OK so normally I don't like these trendy super-schmick kinds of places (of which Broadbeach has many) but the food here was REALLY REALLY good.
And this is a burger place. And I'm a vegan.
I was vacationing on the Gold Coast with my parents, and we went in here for dinner on a whim because we were dressed pretty casually and they looked a little more forgiving of boardshorts and flip-flops than the other trendy dinner spots nearby.
At first I had my reservations about whether or not I could eat anything here, but when I told the manager I was vegan, he didn't even bat an eye. He said they have two veggie burgers on the menu, neither of which uses egg in the binder. He volunteered this information on his own -- I didn't even have to ask, which definitely shows he's knowledgeable about veganism, because most restaurant proprietors have no clue that a lot of veggie burgers use egg.
There are two veggie burgers -- the Eats Roots and Leaves ($14.50, red lentil and chickpea patty with coleslaw and tomato relish) and the Magic Mushroom ($12, mushroom patty with lettuce, red peppers, feta, and garlic ailoi). He told me the Magic Mushroom could be made vegan without the feta and aioli, but I'm not a mushroom fanatic so I opted with the Eats Roots and Leaves, which was DELICIOUS. All the flavours just melded together perfectly, and the patty stayed together perfectly, no crumbling. The bun wasn't too scratchy or hard (like some burger buns in Oz are) and it was a very filling dinner with a side of fries for under $20. My parents also enjoyed their (meaty) burgers and fries.
Make no mistake, this place is a drinking establishment too -- as evidenced by their splashy cocktail and wine list, and the raucous (possible hen's party) group of women enjoying their bevvies next to us. So you don't have to have a meal here to enjoy this place (although the food really is great.)
The atmosphere is...well, Broadbeach. Trendy, shiny, and all those other adjectives. A splashy mural was painted on one wall, depicting a typical Gold Coast beach scene (including bikini-clad maidens and ibis stealing food), and some of the seating areas had swings suspended from the ceiling as chairs! I wanted to sit at a table with swings, but my parents weren't keen and the hen's party swooped in and seized them anyway.
The place is buzzing, it's trendy, it's very Broadbeach-y -- but the food is delicious and it's a fun place, and I love that they are so accommodating for vegans. read more