The Top Restaurants In Main Beach, Gold Coast

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Omeros Bros Seafood Restaurant sits on Marina Mirage’s boardwalk, where diners can enjoy the premier waterfront dining experience of the Main Beach area. The Omeros brothers themselves have operated some of the country’s leading restaurants over the course of forty years, and this level of expertise is clearly reflected in their a la carte menu, from the selection of ingredients to the preparation of the plates. Sydney Rock Oysters are prepared five different ways (natural, Mornay, Kilpatrick, beer-battered and mixed) and delivered fresh to the restaurant daily with a selection of locally caught fish, including New Zealand Whole Sole, Northern Territory Barramundi, Australian Snapper and Whiting. The seafood platter is a special indulgence here, comprised of lobster mornay, mud crabs grilled and finished with homemade sweet chili plum sauce, and Moreton Bay bugs tails barbequed with worcestershire and lemon butter sauce. A three course set menu is also available for a reasonable $49.50.

From its prime location on pedestrian-dense Tedder Avenue, diners at Shuck can lounge al fresco and enjoy a vivacious atmosphere for people-watching, soaking up sunshine, and feasting on acclaimed seafood dishes. Their specialty Pacific oysters are freshly shucked and pair perfectly with a glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc; other standouts include the delicate carpaccio of tuna, the kingfish and ocean trout, and the signature crab lasagna in tomato and abalone cream. If fish isn’t for you, go for the salt and pepper kobe or the salad of juicy hoisin-glazed duck, layered between mandarin pancakes and Chinese cabbage. Desserts include a mix of classic crowd pleasers and unusual surprises, like the chocolate marquise: dense chocolate cubes paired with refreshing raspberry sorbet and a raspberry-and-mint salad. From starters to sweets, the plates here are all well-portioned and artfully presented, making Shuck a smart choice for a special evening out.

Lemongrass Thai edges out its numerous Thai cuisine competitors on the Gold Coast with their pull-no-punches approach to spice levels and big, bold flavors. Their pad thai, curries and spicy larb are juicy and wonderfully fragrant; out of the curry menu, the local favorites by far are the adventurous multi-layered jungle curry, and the more subdued red duck curry with lychees and a sweet, creamy sauce. Home delivery is available if you’re already in your PJs, but the restaurant’s majestic red-and gold décor is well worth the trip for a regal sit-down dining experience, complete with a humongous Buddha statue to welcome you.

A long-time fixture of the Main Beach dining scene, Domani’s remains an inviting option on Tedder Avenue for locals and fresh faces alike, combining a laid-back yet modish cocktail bar with a sunny alfresco dining setup along the sidewalk. Their international menu offers fresh seafood starters like tempura king prawns with wasabi mayo dipping sauce, followed by mains like house-made crab and scallop canneloni in a rich seafood Napoli sauce. Meat-lovers will also find plenty of appealing beef and poultry dishes, like their insanely flavorful macadamia and basil cream cheese stuffed chicken, drizzled with native pepperberry jus and served on a bed of spiced pumpkin puree, red chard and broccolini. Less adventurous diners (or those with smaller appetites) can depend upon the regular menu staples of oysters, pizzas, steaks and salads, but it would be a downright shame to miss out on Domani’s signature dishes, such as grilled local Broadwater trawler-caught bugs, crumbed in Gremolata and served on saffron king prawn, or the pork belly roll braised in porchetta, ginger, lemongrass and apple, served with roasted root vegetables, green beans, apple and kecap manis jus.

Terraces Restaurant can be found at the Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa. if you’ve dined here in the past, it’s worth a fresh look for its newly refurbished interiors of shimmering lagoons and other watery wonders. The restaurant itself is set up as a grand seafood buffet, with a focus on exceptional produce and seafood: pile your plate with a tantalizing array of oysters (natural and Kilpatrick), prawns, and salmon; a range of comforting roasts, hearty soups and freshly baked breads; and lastly, a plethora of pastries and a renowned selection of desserts. Word to the wise: while the adjacent pool still looks very inviting, Terraces Restaurant still operates a smart-casual dress code, so save your bathing suits for another occasion.

Another of the luxury hotel Palazzo Versace’s in-house eateries, Vanitas is an exclusive high-end culinary experience for the Gold Coast’s most fashionable and monied diners. The interior is the definition of neoclassical opulence: as you take your place in their silk upholstered chairs, you’ll see the Versace Medusa mosaic branded on every little detail of the furnishings, while the walls are adorned with glorious original artworks (including a 13-meter canvas painting inspired by Gianni Versace’s book Do Not Disturb). It is immediately clear why Harper’s Bazaar has dubbed this venue ‘the most fashionable restaurant around the world.’ What grounds this ostentatious display is the undeniable strength of the food. Smaller tables can look forward to a la carte offerings like violet gnocchi, Burrawong duck, and suckling pig; for larger groups, look to Vanitas’ signature six-course degustation menu. Past stars of this ever-changing menu include mud crab with watermelon, pear, mustard cress and bisque; tarragon brioche soaked in lobster broth with poached Moreton Bay bugs; and snapper baked in pancetta served, on a beetroot risotto and broadbeans. Whatever you choose, their wine list is sure to offer the perfect complement for your meal; it is, after all, 400 bottles long. The desserts are impeccable, and should be savored to the last bite; we’d especially recommend the chocolate and caramel tart with red wine-poached pears, flecked in gold leaf.