Friday 23 August 2013

Black Coffee Lyrics

Cuisine: Tapas 
3131 Surfers Paradise Blvd Shop 41 Centre Arcade 
Surfers Paradise,QLD 4217
www.blackcoffeelyrics.com.au 

Food: 6.5/10
Service: 5/10 
Cost: Reasonable
Overall dining experience: 5.5/10
Checkout from our apartment was at 10am, so we decided not to make breakfast for our last day and indulge in some brunch. We had long ago decided upon Black Coffee Lyrics as our brunch destination due to their impressive feat of placing #1 on Urbanspoon for Gold Coast Restaurants and conveniently this month started opening for lunch during the week.


Nestled upstairs in Centre Arcade, we arrived around 10:30 to realise they weren’t open until 12pm on the Friday. Slightly disappointed we went to kill time until opening hour.



At 12 we arrived and quickly got seated outside. We started off with our much needed coffees that the restaurant personally roasts. My cappucinno ($4) was oddly bitter as there was not a strong coffee taste. Michael’s latte ($4) again did not taste of coffee but very milky. The only thing we can commend about their coffee is the well done smooth froth and coffee art.
We ordered their lunch specials tapas board - 2 medium ($25) to get some variety and a single dish as we worried the portion would be big. We chose the yellowfin tuna and pork belly for the tapas board and the Hens egg separate. We should have realised that the place specialising in tapas, the quantity would not be substantial. 
Yellowfin tuna ($19) – Mooloolaba yellowfin tuna marinated in house –soy miran dressing with white miso eggplant puree, crab meat, daikon, shiso, spring onions and bonito flakes 
The tuna was very fresh with a sweet puree and texturised 'salad' mixture on the top adding a delicate touch. Although, I myself felt that the combination was to good proportion, Michael felt the puree sauce was too overpowering that it detracted from the fresh fish; to each their own. 
Pork belly ($16) – 5  hour slow cooked pork belly served with house made kimchi, seared scallop on a pear chutney and pear reduction
What tastes like glorified chinese pork belly, the skin was crisp and meat tender. Served on top of a bed of kimchi and broadbeans, the 'kimchi' was just pickled cabbage. It did not have the red punch of colour nor flavourful spices that usually associated with the term 'kimchi'.  The scallop on the side (apologies the scallop was not photographed at this angle) was nicely seared and sweet. The dash of sauce too salty and overpowering on its own but coupled with the pork belly it creates a harmonious touch.
Hens egg  ($15)– 1 hour slow cooked free range egg, on a wild rice cake, pickled bamboo, daikon and shitake mushrooms with miso glaze and sprinkled herbs (or with tempe) 
We decided to try this dish as we wondered how a '1 hour slow cooked' egg was different to the typical methods of cooking an egg. Much to our disappoint, the egg was just like a very runny poached egg. And as Michael and I both come from an Asian household, the ingredients in this dish did not impress. The bamboo shoots likely came from a can purchased from an Asian grocer, the shitake mushroom was very salty and rice ball had no flavour. When attempted in eating all the elements together the mixture of flavours was an improvement and the mint and parsley added a nice touch. 

Overall  
It is hard to tell if the place is a coffee shop, restaurant or bar. We were disappointed that their menu was not what we had expected (fault in our part due to lack of research) as we expected typical brunch plates such as eggs benedict and so forth. I believe the weekend would be different as they do have their own separate breakfast menu however I will not be ordering coffee there again. 

It seems this would be a better place for dinner or drinks rather than lunch as they have a large assortment of beer, wine and cocktails and the interior decoration makes you feel you have been whisked away to a Melbourne laneway; very chill and relaxed.

Black Coffee Lyrics on Urbanspoon

Sushi Ave

Cuisine: Japanese Sushi Train
G21/ 3113 Surfers Paradise Blv 
Surfers Paradise,QLD 4217 

Having eyed this place since day 1 of arriving at Gold Coast, we finally got a meal opportunity to try it for a late pre-flight lunch.

Throughout the trip we experienced many amazing Japanese places as well as a sushi train so we went in with relatively high expectations. The menu is extensive with the usual sushi, handrolls, makis and sashimi. What was different about Sushi Ave is the incorporation of a Western influence in many of their dishes with cheese, mozzarella and asparagus as well as choices of nontraditional combinations such as ebi tempura and avocado sushi or the egg salad ship. 

