The team behind Siblings at Kirra has opened a sublime coastal European restaurant called Hanks
When Siblings opened in 2022, it was like a breath of fresh, salty air to the famed Kirra foreshore. Since then, the southern Gold Coast has evolved into quite the foodie hub, with the likes of Kirra Beach House, Kirra Beach Hotel and Pipi’s by Gambaro joining the fold. Just last week, the team that brought Siblings to the blooming beachside ‘burb added another gem to its culinary crown – a sophisticated coastal European-inspired restaurant, Hanks.
Nestled along Musgrave Street, Hanks has completely transformed the space that was formerly home to Bread and Butter into a show-stopping slice of the Mediterranean. Framed on two sides by enormous windows that peer over the foreshore to the beach beyond, the beautiful venue is the latest offering from hospitality veterans Peter and Tracey Cianci alongside Jarrod Kyle and TJ Cianci, and was brought to life by Space Cubed Design Studio and Zero9 Constructions.
While Siblings has the light and bright brief nailed, Hanks has sought to deliver a slightly moodier, more intimate vibe. With roughly 80 seats scattered across the internal dining space as well as the sidewalk, it’s a little bit smaller too. A magnificent Sovrano marble bar commands attention while custom black-and-white geometric tiles, striped bench seats and low-hanging pendant lights set the scene for a memorable meal. Arched doorways framed in brushed brass lead you through to the private dining space, which can host up to 24 guests for a sit-down event.
“Having travelled through Europe, we wanted to bring a European flavour to Kirra. We believe in the joy of sharing and our ethos is ‘the platter is the table’,” Tracey says.
In terms of the menu, executive chef Blake Fewtrell has curated an inspired coastal dining experience starting with snacks such as smoked wagyu crostino and salmon caviar. If you’re a fan of The Bread Social’s doughy creations, tuck into a serve of the Tuscan ‘Schiacciata’ bread. You’ll want to linger in the cured and sliced section of the menu, which is where you will find plates of smoked mortadella with pistachio and spicy salami.
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Moving on, the small plates offer tastes of chargrilled octopus alongside glistening blobs of burrata and pork belly with salsa verde, and while it might be tempting to graze your way through them all, the fresh handmade pasta and grill sections of the menu beckon like a siren song to sailors. Aunt Caroline’s baked spinach and ricotta rotolo provides a homely touch, while Ballina king prawns, market fish and a selection of steaks round out the offering.
The drinks list, by Paolo Gabrielloni, is described as ‘modern alchemy’ and offers an extensive selection of vino from Australia and abroad, including drops from Italy, France and Sicily, before delving into signature sips, four different kinds of sours, tikis and margaritas. As you move through, the menu begins to resemble chemical science with the breakdown on the intricacies of the negroni. All this to say, they take their drinks pretty seriously at Hanks.
Hanks is now open! Head to the Directory for opening times and booking details.
Image credit: Kirra Smith Photography