And they are flipping delicious.
And they are flipping delicious.
Push your shakeable pancake mix to the side — you deserve more. In fact, you deserve the best. Save yourself the hassle of heating up the frying pan: here is where you can have a heap of perfectly cooked pancakes on the Gold Coast placed right in front of you with an impressive medley of toppings and extras.
Now, it’s up to you to decide which pancake style stacks your excitement the most (all of them can be your answer).
Sens Fusion
Looking for the perfect souffle pancake? We’ve found it! Sens Fusion is flipping the script with light-as-air Japanese soufflé pancakes. Whether you’re team sweet or savoury, these viral pillows of deliciousness are worth the wait. Trust us, you’ll be on cloud nine with their fluffing amazing pancakes! We went for the OG, served with melted butter and maple syrup, but if you’re feeling decadent, we’d suggest the Matcha Souffle served with matcha cream, matcha crumble and matcha ice cream. Get ’em while they’re hot—and fluffy!
Where: 129 Queen Street, Southport
Milkman’s Daughter
What’s not to get in a crush over at the Milkman’s Daughter? Apart from pouring epic coffee and being one of Mermaid Beach’s best hangouts, they are serving up pancakes you have to see to believe. The Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are bathed in vanilla turmeric custard, passionfruit reduction and topped with pistachios and edible flowers. The healthiest AND tastiest pancakes ever to exist? Quite possibly!
Where: 2/43 Alfred Street, Mermaid Beach
Kefi Cafe
Drop everything and pick up your fork. You can now have your cake and eat it in pancake form, all while getting a coffee hit! You heard correctly. Kefi is trying to put us in a food coma with their tiramisu-inspired Kefi Hotcake. We’re talking about coffee-infused pancakes topped with caramel, chocolate soil, maple syrup, mascarpone, and whipped Kahlua. We consent!
Where: 110 Marine Pde, Coolangatta
Chut & Co
Don’t let the title ‘pancake tacos’ confuse you- we’re not about to mix taco spices with maple syrup. However, we are about to tell you that Chut & Co have reimagined the perfect way to present pancakes; in a taco stand. It’s three little buttermilk pancakes, all in a row, piped generously with vanilla mascarpone and topped with raspberries, strawberries and an Oreo crumble. Who knew pancakes could be taco-licious?
Where: Mermaid Plaza, 2400 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Hudson and Rosie’s Table
Spoiler alert- these are the best pancakes on the Gold Coast. Sorry, you can’t contest, for this is a fact. These banoffee pancakes are truly bananas! Let me set the scene; the pillow-like ricotta pancakes are lush, standing tall on your plate and soaked in and surrounded by fresh banana toffee, maple pecan crumble and fresh berries. A velvety scoop of espresso mascarpone cream sits atop, proud and donned with pretty flowers. You reach your last mouthful and wonder, can life get better than this?
Where: 106 Alexander Drive, Highland Park
Palm Springs
If it’s a sweet treat you want, then it’s a sweet treat you’ll get. They call it the ‘palm pancakes‘, which sounds innocent enough. But Palm Springs wasn’t flippin around when they decided to conjure up this plate of pleasure: a deep-dish buttermilk vanilla pancake, dulce de leche with vanilla ice cream and Biscoff crumble. Pick your jaw up off the floor—you have a table reservation to make.
Where: 1878 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads
Hot Shott
You thought food combos peaked at cronuts and cruffins, didn’t you? Don’t worry, we did too. Until we discovered the valhalla of food combinations; a cinnamon scroll meets pancake. We’re not spinning fiction, although it does sound like a fairytale. Hot Shott has combined two of life’s greatest edible pleasures to deliver their cinnamon scroll buttermilk pancakes with vanilla ice cream, roasted macadamia, mixed berries and maple syrup. One word: cinna-mazing.
Where: 3/17 Tedder Avenue, Main Beach
Pancake Diner
Of course, we had to include a chocolate pancake edition on our list! Who are we, the Grinch? Then we thought, if we’re going for chocolate, why not make it a black forest? The Pancake Diners black forest-inspired stack starts with two chocolate pancakesserved with fresh strawberries, blueberries, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream with chocolate fudge, and chocolate chips. Because if you’re going to indulge, why not make it decadent?
Where: 16/221 Christine Avenue, Burleigh Heads
Pancakes on the Rocks
The humble apple crumble has been flipped. It’s your nan’s specialty, taken to a new level by Pancakes on the Rocks. Imagine buttermilk pancakes so fluffy they could make clouds jealous, crowned with marinated apples and a dollop of cream and ice cream. As if that wasn’t enough, a homemade crumble adds a crunchy, sweet finish. If you don’t feel like betraying sweet granny on this occasion or feel something a bit more savoury, their crepes are equally delicious!
Where: 4 The Esplanade, Shop T1.31, Surfers Paradise
No Name Lane
It’s a classic: the mixed-berry pancake stack. What a crowd-pleaser! While perfect as is, No Name Lane has made a good thing great, adding some seriously mouth-watering editions. Keeping a classic base, they top the perfect pancake rounds with mixed berry compote, mascarpone, vanilla anglaise, cinnamon crumble, white wine glaze, and vanilla ice cream. They’re berry-nice. Te-he!