Their most expensive plate being $4.90, the price is definitely affordable especially so considering their sushi had a healthy proportion of fish to rice. 
Salmon and avocado roll ($3.90) - had relatively large amounts of salmon
Salmon sushi ($3.50) - Salmon was very fresh. Michael loves salmon so much he had 2 plates by himself.
Jellyfish salad ship ($3.90)
Seaweed salad ($3.50) - had a linger of citrus flavour which was appetising
Salmon and vegie rice paper roll ($3.90) - We tried this dish as it was a combination we had never seen before. It was unusual...the mixture of raw salmon with sweet chilli sauce did not match with the sauce overpowering the fish and the raw squishiness of the fish contrasting the crunchy salad was peculiar.
Hotate (scallop) sushi ($4.50) - Having tried many other places in the Gold Coast with fresher and sweeter scallops, this one in comparison was average. But for the price of it is definitely a wallet friendly plate.
Wagyu beef sushi ($4.50) - Beef was very tender with a fragrant smoky taste, topped with what appears to be BBQ sauce, it vaguely reminded me of Hungry Jacks burger patties.
Aburi salmon sushi ($4.50) - After ordering the aburi salmon, we saw the sushi chef displace a plate of salmon sushi off the train and smoked it before our eyes. He topped it off with the same sauce as the wagyu sushi. The sauce was overpowering and did not do the fresh piece of salmon justice. This version appears to accommodate to the western pallet more than for our craving for traditional Japanese.
Tuna sushi ($3.90) – Tuna is not my favourite fish, however when it is extremely fresh I love it. In this case the tuna was not the freshest I have had and gave me a lingering ‘fishy’ taste in my mouth. Michael thought it was not bad but agreed that we have had fresher tuna.
Agedashi tofu ($4.90) - The tofu had a slightly sour taste in my mouth while Milo could not pick up the same. The sauce was diluted with no taste. 
Ebi fry and avocado roll ($4.90) - With a small dollop of mayo on the side, the prawn was not crispy at all probably due to the fact that it probably made a few too many rounds on the sushi train.

Nontraditional Japanese desserts such as rocky road and jello made its way around as well as mochi, however we decided against dessert. 

Overall
This Westernised sushi train has a large variety on their menu at affordable prices. Their fishes are generally fresh. Would recommend this place for an affordable treat of sushi train that delivers fresh fish and interesting combinations. 

Food: 5/10
Service: 6.5/10 
Cost: Cheap Eat
Overall dining experience: 7/10

Sushi Ave on Urbanspoon

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Hazel's Tea Shop

Cuisine: Taiwanese/Bubble tea
Shop 8, Chevron Renaissance, 3240 Surfers Paradise Boulevard
Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217

I love my bubble tea and having been tempted 3 times walking past 3 different Hazel's Tea Shop during our stay in Gold Coast, I caved and decided to get one. 

That was the worst decision ever. I ordered a normal milk tea with pearl ($4.50) as that is what I usually get when I try a new tea place in order to gauge how good it is. The tea came in the usual plastic container sealed. The colour looked very white and it tasted like watered down milk lacking any tea flavour whatsoever. The cup did not contain much ice at all. My speculation is that either not much ice was placed in it or the ice melted extremely quickly (which would explain the watered down taste). 

The pearls were also overcooked and very much on the softer side, not chewy at all. Because of my huge disappointment, I did not feel the need to take a picture. 

Overall
I would never ever get milk tea from there again. The food on the other hand, I cannot comment on. I hope the food will be better than their tea. 


Food: 1/10
Service: 5/10 
Cost: Cheap Eat
Overall dining experience: 3/10

Hazel Tea Shop on Urbanspoon

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Itoshin

Cuisine: Japanese
2484 Gold Coast Highway 
Mermaid Beach, QLD 4218

Food: 10/10
Service: 9/10 
Cost: Reasonable
Overall dining experience: 10/10
Named after the owner, this family run business seems to be in the middle of nowhere. This place was definitely worth the hike. 
The Japanese paper lanterns hanging down adds to the atmosphere. They also have a private area with floor seating separated by a bamboo screen giving some privacy. Rolled up bamboo screens section the long restaurant probably allowing for functions or to cater for larger groups when required. 

