Central Lounge Bar and Dining — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

Absolutely appalling!

From the beginning...

Entrance: We were greeted "how can I help you?", We asked for a table for 2 and the waiter just walked off to help another table.

We then were served by an elderly lady, out of uniform; we actually thought she was a customer at first; then we were finally seated after about a 5 minute wait.

Taking the order: We were asked what we wanted to order after waiting about 10 minutes. The waitress was rude and impatient whilst taking our order. The waitress made no attempt to make eye contact with us whilst we were, apparently, communicating with each other. After accepting our order the waitress, still making no eye contact, simply took the menus and left.

Waiting for entrèes: We waited about 15 minutes for the entrèes as well as our champagne, when the waitress dumped 2 glasses and a jug of water on the table and walked off without saying a single word.

Entrèes: Our choice of entrèe was the garlic prawns. We received a small pile of overcooked rice with 3 prawns and some flavourless garlic sauce poured into some of the rice. When we finished our entrèes, the waitress simply took our plates and walked off, again without a word.

Mains: I chose the Sirloin Steak (Medium Rare) with garlic sauce, chips and salad; my partner chose the salmon steak with salad. The steak was not even close to medium rare, it was medium well and the sauce, what little there was, was completely flavourless. The chips were unsalted and cold, the salad had the lettuce replaced with uncooked Chinese cabbage with a flavourless unidentifiable yellow sauce on top. The salmon was riddled with bones, and the salad was the same as my steak dish. The waitress returned to conduct the routine 2 bite check, but when she asked how the meal was, I started to explain and she wondered off on me. After we'd finished the waitress again just took our plates and walked off.

Desserts: We ordered the traditional Christmas pudding with Brandy Anglaise and FRESH CREAM.... Well... The pudding was clearly microwaved because it was cold outside and hot inside as well as dry. There was a hint of Brandy but there was no sign of any cream whatsoever, instead the garnished with condensed milk. Also one of us was apparently expected to eat it with a soup spoon. I had a bite left of my dessert and my partner had 3/4 of hers left when the waitress walked over and started taking our plates. We were so dissatisfied with the whole thing that we didn't even care at that point and asked for the bill.

Payment: I went to make the payment for this... Meal and the gentleman asked if everything was ok. I attempted to explain to him the situation, but we were given no discount, no compensation at all. We were made to pay full price as well as a 15% surcharge for Christmas... The only thing we got out of it was a couple of 30% discount vouchers for the next time... At that point the only thing that went through my mind was "fat chance of there being a next time".

Interrogative: We ordered the Christmas special 3 course meal that was supposed to be $70 per person and was advertised as $49 person for Christmas day.

Conclusion: My partner and I were supposed to be enjoying our first restaurant date together on Christmas night... But we were both devastated at the outcome and left feeling totally ripped off. My partner litterally makes a better lunch to take to work than this poor excuse for a meal that was charged at a premium price plus a surcharge. We will not be returning...

A Dining Experience to Remember – Central Lounge Bar, Surfers Paradise

From the moment I stepped into Central Lounge Bar in Surfers Paradise, I knew I was in for something special. Nestled in the heart of this iconic coastal destination, the venue radiates a relaxed yet sophisticated charm that sets the tone for an unforgettable dining experience.

The menu is impressively broad, offering a wide selection of mouthwatering dishes that cater to every palate. Each plate that arrived at our table was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor — clearly crafted by chefs who know their craft and take pride in every dish. The standout for me was the eye fillet steak, cooked to absolute perfection. Juicy, tender, and full of rich flavor — it was easily one of the best steaks I’ve had in years. A solid 10/10 to the kitchen team.

And let’s not forget the desserts — oh, the desserts! The sticky date pudding was simply divine, served warm and decadently rich with the perfect touch of sweetness. Each bite was pure comfort and indulgence. It’s the kind of dessert that lingers in your memory long after the plate is cleared.

The cocktail list is another highlight — sophisticated, creative, and executed with flair. Behind the bar, Izzy, the manager, is a true artist. Not only does she carry herself with elegance and a warm, welcoming presence, but she also puts on an impressive show mixing cocktails with acrobatic finesse. Her passion for hospitality shines through every interaction and every drink she creates.

Cody is an absolute gem — effortlessly charming, intuitive, and genuinely kind. He has a remarkable talent for making guests feel special and completely at ease. He brings a calm professionalism and personal warmth that instantly enhances the whole experience.

Alfonso rounds out the dream team perfectly. Attentive, lightning-fast, and incredibly detail-oriented, he handles service with such precision and grace, ensuring that everything flows smoothly. The entire team works in harmony, and it shows. You can tell they all love what they do — and it makes all the difference.

In a city brimming with dining options, Central Lounge Bar stands out for all the right reasons: exceptional food, top-notch cocktails, a warm and stylish atmosphere, and a team of hospitality professionals who go above and beyond.

I left feeling not just full, but truly taken care of — and that’s the hallmark of a truly great restaurant.

Highly, highly...

I have never gone online to write a review on a restaurant before, so for me to write this shows how terrible this place really is.

My girlfriend and I decided to eat here tonight and boy was that a mistake!

We took our seats and after looking through the menu decided to order the Lamb Shank for my girlfriend and I went for the Chicken Parmigiana after seeing the sign out front “WINNER Best Chicken Parma on the Gold Coast” and let me tell you, I’ve eaten plenty of parmas in my time and this was easily the worst Parma I have ever eaten. The Parma came out at about half the size you’d get at any other restaurant, the cheese looked like it had just come straight out of a plastic wrapper that you’d buy from your local supermarket and shoved straight into the microwave, as well as there being so little chips on the plate I could count them all on two hands. Not only did it look terrible, it tasted even worse. Cold, tough, processed and for $25 this was easily the most over priced meal I’ve ever bought.

Not only was the Parma terrible, my girlfriends Lamb Shanks were just as bad if not worse. The Shanks were incredibly dry, considering the amount of sauce that had been chucked on top which completely covered the vegetables on the side which were as hard as a rock and tasteless. The meat was incredibly fatty and practically inedible. I’ve had better roasts at my girlfriends house when we’ve purchased meats from Aldi and thrown them straight into the oven. The shanks were so bad my girlfriend was unable to get through even a quarter of the meal before we had to get up and get out of this place. We ate at the restaurant next door a couple of nights ago and I highly recommend eating there if you are going to eat in the area as it fresh and authentic Italian food unlike this garbage we ate tonight.

Overall I would not recommend this place to anybody, ever, as the food was terrible, service was mediocre at best and the pricing is completely unreasonable for the quality of food.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY...