Located on the first floor of Ocean by Meriton, COAST Beach Bar & Kitchen is set to add a sophisticated new dining experience to the city’s culinary landscape. The superlative $2.5-million venue is the latest from husband-and-wife hospitality duo Justin and Elizabeth Allie – proprietors of Longboards Laidback Eatery and Bar in Surfers, The Fish Shak in Southport and catering company Gourmet en Counter. Assuming the coveted role of head chef is Rhett Willis, who eagle-eyed readers might recognise from the MasterChef: The Professionals television series. Backed by more than two decades of culinary experience in some of the country’s best venues, including Jellyfish and Cha Cha Char in Brisbane, Rhett has curated a menu that showcases locally sourced modern Australian cuisine with flare. A hallmark of the kitchen will undoubtedly be the traditional Spanish Josper wood and charcoal oven that infuses food with a signature smoky, charcoal flavour. Among the venue’s stand-out starters you’ll find wasabi leaves topped with sand crab, chilli, lime and caviars, chicken liver parfait and beef fillet tartar with shoyu, avocado and miso-cured yolk. For the mains, the Josper takes centre stage with dishes such as lamb shoulder, free-range chicken with lemongrass and black pepper and COAST’S signature dish, the tomahawk by John Dee Optimal – 120-day grain-fed, dry-aged for 30 days in-house and served with chefs sides and condiments.

Accompanying the fare is a 2000-bottle-strong wine cellar that takes centre stage in the restaurant, housing up to 120 predominantly Australian drops. Cocktail lovers are spoilt for choice with a tantalising selection of tipples, including Doctors Orders (Reposado tequila, orange liqueur, coconut, lime, agave nectar, coconut ash salt) and Between The Flags (rum three ways, passionfruit, pineapple, bitters, lime, demerara). COAST will also serve an extensive selection of beers on tap as well as bottled varieties.

In terms of its overall aesthetic, COAST is seriously impressive with its sophisticated design and attention-grabbing dining space. The floor footage is spilt into a 110-seat restaurant and 160-seat bar, which is dotted with tables of varying sizes including private booths and bar-style seating outside. Designed by boutique Gold Coast architect firm Space Cubed Studio, with builders Open Projects Group on the tools, the stunning fit-out echos the restaurant’s land and sea focus, with colour themes of muted blue and green, contrasting brass, leather, and marble fixtures. We’re calling it now, the balcony will be the sip spot come summer.

COAST Beach Bar & Kitchen officially opens its doors on Friday August 5.