The round-up: the Gold Coast’s ten best lunch spots, as voted by you!
How many times has this sentence come out of your mouth – “where should we go for lunch?”. More than you can count? Well, you’re not alone – but we do have a solution. Earlier this year, we put out the call to you guys, as part of the 2017 Gold Coast EAT/drink Awards, to find the best places for lunch on the Gold Coast. You, our dear readers, ate, drank and voted. We’ve already announced the top three, but we thought we’d be nice and open the curtains to reveal which places where voted as the top ten lunch spots in this fine city. Don’t question where to go for lunch – just hit this list.
The Winner: Rick Shores
It seems you lot are (like us) rather fond of bug rolls, vibrant cocktails and million-dollar views. A virtual high five to you guys for voting Rick Shores into the top spot because, well, lunch on the Gold Coast really does not get much better than this. Located at Burleigh headland, Rick Shores sits uniquely in between fine dining and ‘Gold Coast casual’, with next-level Asian-inspired food offerings, a killer compilation of cocktails, and hands down one of the best beach views in town. Haven’t been yet? You need to address this situation immediately.
The Runner-Up: Cafe D’bar
Set atop Point Danger with panoramic views over Duranbah Beach and Snapper Rocks, Cafe D’Bar is another perfectly positioned daytime hub. If you’re there in winter, it’s probably the coast’s best vantage point to spot the passing whales too! There’s a fabulous spread of fresh lunch options, plus you can wash it all down and enjoy the view with a frothie or cocktail in hand.
The Runner-Up: Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co.
As expected, you guys totally voted with your stomachs. Good work. You really can’t beat one of Betty’s juicy burgers for a daytime feed – the pure and simple combination of a grilled hand-rolled Angus beef patty, lettuce, tomato, onion and special sauce is flat-out addictive. We heart Betty.
Brooklyn Depot: If you’re a firm believer that you don’t make friends with salad, then Brooklyn Depot is where you’d want to position yourself when the midday munchies hit you. Brooklyn Depot has also just launched a pretty rad new menu, with everything from red-velvet waffles with fried chicken, a creamy lobster mac ‘n cheese, cheeseburger empanadas and Brussels sprouts with pumpkin puree. Who’s up for a lunch-time pig out?
Bam Bam Bakehouse: You guys just can’t get enough of Bam Bam, can you? It was also voted into the top ten for the Best Cafe category and was voted Runner-Up for Best Breakfast. We’re delighted to see that enough nods were given for its lunch game too! The green tea noodle salad with a side of karaage is a great vibe – you can polish it off with a glass of vino (or a VB throwdown), and finish on a sweet note with a flaky pasty from the cabinet.
California Tacos: Tacos are life. Owned and operated by Californians, this popular Burleigh hang is the ultimate when it comes to traditional Mexican fare. Whilst the mouth-watering menu is deliciously prepared for Australian tastes, it remains completely authentic to its origins – so you won’t find lettuce filling the tacos here. Tacos by the beach? We’re in.
Counter Cafe Eatery: The fact that Counter was voted into the top ten means that a bunch of you have been, eaten, and loved it. If you haven’t, then consider yourself lucky that this top-ten list has flushed out this little gem. If you haven’t been yet, go there, now … and order the slow-cooked pork cheek salad.
Avvia Cafe & Restaurant: This is the older sibling of Balboa Italian, also in Palm Beach. It’s stylish, but super relaxed, and pulls a solid lunch crowd. There’s a really impressive menu here, it’s licensed, and you can hear the crashing of the waves from the beach as you eat. It’s a Palmy original.
Barefoot Barista: Known as a specialty coffee hub, this long-standing Palm Beach establishment steps it up with a wholesome, creative and humble daytime menu. Pair your killer coffee with a slow-roasted lamb shoulder salad. There’s always a vibrant spread on offer here – and judging by the usual weekend line up and the amount of votes, you guys agree.
Comuna Cantina: The combination of healthy tacos, colourful cocktails and good vibes seems to have caught your attention – this South American hang at Pacific Fair opened its doors in spectacular fashion in October last year, and has already captured the hearts of stomachs of locals with its super-tasty feel-good fare.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.