Chevron Renaissance is home to your foodie dreams
Chevron Renaissance is home to your foodie dreams
We all have our favourite suburbs around the Coast. You know, the local where you go for coffee and hangs, the strip where you head for Friday knock offs, or the spot where you know you’ll get some great food and avoid the crowds. In saying this, though, where do you place Surfers Paradise in this mix?
Things have slowly been changing in our best-known suburb, meaning it’s not only the tourists who are flocking here. Ask any local. Quality eateries and first-class bars are popping up all over.
Pride of place in the centre of Surfers Paradise is Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre; however, not only will you find top-rated shopping here but three places we highly recommend you ought to put on your to-dine list; if you haven’t already!
Baritalia
Who doesn’t like themselves a taste of Italy every day now and then? Baritalia pulls out all the stops when it comes to a comfortable and genuine taste of the Mediterranean — and right in the heart of the Gold Coast, no less. Swing in for breakfast, and you’ll be spoilt for choice with dishes like Free-range Baked Eggs with chorizo and charred sourdough or all of the baked, flaky sweet treats. Not forgetting perfectly poured Allpress coffee. (What a way to start the day?!)
Lunch and dinner are serious odes to the old country. A salivate-inducing selection of 48-hour fermented pizzas, all hand-stretched and baked freshly to order, will have most people’s attention. But, if you can look past those, you could find yourself with handmade gnocchi/pasta dishes as well as made-to-order paninis that will truly make your mouth water! Backing up all this tasty fare is a superb range of Italian focussed beers and wines ‑ if you close your eyes and smell the aromas, you may convince yourself you’re somewhere in the European haven.
PappaRich
Asian food is without a doubt one of our favourites here on the Gold Coast. Chinese and Japanese are obvious frontrunners but, what are your feelings towards contemporary Malaysian food? For those in the know, this often-overlooked cuisine is a delicious and fragrant street hawker-style alternative — rewarding the curious with big fresh flavours and a whole new sensory experience.
Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, the small no-fuss eatery is the spot to enjoy charming signature Malay dishes like Chicken Laksa or Crispy Fish Egg Noodles, with lighter bites like Chicken Satay Skewers the perfect way to start things off. There’s a great selection of vegetarian dishes and breads to choose from and a plethora of interesting Malaysian beverages — hot and cold — to try! We. Are. There.
The Local Tavern
Being such a busy place to be, for the most part, it’s always rewarding when you find yourself a comfortable and authentic venue to pull up a chair at. The Local Tavern, in our opinion, is the epitome of everything a local pub should be.
Being a true Aussie pub — minus the cliches — the venue serves ice cold drinks, an ever-revolving lineup of entertainment, and brilliant food with a classic pub leaning, all with utter ease. From oversized buckets of Loaded Fries to Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tacos and an array of lip-lickingly Schnitty’s, it’s a smart move to head this way when you find yourself famished. Tying the space together are giant screens dedicated to sport of any and all disciplines. Grab your mates (even if they support the other team) and head to The Local Tavern for your next fantastic matchday with a difference.
Chevron Renaissance really does have dining-out down pat!
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
STORY SPONSORED BY CHEVRON RENAISSANCE
If you’ve ever ventured into Surfers Paradise (and we know you have), you will have probably sipped a brew at beloved Irish institution Landsdowne Road, a good time pub found within Chevron Renaissance and more often than not, absolutely overflowing with revellers.
Well sadly those days are no longer, the long standing venue closed it’s doors recently but in its place is a sleek new bar and eatery that we think you’re going to love just as much.
It’s called The Local and with a cosy, low-lit vibe, giant sport-watching screens and a menu packed with all your favourite pub grub, it’s the perfect spot for an after work sip or a laidback weekend session with the crew.
The entrance is marked by two archways tiled with tiny black circles and looking very fancy indeed. Inside, the bar is located right in the centre of the space, where it should be and it’s all exposed brick and glass shelves stacked with goodies, fairy lights string from the ceiling and a 360 degree view of the rest of the room.
It’s definitely got the feeling of a bar you might like to bunker down in for a good session, particularly because there are frosty beers aplenty and all of the delicious snacks to accompany.
Starting with share plates of course because a sipping session simply wouldn’t be complete without share plates.
There are dishes like Cheeseburger Spring Rolls, Wagyu Brisket Croquets and Pickled Vegetable Rice Paper Rolls.
There are also bucket of things including Buttermilk Fried Chicken Wings, Loaded Fries, Loaded Vegetable Fries and Nachos (YUM) and all of those are perfection if you ask us. Oh and you can get a 1kg bucket of Southern Fried Wings if you’re on the extra hungry side.
If you’re not into sharing food (same), there are mains along the lines of a Poke Bowl, a Wagyu Beef and Ale pie and Grilled Pork and Fennel bangers n’ mash and of course burgers, schnitzels, salads, steaks and sandwiches too.
It’s the traditional pub style of eats you love but made a little bit fancier by Chef Justin Wise.
If you’re a beer fan, you can still get all the Irish faves you love plus of course the usual Aussie suspects.
The cocktail list is impressive with all the classic faves including Cuervo Margaritas, Whiskey Sours, Old Fashioneds, Mules and the like.
As is the way of pubs, there are weekly specials including $3 Taco Tuesdays, $1 Wings Wednesdays and $15 Steak Nights plus obviously daily happy hour.
So it’s all the things you love about a pub, but a little bit fancier.
LOCATION: Chevron Renaissance, 3240 Gold Coast Hwy, Surfers Paradise
HOURS: Daily 10am until late
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
