Asian-inspired wonderland moves into Nobby’s.
Asian-inspired wonderland moves into Nobby’s.
Magic has moved into Nobby’s Beach and it comes in the shape of an Asian-inspired wonderland with dishes that will sing to the very depths of your soul.
Dramatic, yes. Accurate, also yes. Ally Chow is the latest addition to the Nobby’s restaurant strip and the game has well and truly been upped.
Featuring elements of Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai cuisines, the menu is filled with stunning flavours put together in picture-perfect style. It’s way too good.
Hold that thought though while we gush about the interior a little bit. You’ll be hard pressed not smile from ear to ear as you enter what may in fact be the perfect representation of Alice’s wonderland, Asian style.
Greenery drips from every inch of the ceiling creating an intimate, fresh, are-we-really-on-the-Gold-Coast vibe. Glossy black concrete floors, a high ceiling and pops of colour offset by wooden window and door frames give a grungy, vintage feel unlike anything else you’ve seen in our fair city.
Charred wood lining the outside of the building is a nod to the 2016 fire that allowed Ally Chow to be and a subtle hint to the mood you’ll experience once you set foot inside. Alleyway seating, on the eastern side, is lit up by a beautifully coloured mural depicting traditional Japanese village life.
That’s a lot of words but it really is something else.
So, the food. Two-hat Chef and owner of Ally Chow Trent Scarr has created a pan-Asian menu with punch-packing flavours loaded into unique but simple dishes and traversing a range of Asian cuisines. There’s three choices of banquet menus if you and your gal pals are keen to sample a few tasty delights.
The Sticky Pork Belly with Crispy Saddle Tail Snapper, banana flower salad and ginger with lemon dressing is a combination for the ages and the Beef Short Rib with coconut and banana flower salad is tender, flavoured filled and melt in your mouth.
The cocktail list is, of course, Asian-inspired with plenty of Chinese and Japanese spirits in the literal mix. The Espresso Martini is made with Vietnamese cold drip coffee and condensed milk, which is how coffee is done in Vietnam.
So many words, thanks for sticking with us.
Do yourself a favour though, go get lost in the jungle as soon as possible. Trent and his partner Leisha, previously of Honey Eater Kitchen fame, have absolutely outdone themselves (and everyone else).
We’ll probably be there every night of the week for awhile, come say hi.
LOCATION: 2215 Gold Coast Highway, Nobby Beach
HOURS: 11.30am until late Tuesday to Sunday
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
Those of you who love Hellenika as much as we do will understand that it feels like it’s been years since Simon and the crew shut up shop to perch an extra level on top of the already incredible space.
Well, food-loving friends, we’re (way too) pleased to report that the newly renovated downstairs restaurant is once again open for business.
Last week we reported Simon had revamped the space he previously referred to as a Melbourne-esque taverna into a slightly more elegant Estiatorio (a restaurant you’d find in Greece).
And friends, we cannot emphasise this point enough, elegance is everywhere at the new look Hellenika even down to the blush pink crockery made by local potter Marloe Marloe.
Without a doubt everyone’s favourite area will be the tucked away corner featuring a painting of Aristotle Onassis – a Greek businessman much-loved in his passionate homeland. He’s akin to JFK in the States, and you know, Mick Fanning here in good old Oz.
The menu, while remaining largely the same features a few new dishes Simon is particularly excited about. The first is Corfu Bianco, a South Australian Kingfish baked in the oven with olive oil and lemon juice, simple and absolutely beautiful.
The second is a barrel-ripened feta imported from Greece and drizzled with olive oil and oregano and the third, Hilopites – beef shin with square pasta and tomato. We’ll take all three please.
As mentioned last week, the wine list has increased from 110 to 500 bottles with 50 brought in from Greece alone.
And you thought Hellenika went above and beyond before.
P.S We got also got a sneak peek at the rooftop bar and, in a word, it’s EPIC.
LOCATION: 2235 Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach
HOURS: 5pm to 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm to 4pm / 5pm to 11.30pm Sunday
Words and photos by Kirra Smith.
