Bazaar Marketplace

Cuisine: Buffet
7 Staghorn Ave
Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217

http://www.qtgoldcoast.com.au/food-drink/bazaar/

We arrived a lot earlier than our 7pm reservation as we were both very tired of walking around Gold Coast and just wanted to sit down and relax. We went in and asked if we were able to get seated and the fellow at the front was just extremely nice and accommodating. He brought us to our seats which went past all the scrumptious delicacies and he gave us a rundown of the dishes available for the night and how the marketplace concept works. (Buffet $69 per person)

The Bazaar Marketplace has a unique concept where not only can you grab your own food but they also encourage interaction with the chefs behind the counter just like a marketplace.  All dishes are not labelled which gives you the opportunity to ask the chefs and they will take down your table number when you ask for their made to order tasters. We really love the open kitchen and hanging food really sets the theme and also allowing you to peer in and watch the chefs at work.  

Salad station

Seafood station

Slow cooked roast station

Antipasti station

We ordered a 250mL Brown Brothers Shiraz to start off with which came in an adorable small decanter and our waitress for the night professionally poured into our pristine deep glasses. 

Then off we went to dig in starting from the very front of the line of stations. We were given our plates and was immediately asked whether we wanted to start off with their tasting plate which consisted of deep fried mini tortilla with beef and spicy sauce, croquette and prawn with black bean. Of course we did! Our mission was to try EVERYTHING tonight. He noted down our table number and we continued on and got our first round of fresh seafood. 

When we got back to our table, the tasting plate was already set down and waiting for us and a bowl of lemon water and empty bowl for our seafood shells. We loved the presentation on the wooden board great portioning allowing us to try bits without having to commit to a large plateful. 

Seafood was definitely fresh and sweet. The prawns in particular were my favourite as they were thick and meaty. The mussels only had a small crack open to peruse the meat out so it was extremely hard which I gave up and had to get Michael to help me. 

Some hot foods here with gard fish which we would not recommend to those who do not like small bones.

Usually we would not touch the vegetarian selections but we decided to give it a try for our readers. Vegetarians do not have to worry as they have an assortment of vegetarian dishes available which are just as delicious. 

Sirloin steaks were made to order with choice of rarity and side of smoked paprika salt. We opted for rare and it was so tender and juicy with lightly seared edges, we had to go for seconds.

There is an Asian food station which has prawn crackers, beef curry, chicken curry, dimsims like char siu bao, har gao and siu mai as well as other mainstream Eastern dishes. 

Part of their Dessert station

We love desserts so we took one of everything which included: popping candy chocolate, rhubarb crumble, mini chocolate muffins, custard, lemon cake, mud cake, meringue, macaroons of different flavours, lamingtons and more (in no particular order). The sizes were small and perfect giving us the opportunity to enjoy each piece while still allowing room to try everything else. 

Overall

Michael and I had an amazing dining experience with their table service buffet concept. The staff executed exceptional service especially noted by their consistency in neatly refolding our serviettes every time we left our table. It is best to go there with the intention for an experience rather than having a lot of variety.  Atmosphere is classy yet casual which would be perfect for any special occasion for any number. 

Food: 8.5/10
Service: 10/10 
Cost: Higher Priced
Overall dining experience: 9/10

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.

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