Christian Avant

You may have heard the hype about Bondi’s favourite burger joint moving on up to our neck of the woods in the coming weeks.

Well it’s true pals, Milky Lane is set to make its mark on Surfers Paradise in early-May and, boasting burgers with names like ChicKanye and Kevin Bacon, we could not be more here for it.

We sat down for a chat with Christian Avant, one of Milky Lane’s owners, about the venue that not only brings the best burgers around, but crazy cocktails, art installations and guaranteed good vibes.

Milky Lane will be opening in Surfers Paradise in May, why did you choose that location for your next venue?
We love the Gold Coast, we love the beaches, the sunrises and the people. We always had the Gold Coast on our list to be the first site out of Sydney and it was a flagship location for us. We just needed to get our business model right and ensure we can offer the exact same experience and product before we open. 

How is it different from other burger venues on the Coast?
We don’t just sell burgers, we sell an experience. We set the bar on fire with flaming cocktails and flaring, we excite all senses from the minute you walk in to the second you leave. When you hear ‘Welcome to Milky Lane’ you know you’re in for a great time with staff that truly care about your overall experience. We built Milky Lane on three core products; burgers, desserts and cocktails and we believe we’re the first to really combine these three products in a way that is exciting to bite into and delicious to taste.

What can Gold Coasters expect from Milky Lane?
We’ve been working for over three months on the design and art installations for the Gold Coast and all we can tell you is you won’t be disappointed.

Tell us about the Milky Lane vibe?
Milky Lane is more than just a great burger, we sell an experience, we entertain and we make people smile. Our Bondi Beach location is a 200sqm narrow rectangle and purpose built with an open-plan kitchen and bar. As you enter the venue, you are welcomed instantly by the Milky Lane flair, showcasing living plants draped over a painted forest art piece. You follow this through a red LED framed blue box, which takes you past the eye-catching bar with a HUGE display of top shelf vodkas, tequilas, whiskeys and more. The rear has a series of booths built under an upside-down, 3D boom box and the opposite wall features a New York-style urban graffiti piece from one end to the other. The back wall is a backlit white tiger swimming in turbulent water. The central feature is our cherished ‘Last Supper’ art piece, consisting of past and present hip-hop icons. Every single nook and cranny is meticulously designed to create a visual heaven that has people Instagramming from the second they enter. 

Why has it been so popular do you think?
The food has such a unique and distinct flavour that has customers coming back several times a week or in some cases, driving hundreds of km to dine with us. From our perfectly char-grilled patties to our special recipe Milky Lane sauce, rest assured that no stone has been left unturned to tantalise the tastebuds of even the fussiest eater.

Any dishes we definitely must try?
In terms of burgers, our top sellers are the ChicKanye and our Kevin Bacon. ChicKanye has a huge piece of Southern Fried Chicken, Maple Smoked Bacon, American High Melt Cheese, Carolina Slaw, Lettuce, Sriracha and Pineapple Relish. The KB has 2 Wagyu Patties, 4 slices of American Cheddar, stacks of Maple Smoked Bacon, Truffle Aioli, BBQ Sauce, Caramelised Onions, ML Special Sauce and Pickles. Our cocktails have become quite famous on social media with our top sellers being the Reeces Peanut Butter Martini, the Bueno Cocktail, our signature Bondi Sour or our Bubblegum Sour. Our Churros Bowls are deliciously fresh cooked bowls of Churro, rolled in cinnamon sugar and served with gelato inside, covered with dulce de leche and Nutella. Our Mega Shakes have become FAMOUS over the world for pushing all boundaries of how stacked and enormous a thick shake can actually be. 

What’s the Milky Lane back-story?
Milky Lane started as one person’s dream to open a burger bar that quickly transformed into a group of two Aussie and two Kiwi guys creating Sydney’s best burger and dining experience, right on the shores of the iconic Bondi Beach. Milky Lane has created a unique and immersive experience by combining delicious food, spectacular cocktails and designer desserts, with edgy street art and hip hop music. The reason for wanting to start ML was to bring together all of the elements involved for a fun night out. Traditionally you’d go to one place for your burgers, another for amazing cocktails, somewhere else for dessert and then onto a final destination for great music, DJs and dancing. You can have ALL of that during one sitting at Milky Lane. 

What’s on for the rest of 2018?
Multiple locations are opening in the coming months; Melbourne’s location is set to be announced in a month or two!