Shop 1007, Robina Town Centre
T 07 5578 8389
Up front we give River Penang a 9 out of 10. The fully licensed and BYO Malaysian dine-in and take-away restaurant is situated at Level 1 of the shopping mall and offers quality Malaysian cuisine at reasonable prices. The service was a little flat as they would certainly serve tables with more than 2 people as a priority even for those who come first.
If you do visit River Penang, be sure to try the Penang Char Kway Teow as it is simply one of the best around Brisbane – Gold Coast. A major plus is that they do accept Credit Cards including American Express and EFTPOS so for people like us who don’t carry cash, you are in safe hands.
2807 Gold Coast Highway
Surfers Paradise QLD
Telephone: (07) 5592 9900
This is possibly one of the best try-hard Chinese restaurants ever. The best thing: the view. The worst thing: the food. If you’ve never been to a high rise and seen glimpses of the ocean and the city then definitely pay a visit to the Four Winds Revolving Restaurant for a lifetime memory.
For under $20, I could have enjoyed a nice Asian all-you-can-eat experience. But at Four Winds, you get exactly that experience plus seafood and a magnificent view for a price that can pay for more than 2 at the all-you-can-eat. Prawn crackers, spring rolls, fried rice, sushi, Thai chili fish, Mongolian beef, and steamed vegies take up the majority of the dishes available at the buffet.
The service is extremely average and a friendly reminder that there is a surcharge if you are thinking about showing off your brand new credit card. A birthday table behind ours paid at least $500 in cash so, if you are thinking about a day-light robbery, be sure to consider the rich patrons visiting Crown Plaza.
5 out of 10.
Cnr Nerang St and Gold Coast Highway (Ground Floor of Pivotal Point)
Southport QLD 4215
Telephone: 07 5503 0277
Food: Average with poor flavouring and small quantity. The eye fillet steak I ordered does not come with any sauce if you forget to ask. And the waiter isn’t smart enough to hint you if you ordered your steak without any. The snapper had no taste whatsoever in contrast with the seasoned fries. The vegetables come standard with steamed carrot and beans which in my opinion is a bit boring. I’m not sure if that’s the authenticity of Greek cuisine but it’s certainly not one of my favourites.
Pricing: The advertising says half price lunch menus, although the menu prices are already half priced. I’m not sure if it is ever full priced and I certainly wouldn’t pay $154.68 for 2 entrees, 2 main courses and 3 soft drinks.
Service: Surprisingly, the service is on a satisfactory level. Although the waiter that served us did not know what meshed potatoes were called, he was extremely polite and kept us informed about the progress of our food.
Rating: 6/10
8/201 Ferry Rd, Southport QLD 4215
Telephone: 07 5591 7155
Eddie’s Crazy Fish Sushi Bar is probably one of the best sushi places around on the Gold Coast. While the look and feel of the restaurant isn’t overwhelming, we find this sushi train outlet presenting slightly more in variety and quantity.
Opens 7 days a week from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm for both dine-in and takeaway, Eddie’s offers a VIP reward program where you receive $10 worth of free sushi when you collect 20 stamps of $10 purchases.
If you are a sushi lover like us then it is definitely worthwhile to explore Eddie’s which we give a 8 out of 10.
2/54 Thomas Dr, Chevron Island QLD 4217
Telephone: 07 5504 6404
First up: It was a terrible experience! A few days ago we headed out for dinner at Yuuga, but due to severe traffic while passing Chevron Island, we decided to try out this small place by the side of Thomas Drive. The environment and setting were generally pleasant and comforting, but…as soon as the food were served, we immediately felt negative towards the overall experience.
The chicken terriyaki was so salty I had to order a Coke just to bare with the unspeakable horror. Fon ordered something with soft crab and was also disappointed with the quantity of the serving. The meals aren’t terribly expensive but on an average Australian setting you would certainly expect more. The terriyaki set I had which came with steamed rice, vegies, and a choice of hot or cold udon/soba costed around $14 and the soft crab Fon selected costed $12 plus additional charges for a set meal.
