uxtaposed against the sparkling Coolangatta sea is the dark and grungy good-time den that is Eddie’s Grub House.

It’s a New Orleans-style dive bar and rock n roll personified with a dartboard in the corner and chalkboard pillars sporting cheeky messages and tiny works of art. Framed photos of Elvis and the like adorn the back wall while another is stacked high with a collection of spirits the King himself would be proud of.

Put simply Eddie’s Grub House is all the good things you won’t find anywhere else on the Gold Coast and if that’s not enough to persuade you, their new menu definitely will.

Eddie’s war cry reads “Whiskey, beer and fried chicken. All Marinated in Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll” and while this is true, burgers and hot dogs are the stars of the latest show.

The Menage Abbatoir consists of an all beef patty, two southern fried chicken tenders, bacon, cheese, an onion ring filled with red cheddar, Coopers Ale BBQ sauce and special sauce – it’s a doozey, good luck. Not quite that brave? The Philly Cheeseburger also packs an all beef patty simply plus cheese, sautéed mushrooms, onions and peppers. The Sloppy Joe Cocker is a beef party, chilli con carne, sour cream and shallots. Prepare to get saucy.

Onto to the hot dogs. They’re all made with Eddie’s signature jalapeno, course ground dogs rammed into a milk bun and served with fries of course. The O.G is literally that – a timeless hot dog classic filled with ketchup, mustard and red cheddar cheese. The Philly Cheese Dog boasts matching ingredients to the burger of the same name but dog-style.

If all that’s not enough to render you useless for the rest of the day add on some Texas Chilli Cheese Fries – they’re coated with Eddie’s fire dust, bacon and scallions and smothered in hot cheese sauce.

Forgive us for we have sinned.

HOURS: Tuesday to Thursday 12pm to 10.30pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm to 12am and Sunday 12pm to 10pm.

LOCATION: 171 Griffith Street, Coolangatta.

Words and photos by Kirra Smith.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Japanese food is one of life’s greatest pleasures. So when a new, perfectly curated eatery bringing the traditional tastes of Japan to Burleigh Heads opens up, we are obviously all about it.

The newbie, Oi Izakaya can be found in the little alleyway off James Street where the Mexi-goodness that is Hail Mary also resides.

It’s the work of local lads Troy Olsen and Stephen Thompson who, along with renowned Gold Coast design genius OJ Thompson (of Ally Chow and Etsu fame), have created something the Gold Coast is going to absolutely love.

The newbie is a low-lit, moody space reminiscent of back alley, Tokyo-style Izakayas with all burnt wood paneling, dark intimate corners and an open-style kitchen, so you can watch the magic unfold.

The bar, at one end fits snugly into the corner and is jam-packed with an impressive array of whisky’s (love you), sake and Japanese beers. Tiny samurai fight for attention on one wall, while a (really quite magical) golden orb shines out from another.

The vibe is the perfect combination of old school Japanese and modern sophistication and we’re big fans.

Menu-wise the eats are refined and authentic, infusing mind-blowing flavours into dishes you’ll never want to stop eating.

To start, sashimi, always. The freshest of tuna and salmon for your tasting pleasure. But also Edamame Cheese Chips, a thing we have never before had the pleasure of sampling but will now order at any and every opportunity. Don’t ask, just order.

The Squashed Cucumber is not only one of the great dish names, it is a great dish. Basically it’s cucumber in plum sauce but the flavours defy that overly simplistic description. Eat it.

Oi Izakaya also have a Sushi Burger on the menu and yes it is indeed stacked like your run-of-the-mill burger but made with sushi. Genius and so very tasty.

Of course, the menus’ pièce de résistance is Okonomiyaki, the dish that made Troy and Stephen fall in love with Japanese eats and the reason we now get to spend all our time at Oi Izakaya.

If you’ve not yet had the pleasure Okonomiyaki is made up of many things including egg, cabbage, flour, Japanese spices and your choice of meat. The dish we sampled was Hiroshima-style (with noodles) and it was the very best variety we’ve ever tasted.

We ate the entire thing and you should order it and subsequently be impressed by how good we are at eating.

To drink, we suggest getting involved in one of the MANY Japanese whisky’s on offer but if straight up isn’t your thing, the Brown Rice Old Fashioned is as good as it gets.

All in all, Oi Izakaya is quite a treat and the perfect addition to Burleigh’s foodie scene and we suggest you get down there at the earliest available opportunity and give the boys some love.

And if you need someone to mentor you in the art of whisky drinking, you know where to find us.

