Catering to a big group can be tricky. Instead of wasting time going back and forth over restaurants scattered across the coast, organise to meet at Paradise Centre and take your pick from the eight delicious establishments waiting to take your order. Those needing a knock-off drink or weekend tipple can head to the iconic American bar and grill TGI Fridays. This New York-style bar and grill occupies the elevated corner site, pouring an extensive compendium of tantalising tipples and crafted cocktails. Think local, national and American brews, all shades of wine, eye-popping thick shakes and the world-famous Happy Hour. All of which can be accompanied by a bite from the extensive, American-inspired menu. If you and your mates are sports fans, why not head to the other resident American haunt, Wahlburgers? Here you can chow down on one of the world-famous burgers and snacks perfected by the superstar Wahlberg family while catching up on the latest game of NBA, NFL, cricket, soccer and everything in between.
If you’re after more of a brunch vibe, look no further than the hugely-popular La Playa, known for serving up salty, summer vacay vibes with a Mediterranean twist. Open from 7:00 am until late, La Playa’s extensive menu can take you from day to night, pouring fresh juices and coffee in the AM before shaking martinis and margaritas into the night. Beyond the sips, your taste buds will delight in flavour bombs like sauce-filled shawarma wraps, indulgent avo smashes, oozing saganaki, fresh seafood and more. If you want to keep those European summer vibes flowing for as long as possible, we recommend popping into Enzo’s Cucina for some pizza, pasta and a lot of Italian love. At Enzo’s, the focus is on fresh and homely Italian food, where the gnocchi is made from scratch, and the meatballs honour Enzo’s mother’s cooking. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle, Enzo’s is the perfect place for an affordable and authentic Italian meal with your famiglia.
Craving something a little lighter? Look no further than one of the Gold Coast’s best new Thai restaurants, Nahm Talay Thai. This must-try newcomer has taken everything you love about Thai and Southeast Asian flavours and moulded them together with a modern fusion, culminating in a taste bud-tingling dining experience. Open from 7:00 am until late, Nahm Talay also serves up a range of curious breakfast creations like an Enoki Benny, Soft-Shell Crab Egg Lava and Kingfish Larb, on top of an extensive menu serving all of your Thai favourites (and a few surprise add-ins) for lunch and dinner. If you’re craving the flavours of Asia but are in a bit of a rush, Hero Sushi has you covered with plenty of fresh and healthy takeaway choices, as well as the option to grab a seat for a selection of bento, hand rolls and nigiri. You can find Hero Sushi right at the entrance to the East Mall, looking out towards Surfers Paradise beach.
Are you on the hunt for the perfect place to host a big group of pals? Pouring a kaleidoscope of margarita flavours and offering deals like $2 Taco Tuesday and 10-cent wing Wednesday, El Camino Cantina is the place for you. This enormous 250-seat venue brings eccentric energy, party vibes, and a menu packed to the brim with all of your favourite Mexican classics. Paradise Centre’s El Camino is also the only one in the country to offer a morning menu with fresh-squeezed juices and hearty breakfast tacos on offer from 8:00 am. Last but certainly not least, no dining hotspot is complete without a dessert haven, and Paradise Centre has delivered in spades with the addition of lactose-lords, Gelato Messina. Located on the ground floor on Cavill Avenue, Messina’s prime possie allows you to strut your sun-soaked body straight out of the ocean and into the loving embrace of some artisan gelato, milkshakes, thickshakes and even gelato cakes. A trip to Messina will have you picking from 35 signature flavours and five rotating weekly specials, so you should pencil in a few visits over the summer to ensure no flavour feels left out.
Looks like your summer dining plans are sorted, friends. So, what are you waiting for? Pop the deets in the group chat and book your table at Paradise Centre’s dining mecca today.
This article was written in collaboration with our friends at Paradise Centre.
