14 of the Best Pasta Dishes on the Gold Coast: From Signature Gnocchi to 25-Layer Lasagne

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14 of the Best Pasta Dishes on the Gold Coast

Carbs are your friends, not your enemies. Say it with us.

Pasta is the very heart of Italian cooking — which might explain why our Italian friends have so much fire in their bellies. Italians are some of the most animated, passionate people you'll ever meet. For that, we love them. For giving the world pasta, we adore them.

There's never a bad time or season to tuck into something hearty and soul-satisfying, and nothing does the job quite like handmade pasta loaded with ALL the cheese… naturally.

But where do you find the perfect plate of pasta? The Gold Coast is packed with excellent Italian eateries, so we loosened our belts a notch and rounded up the very best. We're generous like that. We dare you to make it to the end without plotting an epic GC pasta crawl (0 out of 0 cardiologists would approve).

La Calabrese

Golden Brown Gnocco Pumpkin — When we think of pasta, it's usually the fork-twirling kind that springs to mind. But La Calabrese's Golden Brown Gnocco Pumpkin rewires our brains for pillowy pockets of potato — aka gnocchi. Their handmade potato gnocchi is pan-fried in a nutty crumb coating and served with smoked butternut pumpkin purée, gorgonzola and parmesan. It'll gnocchi your socks off. Where: Level 1, Meriton Surfers Paradise, 86 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

Edgewater Dining & Lounge Bar

Signature Prawn & Bug Risotto — Yes, we know risotto isn't technically pasta, but once you get a mouthful of this one, you won't be splitting hairs over technicalities. A grilled half Moreton Bay bug sits pretty atop a rich, creamy prawn risotto, finished with chilli, fresh herbs and parmesan. Sunset views over the marina come free of charge. Where: Shop 3 G7, Capri on Via Roma, Isle of Capri, Surfers Paradise

Papa Rolly's

Spaghetti Carbonara — This Gemelli Group gem serves up all the rustic trattoria vibes, with handmade pizzas, hearty pastas, BYO vino and a scoop (or three) of Gelato Gemelli to seal the deal. Their Spaghetti Carbonara is a glorious take on the classic comfort dish, made with pancetta, Spanish onion and mushrooms folded through cream, egg and parmesan. Yummmm. Where: 124 Pappas Way, Carrara

Gemelli Italian

Rigatoni Salsicce — The Gemelli brothers are known for an authentic Italian experience, with every dish — pasta included — made fresh in-house daily and far too good to try just one. But if we had to pick, their Rigatoni Salsicce is the ultimate celebration: homemade fennel, pork and chilli sausage with olives, roast capsicum and chilli, folded through a Napoli sauce. Where: 2/2685 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach

Sofia's

Cacio e Pepe — Is there anything more indulgent than pasta twirled theatrically through a 40kg wheel of parmesan? At Sofia's, the signature Cacio e Pepe (serves two) is an elegant ode to simplicity: spaghetti coated in cream and cracked pepper, finished with a generous snowstorm of parmesan, all tossed straight from the wheel at your table. Rich, romantic, and proof that sometimes the simplest things are the most luxurious. Where: Shop G0.53, Victoria Avenue, Broadbeach

Modo Mio

Linguine Primavera — Modo Mio's Linguine Primavera proves that simplicity, done well, always wins. Local king prawns, zucchini and cherry tomato are tossed through linguine with extra virgin olive oil and a hit of chilli. Fresh, fabulous, and worth the trip to Pac Fair. Where: Kiosk 101/2 Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach Waters

Bar Monte

Creste Alla Vodka — We like our pasta the way we like our Friday nights: saucy, a little spicy, and with vodka involved. Bar Monte's Creste Alla Vodka ticks every box, tossing ruffled pasta through a luscious vodka sauce with fiery nduja and creamy stracciatella. Every ridge catches maximum saucy goodness — that's the kind of attention to detail we can get behind. We'd climb every Monte for another bowl. Where: 3 Mountain View Ave, Miami

Crispy Italian

Rigatoni Calabria — Crispy Italian's pasta menu turns up the heat — literally — with a Rigatoni Calabria that brings together a punchy Napoli sauce, 'nduja, hot salami, garlic and Calabrian chilli for a bowl that doesn't hold back (don't worry, it's listed mild, so don't be scared). Where: 4/1840 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

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Local

25 Layer Lasagne — 25 layers of lasagne? Well, of course. Local Burleigh's pan-fried 25 Layer Lasagne is stacked with sweet Napoli sauce, béchamel, chimichurri, parmesan and chives, served with focaccia on the side every Thursday night. You had us at 25 layers — consider our arm well and truly twisted. Where: 1744 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Justin Lane

Pappardelle Bolognese — It's no secret that Justin Lane's pizza game is strong, but their pasta game is just as mighty. You should really try them all. If you can only choose one, make it the house staple: rich pappardelle with a pork and veal bolognese, finished with grana padano. Bellissimo! Where: 1708-1710 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Balboa

Pappardelle al Ragù — Oh Balboa, you aesthetically pleasing thing. The fit-out alone — a glamorous chandelier and a bright red Vespa — is reason enough to visit. The pizza is outstanding, but their pasta is to die for, and it's all handmade on-site. Case in point: the long-time favourite Pappardelle al Ragù, house-made pappardelle with a slow-cooked tomato and sweet-spiced goat ragu, topped with Grana Padano and extra virgin olive oil. It's been a Balboa signature since 2016 for good reason. Where: 1069 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Spaghetto

Build Your Own — At Spaghetto, you're the head chef of your own carb-loaded creation. Pick your pasta (handmade fresh daily), choose your sauce (Napoli, white, rose or pesto), then pile on the toppings. It's a build-your-own-bowl situation with zero limits on your cravings — or your self-control (ours sits at about a 3/100). Dreams really do come true. Where: Shop 3/1132 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach

Pasta Lovers

Tricolore — Named after the colours of the Italian flag, the Tricolore is the hero of the menu at this small-but-mighty fresh pasta takeaway in Currumbin Waters. Handmade tortiglioni is dressed in tomato sauce and basil pesto, then finished with creamy stracciatella and a scattering of pistachio granella. Go all in with extra stracciatella, guanciale or a pistachio crumble sprinkle. Where: Unit 4/42 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Waters

Tommy's Italian

Pappardelle Lamb Ragu — Grab a table under those iconic red and white umbrellas, order an Aperol Spritz, and let the uninterrupted ocean views do their thing. Tommy's is peak Italian summer energy, Currumbin-style. The Pappardelle Lamb Ragu is the star of the line-up: lamb braised low and slow for 8 hours in red wine, tossed through ribbons of pappardelle with pecorino and parsley. Comfort food on the coast? Absolutely. Where: 818 Pacific Parade, Currumbin