Le Café Gourmand
Mermaid Beach
Updated: Oct 27, 2023
Le Café Gourmand is a unique Australian/French cafe bringing a touch of Paris to Mermaid Beach.
Serving authentic French food, baked goods and desserts, this fabulously located café is busy providing an inspired la carte menu and a great culinary experience to discerning Gold Coast diners. Look for the bright blue umbrellas, picnic settings and laid-back lawn chairs occupying the Cronulla corner garden on the highway.
Mermaid’s Café Gourmand takes its name from the French ‘café gourmand’ culinary concept which is all about serving superior espresso coffee with a complementary selection of mini desserts, delivered on the same plate (popularised in the film, ‘Chocolat’). With a boulangerie (bakery), pâtisserie (pastry shop), café and restaurant all rolled into one, Le Café Gourmand is like sunshine on a rainy day.
Le Café’s bakery serves fresh croissants, pastries, baguettes baked daily and to order, and please be warned that the chocolate croissants are TO.DIE.FOR! The café’s French chef focuses on sourcing the best fresh ingredients from Australia and France and puts all his knowledge and passion into every meal that goes out of the kitchen. The menu is full of traditional French meals (read comfort food).
Hot breakfast options include the popular Croque Monsieur or toasted French ‘sanga’ with cured ham, Emmental cheese and Bechamel sauce. Look out for the most sought-after breakfast special – Le Café Gourmand’s Chili scrambled eggs. Lunch favourites include duck confit leg with potato mash, green beans and pepper sauce and the ‘vol au vent’, or French pie with bacon, chicken and mushroom in a flaky golden pastry served with green salad. Finish with Le Cittron a sweet acidulant dessert with a strawberry and basil centre.
Once your suitably stuffed, don’t forget to pick up some take home treats from the delightful little French-inspired Boutique!
Look out for special dinner dates and 3-5 course set menus which will include the crab salad, beef filet/steak frites or Coq au vin and French banoffee if you’re lucky. Le Café is fully licensed so expect the best selection of complementary wines, digestives and liqueurs with your meal.
Chef Rémi Baron is ready to welcome you so come and say salut!
By Michaela Lyons
