Paccheri arrabbiata, Tommy’s Italian (image supplied)
Pasta is the very foundation of Italian cuisine and perhaps this is why our Italian friends have so much fire in their bellies. Italians are some of the most animated and passionate people you can meet. For this, we love them. For giving the world pasta, we adore them!
As we sit in the midst of winter, we think it’s the perfect time to enjoy hearty and soul-satisfying dishes, and nothing quite ticks those boxes like handmade pasta goodness, with ALL of the cheese, naturally.
But where does one find the perfect pasta dish? The Gold Coast has many fine Italian eateries, so we painstakingly undid a notch on our belts and compiled a list of the very best. We’re nice like that. We dare you to finish reading the list and not be tempted to attempt a GC pasta crawl for the ages (0/0 cardiologists recommend).
Prawn & Lobster Risotto, MĀRE by La Luna Beach Club, Main Beach (image supplied)
MĀRE by La Luna Beach Club
Prawn & Lobster Risotto
Here we are pushing the boundaries right away. We know risotto is not pasta. But what good are we if we don’t broaden your ho-rice-ons in the name of delicious food? Particularly when MĀRE by La Luna Beach Club’s Prawn & Lobster Risotto is on the line, made with creamy stracciatella, pink pepper and fresh thyme. It’s a treat for your tastebuds that’s made even better with views of the marina. Now that’s a seafood lover’s dream!
Where: Pool Pontoon, Marina Mirage, 74 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach
Pacchero Genovese, La Calabrese at Ocean (image supplied)
La Calabrese
Pacchero Genovese
Move over spaghetti, there’s a new carb crush in town, Pacchero Genovese from La Calabrese. Think fresh ribbons of pasta cuddled up with melt-in-your-mouth slow-cooked pork shoulder and beef brisket, all swimming in a silky onion sauce that brings just the right hint of sweetness. To make things even saucier, it’s topped with a luscious parmesan fondue and a drizzle of basil oil. Comfort food? More like chef’s kiss levels of perfection.
Where: Level 1, Meriton Surfers Paradise, 86 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
Pasta at Papa Rolly’s, Carrara (image supplied)
Papa Rolly’s
Gnocchi Pesto
The latest gem from the Gemelli Group is dishing up all the rustic trattoria vibes, handmade pizzas, hearty pastas, BYO vino and even a scoop (or three) of Gelato Gemelli to seal the deal. And while pasta purists may protest, we simply can’t help ourselves when it comes to these fluffy little hand-crafted pillows of joy. Papa Rolly’s homemade potato gnocchi with traditional basil pesto, cherry tomatoes and parmesan is pure comfort in a bowl, one big, cheesy, herby party for your taste buds.
Where: 124 Pappas Way, Carrara
Spaghetti Marinara at Cucina Vivo, The Star Gold Coast (image supplied)
Cucina Vivo
Spaghetti Marinara
Serving up all the rustic Italian vibes in the sleek surrounds of The Star Gold Coast, Cucina Vino knows how to do seafood right. Their Spaghetti Marinara is the kind of dish that could make Poseidon himself jealous—think plump king prawns, market-fresh fish, tender calamari and juicy black mussels tangled through al dente spaghetti. Choose your adventure: a rich red sauce or a delicate white, either way your taste buds are about to go full Vespa ride along the Amalfi Coast.
Where: The Star Gold Coast, 1 Casino Drive, Lobby Level, Broadbeach
Spaghetti al Gamberi, Gemelli Italian, Broadbeach (image supplied)
Gemelli
Spaghetti al Gamberi
The Gemelli twins are known for creating an authentic Italian experience and, all their dishes, including mouth-watering pasta, are made fresh in-house daily and way too good to sample just the one. Give the Spaghetti al Gamberi a try because these guys combine prawns, zucchini, chilli, garlic and olive oil in the best possible way.
