Gotham Grill and Rooftop Bar heralds a new era for the northern Gold Coast dining scene
It’s been touted as one of the most significant new additions to the northern Gold Coast dining scene and now, the doors to Gotham Grill and Rooftop Bar are finally open. The three-storey spectacle, which cuts a striking figure along Bayview Street in Runaway Bay, marks the seventh venue for prominent restaurateur Daniel Ridgeway. Despite the name (and in case you were wondering), Daniel is not Batman – but just so you know, we’ve never actually seen them in the same room together …
The details
It’s no secret that the southern end of the Gold Coast has garnered most of the foodie attention of late – there’s been a heck of a lot of action down there. Though, while that was all happening, Daniel was quietly working on something (very) big that was far away from the hive. Gotham Grill and Rooftop Bar, which has been four years in the making, is Daniel and The Ridgeway Group’s most ambitious project yet, following on from Little Truffle, BiN72, BiN232, Bin 12, Rivea Italian and more recently Chermside’s BiN931. There are two offerings within the Runaway Bay venue – an intimate 60-seat dining space known as Gotham Grill, and the separate Gotham Rooftop Bar. Chef Alex Kavanaugh (also not Batman) is heading the kitchen alongside Daniel, delivering a menu reminiscent of a classic high-end New York steakhouse at Gotham Grill, as well as a more casual bar-food menu on the rooftop. The entire venue will open for dinner Monday to Thursday, and lunch and dinner from Friday to Sunday.
The space
The venue takes inspiration from 1920s New York City, exuding a touch of art-deco styling that catches your eye when you first set foot in the elaborate lobby floor. The grand staircase winds up to the first level, the Gotham Grill, which is a dimly lit intimate space boasting rich wood panelling, chandeliers, geometric artwork and vibrant red-velvet booths. The staircase continues up to the Gotham Rooftop Bar – here you’ll find a more relaxed setting with high tables, an outdoor bar, and views to the pristine broadwater.
The food
The Gotham Grill features a refined steakhouse-style menu, driven by succulent cuts that are served with sides like baked potato gratin, sauteed wild mushrooms, and broccolini with roasted garlic and a lemon dressing. There’s everything from an affordable grass-fed rump through to a premium full-blood wagyu strip – this bad boy will set you back around $110. Seafood is also a big player on the grill’s menu – you can order bites like scallop ceviche and freshly shucked oysters from the cold bar, before upping the ante with the likes of the miso-marinated black cod with a watermelon and radish salad. No fine steak or high-end seafood dish is complete without a well-balanced cellar list – take some time to study Gotham’s wine offering, with plenty of notable drops and rare Barossa Valley bottles making an appearance. If it’s bar snacks, cocktails and fresh air you’re after, then the Gotham Rooftop offers a casual experience with a more indulgent bar-food offering. This is where you’ll find thick-base American-style deep-dish pizzas, handmade pastas, charcuterie boards, buckets of fresh prawns, barbecue pork ribs and a delicious lobster roll with fresh iceberg lettuce, mayonnaise, chives and lemon. Yes, northern Gold Coasters, we saw that fist pump.
Keen to check out Gotham? Jump over to our Stumble Guide – that’s where you’ll find location, contact information and opening times.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.