Boasting an assortment of sakes, they even describe the different types of sakes and how its brewed. If undecided on a specific one, you can also give their sampling menu a try where you choose 3 types out of a selection for an affordable price. We just opted for some simple tea.
Pot of green tea for 2 ($4)

Small roast beef  ($14) 
Thick slices of beef freshly seared on its edges, coupled with the perfect combination of onion washed of its strong spicy nature and generous amount of spring onion and sauce - MOUTHWATERING! 
Assorted nigiri 8 pcs ($28) 
Sea urchin is only available between March and October on limited days, so were very happy to have been able to try this delicacy! The sea urchin was so sweet and fresh! It literally melted in my mouth with no linger of fishiness. Each nigiri had a small ball of rice with long thick slices of fish. The prawn was not the standard packet prawns most Japanese restaurants seems to favour. This was thick and meaty leaving us wanting for more. 
Sashimi mixed small ($24) 6 pcs salmon, 5 pieces of tuna, 2 octopi, 2 scallops, small amount of sea urchin
Every single ingredient was fresh and thickly sliced giving a sinful texture in your mouth. Behind the fish laid beds of seaweed which was a surprising addition. We wished there would have been some whitefish in the mix, but can't really complain when the tuna was exceptionally delicious. For the size, quality and variety, this was definitely a dish of great value. Not many places will give sea urchin, scallops and octopus!
 Aburi ocean trout belly ($4.50/piece) and Aburi Japanese Scallop ($4.50/piece)
Both were kept simple. The Ocean Trout belly was even more meltable than the normal slices seared with a bit of salt to add flavour. On the other hand, the scallop was not seared to the same degree, finding one side much colder than the other which mildly warm at most. We were slightly disappointed in the latter. 
Complementary side salad of sliced cabbage, carrots, spring onions and 1 brocolli piece with a sweet sauce 
This was an unexpected side that was given after having served a few dishes. A great palette cleanser that was cold and refreshing. 
 Terriyaki half and half ($30) with beef and prawns with a side of vegetable tempura
We went for medium rare beef and it came out AMAZING! The beef was so juicy and tender, lightly seared on all sides. We couldn't get enough of it! The large prawns were charcoaled and bursting with flavour. Tempura vegetables consisted of zucchini, beans. carrot, cauliflower, pumpkin and celery. It was lightly battered, hot and crunchy and did not feel oily at all. 
Tempura Ice cream ($9) with your choice of ice cream - we chose vanilla 
We saw other tables ordering this and we just had to get it! Unlike the Chinese version of fried ice cream with the heavy, oily exterior, this one was presented in a light and fluffy, thin tempura eggshell softly dusted with icing which gives it a subtle sweetness. The shell has a wafer-like crispiness that makes us feel less guilty devouring this dessert.  
Black sesame and green tea ice cream ($8) 
Their home made green tea ice cream had the perfect palette of bitter green tea and sweetness. Black sesame seemed bland at first taste which then later kicked in the stronger aroma of black sesame. What we particular liked was the bits of roasted sesame making it more aromatic with texture. 

Overall
The only downside that we can point out is the slow service between dishes. Other than that, it is a must try on the Gold Coast. Authentic Japanese fare that would make a great date night. It whisks you away to Japan and doesn't disappoint. We will definitely come here again and recommend it to all our friends. 

Itoshin on Urbanspoon

Saturday 17 August 2013

Amimoto

Cuisine: Japanese
Shop 13 Lido Arcade, 24 Orchid Avenue 
Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217


Food: 9/10
Service: 7/10 
Cost: Cheap Eat
Overall dining experience: 8/10
Situated inside Lido arcade, this place is a diamond in the rough. At first glance the place looks dingy and seems unimaginable that the food would be as great as how it's been raved. Just like a book, don't judge it by its cover. 
Simple garden chairs is available for outdoor seating and cold corn tea is self-served. Their open sushi bar allows you to peek at the chef working his magic and a tall bookshelf full of manga is free for your perusal. 

We were very excited to see that they had sea urchin on the menu. Our philosophy is: if a Japanese place has sea urchin, food must be decent (as they must have an adequate following of Japanese/foodies that can appreciate this delicacy)! Much to our dismay they did not have any as it was nearing end of the season. 

