4/10/2022
Italian Restaurant Jupiters Casino Gold Coast
How do you make a weekend to the beach even more relaxing than it already is? One way to do it is to evoke the idea of another beach at the same time. This may sound like coastal overload, but oddly it works.
A coast to coast experience is exactly what you get at Cucina Vivo, a brand new restaurant on the Gold Coast that recreates the experience of Italy’s Amalfi Coast. The result is that all you can think about are long walks on the beach followed by even more long walks on the beach.
But can Cucina Vivo’s food carry you over to Italian shores? Let’s find out.
A coast to coast experience is exactly what you get at Cucina Vivo, a brand new restaurant on the Gold Coast that recreates the experience of Italy’s Amalfi Coast. The result is that all you can think about are long walks on the beach followed by even more long walks on the beach.
But can Cucina Vivo’s food carry you over to Italian shores? Let’s find out.
Cucina Vivo is located at Jupiter’s Casino which is currently undergoing more of an extreme makeover than a reality TV show. The restaurant is the first outdoor dining venue here, overlooking the newly revamped pool.
Nothing says Italian seaside like a soft blue and peach colour scheme and designer furnishings. And nothing says Italy itself like a two metre long wood-fired pizza oven, which takes pride of place in the middle of the restaurant.
Cucina Vivo has very thoughtfully crafted a space that transforms you to the Southern Italian shores, which is no mean feat when you're actually on the southern shore of Broadbeach.
Nothing says Italian seaside like a soft blue and peach colour scheme and designer furnishings. And nothing says Italy itself like a two metre long wood-fired pizza oven, which takes pride of place in the middle of the restaurant.
Cucina Vivo has very thoughtfully crafted a space that transforms you to the Southern Italian shores, which is no mean feat when you're actually on the southern shore of Broadbeach.
Cucina Vivo's drinks menu offers a pretty good start to a taste of Italy. Each cocktail option had a bit of Summer about it, and the wine list did well in offering a mix of Italian and Australian drops.Below we had:
Which is probably why Food Fantasy has become one of the Gold Coast's favourite buffet restaurants. Go on, give in to temptation! Food Fantasy is on the Casino Level adjacent to the main entrance. If you have any problems finding us don't hesitate to ask one of Jupiters' friendly staff members to point you in the right direction. The Star Gold Coast Conrad Jupiters Casino, Broadbeach Island, Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland QLD 4218 Australia +61 7 5592 8443 Website Closed now: See all hours All photos (175).
- Cinquanta-Cinquanta: Aperol, Campari, Fresh Peach Puree
- One More Thyme: Tanquaray Gin, Green Chartreuse, Lavender and Thyme Sugar Syrup
- 2013 Renato Corino Barbera
Each of the cocktails were subtle, and very thoughtfully blended. There was only a hint of peach puree to lift the Cinquanta-Cinquanta, rather than the drink being unnecessarily blasted with fruit.
The lavender and thyme sugar syrup in the One More Thyme added a nice savoury taste, and made you instantly think of being in a European garden.
The 2013 Renato Corino Barbera was earthy and slightly funky tasting. Barbera is best drunk young, and this was opening up really well for us.
We also had a glass each of the 2010 Renato Corino Barolo, which to be honest, blew the Barbera out of the water. It was rich, complex and drinking beautifully even at such a young age.
Seeing as this was an Italian restaurant, we couldn’t go past the pasta menu which had some truly mouth-watering options. We opted for:
- Gnocchi Trifolati: Sauteed Mushrooms, Truffle Oil and Marjoram
- Tortelloni Ripieni: Crab Meat, Ricotta and Lemon Zest on Green Pea Puree
Three words: Best. Gnocchi. Ever. A forkful of this gnocchi was one you closed your eyes over. It was soft and fluffy on the inside and pan seared crisp on the outside. Each little dumpling soaked up the rich mushrooms and truffle oil brilliantly.
I absolutely loved, loved, loved the tortelloni as well. It was packed full of crab meat which was slightly sweet and fantastic quality. The fresh peas and pea puree was also such a nice change from the usual tomato-based sauces. This was truly a seaside Spring on a plate.
We then decided for some surf and turf options from the mains menu:
- Pesce Del giorno (Fish of the Day): Snapper with Prawns, Corn Basil Salad, Fennel and Pumpkin Puree
- Cape Grim Rib Eye (300g): with Potatoes, Capers and Lamb Lettuce Salad
- Argula E Pere: Balsamic Roasted Pears, Argula, Provolone, Semi-Dried Tomatoes, Vinaigrette
The generous amounts of snapper served up were so fresh they can’t have been long out of the sea. I loved all the sweetness of the prawns, corn and pumpkin puree it was served with. This fresh dish was creative and beautifully blended together.
The Cape Grim Rib Eye was absolutely top quality. If you like a good bit of steak- go here. The potatoes were mashed with some capers added in, which gave it a salty hint of the ocean. We are in a double-coastal restaurant after all.
Italian Restaurant Jupiter's Casino Gold Coastt Australia
Lastly if you’re going to order a salad, make sure this is it. The balsamic roasted pears were soft and rich and went so well with the salty provolone cheese. This cheese was so moreish I could have eaten a whole block of it.Finally we came to dessert:
- Cioccolato Rosso Ferari: Pistacio Crostata, Stracciatella Ice Cream, Ferrari Red Chocolate Sphere, Grappa Infused Chocolate Sauce
- Flavours of Italy: An Assorted Variety of Small, Delicious Desserts – Two Gelati, Tiramisu, Zuppa Inglese and Panna Cotta
Italian Restaurant Jupiter's Casino Gold Coastld Coast
The Zuppa Inglese is a chocolate and Vanilla cremeux, vanilla sponge, fresh fruit, nitrogen poached meringue. It tastes as amazing as it sounds.
Italian Restaurant Jupiter's Casino Gold Coast Fl
The Cioccolato Rosso Ferari was Italian flair on a plate. It came out with puffs of smoke wafting from the Stromboli-like chocolate creation, which was quenched with a steady stream pour of chocolate sauce.
I expected it to taste as rich and decadent as it looked, but instead of hitting you with a sugar punch, it was really well balanced. The thin chocolate shell was almost dainty and while the grappa chocolate sauce was rich, it was perfect to cut through the creamy ice cream.
The little tasting plate is a fabulous idea for getting your Italian dessert fix when you already have a belly full of pasta.
The stand-out was the Zuppa Inglese which had a bit of everything going in such a small glass. The nitrogen poached meringue was crisp and set off the creamy flavours well.
The stand-out was the Zuppa Inglese which had a bit of everything going in such a small glass. The nitrogen poached meringue was crisp and set off the creamy flavours well.
Italian Restaurant Jupiter's Casino Gold Coast Plaza
If you can’t make it to Italy for a Summer holiday not to worry- all you have to do is head to the GC.
With fresh, thoughtful, creative food in a Southern Italian setting, Cucina Vivo has done well in bringing la dolce vita to our shores.
With fresh, thoughtful, creative food in a Southern Italian setting, Cucina Vivo has done well in bringing la dolce vita to our shores.
Tanya dined as a guest of Cucina Vivo.