Mr Spiros Handmade Yiros serves up Greek feasts.
Mr Spiros Handmade Yiros serves up Greek feasts.
Ah, Greece. The island paradise where it seems to be sunny all year round and you can never get a bad Insta shot.
You might be relaxing on the beach, taking a tour of a volcano, zipping around on a scooter discovering the most secret spots, but one thing is for sure – you will be chowing down on a giros before sunset. Yes, these little torpedoes of taste are not just reserved for late night snacks. Now, Mr Spiros Handmade Yiros is bringing the traditional takeaway of Greece to Nobby Beach.
Taking pride of place at The Oxley 1823, Mr Spiros feels right at home behind the market framed by walls the colour of the Aegean sea. It’s Greek hospitality with a Gold Coast tan.
Behind the counter is Peter Gloftis, a familiar name for local food lovers. He comes from a family with deep roots in hospitality and Greek-Australian culture. His cousin, Simon Gloftis, is behind iconic local venues including Hellenika and The Fish House. Growing up, food and community were always front and centre for the Gloftis clan, shaping Peter’s instinctive understanding of what great hospitality should be.
If you ever devoured something unforgettable from The Lamb Shop, you’ve already tasted Peter’s handiwork. In fact, Peter is the OG creator behind it, and Mr Spiros feels like a homecoming, a return to roots, with a lot of heart.
Mr Spiros isn’t trying to reinvent the yiros. Instead, Peter is honouring the traditional flavours he was brought up loving, while sharpening the craft of Greek cuisine. He has researched and refined the offerings from The Lamb Shop, with yiros that even your yiayia would be happy to eat.
Peter said, “There are no shortcuts, just a commitment to doing things properly.”
Let’s start with what’s on the plate or in your hands, because at Mr Spiros, you can order it either way.
The pita? Handmade, soft yet sturdy. The chips? Hand-cut and triple cooked, because twice clearly wasn’t enough. Both are made daily in house. The menu states these are “a labour of love”, and you can taste it in every bite.
Then there’s the lamb and chicken charring on the spit, slowly cooking over coals until the meat is juicy, golden and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
This is all dressed in your choice of tomato, lettuce onion, tzatziki, or onion, parsley and mustard mayo.
Sides like taramasalata dip (salted and cured fish roe – don’t knock it till you try it!), pitas, chips and Greek salad (of course) turn this fast food into a Greek feast.
And why rush? Mr Spiros turns a humble yiros into something worth sitting down for, especially at the melting pot of The Oxley 1823, where a beer or wine helps transport you straight to island time.
Where: The Oxley 1823, 17 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach
When: Daily, 11am–8pm
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Liam McDonald
Lars Bar & Grill fires up Nobby Beach.
Get ready foodie friends because the culinary scene on the Coast has a sizzling new addition. The eagerly awaited Lars Bar & Grill is ready to fire up its woodfired wizardry and pop open the bubbly on Thursday 8th August.
Nestled in the heart of oh-so-trendy lifestyle hub, The Oxley 1823, Lars Bar & Grill brings a whole new level of deliciousness to the Nobby’s/Mermaid Beach ‘hood. Mark our words; if your taste buds had a bucket list, this place would be at the very top!
Helmed by Lars Kollrepp, son of Oskars on Burleigh founder and Gold Coast hospitality legend Marty Kollrepp, this joint is basically a Michelin Star in the making. With over two decades of experience and a resume that reads like a who’s who of top-notch dining (think Executive Chef of all Simon Gloftis’ Brisbane restaurants, including Hellenika, SK Steak & Oyster, Sunshine and Sushi Room), it’s safe to say Lars would bring home the gold if cheffing was an Olympic sport.
“I had the dream of opening my own restaurant for a very long time,” he says. “I jumped at the chance when it came. I have a deep appreciation for fine dining cuisine, gained through my many years in the industry; however, being a Gold Coast boy, I love the laid-back lifestyle it brings.”
