Naughty but nice – Lovechild Kitchen + Bar brings plant-based burgers and faux fried chicken to Mermaid Beach
Let’s be honest, the term ‘plant based’ probably conjures up images of healthy salads featuring various shades of green rather than burgers, loaded fries, tenders and crispy-fried wings. If the latter has your mouth watering, Lovechild Kitchen + Bar is here to satisfy your craving with plant-based eats that are a little bit naughty but oh-so-good. The new eatery is nestled in the same Gold Coast Highway-fronting complex as Poké Poké, Goccia Italian and Background (Barista), so it’s in good company.
When Do Dream Chicken closed its doors, many of us were left with a fried-chicken shaped hole in our hearts (or probably more accurately, arteries) but as the old adage goes, when one door closes another one opens and Lovechild Kitchen + Bar is that new door. Owned and operated by Abbey Jones (who meat-free mates may recognise as a familiar face having previously opened The Lovechild boutique in Mermaid Beach before it went web-based) has taken over the former chook nook to create what is believed to be Australia’s first licensed, vegan fried-chicken shop with crafted cocktails. Before you go thinking this is some kind of salad slinger, it’s not. Lovechild Kitchen + Bar is all about those ‘sometimes’ foods – specifically fried ‘chicken’ tenders, burgers, fries and wings (these are a few of our favourite things). There are five towering burgers to tempt your tastebuds including the Chicki Chiki Slaw, which is loaded with ridiculously crispy fried tenders, creamy house slaw and pickles on a toasted brioche bun. The southern-fried ‘chicken’ is made using Abbey’s top secret recipe and is designed to look just like the real deal but rest assured, no animals were harmed in the making of these burgs. Even the slaw, which is slathered on thick is so creamy, you’d be forgiven for wondering if they had snuck some eggs in (they haven’t, just to confirm). Lovechild Kitchen + Bar is here to categorically dispel the myth that vegan somehow means boring and without flavour. Even staunch carnivores have been pleasantly surprised by Abbey’s meat-free feasts.
As for the drinkables, there’s a well-rounded selection of sips including the Jalapeno Bidness (a spicy margarita), Cherry Bomb (Tanqueray gin, Vickers gin, cherry pomegranate, lemon and pineapple) and Fools Gold (Sailor Jerry, Malibu, lime and pineapple), to name a few. The quaint hole-in-the-wall bar has seating for around 20 to 30 people with a couple of stools nestled on the footpath outside – sips in the sunshine, anyone? Lovechild Kitchen + Bar also showcases a selection of wares from the brand’s popular online boutique that is dedicated to sourcing vegan-leather goods and cruelty-free apparel from local label Annette Daley alongside Dr. Martens and Dr Denim.
Whether you’re 100 percent plant-based, actively trying to reduce your meat consumption or you’re vegan curious, pop over to our Stumble Guide for opening times.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.