Pronounced ‘steak freet’. The s may be silent, but the hype around it certainly isn’t. Steak, chips and a good sauce: leave it to the French to do so much with so little. Whether you’re after a post-work rooftop ritual or an indulgent date-night dinner, here’s where to find the best steak frites on the Gold Coast.
Charlie’s Rooftop, Mermaid Beach
Charlie’s is the kind of place you head up to for one drink and end up staying for dinner. Upstairs on the Gold Coast Highway, under a retractable roof, it’s all share plates, strong cocktails and the last of the afternoon sun. Steak frites sits on the “favourites” list: chargrilled wagyu, bistro sauce and rustic fries. Monday is steak frites night, and the rooftop’s own advice is to come straight from work and add a martini. We can’t argue with that.
Paloma Wine Bar, Burleigh Heads
Their steak frites is such a speciality, it’s in their Instagram bio. This neighbourhood wine bar on James Street keeps a short menu of small plates that changes with whatever its local suppliers bring in. Steak frites is the constant: wagyu sirloin, peppercorn sauce and fries, served alongside a wine list that’s just as appetising as the food. They’re walk-in only, so arrive early, claim a spot and start with oysters while you wait. If you’re there on a Wednesday, the cheeseburger night is another reason to come.
Bistro Margaux, Nobby Beach
“Don’t worry about the pronunciation,” says Margaux. “We certainly won’t.” From the team behind Lars, this modern French bistro takes the classic Parisian experience and reworks it for the coast. Its steak frites lets you choose your sauce: béarnaise, au poivre or entrecôte. Start with escargots or a French onion soup, pair it with something from the French-leaning wine list, and save room for the cheese course and tarte tatin. Who needs to fly long-haul to Paris?
Bar Leo, Bundall
Tucked into Riviera Plaza, Bar Leo is a neighbourhood food and wine spot with a seasonal menu and a standing lineup of weekly specials. Its new menu leans into the grill, with a chargrilled steak section that runs from black angus sirloin to a one-kilo T-bone. Thursday is the night to go: from 4pm it’s steak frites, a rump steak with fries and your choice of peppercorn sauce or jus. Grab a table in the alfresco area on a warm evening and work your way through the wine list.
Lars, Nobby Beach
Lars may not keep steak frites on the menu, but they do have everything you need to build your own. This wood-fired grill cooks every steak over live coals, using Stockyard beef in cuts that range from a petite tender to wagyu flank. Add a sauce (peppercorn and béarnaise are both on offer) and order shoestring fries on the side. Over-achievers can add crispy beef fat potatoes, too. When the steak frites special does run, it’s announced on Instagram, so it’s worth following along.
Après Surf, Burleigh Heads
This neighbourhood bar may offer the most casual steak frites on the list, but it holds its own. True to their (semi) French name, Après Surf has a French dish on the menu alongside an eclectic mix of comfort foods. On Friday nights they’ve been slinging a steak frites baguette: flank steak, house-made herb butter sauce and fries on a Burleigh Baker baguette. As if steak frites could get any more French. It’s open every night except Tuesday, with trivia on Thursdays and a DJ playing on weekends, so there’s never a bad time to stop by.