Where: 16 Charles Ave, Broadbeach
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
New cafes never cease to sizzle our bacon, especially those that are convenient, feel like home and above all, serve up incredible nosh. You know the kind – simple done right and whilst this sounds, well, simple enough to find, it can be like trying to locate your missing hoop earring on a packed Melba’s dance floor circa 2009 (in other words; bloody hard). Well we’ve discovered a place that delivers all of the above, with a super catchy name to boot. Chut & Co is bringing a fresh vibrant cafe to Mermaid Plaza, so you can pop in for a caffeine fix or feed before you drop your monthly salary on a week’s worth of groceries #2023Woes.
Chut & Co is the real deal. The brainchild of a humble carpenter passionate about coffee, Joey Vevjoda knows an opportunity when he sees it….and he saw it! One of this ex-Canberra local’s most brag-worthy moves was making Chut the champion of ONA coffee here on the GC. Also hailing from our country’s capital, ONA Coffee Roasters is one of the most recognised up and coming coffee carriers in Australia, and we have big love for his man for bringing it to our ‘hood.
In addition to cracking coffee, he’s enlisted Head Chef Fernando Giorgi to whip up some srsly mouth-watering café fare. Creating a masterfully curated breakfast and lunch menu, his 16 years’ experience and love for Mediterranean food is obvs when you peruse the meals on offer.
Speaking of, do yourself a favour and order the Pesto Joe with chicken, pesto, avo, tomato, cheese, spinach toasted on sourdough. We’re also partial to a Burrito with all.the.things, including bacon, a scrambled egg patty, avo, beans and corn salsa, crunchy slaw and cheese, served with hash sticks and spicy dipping sauce. Or for something sweet, the Choc-Chip or Blueberry Pancakes are guaranteed to please even the most discerning sweet tooth, both served with vanilla ice cream.
Pair your meal with your choice of coffee or other hot drink, smoothie (can’t beat the Classic Banana!), cold drink, milkshake, thickshake (swing us the Crème Brule any or every day of the week), and cold pressed juice. Our pick is the Lemon Glow with lemon, ginger, apple and spinach and we can confirm a swig of this will result in an all-round inner and outer glow-up #YouAreWhatYouDrink.
Another unique aspect of Chut is that the fit out was done entirely by Joey himself, who put his carpentry skills and other trade related prowess to darn good use! Picture a cool grey colour palette with pops of charcoal, white, and plenty of on-trend drapey greenery goodness #PlantsAreLyf. There are arches (yay!), polished concrete floors, funky brown leather chairs, rustic wood tables, and moody white pendant lights highlighting the textured render on the walls. It feels modern yet like you’re right at home and we’d be happy to move in here, mostly coz we’ve always fancied the idea of having a private chef #goals.
So if service with a smile, great tasting coffee and top-notch quality food, all conveniently located in Mermaid Plaza, check out Chut & Co. And PS if you’re wondering (we were) what Chut actually means, it’s Czech (Joey’s heritage) for taste….which is precisely what it delivers.
Where: Mermaid Plaza, 2400 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
When: 5.30am – 2pm Monday to Friday & 6am – 1pm Saturday & Sunday.
Words by Bianca Trathen.
Images by Brittany Kreskas.
Ah, pancakes. The penultimate brunch food is never far from our minds, and judging by the proliferation of all-day eateries these days – clearly we’re not alone in thinking that a big ole’ syrup-drenched stack of pancakes is the perennial ‘anytime’ dish. If you’re with us, you’ll want to pay extra attention – because the Pancake Diner Burleigh is here – ready or not.
The newcomer specialises in sweet stacks of the skillet-based variety – as you might have gleaned from the name, Pancake Diner Burleigh is bringing a taste of authentic – and food-coma inducing – American diner style eats to Burleigh’s beach-studded suburb. The theme is retro-cool, and they’ve fully committed. Old-school tunes delivered via drive-in movie speakers, alongside the classics – Burgers, Southern fried wings, Canadian-style buttermilk pancakes and enough Old-fashioned shake flavours to make a milk bar blush.
Brace the blood sugar levels, guys.
If you’re thinking, relax, it’s only pancakes (you monster… only pancakes?! … but with a full page of question marks) – we have good reason to be excited. The new venue is the latest venture from local veterans of family-friendly eats, Glen and Michelle Day – and if the names don’t immediately ring a bell, a little place known as Pancakes in Paradise sure will.
Under the Aruba Group umbrella, their family-run outfit has amassed some local institutions in its time. Among them, well-known names like The Aztec, Montezumas Surfers Paradise, Pancake Diner Coolangatta, along with the aforementioned Surfer’s icon, Pancakes in Paradise. Its 30 year reign is as synonymous with the glitter strip as its surf kissed beaches and rosy, sun-crisped tourists.
For born and bred Burleigh local Glen, driving past the perfect site daily was the final nudge to set the wheels in motion for his vision of a modern Midwestern American Diner. The fit-out for the themed space was predominately designed by Glen and fam, with a helping hand from Mike Hayes from Tweed Coast on the exterior, and Pieper Holdings completing the interior fit-out.
