El Porton — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

I had been wanting try this restaurant for a while. I’d hoped the outdoor seating had outdoors heaters but no. The decor was lovely, though didn’t lend to having quiet conversations as noise bounced off the hard surfaces. When we walked in for dinner it was so cold but we decided to stay as the food would warm us up. The big portón door was always open and a really cold breeze came through the whole place. Staff were really attentive. We were so thankful for the wine tastings to help decide. The food didn’t take long, thank goodness. Lots of gluten free and vege options. I would call the food Spanish inspired fusion rather than authentic. The txistorras seemed homemade, which was nice, but lacked depth (garlic, pimentón?) and the cider sauce was so sweet. Only chorizo should be cooked in dry cider and the dish should be renamed chorizitos and have smaller sausage sizes. Seasonal greens were nice, hot and tasty, just not very Spanish. Chargrilled peppers, zucchini and eggplant would be more authentic. Unfortunately, I think it’s hard to source the level of quality fresh produce they have in Spain in this country. There was a lot of garlic on many dishes. Love garlic but when it’s raw it can be overpowering. The bread also was not very Spanish with only 2 miniature buns, though they were heated nicely which was appreciated. Setas dish was very tasty, the star of the night. However, the biggest issue was the cold in the restaurant. We hinted about closing the portón but it didn’t happen. So many patrons were shivering, especially those seated at the bar. I wondered if it was on purpose to make people eat quickly so there’d be more turnover. I wish I could’ve given another star but the temperature inside was bordering on icy and really brought the whole experience down. If you decide to try this restaurant out book well inside in the cooler months. May be more comfy for lunch on...

We are on holiday at the Gold Coast and decided to try this place out as it’s only a 10 minute drive from our apartment. We went with no expectations after our last visit to a Spanish restaurant in Sydney was underwhelming. The restaurant itself has a tasteful, authentic but understated fitout. Indoor and outdoor seating options. The staff were attentive and engaging. We ordered several dishes from the tapas menu and one main. This isn’t the usual Spanish food cliche style. Yes they have paella and some of the classics however they put their own twist on them which makes them really stand out. The flavours are spot on and every dish was beautiful in its own way. More of a fine dining experience than others. Pricing is reasonable for the quality of food served. Can’t comment on the drinks as we don’t drink however the wine selection looked impressive. We had in no particular order - croquetas de jamón, pulpo a la gallega (their unique version), alcachofas, chistorra a la sidra, setas con crema de queso de cabra, patatas bravas, cachopo. We passed on the desserts as we were way too full. I’m Spanish and can confidently say it was the best and most authentic Spanish food we’ve ever had in Australia. We will be returning again to sample more of their dishes including a paella de marisco. Congratulations to the chef and the team on absolutely nailing it with their offering. If you’re a local or up this way on holiday do yourself and your tastebuds a favour and try it out. You won’t be...

El Porton is a revelation, a true slice of Spain in an unassuming strip mall. Each dish had the perfect level of salt / acid — something I’ve found lacking in many restaurants here.

In fact, this is the first truly good meal I’ve had since moving to the GC from Europe. Many restaurants are style over substance, with poor food / horrible wait times / uncaring staff. I was honestly feeling depressed about my move and this restaurant is a bright spot for me.

The service was attentive, friendly, conversational — several people checked on us throughout our experience. Timing between tapas was perfect, enough to enjoy the generous sangria but also not too long (as we’ve discovered at many other places.)

Croquetas: Crispy, creamy, and savoury. Galician sausages: Perfectly salty with an unexpected and delicious tangy coating of reduced cider, finishing with a pleasant garlic taste. Octopus: Yummy morsels in a bed of gastronomic mash. Cachopo: Lovely thin breaded veal cutlet with ham and cheese sandwiched within; capers, lemon, and sea salt took it to the next level.

Plus, the sangria wasn’t too sweet, it was well balanced and delicious. Another issue we’ve had at other places, cocktails are often sickly sweet here on the GC.

Overall, El Porton is a true gem hidden away from the touristic strips, and may have even improved my outlook on life after...