Where: 2/2685 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach
Cacio e Pepe, Sofia’s Broadbeach (image supplied)
Sofia’s
Cacio e Pepe
Is there anything more indulgent than pasta twirled theatrically through a 40kg wheel of parmesan? At Sofia’s, their signature Cacio e Pepe is an elegant ode to simplicity, spaghetti coated in cream, cracked pepper and, of course, a generous snowstorm of parmesan, all served straight from the wheel at your table. It’s rich, it’s romantic, and it’s proof that sometimes the simplest things in life are the most luxurious.
Where: The Oasis Shopping Centre, Victoria Avenue, Broadbeach
Homemade gnocchi served in a wood-fired pizza bowl, Crispy Italian, Burleigh (image supplied)
Crispy Italian
4 Formaggi Gnocchi (Wednesdays only)
Stop what you’re doing. The Gold Coast’s crispy-licious pizza bar has grown a second, spaghetti-shaped arm! Yes, you assumed correctly; they now serve pasta! However, we want to hold the fettuccine for a second (our hearts couldn’t endure any longer), to present you with their 4 Formaggi Gnocchi. It’s homemade, gnocchi, swimming in a godly amount of cheese; mozzarella, gorgonzola cream, parmesan and pecorino, served in a pizza pasta bowl and wood-fired to perfection… Can we get an amen?!
Where: 4/1840 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
Spaghetti alle vongole, LiTO (image supplied)
LiTO
Spaghetti alle vongole
A coastal classic gets the LiTO glow-up with their Spaghetti alle Vongole, perfectly al dente strands tangled with sweet clams, kissed with white wine, garlic, chilli and a squeeze of lemon. It’s the kind of dish that feels effortlessly elegant yet utterly comforting, like the ocean pulled up a chair to join you for dinner. Simple, refined and unforgettable, the very essence of Italian seaside dining, right in the heart of Burleigh.
Where: Ground Level, 3 First Ave, Burleigh Heads
Pappardelle, Justin Lane (image supplied)
Justin Lane
Pappardelle Bolognese
It’s no secret that Justin Lanes’ pizza game is strong! But did you know their pasta game is just as mighty? You should probably go and try them all. But, if you do decide to choose just one, let it be the house staple: Rich pappardelle, pork + veal, bolognese with grana padano. Bellissimo!
Where: 1708-1710 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads
Pumpkin & Ricotta Ravioli, Balboa Italian, Palm Beach (image supplied)
Balboa
Pumpkin & Ricotta Ravioli
Oh, Balboa you aesthetically pleasing thing you. Their fit-out, with a glamorous chandelier and bright red Vespa, is reason enough to visit. The pizza is outstanding, but most importantly, their pasta is to die for. Did we mention it’s all handmade on-site? Including (but not limited to) their Pumpkin & Ricotta Ravioli. You will smell this dish coming before you see it; the delectable, rich, nutty aroma of brown butter, sage, hazelnuts, mixed exotic mushrooms and parmesan. You could say it’s ravi-oling in flavour.
Where: 1069 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
Tommy’s Italian, Currumbin (image supplied)
Tommy’s Italian
Paccheri Arrabbiata
Casual dining meets impeccably tasting food, underpinned by breathtaking vistas and some of the most attentive service around. Who wouldn’t be satisfied after a hearty bowl of god-tier cylinders that are too good to be tube-doused in a whole lot of red sauce, stracciatella and basil? If this paccheri is wrong, we don’t want to be right.
Where: 818 Pacific Parade, Currumbin
Radici Pasta House
Tagliatelle Tartufo E Porcini
This is the last stop on our virtual pub pasta crawl (but avert the eyes of cardiologists because, well, firstly, are you lost, but does anyone else have the sudden urge to try this IRL). Radici is an Italian family-run restaurant who decided to make sunny Coolangatta home 6 years ago. This dish epitomises why Italian cuisine is so damn good. Take black truffle pesto, marry it with imported pork and fennel sausage and then smother it over handmade tagliatelle. That folks, is one of the finest dishes of pasta you will have south of Sicily.
Where: 99 Griffith Street, Coolangatta
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
Dining and Cooking