Those with a serious case of culinary wanderlust can satisfy their craving for far-flung feasts, bold flavours and exotic libations at Shiraz Persian Restaurant in Surfers Paradise. After a decade at its original home on Surfers Paradise Boulevard, the much-loved venue relocated to a sizeable new space at the base of Mantra Wings Surfers Paradise (the former Pink Poodle building). Shiraz Persian Restaurant’s owner Erfan Jalilian and business partner Mohammad Shirmehrjerdi opted for a bright white palette with a hint of Shiraz’s signature turquoise for the new location, while a grand marble counter makes for a welcoming entrance. As for the fare, diners can expect the same award-winning Persian cuisine that Shiraz is widely adored for, with the addition of some exciting new dishes. Those who are perhaps not overly familiar with Persian cuisine can ease into their feast by plunging a piece of Turkish bread into a bowl of freshly made hummus or picking at a mezze platter loaded with three types of bread (Turkish bread, flat Persian bread and pita) alongside Persian-style marinated olives with pomegranate sauce, crushed walnuts and spices (that’s the Zeytoon Parvardeh, in case you were wondering). The Shiraz Shirazi salad (finely diced cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, mint, fetta, olives and sesame seeds tossed in olive oil, lemon juice and apple vinegar) is a popular palette cleanser in between meat-based dishes such as slow-cooked lamb shank and more kabobs than you can poke a stick at. Team it with a drool-inducing saffron rice bown with Zereshk (barberries) and slivered pistachios and you’re good to go. Shiraz Persian Restaurant is certified Halal and there’s a large variety of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes on the menu.