All your Byron Bay faves to sink your teeth into.
All your Byron Bay faves to sink your teeth into.
We all love a little southern getaway to our beautiful across-the-border neighbour. But sometimes that 45 minute drive seems a little two much to handle on the precious few days we get away from work each week.
Luckily, it seems, Byron Bay has begun to come to us and that is happy news friends. Starting with a few top notch eateries, here’s hoping the entire town soon merges into the Gold Coast so we can claim it as our own.
Until then, here are five restaurants that originated in Byron and have expanded to the Gold Coast.
Finn Poke
The most recent addition in the foodie migration is Finn Poke, a café-style venue serving up, you guessed it, nourishing poke bowls. The popular Byron Bay gang opened up in Pacific Fair just last week and they’re set to open a second store in James Street (Burleigh Heads) next month. They’re putting a unique little spin on the salad and raw fish style bowls and that’s as Byron as anything we’ve ever heard.
Where: Pacific Fair, Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach
Main Street Burger Bar
An absolute Byron favourite is Main Street Burger Bar and, as of last year, they’ve become a pretty popular addition to the Broadbeach restaurant scene too. With a trendy, beachside diner vibe and burgers made with the freshest and healthiest produce possible, it really is a good time. The Harissa Roasted Lamb Shoulder burger is a fave and throw in a boozy milkshake and that will do us just fine thank you very much.
Where: Shop GO.53, Oasis Shopping Centre, Victoria Ave, Broadbeach
Elixiba
What’s a Byron restaurant story without a vegan addition? And what a vegan addition Elixiba is. It’s a completely plant-based bar and restaurant with some of the most Insta-worthy dishes around. Think towering burgers, pasta perfections, Chai cheesecake and the tastiest of curries. Every single thing on the menu will have your mouth watering, vegan or not.
Where: Robina Town Centre, Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina
Miss Margarita
Ahh Mexican food, how we love you. Miss Margarita’s is one of the best Byron haunts around and no matter what time of day, it’s absolutely packed with patrons sipping chilli margaritas (could just be us). The food is absolutely exceptional here and we particularly love jalapeno poppers and every burrito that has ever been brought before us. BONUS: you don’t need to travel to Byron to get involved.
Where: Shop 101, 89 Surf Pde, Broadbeach
Cardamom Pod
There are vegetarian delights galore at the Byron Bay gem that now boasts two Gold Coast locations. Cardamom Pod is a choose your own adventure style scenario where you can mix your curries with your salads, pop some samosas on your plate and fill your belly with warm, nourishing goodies that will keep you full for days (or at least hours). They also do some extremely tasty desserts so maybe take one of those guys home for later. Oh and it’s BYO, yep yep.
Where: 2685 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach and The Brickworks, Ferry Rd, Southport
Cicchetti Pizza & Pasta Bar
They began their foodie adventure in Byron before moving on up to the Gold Coast and nowadays, they are solely Queenslanders and we are more than happy with that. Serving up the tastiest Italian fare, Cicchetti offers a casual breakfast menu plus authentic Italian for lunch and dinner and the foods is the goods guys. They also boast innovative cocktails in a space that is quite frankly, breathtaking. Next time you’re craving Italian food, give them a try.
Where: Capri on Via Roma, Isle of Capri
Words by Kirra Smith.
The Gold Coast’s passion for poké is set to reach fever pitch when Byron Bay foodie fave Finn Poké makes its grand entrance at Pacific Fair this weekend.
That’s right folks more poké for you to ahh poke your fork at is on the way and this one has already been tried and tested by our southern friends, so you know it’s good.
It’s the first installment in Finn Poke’s planned Coastal expansion, with a third establishment set to open on James Street in late July.
As you’d know by now, poke bowls were born on the balmy shores of Hawaii and some absolute genius decided it would be a good idea to bring them to little old Oz. Thank you, kind soul.
They are, quite obviously, bowls of nourishing goodness, salad-style and often with the inclusion of raw fish and/or some other type of tasty, tasty protein.
So what’s Finn Poké bringing to the table? Premium-style bowls with mainly locally sourced ingredients and sustainably caught seafood of course. They’re staying true to the classic poké recipe while adding a local flare from northern New South Wales using a variety of vibrant vegetables, salads, tofu and raw fish options.
Get a load of these ingredients – fish caught in Australian waters, roasted beets, organic rice, citrus kale slaw and coconut-avocado or finger-lime caviar dressings.
GIMME.
The newbie is the work of brother and sister duo Jem Jacinto and Joelle Boehnert and can be found in the dining precinct just down from Event Cinemas.
It’s set to be a light-filled space, featuring all your faves including white, timber, stone and concrete, with subway tiles, a floating pergola, statement pendant lights and pops of greenery. Literally, all your faves.
To celebrate the official opening at Pacific Fair, Finn Poké will be dishing out 100 FREE mini poké bowls from 11am on Saturday 16th June.
Bring. It. On.
LOCATION: Level 1, Pacific Fair, Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach
Words by Kirra Smith