“My aim for Lars Bar & Grill is a restaurant where simplicity meets modern flavours, and quality dining and impeccable dishes meet a relaxed and welcoming vibe and where people can truly unwind and enjoy themselves.”
And unwind you shall. The menu is a mouthwatering mix of woodfired steaks and the freshest local seafood, promising a taste of Queensland like never before. Sink your teeth into starter and entrée style dishes like Caviar Tarts, Baked Scallops with garlic chive butter, and the decadent Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli with sage brown butter and Pinenuts.
For mains, it’s a steak lover’s paradise with ten different cuts to choose from. Each bite celebrates the region’s coastal bounty and locally sourced stockyard beef, ensuring every steak is a cut above the rest.
Perhaps a melt-in-your-mouth Pork Tomahawk with burnt onion mustard and jus gras gets you going? Or for seafood swooners, the Grilled Coral Trout with smoked tomato and capsicum is sure to float your boat.
Lars Bar & Grill isn’t just about the food though. The vibe is as important as the vittles, with a dining room seating 80 and an outdoor area for 30 more, perfect for soaking up that sweet Gold Coast sunshine. For extra special occasions, there’s a private dining room offering an exclusive space for up to 10 guests, made to order for celebrations, business meetings, or just because you deserve a little exclusivity.
With its blend of fine dining and a laid-back coastal vibe, Lars Bar & Grill is set to become the new go-to spot for locals and visitors alike. The grill is always hot, the vibes are always cool, and the food is nothing short of extraordinary so book yourselves in stat to experience this delicious new chapter in the Gold Coast’s ever-evolving culinary story.
Where: 2217 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
When: 5.30pm till late, Wednesday to Sunday
Yoru fires up Korean-Japanese fusion in Nobby Beach.
You know you’re in for something special when a love story simmers for 15 years and ends up plated on the Gold Coast. Adam and Jessica Long are the culinary couple behind Yoru, Nobby Beach’s newest night-time darling serving up Korean-Japanese fusion with a whole lot of heart.
Their story starts in Sydney’s bustling restaurant scene, where fate (and food) brought them together. That shared passion for nosh turned into romance, and soon Adam found himself not only falling for Jessica, but for the flavours of her Korean heritage. What followed was a whirlwind of cooking, creating and cross-cultural flavour-chasing that would eventually lead them north, from Bondi to the Goldie, to build a dream restaurant from scratch.
Yoru, which translates to “night” in Japanese, stands out proud with a pink neon sign above the foodie strip of Nobby Beach (which, let’s face it, is quickly becoming the foodie crown of the Gold Coast). Jessica, the design brain behind the space, has blended the hustle of Tokyo’s Izakaya culture with the charm of Seoul’s side-street dining into Yoru.
The result is a space that feels both transportive and local, like your favourite laneway dive just got a glow-up. Think colourful roadside grills, open kitchen, bar seating, bar tables to people-watch and banquet tables made for long, laughter-filled dinners.
Adam runs the kitchen with his background spanning Sydney’s oyster bars, modern Italian joints and fine dining stalwarts, but it’s his global travels that really seasoned his skills. From Southeast Asia to Europe, and even into the heart of India where he helped cook for thousands in charity kitchens, Adam learned that food isn’t just about taste, it’s about bringing people together.
It’s that philosophy that infuses every dish at Yoru.
Sashimi glistens like sea glass, with a premium selection of fresh salmon, tuna, kingfish, and scallop, expertly sliced and served with a side of freshly grated daikon. It would be rude not to share.
Starters include Aburi Taco packed with a trio of salmon, kingfish, tuna and mayo, seared aburi-style in a crispy taco shell. And who can go past Korean Fried Chicken? Not us! Dress it up with your choice of honey soy garlic sauce, sweet-spicy gochujang, extra spicy-hot, or lightly seasoned with sea salt.
