Backbone Bar Gold Coast

Top specialities of Gold Coast Restaurants

Gold Coast restaurants have come a long way over the last decade, what used to be acceptable is no longer tolerated by many people who expect a much higher standard of food quality and presentation than previously. When you’re looking for something special in a Gold Coast restaurant, one of the best ways is to take a food tour organised by the local tourist industry.

These tours take you to restaurants that are just off the normal tourist route and specialise in high quality local, seasonal foods that you will not find in the normal run of the mill tourist type restaurants that like to offer a standard fare.

If you’re adventurous “Foodie” type person who loves to find specialty items and exotic dishes prepared freshly by internationally renowned world class chefs, then you will certainly be able to find them in some of the Gold Coast restaurants.

This March, foodies will be treated to an authentic Mexican Fiesta at Surfers care of the Citrique restaurant where their award winning Seafood Buffet is complimented with a selection of Mexican delicacies and dishes.

Finding your way around

If you’re new to town one of the best ways to find the top specialties of the Gold Coast is to make friends with a taxi driver. They might not eat out a lot, but you can be sure they have picked up people who tell them about the very best and worst establishments around. Tell them what you are looking for and they will drop you at the door of the pick of the right specialty restaurants around the Coast.

Once you have found a great place the next step is to get a table, but many places, especially the best ones are booked out far in advance so you need to be prepared to wait.

A real good way, if the place you want to eat at is booked out is to ask the staff there to recommend somewhere they like to eat, chances are the place they suggest will be fairly new so will not have become so well-known and you may have a chance there.

Walking the streets and finding delights

Street food on the Gold Coast is mostly a fantastic and inexpensive experience, while roaming around on foot you can take advantage of some of the great night markets and food courts that are sprinkled around the Gold Coast.

You can find almost every type of cuisine imaginable, including some unusual local specialties’ unique to the Gold Coast and Queensland. While out there and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, local scene and mixing it with the wide variety of street performers, musicians and artists that all come together to create a warm and inviting environment.

It’s safe and family friendly, so all can enjoy the lovely Gold Coast night and if you feel inclined for a pleasant romantic stroll with someone special, you’ll find the people there more than accommodating.

The top specialties of the best Gold Coast restaurant are easy to find by following the local crowds and business owners or talking with the taxi drivers who take people to and from some of the best world renowned restaurants that can be found for the discerning dinner all over the Gold Coast.

Do’s and Don’ts Fine Dining Etiquette

When dining in a Gold Coast restaurant, there’s a few things that are expected of you, but dining etiquette is relaxed in most places, so join with the theme of the establishment you’re in. Some basic etiquette rules apply universally, so you will be able to feel comfortable in any setting:

The things you should and shouldn’t do

Be the Host

Politely make it clear you’re the host by suggesting to the maitre d or waiting staff that “your guests” will order first or by offering your credit card

Dress Accordingly

You’re expected to dress for the occasion, if you’re not sure, simply Google the establishment to find norm, but always dress so you feel relaxed, smart casual is normally acceptable

Liquor

Unless the establishment has their own boutique beer as many restaurants on the Gold Coast now do, stick to wines, cocktails or sprits. Unless you really know your stuff and are paying the whole tab allow others to order the wine and hope they know what they are ordering

Ordering

Allow your guests to order first and order the same number of courses or with their permission order for them

Eating

Take small mouthfuls and pause, so your guests set the pace and do not feel hurried.

With fine dining, there’s usually multiple courses coming so don’t fill yourself with bread at the start.

Each course is small and the idea is to enjoy tastes and company not to pig out.

The wine waiter is not short changing you by not filling your glass to the top, they know the correct height for maximum taste and aroma enjoyment of each type of wine

Napkins

Don’t be surprised if your waiter, places your folded napkin in your lap for you as you sit down.

Use the center of your napkin to wipe your hands or dab your lips, not the edge so the marks do not show and never wipe your brow with it.

If you leave the table, place your napkin on your seat to show you wish to continue when you return, leaving it on the table is a sign you have finished

Cutlery

Start by using the cutlery on the outside first and work inwards towards the plate with successive courses.

Always leave your cutlery on the plate not on the table. If you’re not finished, keep them separated, if finished, set them together. If you require some new cutlery, the waiter will provide them as needed.

Keep the Table clear

Don’t place bags, wallets, cell phones or elbows on the table. You should turn off your cell phone and give your attention to your companions and the food not “facebook”. If you feel the need to take a photo do so unobtrusively

Unknown Words or Expressions

Your waiting staff are professionals and know their stuff, they are only too pleased to explain anything you are unsure of, especially new names, things about the food or wine or their recommendations on dishes and matching drinks.

The idea is to enjoy yourself, so your wait staff will try and answer all your questions and queries.