They’ve gone the whole hog with the venue’s Fonzie-vibing theme – complete red authentic style diner booths, as well a ‘1957 Chevy booth’ that rev-heads will no doubt be fond of.
As for the food, don’t let the name fool you. Pancake Diner Burleigh is an all-rounder – doling out all-day eats, breakfast through dinner, with an all-American menu. And phew, that’s a lot of ‘alls’. Oh wait, we’re not done – the ever-popular $11.99 ‘All you can eat’ pancakes with whipped butter and maple syrup, also makes an appearance.
Not in the mood for a standoff with a pile of pancakes? Perhaps waffles, USA style pork ribs or fillet steak and fries will be more your speed.
You can also take your pick soft between and hard beverages starting with nostalgia-loaded Cherry cola spiders and a 20-strong menu of loaded, Old fashioned shake flavours like Bubblegum, Popcorn and Nougat. All of which, you are allowed to spike with your choice of spirit, might we add.
At which point, we might as well make it an Espresso Martini.
Hey, it’s still technically pancakes and coffee, right? The brunch of champions!
Where: 16/221 Christine Avenue, Burleigh Heads
When: From 7am, 7 days a week
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Mathilde Bouby.
Oh, bagels, aren’t you just the best thing since sliced bread. You’ve got to admit, schmearing cream cheese on a crisp, toasted bagel for breakfast makes you feel a cut above the rest, especially when chosen over sliced white. In the spirit of feeling superior, we decided to do some community service to find you the finest bagels the Gold Coast has to offer.
A tiresome task? Never. A tasty one? You bet! Here’s our list of 6 of the best.
UE Bagels
The UE Bagels Reuben is elite. Winning gold at the Olympics level elite. Think hot silverside, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and pickles, all blanketed with melted cheese on a house-made bagel. If that doesn’t make you drool, you are clearly dehydrated and need to drink some water. Where can they go from there, you ask? And to that, we say heaven. Donut French Toast Bagel heaven! It’s a French toasted bagel tossed in cinnamon sugar with a cream cheese honey spread topped with a dollop of jam. It’s safe to say UE Bagels is our new guilty pleasure.
Where: 6/482 Scottsdale Drive, Varsity Lakes and 5/10 Palm Beach Ave, Palm Beach
Tarte Bakery
Oh Tarte, how we love thee. Tarte does everything well, and bagels are no exception. Whether you’re a seasoned bagel lover or a newbie, Tarte’s offerings will have you coming back for a hole lot of deliciousness! Let’s start with the classic salmon bagel. Tarte’s version of this OG is artistically topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, pickled qukes, salted onion, crispy capers, and house-made ‘Everything Bagel’ seasoning.
It’s also worth noting (and ordering) that their tomato soup is served with a toasted triple cheese bagel! It’s a mind, body, and soul experience, and we recommend you dive right in.
Where: 1748 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
O Bagel
Producing potentially the best bagels this side of Manhattan, oh boy, we’re onto a winner here! Is it the way they make their house-made fluffy rounds of carb-deliciousness? Or is it their superior selection of classic to innovative sandwiches? It’s got to be both! From their unadulterated cream cheese bagel to their ‘chicken run’ stuffed with deep smoked parmesan chicken, herbal truffle ranch and cos lettuce — their menu is a hole-in-one. Let us leave you with some parting words of wisdom — mocha cream cheese bagel.
Where: Shop 2/2791 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach and Shop C9 2A Nexus Way, Southport
Hole Bagel Co
Traditionally hand rolled, then boiled and baked. Hole Bagel Co is here to keep things classic with authentic bagel baking techniques and crowd-pleaser toppings, all served at farmers’ markets around the Gold Coast. You’ve got to love that! Their turkey, brie, cucumber and cranberry sandwich is extraordinary. Or choose from their easy ‘bagel and schmear‘ option to savour their delicious homemade bagels with a simple, yummy spread.
Where: Palm Beach Currumbin Farmers Markets on Saturdays and HOTA Markets on Sundays.
Paddock Bakery
Calling all egg benny devotees! Your Sunday morning go-to has officially been elevated. Introducing the Benny Bagel. As the name suggests, it’s your classic eggs benedict, but now on a wood-fired bagel. Choose from the crispy eye bacon and rocket, salmon and spinach or halloumi and rocket. Not a benny fan? Paddock says no problem! Classic lovers can enjoy their signature toasted cream cheese or smoked salmon bagel.
Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh
Scout Coffee & Bagels
We have a little treat for our vegan friends! A vegan bagel complete with homemade plant-based meatloaf, avo, vegan mayonnaise, beetroot hummus, tomato and spinach served on a sesame bagel. Now that’s guilt-free! And for those forever weak at the dairy knees, they have something for you, too! Their blueberry burst is just as magical as you imagine, with a toasted blueberry bagel topped with blackberry-infused cream cheese and blueberries and gorgeously garnished with flowers! Say less!
Where: 1/233 Turpin Road, Labrador
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
