen for the sad run of the mill. Don't get me wrong the service is still great but Omg, What happened. Entree of calamari was to die for but now 5 tiny pieces of calamari in it. Mmm hello wheres the Calamari it's an $18 dollar entree and you buried it under the salad so it was cold. Tempura prawns were tasty but 4 prawns for $20 and a tiny salad sorry lost me.

Mains, pasta with seafood and chilli and garlic. They drowned it in olive oil, the calamari was tough and no chilli flavor. Prawns with lemon risotto, just order the risotto. It hurts me to post his but you need to know. Oh and it was the Friday of the billabong classic and when a new customer asked if they could get a meal at 9pm, they were told no they could have dessert only. Small town mentality strikes again.

Mar 02, 2012

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

One of our last meals out on the Gold coast before we head back home to Sydney and I have to say I wish we had found this place sooner to be able to visit again!

The food was amazing really fresh tasty with a little touch of Molecular Gastromomy with the in clusion of Caviaroli (Spanish EVOO caviar balls) scattered amongst the prawn starter with a dressing of avocado foam! The service from our waiter was great and he has very attentive. The mains were delicious! We finished with a gourmet cheese board which was lovely and fresh the cheeses were at their perfect.

All this amazing food and wait for it all for only $65.00 per head! We will definitely be a regular here when visiting the Gold Coast! well done guys you rock!

Feb 26, 2012

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  8     

Tucked away in back corner of shopping centre but great set up once you find it. Interesting and well done tapas style menu looked superior to a la carte menu and all the dishes we had were very good. Wine list was small but original and some good blackboard varieties. They have music on sunday afternoon which would be great fun with their style of menu. Service was friendly and attentive. Well worth supporting.

Feb 23, 2012

2.8 Below Average

Quality  1      Food  1      Drinks  6      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  3     

Don't Bother! This restaurant used to have fantastic food and lovely management, we were frequent customers. Sadly that has changed for the worse.

We booked a birthday dinner and our night was spoiled by the terrible food, which was tasteless and took 90 minutes to arrive at our table, terrible service, slow, unfriendly staff, who completed the credit card transaction at our table (how rude) and took forever to take our orders, and the other staff - who forgot 2 meals and they said the kitchen was small, that's why things were taking so long. Totally unbelievable! There were only about 15 people in the restaurant!

At the end of the night, the only compensation made was not charging for a meal that was forgotten (I should think so!) and giving us 2 bottles of water free of charge, how pathetic. The management did not even come to apologise and tried to ignore us as we left.

The Birthday dinner was a total disaster, our night was ruined and I was embarrassed for inviting everyone there. After one of our party contacted the management about our poor experience, he was given a short sharp reply that was a personal attack, rather than an apology or explanation. Clearly the management have no concern about the quality or reputation of their restaurant.

We will never go back there again, and I urge any potential customers to stay away. If you want good food and exceptional service, go somewhere else at Sanctuary Cove.

Feb 21, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

Great setting and view. Nice decor also (once you get past the front of the building and the foyer). Good but casual service. The Oskar prawns are nice. Snappper was excellent. Decent wine list. About $110 per head. We shared a few desserts between us also.

Feb 13, 2012

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

What can I say? Food is excellent and the staff did a fantastic job. Great value for money and good kids menu. Thoroughly enjoyed our outing at Blu Grotto on Tedder Ave. Look Forward to our next visit. Cheers

Feb 12, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

Dined in Vanitas on Australia Day and was extremely impressed with the food, service and ambience. Having dined at Aria and Tetsuyas in Sydney I would rate my experience at Vanitas as up there with them but without the hefty price tag. Highly recommended it to anyone looking for fine dining on the Gold coast.

Feb 10, 2012