Tipping

Your wait staff have made your whole dining experience enjoyable, so show your appreciation without being stingy, if you can’t afford to tip, go takeout

How You Can Get The Best Experience In A Gold Coast Restaurant?

When going to a Gold Coast Restaurant, the best way to ensure you will have the best experience while there is to avoid the peak hour rush between 6 to 8 pm. If you’re in a good restaurant, a place that prepares all its food as freshly as possible, then you must expect a little waiting. Some of the ways you can check to see if you’re in a good, quality restaurant:

The Bread

A very good indicator of the quality of a restaurant is the bread they serve when you first arrive. If the bread is in house, warm and fresh and the butter is soft and spreadable and possibly blended with other interesting ingredients such as herbs or Dijon then you can expect they take pride in their food and the rest of the meal. If the bread is disappointing you can expect the rest of the meal to be similar.

Check the Bathrooms before ordering

The way a restaurant maintains its bathrooms are a good indicator of their overall cleanliness. If they take pride in their bathrooms chances are they are equally concerned with the kitchen. But if they don’t bother, well a dirty kitchen can mean dirty food in a Gold Coast Restaurant

Avoid the Decoy Effect

The defect effect is about how they price their wine. They will have some at the right price some with about a 30 percent inflated price then some very expensive wines. The idea is that when you see the very high prices the medium priced wines don’t seem so expensive. The best way is to look for wines you like not their prices and buy accordingly

Beware of the second cheapest wine

This is another decoy thing: Most people don’t like to look like a cheapskate and this trick catches many. A wine list will have a house wine by the glass and a reasonable price then a second at a higher price followed by a more expensive one. The basic house wine will be quite drinkable, but the second very similar quality will be over priced and here they make a big profit. The 1st and 3^rd are likely to provide the best value for dollar spent

Don’t go to a Busy Restaurant at Prime Time Hungry

Sounds strange, you go to a restaurant because you’re hungry right and people like to “save their appetite” for their dining pleasure, but if you last ate at midday then you may be waiting for 7 plus hours before eating so a drop in your blood sugar is likely which often increases a person’s irritability. To avoid this have a protein snack about an hour before you go

If You Want a Quiet, Intimate Meal for Two Book for Three People

Bookings are allocated table space based on a seating plan and the numbers of diners. Having a table for three avoids you being stuck in a corner. You can just tell them when you’re seated he the third member of your party could not come at the last minute.

You can get the best experience in a Gold Coast restaurant if you go there outside rush hour and don’t fall for the decoys like cheap and expensive wine

How to Choose the Best Restaurant in Gold Coast

If you’re searching for the best restaurant on the Gold Coast you are going to have a great time, but it will be hard to decide which of the many hundreds of truly great eating houses are really the best. Some of these suggestions may help you find the best Gold Coast Restaurant for you:

Decide on your Budget

Before you start looking decide on how much you want to spend as there are good quality restaurants to suit most budgets. There is little point in going to a five star restaurant if you want to pay 1 star prices. You would be better waiting a while and saving up a bit more and really treating yourself than trying to get a bargain meal in a gourmet restaurant

The Gold Coast is still one of the greatest places in Australia to just hangout at the beach, but with an influx of new and exciting food venues as well as some internationally celebrated chefs, the Gold Coast has a wide range of sophisticated dining options.

You can get a great taste sensation from one of the fabulous food trucks or a myriad of first class establishments up to the top of the line award winning 5 star restaurants that have placed the Gold Coast firmly on the world food map

Ways to find the best Gold Coast Restaurant

Ask a local, people on the Coast love eating out and the locals always know the best spots
Talk to the staff where you’re staying, they often hear about the latest and best new spots through the grapevine
Google it, you’ll get hundreds of hits so it’s a matter of reading the latest reviews and comments
Look for food blogs. The local foodies love to talk about their latest discoveries and they will also tell you about places to avoid
If you still can’t find a great place to eat, talk with a taxi driver. Tell them the type of food you’re interested in and the price range you expect to pay. They may not have eaten in the best spots, but you can be sure they have collected many people from them after they have eaten, so have a pretty good idea of what they are like
Don’t bother with places on the main road or in busy areas, they tend to be food factories and are at best so, so and cater for package tourist classes
Look at the menu, is it hand written, if so, it’s likely to be created for the fresh in season food available now, so is likely to be great.

Go in and talk to the waiting staff, they are sure to welcome you and advise you of the chef’s greatest creations

Avoid places with photos of the food outside they are food factories, not quality restaurants
Usually the better restaurants are always busy, if there are no customers there is often a good reason why, so give them a miss

Finding the best Gold Coast restaurant is a quest many people have tried and the truth is that with the amount of high quality dining places there now, it’s a task that could take a lifetime of wonderful dining experiences to achieve.

