Costa D'oro Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

A Magical Culinary Experience at Costa D'oro Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

It’s rare that I feel compelled to write a review, but my experience at Costa D'oro Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in Surfers Paradise was nothing short of extraordinary.

From the moment we walked through the door, we were treated to an unforgettable dining experience that felt more like being welcomed into a dear friend’s home than a restaurant.

This gem is a must-visit for anyone seeking authentic Italian cuisine, impeccable service, and a vibrant atmosphere.

From the start, we were greeted warmly by the staff, who immediately made us feel at ease.

The ambiance struck a perfect balance between trendy modernity and old-world Italian charm.

It’s clear that every detail of the decor was chosen with care, offering a cozy yet stylish setting that perfectly complements the culinary offerings.

We opted to sit outside, where the lively buzz of the street, the cooling breeze, and the occasional serenade of music performers created a truly magical setting.

Now, the food. Oh, the food! Each dish we tried was a masterpiece, bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection.

The menu is vast, offering something for everyone, and everything we ordered felt like a celebration of Italian tradition with a modern twist. Highlights included the Morton Bay Bugs, which were cooked to perfection, veal vino bianco to die for and the Ravioli with Spinach and Ricotta, a dish that melted in your mouth with every bite.

The Calamari Fritti was perfectly crispy, while the Scaloppine Con Gamberi was rich, savory, and deeply satisfying.

And the pizzas? Don’t even get me started! The variety of flavors and the ability to mix and match toppings made it an experience in itself.

Each bite was a perfect blend of crispy crust, rich tomato sauce, and the freshest ingredients.

It’s no exaggeration to say they’re the best in the area, rivaling even those I’ve had in Italy.

The dessert selection was equally outstanding.

From the creamy tiramisu to the decadent chocolate options, everything was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious.

The wine list is extensive and reasonably priced, with knowledgeable staff ready to offer excellent pairing recommendations.

Speaking of the staff, they truly went above and beyond.

Their genuine smiles, laughter, and warmth added a personal touch to the evening.

They were attentive without being intrusive, ensuring that every aspect of our dining experience was flawless.

One moment in particular stood out – the woman at the table next to us was moved to tears by the sheer joy of the food.

That sums up the magic of Costa D’oro perfectly.

This is not just a restaurant; it’s an experience that stays with you long after you’ve left.

If you’re planning a visit, I strongly recommend making a reservation, as the limited tables fill up quickly.

And trust me, it’s worth every bit of effort to secure your spot. Costa D’oro is not just a hidden gem; it’s a shining beacon of everything that makes dining out such a joy.

We were so impressed that we returned twice in one week, and both times were just as incredible as the first.

This is hands down the best dining experience we’ve had in Surfers Paradise – perhaps even in all of Queensland.

If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and book a table.

You won’t regret it.

Costa D’oro is more than a restaurant; it’s a celebration of Italian culture, hospitality, and cuisine. Bravo to the team for creating something so special.

I can’t...

Am really disappointed, to be honest. Booked a table here for my birthday dinner. When my partner and I arrived, the male host out the front was talking to an older lady who had also just arrived for a large booking. He pointed to where they’d be sitting outside, then actually almost turned around and walked away without saying anything to us before saying he’d just be a moment. Couldn’t help but feel we would’ve actually been greeted properly if we were older (we’re in our early 20’s). We also pretty much showed ourselves to our table where my family was already sat, despite me trying to say we had a booking under blah blah blah’s name, it felt like he was barely listening to me. My family actually said that they also didn’t like his service when they arrived. Oysters and garlic bread pizza were fine, didn’t really have much flavour at all. Fast forward to about 30-40 minutes after we order our food, a waitress comes over and tells us we’re being too loud and to be quieter. I apologise straight away because a couple of us do tend to talk a bit loud but this is mostly because 1. we have family members that are hard-of-hearing at the table, 2. they have music playing in the restaurant, and 3. literally everyone else in the restaurant is also talking, as well as multiple tables around us with winging/crying children… Anyway, we had a bit of a laugh about it, despite it coming off a bit rude in my opinion, and this is coming from someone who has worked in hospitality for over 8 years. Nonetheless, we did feel bad and quieted down, only to have ANOTHER waitress come up not even 10 minutes later telling us we need to be quieter again. We were actually so confused this time because we had been talking at a reasonable volume; as reasonable as you can be in a completely full restaurant with whinging children at the next table and every other table around you also talking. We didn’t receive our mains until about 70 minutes after ordering them. The food was good, nothing special honestly. Maybe I was clouded by my frustration after realising that, not once had we had someone come up to the table to even ask how the food was going. The only time’s a server approached our table was to either take our order or tell us to be quiet. It was little things building up that made me feel so uncomfortable and honestly quite upset that my birthday dinner had turned into me just sitting there, freaking out everytime someone slightly raised their voice, worrying we were going to be told to shut up again. Not the best service, not the best food, jacked-up prices, most likely won’t be back. Did not feel welcome at all, from the moment we showed up. Glad we didn’t go on a weekend as well considering there’s a whopping 10% surcharge on weekends. For our table of 8, that would’ve been an extra...

Addendum: We visited again at night in a group of nine on a Saturday night (in April). The restaurant was packed (even at 9pm when we left). The atmosphere was very busy and jolly; service was excellent, and the food promptly served. I had calamari and salad again, but this time it was battered rather than crumbed (much better flavour, if a wee bit stingy with the amount of calamari rings) and the salad actually had a tasty ginger and lime dressing which added greatly to the flavour. Hubby really enjoyed his truffle-enhanced risotto (I liked it too), and everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals. All up, a much better experience than the previous lunchtime one. In March - Hubby and I went down to Surfers Paradise for the Sand Sculpture Festival this week. We grabbed my sister and nephew, and headed here for a bite to eat. It was pouring rain, but things were still lively at the restaurant. They both chose spaghetti Napoli (with a side of bread); hubby went for the spag with meatballs (which was of course spag Napoli with meatballs) while I went for the calamari salad. This is a homely place, with food to suit. My calamari rings were battered and fried, very tasty, with a crunchy coating (but a few more rings would have been wonderful). The salad was about 90% spinach; it was fresh, it was fine but I would have liked a bit less green stuff and a bit more of the fetta and sundried tomato. And a decent, tangy dressing would have been very welcome. Hubby gave his spag with meatballs 6/10. I tried it and said 7/10. I felt it was to be expected – i.e. kind of bland and tomatoey. (I’m not a fan of tomato sauce in any case, so I’m not the right person to judge.) Drinks were: a rose for me, chinotto for hubby and sparkling water for the sis and nephew. Service was okay; efficient but just not particularly warm or friendly. Meals were well-priced, considering the restaurant is in the heart of a tourist town. (N.B. there is a 1.2% fee for all cards.) Certainly not a place I would normally eat at, and not a place I would hurry back to. It’s kind of like a McDonalds of Italian food. But if you’re after food that is filling, full of carbs, and non-confrontational, this may be the...