Bam Bam Bakehouse — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

Racism. That one word is enough to describe our experience at this café.

On this day, despite the strong winds and cold weather, we traveled a long distance to meet at this café known for its beautiful view.

Since we had a small dog with us, sitting indoors was not an option, and on a windy day like this, we were wondering where to sit. Just then, we saw that the high chair table with the best view was available, and we sat there.

We were with a pregnant friend and also had a photo shoot scheduled nearby, so we thought this was a good spot for many reasons.

Until just moments before, three people had been dining at that table. While the staff was clearing it, we waited. The staff member kindly told us, “This table can seat up to 8 people. It’s okay if other guests sit next to you, and it’s also fine that you sit here first.” Based on that explanation, we chose to sit at that table.

After ordering our food, tea and bread were served first, and we began our meal. Then another staff member approached us and said in a blunt tone: “This table is originally for groups. A group of 12 has arrived. Can you move?”

My friend, caught off guard, answered “Yes,” but I immediately responded, “No,” clearly and firmly. That was our final answer. Even so, our plates were already being moved without our permission. Only then did the staff member ask, “Have you ordered your food?”

When we first sat down, we had been given a clear explanation, and we chose the seat on that basis. Had she told us from the beginning what she was telling us now, we would have understood. But asking us to move in the middle of our meal was simply unacceptable, and the new table was one we truly did not want to sit at. When we expressed this, she said: “I explained it nicely and clearly earlier, didn’t I?”

We were taken aback.

What hurt even more was the fact that a small group sitting at the same kind of table right next to us continued eating there without any problem. Why us?

That table was exposed to cold wind and clouds of dust. Dust kept flying into our faces, eyes, and even onto our food. There was water pooled on the ground, and our bag fell and got wet. It was a table that made us feel isolated and trapped.

I still cannot understand why we were asked to move after clearly refusing, while we were already seated and had started our meal.

In more than 10 years of living in Australia, I had never been treated this way. I had never even written a one-star review before, but this one took me a long time to process and write. That day remains not as a “café,” but as an “experience.” I sincerely hope that nothing like this ever happens to...

It was busy when we arrived for lunch, but we were expecting that and happy to wait for a table. Most of the baked goods in the cabinets were sold out already, and having tried some on our previous visit we went with other savoury mains menu items this time.

Our order: egg nasi, $18.90 - wok sautéed white rice, chili, vegetables, garlic, kecap manis, chili sambal, crispy fried onions the Bam Bam burger, $16.90 - free range beef, caramelised onions, American cheese, crispy bacon, baby gem, fresh tomato & Jay’s BBQ sauce on a toasted milk bun latte, $5 (large) - featuring milk coffee ‘Firebird’ by Marvell St Byron Bay (notes of Milo, jam and fudge) salted caramel milkshake, $7.90

I asked for both the sambal and chili in my nasi dish to be served on the side (sambal is normally mixed through) so I could share some of the rice with my son. The level of heat in these were at just the right level to work up a slight sweat and sniffle by meal’s end. I found my rice texture quite ‘wet’, and was actually hoping for something like fried rice, though I realise the menu doesn’t indicate this. Still, I suspect I would have preferred it that way. Also enjoyed trying some of wifey’s burger and sharing the milkshake with the boy. Overall the food in general was good but I’ll probably stick to the baked goods in future.

Also pictured are items our friends ordered: cinnamon cruffin, $6.90 - perfect croissant pastry with the match that was made in heaven - cinnamon & cream cheese strawberry breton, $7.90 - fresh strawberries, ridiculous vanilla mouse line sitting on a traditional breton base pain au chocolat, $6 - perfect croissant pastry with batons of chocolate inside tonkatsu karaage chicken burger, $16.90 - Bam Bam’s crispy karaage chicken, shredded white cabbage, sesame seeds, kewpie mayo & house Tonkatsu sauce on a toasted milk bun Japanese noodle salad, $19.90 - edamame hummus, soba noodles, asparagus, snowpeas, broccolini, bean sprouts, yuzu & wasabi dressing, miso glazed eggplant, sesame

I didn’t try any but by all accounts they...

Great place to meet up & catch up with friends! I had heard of this place before & knew it was quite popular so drove about an hour & half from Brisbane to see!

The staff are super friendly & although they were super busy, we were given a table straight away, however it took over 40 mins for our food to come out - which we were told about prior to ordering.

We ordered dessert first seeing as there was such a wait & it didn’t disappoint! Coffee, tea & babycinno were amazing! When our food finally arrived, it looked & it did taste great but heavy handed on the spices on both of our meals that we just couldn’t finish it all. Chips were great but honestly $2 for tomato sauce is a crime. I’ve eaten at plenty of places who have given me a saucer of sauce with my chips with no charge & free refill so bit disappointing considering how small the container of it was - which of course ran out before we finished the chips.

The location is easy to get to - down the road from Pacific Fair. I did miss the driveway as I couldn’t see it on my left & as I wasn’t familiar with the area, but easy to go around the streets & come back. I was lucky to get a park in the small carpark out front otherwise there is free street parking.

Access is available for mobility vehicles & prams. There is a disabled toilet but no facilities for babies/toddler. Highchairs are available.

I would go again but without my toddler as the wait time is...