Top Tips for going to a High Class Restaurant

When going out for a special occasion or just giving yourselves a treat, you can’t beat a Tugun restaurant to give you complete satisfaction. Some helpful tips when going to a high class restaurant are:

Order, the House Specialty

Most high quality restaurants have specialty dishes that are unique to them and the reason they are considered great restaurants. They also have substitute meals to appeal to those who are not so adventurous or prefer a more standard cuisine. Although these are well done and presented you could really miss out on a taste adventure

Go For The Full Experience

If you want to save a few dollars, go to a cheaper establishment.

To really have a great eating experience you need to be prepared to spend the required amount of time and money in an establishment. Don’t skip the first courses or the right wines to save.

If you’re worried about affordability and it’s an issue, then maybe it’s better to save a bit more money and take your experience when you can truly afford it

The Decoy Effect

This is one trick most establishments employ to raise the prices of all the wines they stock.

By having several very expensive wines featured on the wine list it tends to shift their customer’s appreciation of the prices upwards so they see the prices as being more acceptable than if there was not a decoy wine

Ask Questions

The maître d and waiting staff are there to make your visit as pleasant and enjoyable as possible in your chosen Tugun restaurant.

Most menus are created by the chef and the staff in quality restaurants are often very familiar with the finer details of each dish and can usually answer any questions and queries; in fact they enjoy doing so

Dress Correctly

Being over or under dressed can often be uncomfortable for a lot of people, the best policy is to dress in the most comfortable way for you and try to go tidy casual, dress and act as you really are

Testing the Wine

Your waiter will offer you a taste of the wine, take a sniff and a sip to assure yourself and the waiter that the wine has not gone off and acknowledge the waiter so they can pour the wine for you. It could be embarrassing if you don’t because the waiter should not pour the wine until you have accepted it.

Hold a wine glass by the stem and a brandy balloon so your hand warms the brandy in the bowl

Be Polite

It’s really bad form to try and correct the staff, don’t be pretentious and a know all, food, wine, restaurants and atmospheres are all organic by nature and need to flow

Don’t Be Cheap

If you’re going to split the bill, do it evenly and always give a good tip of about 20%, the person serving you has made the difference between just a meal and giving you a memorable occasion

When you decide to enjoy a Tugun restaurant, make it a memorable occasion by saving up so you have enough to really take advantage of everything on offer. Ask your wait staff to help you decide and advise you and then tip them well.

Tips to find the best restaurant on the Gold Coast

When you want to find a great Gold Coast restaurant it can be a difficult choice, depending on the type of food you want and the level of service. The Gold Coast has it all and more, the biggest problem is finding the best restaurant for you.

If you Google the best restaurant on the Gold Coast, what you’re likely to get is stuff that the average tourist will go to. They tend to have very average food and high prices. The last thing you want is a meal that leaves you feeling dissatisfied and under impressed

So how to find to find the best restaurant on the Gold Coast:

Where the Locals Eat

The answer is to ask the locals, find the place the locals eat in, they will always find the best place with the best value. Places that will turn your evening into an experience to remember, places you won’t find in critic guides.

Ask people working in the hospitality industry, they are always helpful and they mostly have insider information and love to give recommendations. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find out. When you’re in a hotel, guest house or restaurant, ask the staff and especially the chef if you get the chance, where they eat, they are the taste-makers and will offer the best suggestions. Local taxi drivers always know where to and where not to eat if you ask them nicely.

Social Media

If you’re really stuck in finding a great place social media is always full of people expressing their view about their eating experiences. Ask on Facebook many people will give their views. Twitter also allows you to talk directly with people who are dining there right now or have eaten there recently.

Avoid Outside Photos

A good rule is to avoid any place with photos of their food outside or people trying to entice you inside, the best restaurants don’t need to advertise they are always busy and often you can see people waiting for a table. These places are worth making a later booking in, when they are not so busy. Of course, some tourist traps are also busy, but these are always in busy locations, but they are obvious.

Look for a Hand Written Blackboard Menu

A hand written menu or at least a sheet showing the days special dishes indicates that the food in the establishment is fresh and original from the markets and the chefs take pride in their creations, not just food for the masses made using dried or frozen produce.

Asking around the area, the locals will soon tell you how good the food and service is or recommend another great place nearby.

Look off the main street

A great restaurant will put more value into the food and atmosphere rather than an expensive location. See the type of people going in and even start a friendly conversation with anyone leaving to get first hand advice.

Finding the best Gold coast restaurant is a matter of opinion matched with talking to the locals and walking around to see just what’s happening. The foody guides are not so reliable although they do show some amazing places to eat for discerning diners.

