Barbosa Fine Food Deli — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

A Coffee and Açaí Experience at Barbosa

Let me share my thoughts about the new place, Barbosa, in Robina Town Centre. As someone who's had the pleasure of experiencing authentic Açaí in Brazil (spent some time there in the late 90s), I feel somewhat qualified to weigh in on this one.

Found myself there after getting fitted for my first pair of glasses - yes, time marches on, doesn't it? The modern decor caught my eye, with some rather nice chairs and tables that give the place a welcoming feel. They've got outdoor seating too, but with the wind picking up, I opted to stay inside and enjoy the atmosphere.

Now, about that Açaí bowl. While the taste was quite good, I have to say the texture wasn't quite what I remember from my time in Brazil. It was a bit more on the fluid side, missing those signature frozen scoops that give it that authentic feel. Think of it more as a purple breakfast bowl sitting on a bed of granola. Not bad by any means, just different from what you might expect if you're familiar with the traditional style.

The coffee packed quite a punch - a bit more robust than I usually go for. A slightly larger cup or a gentler hand with the beans would've brought it more in line with my preferences. That said, I can see how some might appreciate the strength.

Overall, Barbosa is a lovely addition to the area. While there's room for some minor adjustments, it's definitely worth a visit if you're in Robina. The ambiance is pleasant, and it's a perfect spot for a quiet afternoon break - or "late afternoon brunch" as they're calling it these days.

Worth noting: They might just need a bit of fine-tuning on the Açaí consistency and coffee strength, but they've got the foundations of something really good here.

A tip from someone who's sampled his fair share of Açaí: Give it a try, but maybe have a chat with them about how you like your coffee strength. They seem like the type who'd be happy to accommodate.

Looking forward to...

This store is busy, and cramped. The tables are very slow to be cleared away (I can see 6+ tables with dishes stacked on them) so always seems hard to find a seat. When the dishes are cleared - it doesn't look like they wipe the tables down?

The actual tables themselves are small, yet they have overcrowded cutlery/items on them - my table with 2x seats currently has 9 (9!!!!) knives in the cutlery holder. It makes no sense and makes the whole experience crowded and uncomfortable. Also my table rocked, and so did the table sitting next to me. Just felt so cramped.

The food is nice enough - a mix of breakfasts where Robina is fairly limited in Cafe/breakfast options, this is good to have. It's a bit pricey (a side of chorizo $7... side of mushrooms $7.. really?) But tastes good. Coffee is ok, I much prefer Forster black than opened...

Update 25/9/24 Lunch with my wife. Food standard has dropped a long way. Coffee still great. Portugese Prego Steak Sandwhich: steak well overdone, dry and tough. Hardly any sauce. Bread was dry. Calabrase Gnocchi: gnocchi was firm and dry. Sauce was very sweet. Lack of heat from chilli and coppa (if used). Customer numbers seemed to be down. Has there been a change here?

Went to Barbosa for breakfast after seeing the number of customers and menu the day before. Had to wait a while to get a table but it was well worth that wait. Service was prompt considering the business. We had Breakfast Burrito and Shakshuka. Both were outstanding dishes. Very well cooked, very tasty and well presented. Very good portions. The coffee was the best we have had in the area. Prices were quite reasonable. Definitely...