It was Friday dinner time and there was one waitress servicing the entire restaurant. Not that the restaurant is big, it comprised of about 10-15 tables. If you are interested to check this place out, be sure to practice your Japanese because the waitress surely had difficulties understanding most of our enquiries. After leaving the restaurant for about 30 minutes I suffered stomach pain followed by loose bowel movement. So I guess if you are having constipation then pay a visit to Soba So Good for a quick fix.
We are convinced to offer a 2 out of 10 for Soba So Good as it is one of the worst dining experiences we’ve ever encountered. Reading from their business card you would find that this authentic Japanese restaurant is brought to you by Yoshi & Kei Shibazaki who apparently have produced various other eateries in Japan, Singapore and Australia.
Shop 1008 Australia Fair Shopping Centre, Southport QLD 4215
Telephone 07 5528 4618
This Chinese managed and operated Japanese restaurant (possibly owned by Chinese) isn’t going to be your fine dining experience, but it does provide inexpensive Asian cuisine. The restaurant features a sushi train as well as dishes to order. We find most dishes average around $10 and I’m talking about chicken or fish teriyaki that comes with miso soup and salad. The taste obviously is non-genuine but most people doesn’t seem to mind for the price. We give Arigatou Sushi Teppanyaki a 6 out of 10 as it is really a very average restaurant.
Their business card indicates that they also have a shop in Broadbeach and Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. Their Executive Director Donny Chan happens to be a Justice of Peace so I might as well certify some documents next time I go dining.
38 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Telephone 07 5539 0993
This dine-in restaurant is exceptional. We came across the place when we were looking for another Japanese restaurant around in Surfers Paradise. To our surprise the service, quality, and setting are all near perfect and most importantly, the food is sensational. Located on Cavill Ave, the restaurant isn’t that big but you will find its authentic Japanese-styled dining experience. I felt like I was in Japan for a second (I have been there twice)!
The pricing is affordable. Main course starts from $20 and it comes with a set of Prawn Tempura, vegetables, rice and miso soup. The music is good. While I did not hear any traditional/pop Japanese tracks you would probably hear in any other Japanese restaurant, what I did hear though is somewhere along the lines of the Buddha Bar compilations. To sum up, Yuuga was pleasing, relaxing, and delightful. We give it a 10 out of 10, probably the best dining for 2007.
23 Belmore Road, Randwick NSW 2031
Telephone 02 9399 7911
Comparing with other Thai restaurants, we find Taste of Thai a little disappointing. While the essence of Thai cuisine is maintained, most of the dishes are prepared to suit the taste of many Australians. I ordered my favourite Thai dish, Chicken Pad Thai and felt that some of the ingredients weren’t so fresh.
In terms of pricing, we find Taste of Thai slightly more expensive. However, like some of the other Thai restaurants, Taste of Thai does free home delivery with a minimum order of $20 between 5:30 PM and 10:00 PM, and a minimum order of $40 between 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM. In a nutshell, we give Taste of Thai an unfortunate rating of 4 out of 10.
378 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Telephone 02 9267 9604
Front up we give this restaurant a 9 out of 10. I loved Saap Thai’s “Chicken Pad Thai”. It was not just delicious, but “addictive” is probably a better word to describe the aroma and flavour. Piyada ordered “Pad Ped” (whatever that is) and conveyed to me that this restaurant serves the true essence of Thai cuisine. The environment was pleasing and quiet. And of course, you would find a portrait of the King of Thailand sitting on the counter as you would find in any other Thai shops.
167 Alison Road, Randwick NSW 2031
Telephone 02 9326 3261
This restaurant is less than 20 metres away from where we live. It has won the Best Take Away award (NSW Small Business Awards ?) and reviewed as “Head and Shoulders above the rest..exceptional freshness and quality” (Sydney Eats 2005). Personally, I didn’t find this restaurant appealing. However, having said that, I did enjoy their ‘Chicken Pad Thai’ dish for only $8.50. It is worthwhile to mention that I have ordered this dish twice and I never managed to finish it in one go. There is always half left over to keep for dinner. Piyada also recommends ‘Barbecue Filleted Breast of Chicken and Fresh Salad’ for only $10. Randwick Tum Thai does free home delivery for a minimum order of $20 between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM and opens 7 days a week. I didn’t have time to try out all their menus but I give them an overall rating of 8 out of 10 for their fast service and reasonable pricing.