Dining out in Robina and surrounds – A smorgasbord of choice
Culinary adventures in the Robina area offer a smorgasbord of choice and the quaint Mudgeeraba Village has some hidden gems which rank highly on our ‘must do’ list.
Our favourite by far is the immensely charming Wine Barrel Restaurant & Lounge. With a rustic and inviting fitout, great food and warm and engaging staff, tucking up in a cosy space at The Wine Barrel for a long lunch is highly recommended.
Offering tapas style fare, perfect for sharing with a group of friends, the menu will have you wanting to say ‘one of each please’. The tasty share plates are crafted from the freshest local, and mostly organic, produce and each one is immaculately presented.
All staff are trained to expertly match the perfect wine to each dish, should you feel inclined to indulge in a vino or two, and the carefully constructed wine list showcases top quality wines from Australia and abroad.
The first thing I was ever served at The Wine Barrel was a bowl of warm mixed olives. Now I may have been hiding under a rock because it is apparently quite a common way to serve olives, but it was the first time I had ever eaten them and they were simply divine. Gently warming olives, of the high quality that The Wine Barrel serves, massively enhances the flavour and the oil and juices from the fruit flow freely to create an explosion of taste.
While the warmed olives are a fairly simple, minimum intervention menu item, the produce selection and serving presentation is an example of the attention to fine detail that is evident throughout their offerings.
Other standout menu items for me were the sumptuous braised beef cheek, the tender pork belly, the creamy tempura zucchini flowers and the mouth watering jalapeño poppers.
The Wine Barrel also source and make use of locally made products, such as home style condiments from jam artisan ‘The Jam Man’ and a range of traditional wood fire baked goods from the 95 year old Mudgeeraba Bakery.
The restaurant fit out makes extensive use of recycled materials, including railway sleepers repurposed into a bench seat, timber floorboards handmade into tables and bar tops and 25 year old wine barrels as outdoor bar seats.
An expansive log feature wall is a respectful nod to the logging town heritage of Mudgeeraba and the whole style and tone of the restaurant is reminiscent of the charisma of the wider township.
The pairing of these vintage elements with sleek and modern touches, such as the Onyx stone used in the central feature bar and polished concrete floors, gives you the feeling that you could be ordering a drink in inner-city Melbourne.
The Wine Barrel offers a great venue for private functions, weddings, large lunch or dinner parties and they are more than happy to tailor the perfect menu for your group.
Owner chef Warren Carnall has had a passion for cooking since he was a kid, training under some of Gold Coast’s most awarded chefs. His mission is to strive to always give patrons an experience to remember and it’s one that he definitely succeeds at.
With many years also working in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and Western Australia’s Margaret River Regions, the appreciation for good food and fine wine is evident.
If there is one thing you can always taste in good food it’s love. When you truly love what you do and are passionate about creating a great dining experience, your patrons can always taste it.
Family owned and operated, The Wine Barrel are passionately serving up lashings of love in your neighbourhood right now, so we recommend considering them for your next gastronomic escapade.
Fully licenced, No BYO. Visit The Wine Barrel page to read more or make a reservation.