Some important things to do before going to a bar in Gold Coast

Once you have decided to look for a good Gold Coast bar there are a few things you can do to ensure you have a great night and some awesome fun. What it really comes to is being properly prepared. Consider these things before going:

Ensure you’re looking your best and well groomed, nobody likes a bum or untidy person
Always look better than your friends, then you’ll get all the attention
Sort out your wallet; use a slim wallet with no extra junk, something that’s easy to keep. You need your ID with your address and phone number, a debit card and a little cash
Make sure your phone is fully charged and you have mobile apps for finding nightclubs and bars as well as uber drivers contacts
Have a substantial meal before you leave, one that will help absorb alcohol and reduce its intoxicating effects
Hydrate properly before you leave and when you return to avoid hangovers
Brush your teeth properly so your breath is good and use some gum or mints as you don’t need a killer breath, it’s a real turn off
Stash a key to your door outside somewhere you can easily find it, so you don’t have to carry them with you, your drinking so no driving and you don’t need to lose the key
Visit an ATM and get enough cash before you start drinking to last, never carry large amounts of cash, it invites trouble
Always drink responsibly, it’s bad form to be the guy hassling, fighting or passed out on the floor. Girls are not impressed with the macho bull anymore, being cool is much better, charm them with style instead

At the club or bar

Know what you want never ask to be surprised bartenders don’t have time for games. If you really can’t decide just ask for their best or favorite drink and be happy and appreciative with what you get
Bartenders are trying to please everyone so be friendly and offer to buy them a drink and understand that they will get to you in order

This is your happy space so chill out and enjoy. If you don’t like it or are needing a change just move to the next place there are literally thousands of great bars on the Gold Coast and it is a great place to explore. You can find anything you need or want, it’s all there.

The Gold Coast bars are the best and most varied in Australia, you can find really cheap at backpackers or world class clubs and bars that cater for all tastes. The rule is you get what you pay for and different establishments have different house rules and dress codes. These are designed to protect their customers and allow them to enjoy their required levels

Meals are provided in many establishments along with live music and entertainment for your pleasure

The main thing to consider before going to a Gold Coast bar is that there are thousands of them to choose from and they are all they so you can have a good time and enjoy good peoples company. No matter what you enjoy you’ll find it on the Gold Coast.

Tips to find the best Restaurant in Tugun

Tugun’s at the southernmost tip of the Gold Coast; with a wonderful village like atmosphere, it boasts of some truly fabulous beaches and incredible restaurants. But how to find the best Tugan restaurant? The following ideas may help you in your quest:

Firstly Avoid Tourist Trap Establishments

Some of these are beautifully furnished and the meals may be eatable, but generally they are just that edible and not much more. They’re often much more expensive and only offer a boring same, same, same type of cuisine. They survive because of their position and design as a tourist trap.

Look For Full House Signs

There is no doubt that when a restaurant has great, no exceptional food it’s always packed. People love good food and are prepared to wait for it. The best establishments make finding a spare table a real challenge, so you have to make an early booking.

Always Check the Menu before Taking a Table

All quality restaurants display their menu outside the door, so check it out. Restaurants that focus on their food will have a diverse and interesting menu. When you see a good range of vegetarian meals, then you can be pretty sure the food will be good as these take lots of time and ability to create. Places that sell mainly meat dished with heaps of sauce and veg on the side, tend to be of much lower quality and sure to disappoint.

Instagram’s a Great Source

Foodies love to tell everyone about the great place they have found, they love sniffing around and sharing their experiences, so check Instagram for the best dining experiences in Tugun. You’re sure to be overwhelmed with ideas and suggestions to start your search.

Once you have located a good selection of places, just click the bookmark and they are saved for you check out as you look around.

The Pinterest Scroll

The huge advantage of searching for the best Gold Coast restaurant on Pinterest, is you can see the décor of the different places. Just ask Pinterest what to eat in Tugun or for the Tugun food guide and wonderful food guides made by travelers, foodies and bloggers will pop up. The great thing about these guides is that they have already vetted the places and tried the food so you’re getting real first hand info on what’s best right now. All you have to do is try them and select the best.

Google Maps

Now you have a good selection of restaurant’s to check out, it’s time to locate them. The easiest way is to create a Google map with your selections marked. Then when traveling around, you’ll know just where they all are. You can easily break the selection into lists such as Italian, seafood, Authentic Aussie tucker etc.

With some of them you’ll like the breakfast or lunch menu, while others may be better suited for evening meals, but you’ll surly find the best Tugun restaurant.

Word of mouth is still the best way to find great restaurants; people love to tell you about their great dining experiences. If no one’s talking about, or going to a place, then it’s a sure sign that it’s not worth visiting. People always naturally flock to the best restaurants.