Norté

Norté is a fire-driven restaurant on the Gold Coast Highway at Mermaid Beach, run by the Friends Of group, which also owns Rick Shores in Burleigh Heads. The kitchen is built around a custom wood-fired hearth, and the menu brings together Latin American flavours and seasonal Australian produce, so cooking over flame shapes most of what comes out of the kitchen.

There are several ways to eat here. Shared-style set menus suit groups and anyone who wants the kitchen to choose, while the a la carte menu lets you build your own meal around dishes from the grill. A separate lunch menu runs on the days Norté opens at midday. The menus are posted as PDFs on the website and change with the seasons, so check them before you go if you have particular preferences or dietary needs.

Drinks are a strong part of the offer. The bar makes its own signature cocktails, and the wine list draws on South America, Europe and Australia, which suits the food well. Groups can add wine pairings or beverage packages to their booking, and the most elaborate option is the Ultimate Norté Experience at the Chef's Table, a banquet with premium wine pairings.

Norté is a good choice for groups of friends, birthdays and couples who enjoy grilled food and a lively room. It also handles larger events: the private dining room seats 46 and can be split in two, the Chef's Table seats 12, and a long table seats 30. The venue can be hired exclusively together with its sister bar Sueño for up to 70 seated guests. Book a table online through the link on the website or by phone, and use the enquiry form for events.

The restaurant opens for dinner from 5pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and from midday Friday to Sunday, closing at 11pm; Tuesday is not listed among its trading days. Allow around two hours for dinner, more for a set menu. On Mondays the restaurant runs a bring-your-own night with no corkage charge, which is worth knowing if you have a special bottle to open.