Noods are next-level delish, with bowls of chewy udon swimming in umami-rich broth that will warm you up quicker than a yakitori grill on full flame.
Speaking of flame-licked fare, the skewers are perfectly charred and juicy, like Charcoal Grilled Wagyu Beef & Garlic Sprout and the Yaki Corn Rib.
Dishes pair oh-so-lovely with Yoru’s curated wine list and cocktails. If you only order one drink, we recommend the Violet Geisha – a colour-changing Japanese whisky sour infused with Asian pear and butterfly pea flower, finished with a gold shimmer. Yoru so fancy.
Where: Shop 1B 2249 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
When: Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday 5pm–10pm, Thursday and Saturday: 5pm–12am
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Kirra Smith
Cult fave pizza slinger Franc Jrs comes to Nobby Beach.
No Gold Coasters, your eyes ‘dough’ not deceive you – at long last, the local legends behind famed pizza joints Franc Jrs and Francie’s are slinging their signature slice from a brand new location in Nobby Beach.
The newest eat-in iteration for the Franc fam – an old school vibing pizzeria – is packed with plenty of soul, promising that same trademark, ‘good, honest Italian food’ fans have long been smitten with.
Fromage fiends can settle in for their Franc fix – with laidback vibes alongside cult fave Classic pizzas, crisp, Detroit style deep-dish pies, and frozen Margi’s.
With a lineage that can be traced back to 1996, the Francie’s origin story is fascinating, rich – and similar to the effects of a few too many frozen Marg’s – a little fuzzy around the edges.
An operation now run by Anthony Pattinson, Claudia Pattinson, James Young and Carlos Lara – the charming, 60pax Coolangatta neighbourhood pizza joint known as Francie’s was born way back in an era when, along with pizza, Anthony counted Baywatch and RnB among his great loves.
The humble spot with a shoebox-vibing kitchen was soon overwhelmed by its own success – by year two they were averaging 150 peckish patrons a night – a number that blew out to 250-300 punters in the years that followed, a frenetic pace that they couldn’t maintain.
Ultimately opting to close the door on Francie’s (cue first crush levels of heartbreak), another opened in the form of Franc Jrs, the compact and casual takeaway style little bro.
When it came to delivering a new and improved restaurant offering, the challenge was retaining the charm, while scaling up and refining the offering to meet demand.
The new venue is a 60 seater with indoor and outdoor tables, opting for counter service to streamline the experience.
Complete with mob movie vibing mood lighting, red leather and wood finishes aplenty, the interior fit out is a throwback to the classic, 1940’s Italian American style restaurant.
The result is a nostalgic feeling Anthony likens to the 90’s rite of passage – hitting up the local salad bar, “like Pizza Hut’s all you can eat, only really, really good”, he adds.
Anthony’s life-long passion for slinging ‘pies’ – is immediately apparent in the drool-worthy menu.
The offering is split into three types – Traditional 13-inch ‘Francies classics’, 16-inch cheese pies and square, Sicilian ‘Detroit style’ pizzas, as well as a full vegan selection to boot.
Now pizza, along with a sneaky pun or three, is certainly something we’re no stranger to – with catchy monikers such as Francie’s Classic, ‘Sage Against the Machine’ made with fresh fior di latte, roasted mushrooms, pancetta, sage & pecorino, only further fuelling our obsession.
Fans of the Franc Jrs Signature – the loaded and crispy edged, Sicilian style slice – can get amongst Tomato, made with roasted cherry tomatoes, confit garlic, whipped lemon ricotta & chilli sauce or the cheese-packed White Stripe, topped with hot honey.
And with the calibre of slice selection the Franc Jrs crew is slinging, we certainly wouldn’t blame anyone struggling to choose.
But if the fan following for these pizza purveyors is anything to go by – satisfaction is a sure thing (and a carb coma).
Where: Shop 2/32 Lavarack Road, Nobby Beach
When: 4pm-10pm Wednesday – Saturday
Words by Kellie Leader.