LOCATION: Shop 4-6, 30 James Street, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: Wednesday and Thursday 4.30pm until late, Friday to Sunday 12pm until late

Words and photos by Kirra Smith

It’s a wild world we live in Gold Coasters. The way we live has changed exponentially of late and honestly, it’s not all bad. Things we never dreamed of having and doing are now a normal way of life and the best of those things is deliveries.

Yes deliveries. Not just any old deliveries though, those of some of your favourite local goods and for the purposes of today’s tale, takeaway cocktails. Something we’ve never before experienced but that we now absolutely adore and hope stays in our lives always.

Over the last week these local businesses have announced their versions (available to purchase with food orders), so you may enjoy your fave margie with your dinner and seriously, what a time.

Mr PP’s Deli & Rooftop
The crew at Southport fave Mr PP’s have come to the iso party with their new bottled cocktail range including three of their most popular tipples and two classics. You can sip on Summer Lovin’, Seaside and Spicy Mama along with the beloved Negroni and Old Fashioned. They’ll also be selling 45ml whiskey flights with an option of purchasing glassware to compliment the whisky. How fun. Get yours here.

Social Eating House
The team at Social Eating House knows what’s up. They’re offering their famous Espresso Martinis to take home and indulge as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening at all. If you’ve not yet had the pleasure, now’s the time. Particularly if you’re a parent homeschooling a child right now or, maybe you’re just missing the tasty goodness that is an Espresso Martini. Grab some of their exceptional eats while you’re at it. Order here.

Bonita Bonita
The Mexican masters from Mermaid (oh hey cabin fever) have got you covered with takeaway Sangria packs including a bottle of wine, a can of Solo, Sangria mix and some fruit, so you can have yourself a Mexican party like no other. Order some of their famous tacos to go with it – Taco Thursday is still a thing and you can get some for $5 each with a minimum spend of $20. Sangria jug packs are $30 each so that’s quite the affordable night for some quality goods. Order here.

Etsu Izakaya
The beloved Mermaid Beach venue are all about exceptional cocktails (and everything else) and you can now order them to take home with you. There’s plenty to choose from including the Gin Garden, Boba Fett and the House Highball (among others) so order yourself some epic takeaway Japanese eats and a few cocktails to match and you’ve got yourself the very best of times. Etsu is now also offering a five-course set menu for $50 per person so if you can’t decide just get all the good stuff. It’s all here.

The Cambus Wallace
Nobby’s favourite low-lit cocktail bar has jumped on board the takeaway cocktail train and what a treat for all of us. As you’re probably aware, the Cambus crew like to do things a little bit outside of the box (which we love) and have done exactly that with their takeaway cocktail offerings including Negronis and Sailor Jerry’s with fresh apple juice. They also created a Smoked Old Fashioned in a bottle and it’s obviously epic both to look at and sip. Clever kids. Get yours with any food order here.

Ally Chow
Modern Asian fusion and a side of takeaway cocktails? Yes please! Grab yourself exactly that thanks to the team at Nobby’s fave Ally Chow. Cocktails on offer include their signature sips – Red Lotus and Chasing Ally and you can sample those alongside some sweet eats. There are $5 baos every night and they’re some of the best around plus delights like curries and much more. If you’ve dined with Ally Chow before, you’ll know everything they do is next-level and if not, here’s the perfect opportunity. Order here.

Mexicali
Guys. Mexicali have made MARGARITA PACKS and where have they been all our lives, honestly. They come with ice, lime, salt, marg mix and instructions and they are indeed some of the best margs out there. There are also sangria packs should that be your preference and you can grab one (or three) with any food order. Mexicali are also serving up some of the tastiest Mexi-eats around so you can go on a virtual holiday (don’t forget the sombrero) complete with all the culinary delights you could need. Order here.

Rosella’s
Good times guys, you can now indulge in Rosella’s really very good Australiana cocktails at yours and if you’ve had the pleasure you’ll know it’s well, a pleasure. Choose from their big old range of signature cocktails including the Kylie Minogue Martini, Fantales, the Northern Rivers Highball and the much-loved Margarita, Rosella’s style and Bob’s your uncle. Yep. Of course you must order food to go with it and there’s a CHEESE BOARD, Sunday Night Roast and alternating daily goodies and we’re all about all of that. Get some here.

Mr Consistent
The OG’s of the takeaway cocktail world, Mr Consistent is a Gold Coast business creating premium, hand-crafted cocktail mixes that you just need to add alcohol to. Choose from margaritas, Bloody Mary’s and sours (or all three) and you’ve got yourself a time. The bottle mixes have six to ten serves each, depending on the flavour and you can get them in a gift pack with two mixers and a bar kit, so the mixing tools are all right there and ready to go. Order online and get free delivery from Helensvale to Kingscliff RIGHT NOW. Get ‘em here.

Happy home partying.

Words by Kirra Smith