Upon arrival of our first dish, the waitress neatly placed our chopsticks, serviette and soy sauce before us. 
H Set ($18) - 10 sushi combination served with miso soup (2 pieces each of tuna, salmon, white fish, cuttlefish, and 1 piece each of egg and scallop)
Salmon literally melts in your mouth and mixes with the sushi rice perfectly.  
Scallop was so fresh as well as tuna and whitefish. Cuttlefish is not our favourite type of seafood so it is biased for us to say it was our least favourite. We especially liked that the tamago (egg) was cut in half making it easier for us to share and try everything. 
Main sashimi ($22) - Sashimi platter consisting of 3 slices of whitefish, tuna, 6 slices of salmon, 1 scallop, 3 rolls of whitefish and avocado, ...?
Avocado and white fish roll was interesting in that the fish took the place as the rice and cushioned the avocado into the centre. Really loved everything on this plate. Beautifully and simply presented with high quality ingredients.
Agedashi Tofu ($6.00)
1 piece of delicately fried tofu, the skin was drenched in flavour yet still maintained a slight crunch.
Pork Katsu Curry ($12) - Mild crumbed pork cutlet curry on top of rice served with salad
 This simple dish did not go wrong.
I Set ($15) - Sushi and seawood roll combination served with miso soup (4 pieces salmon sushi, 2 salmon seaweed rolls
We enjoyed the salmon so much we ordered this set specifically for it's all salmon treat. 

I enjoyed their miso soup slightly more than others as it contained more than the usual amount of seaweed and tofu.

Overall
Although the place is small it does not sacrifice service and cleanliness. It boasts authentic Japanese food that gives quality and quantity; great value for money. We highly recommend sushi and sashimi lovers to try this hidden gem in Gold Coast!  

Amimoto on Urbanspoon

Friday 16 August 2013

Cha Cha Japanese

Cuisine: Japanese
4/88 Surf Pde 
Broadbeach, QLD

Food: 7/10
Service: 4.5/10 
Cost: Cheap Eat
Overall dining experience: 7/10

After having done a strenuous kayaking adventure in the morning, we were extremely hungry and tired. Originally, we were headed to Broadbeach Mall (which we later found was actually deemed Oasis Shopping Centre) but in passing we laid eyes on Cha Cha Japanese Restaurant which we recalled having seen ranked highly on Urbanspoon so  we decided to give it a try. We were very iffy about the quality of the food due to the negative reviews recently but our curiousity got the better of us.

They appeared to have extended their territory to 2 shop spaces as we noticed that one side of the restaurant appeared to look more new and simpler in appearance. 

Michael ordered the chicken katsu lunch set ($14.80)  and I originally wanted to order the soba lunch set however upon ordering we were told that they ran out of soba. So after a quick reread of the menu I decided upon the chicken karaage lunch set ($14.80) and ordered a side dish of takoyaki ($6.90) to share.

Each lunch set came with a drink, miso soup, spring rolls, seaweed salad, dimsims and and rice. 

My peach tea came in a plastic cup with seal. The flavour was a bit too sweat for my preference but has a strong peach taste. Lemonade was a canned Schweppes lemonade. 

Our side dishes came first. The fried dimsim wasn't anything special, the type you get from the food court. Seaweed salad and miso soup also standard.   

We were pleasantly surprised at the large portion of food that came with the lunch set. The meat dish was quite large and both came with a large dollop of mayonnaise and mustard on the side which is great that it allows us to distribute the amount onto the salad and chicken to our liking. 

The thick cut of chicken katsu was perfectly fried and moisture of the chicken was kept intact. It was not greasy and batter felt light. Dipping it into the katsu sauce gives it the touch of flavour that makes it amazing.

Takoyaki did not disappoint. It was crunchy on the outside with a soft centre. Topped with an appropriate amount of mayonnaise and takoyaki sauce. The only downside (that we usually have with most places) is the lack of octopus in the centre to give it that extra texture however that is just our own personal preference. 

The chicken karaage appeared to be very dry, however, upon tasting it the chicken was moist. The lack of flavour was saved by the mayonnaise and mustard. 

Overall
The side dish of dimsim makes it appear to be non-authentic Japanese however, the dishes we ordered were textured beautifully. I can imagine that this place would be great for individuals who want a fast, filling and affordable meal. And be aware that there is a credit surcharge of 1%. 

Cha Cha Japanese on Urbanspoon