TOKIYA in Mermaid Beach

TOKIYA in Mermaid Beach is a long way from the Waldorf Astoria in New York but happily for locals the trip by Taisuke Fukuda has given the Gold Coast a chef of excellence.

This small restaurant on the highway offers a superb but tight menu allowing Chef Taisuke Fukuda to display his many talents.

He serves modern French cuisine with a Japanese touch – his sauces tempered and presented in a far lighter vein with flavour intact.

“Expect a leisurely dining experience at night”

Meals are cooked to order by Taisuke who prides himself on perfection while his wife Erico looks after the tables with a quiet serenity. Nothing is rushed.

The menu consists of two soups , three side dishes, six mains and two desserts but Taisuke is happy to prepare any special requests as long as he is given a few days notice.

Crab Soup

Both soups are delicious the prawn chowder is thick and creamy, packed with prawns and vegetables – shallots, mushrooms, onions, carrots and parsley

Crab and vegetable soup is thin and tasty several crab claws adding colour and sweet crab meat

A small bowl of vegetables and a slice of garlic bread accompany the mains.

Black Angus

Black Angus rib eye steak is tender, rare as ordered, and comes with roasted garlic and a garlic soy sauce and cream, the sauce light and different.

Poached orange roughy is a light option served on a bed of snow peas, mushrooms and asparagus – the white firm fish dressed with a prawn and white wine sauce

There are two desserts, crepe suzette and apple pie.

The apple pie is well worth trying - made with a filo pastry and served with homemade ice cream.

French cuisine with a Japanese twist

Location: 2396 Gold Coast Highway (Corner Markeri Street)

Mermaid Beach

Phone: 07 5526 1772

Open:   Dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm

Lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday – the dishes Japanese and designed for faster service.