Japanese soul food for Nobby's Beach.
Japanese soul food for Nobby's Beach.
Look out Gold Coast, Nobby’s Beach is back on the new venue scene in a big way with the opening of three new foodie establishments over the last month and even more to come.
Okazu Sushi Bar snuck in a couple of weeks ago (underneath Mexicali) bringing Japanese soul food to the people via a sleek new space that is pretty much the epitome of Nobby’s cool.
It’s intimate, as you’d expect from a sushi bar, with a huge traditional mural decorating one wall and of course, everyone’s new favourite venue accessory, a neon sign reading ‘you make miso happy’ shining out from the other. The seating is minimal, it’s more of a ‘pop in, soak up the good vibes and grab some healthy eats to go’ kind of deal.
To that end, the food is perfect if you’re into the fresh, good for you and extremely tasty type that’s easy to inhale on the beach, in the office or at home in front of Netflix. Choose your own sushi adventure.
Grab yourself a (quite large and very filling) sushi roll, made fresh daily with flavours such as Chilli Calamari and spicy mayonnaise, Japanese BBQ Crispy Chicken and Smoked Tofu and Asparagus. YUM.
An array of bowls are beautifully presented and filled with nourishing healthy goodness. We love the teriyaki beef, spicy squid and sautéed vegetable best.
The pièce de résistance however is Okonomiyaki, a cabbage-based savoury pancake from the heart of Osaka with your choice of toppings from seafood, CHEESE, vegetarian and teriyaki chicken and beef.
Oh and there’s popcorn chicken, miso soup and edamame which are reasons in themselves to go wait at the door until opening time.
Okazu is modern Japanese food, in keeping with tradition found within a stunning space and created by a team that wants you to feel like part of their family every time you step in the door.
Which you will, a lot.
On ya Nobby’s.
HOURS: From 11.30am to 8pm daily
LOCATION: 1/2223 Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby’s Beach (underneath Mexicali)
Words and photos by Kirra Smith.
Like a phoenix rising from the (literal) ashes, Nobby’s Beach newbie Pinky’s Kitchen & Bar has landed to kick off your 2018 brunch game with a bang.
You may have noticed the corner space once occupied by our beloved Little Beans has slowly been transforming. Well folks, the time has come and we’re happy to announce the opening of a sleek new space complete with can’t-miss-em neon pink signs and plenty of beautiful people gazing opportunities.
An exposed brick bar, royal blue velvet seating and THOSE neon signs are all your interior design dreams brought to life and all smack bang in the middle of the beautiful little seaside suburb you probably don’t visit enough.
Brayden Condon and the team are serving up New York inspired eats for breakfast and lunch (for now; nighttime opening hours are on the horizon) and excuse us while we rant about the food a little bit.
Breakfast, as the most important meal of the day, is a must at Pinky’s. Start with Morning Glory, because who doesn’t love a little bit of that to kick off the day. We digress. It’s a breakfast salad with haloumi, Portobello mushrooms, pumpkin, poached egg and dukkah and it is in fact, glorious.
Definitely also eat the Latkes which are crispy potato rosti’s, salmon lox, dill crème fraiche and poached eggs. There’s also some called Mama’s Knishes, which may just translate to magic to be honest. It’s a classic Eastern European dish made famous on the streets of New York and it consists of a baked pastry stuffed with potato and onions. Honestly, food is life.
For lunch there are an array of bagels and good lord, a NYC-style loaded hot dog.
BRB, buying bigger pants.
The coffee, of course, is of the Blackboard variety and on offer is a batch brewed filter-style option, which you won’t find in places around our fair city and is SO GOOD.
The idea behind this particular style of venue was to bring something a little different to the classic Acai bowl breaky option to Nobby’s and aren’t the extra-hungry people among us happy about that.
Get down there for a weekend brunch date with your gal pals.
LOCATION: Cnr Lavarack Street and Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach
HOURS: 5am until 2pm daily
Words and photos by Kirra Smith.
With the Coast’s restaurant scene well and truly booming, it’s hard to think how anyone could make it any better? Then in steps Adam Dundas-Taylor, owner of Fire Cue Bar & Grill, the new “hottest” spot in Nobby’s.
Travelling all the way from Bali, home to Adam’s Barbacoa Restaurant, the love for charcoal grill and fun times has now been shared with the Gold Coast. A tapas bar which offers Latin American, Mexican, Spanish and Argentinian inspired food, zesty cocktails, tap beers from Gold Coast locals and smooth tunes.
The inside of Fire Cue is mysterious yet inviting, a concrete look wall with golden metallic highlights (guaranteed you will want to run your hands over it), contrasted by two colour washed walls giving the narrow space a unique edginess. Choose between high tables and stools or a sleek burgundy leather lounge. Exposed lighting hangs from copper piping and a warm glow emanates from the neon “Fire Cue” that sits behind the bar. It doesn’t stop here though, make your way past the kitchen and up the stairs to another bar, brightly coloured walls, communal and high tables and lush greenery that sits on the open rooftop. Upstairs is the perfect location if you want to enjoy the fiery flavours exclusively.
Things are definitely heating up in the Fire Cue kitchen too. The meat of the night is cooked over charcoal in a parrilla barbecue grill for eight hours which ensures you aren’t going to miss out on any of the mouth-watering flavour. The menu offers a variety of delicious choices; Pork Spare Ribs in a chipotle and agave glaze, Fire Cue’s own style Spicy Snapper Ceviche with aji amarillo dressing, Lamb Empanadas, pulled lamb, goats cheese, cumin and green olive, Grilled Corn (you won’t be able to stop at one) served with chipotle mayo, cheese, smoked spice and lime… too much to choose from already? The menu is designed to share, which means you have a totally valid excuse to have one of everything!
Same applies for those with a sweet tooth, order an individual dessert such as the White Chocolate and Honeycomb Ice-cream Sandwich, or try a Dessert Tasting Plate instead, which is going to give you all the good stuff. Speaking of good stuff, it’s important to know that these guys are also offering a $5 Taco Tuesday!
Date night or dinner with the crew, Nobby’s is all fired up over this newest addition.
Open Tuesday – Sunday 5pm – late
In happy news for everyone with skin, a beauty emporium has opened in Nobbys Beach (land of the good vibes and beautiful people).
Not any old skincare store though, the glowy-skinned team at Clean Beauty Market are experts in non-toxic, natural and organic products that are free from animal testing. How fun.
The store, found next to Sparrow Eating House, is as pretty as you’d expect, decked out in white with blush accents and a glowing pink sign declaring “you are magic”. And magic is exactly what you’ll find once you’ve stepped inside the delightfully scented space that’s packed with countless natural makeup and skincare brands.
It’s pure heaven to be honest and it’s entirely possible you’ll spend your life savings in one visit. YOLO.
While buying all of the good-for-you skincare is always a smart idea, you can also book yourself in for some pampering. There’s makeup lessons, skin regime consultations and makeup applications for special occasions (or, you know, work on Monday).
PLUS, you and your gals can indulge in a makeover party should you so desire.
Owner Erin Norden is a Coast local and former freelance makeup artist who (sensibly, let’s be real) saw an opportunity, found the perfect space in Nobbys and made the magic happen.
Clean Beauty Market is the first (and hopefully not the last) store of its kind on the Gold Coast and it’s a solid step in the right direction for the many ladies who are choosing natural products to slather all over their skin (and the rest who should jump on that bandwagon ASAP).
Great news for the Gold Coast, the Earth and your face.
LOCATION: 1/32 Lavarack Rd, Nobbys Beach
HOURS: 9am to 5pm daily.
Words and photos by Kirra Smith.
