Northern nosh – Substance Espresso leaves a tasty footprint in Runaway Bay
When Siguenos food truck ceased its weekly street service, we all shed a few taco-flavoured tears. Luckily, there was a silver lining to the sadness, with the owners of the popular Mexican-on-wheels operation, Rodney and Reanna Anlezark, announcing they were joining forces with local coffee gurus and founders of Chirn Park’s Daark Espresso, Jareth and Leah Smith, to embark on a new venture. Last week the foursome quietly lifted the lid on their hotly anticipated collaboration, revealing the northern end’s newest daytime hang – Substance Espresso.
The veteran foodie dream team set their sights on Runaway Bay in a bid to bring a taste of specialty coffee and refined cafe fare to the northern end. Substance occupies the former Crust Pizza premises on the outskirts of Runaway Bay Shopping Centre, which was completely gutted and rebuilt to create a bright and contemporary eating space with indoor and outdoor seating for around 40. Step inside and you’ll see Rodney in his element in the kitchen carefully crafting goodness from the all-day menu (and happy to be plating up on porcelain instead of food-truck cardboard), as Jareth passionately pumps out Open House coffees, including cold brews and specialty filter varieties, from behind the counter.
When it comes to edibles, you’re in for a treat here no matter what time of day. Alongside the cabinet of housemade sweets, cold-pressed juices and flaky house-baked pastries, you’ll find simple delights like granola with poached peaches and bacon-and-egg milk buns, right through to a brisket hash with poached eggs, and house crumpets with coconut yoghurt, cacao nibs and lemon curd. The lunch crowd will find everything from an achiote chicken, sopressa and cheddar melt, to a pork-belly baguette with apple slaw and salsa verde, a grass-fed beef burger with shoestring fries and a slow-cooked chicken salad with sweet potato, grilled corn and lime-cured onions. If you like to get a little saucy (we do) then you won’t make it past the French dip – thinly sliced roast beef on a fresh baguette with Swish cheese, horseradish cream, caramelised onion, a side of jus to dip, plus a handful of waffle-shaped fries. Phwoar.
Okay, it’s time to venture north and check out Substance Espresso. Take yourself over to our Stumble Guide first to suss out opening hours and location.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.