They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and that is certainly the case with Hideaway Kitchen & Bar.

Just off the Gold Coast Hwy at Broadbeach, it’s a rather plain, uninspiring, charcoal-coloured building that doesn’t exactly scream “hottest new restaurant”.

Step inside, though, and its moniker becomes abundantly clear. Hidden away is, arguably, one of the coolest new venues on the coast.

Experienced restaurateur Scott Imlach (Bine Bar & Dining, Barchino and Nobbys Arc) has teamed up with former Nobu and Etsu Izakaya chef Jon Hizola and manager Toby Young to create a vibrant, funky and, above all, fun space in the style of a Hawker laneway.

Quirky graffiti art brightens the walls, swinging seats hang from the ceiling in the
front bar and, down the back, you’ll find an astro-turfed beer garden covered by a playful, floating umbrella installation. It’s the type of place you come for dinner, only to find yourself being ushered out at closing time.

The menu is inspired by street food and features everything from chicken karaage and sticky lamb ribs, to gyoza, soft-shelled crab salad, skewers, and whole fish cooked either tempura, steamed or wok-fried.

The locally caught squid ($18) from the barbecue section is a generous serve of tasty, charry, smoky seafood with a semi sweet soy dipping sauce, but probably requires too much mastication for most. However, an almost guaranteed winner are the honey crab wontons ($13). Six crisp, deep-fried parcels arrive chockers with juicy, fresh crabmeat, with the crab’s natural sweetness amplified by the touch of honey.

The “Me” Goreng with chicken ($21) is also sure to appeal to the masses, with an abundance of sticky, sweet chook tossed with egg noodles, greens, capsicum and carrot for a solid rendition of the Indonesian classic. But perhaps a more exciting plate is the beef cheek rendang ($26). The meat is as tender as you like and fragrant with ginger, lemongrass and garlic, while a hit of chilli adds spark to the thick gravy.

There’s a basic wine list, but a better choice is a beer from the mix of local and Asian varieties, including Gold Coast brewery Balter’s XPA
or the venue’s signature, easy-drinking Hideaway lager. Or step things up a notch with a glass or bottle of sake or an Asian-inspired cocktail, such as the lemongrass lychee martini or Thai chilli mojito.

With friendly, attentive, well-paced service completing the picture, this eatery won’t be hidden away for long.

Originally published on couriermail.com.au