If you know anything about the Australian outdoor dining scene, you've probably come across Charly Pretet. The French-born chef behind Terra Firma Dining has spent the better part of the last decade cooking over open fire across Queensland, from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast, Byron Bay and beyond. He's built a name doing things the old way: wood, flame, local produce, and no walls.
So when Charly shares where he goes to eat when he's not the one behind the fire, you listen.
Here are his top picks.
Popina — Eumundi, Sunshine Coast
"I've got a very cute little restaurant in Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast called Popina. It is owned and operated by a couple, husband in the kitchen, wife on the floor. Seasonal menu, changing every week, Italian inspired. Beautiful food, incredible service."
That husband-and-wife team is Chef Alex King and Penny, and if you've been to Popina, you already know it's one of those places that punches way above its size. A tiny spot on Memorial Drive, ranked among the best restaurants in the area, running entirely on two people and a deep respect for seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. No frills. Just honest Italian-inspired cooking done really, really well.
Norte — Gold Coast
"I've got a very interesting restaurant that I love going to on the Gold Coast, Norte. They do incredible food, South America inspired, and the head chef is doing an absolutely beautiful job. The venue is on two levels, you've got a rooftop bar, and the food is absolutely incredible. There is not a single time I'm going to the Gold Coast and not stopping for one dinner at Norte."
Located in Mermaid Beach inside The Oxley precinct, Norte is a Latin American restaurant from the team behind Rick Shores. The rooftop bar he's talking about is Sueno, sitting right above the main dining room. Moody, glamorous, built around a custom hearth, and clearly the kind of place that keeps pulling Charly back every single time he's in town.
Agnes — Brisbane
"Of course, Agnes in Brisbane. Owned and operated by Ben Williamson, a good friend of mine, cooking over fire. Beautiful menu, fine dining, everything. The whole kitchen is a wood fire kitchen, they bake all the desserts with a wood fire oven, grills everywhere, smoker. Incredible food, incredible service."
Agnes needs little introduction at this point. Named Australia's Restaurant of the Year by Gourmet Traveller in 2023, featured in the New York Times. The whole thing. Co-owned by Ben Williamson alongside Tyron Simon, Bianca Marchi, and Frank Li, Agnes runs entirely on fire. No gas, no electricity. Just three massive woodfire pits in the middle of a moody, heritage-listed warehouse in Fortitude Valley. The fact that a chef who literally cooks over fire for a living rates this place as a must-visit says everything.
Hand of Fatima — Peregian Beach, Sunshine Coast
"A little cafe on the Sunshine Coast in Peregian Beach where I love going. It's a tiny little hole in the wall. They do literally three Turkish dishes for breakfast. They've got these Turkish eggs, I get them every time I go there, after surf or after walking my dog on the beach. Very simple, very honest food. I absolutely love it."
This one's called Hand of Fatima, tucked into the Peregian Beach village. Turkish and Middle Eastern-inspired, open early, small menu, no pretence. The Turkish eggs he keeps going back for are cilbir (poached eggs over whipped yoghurt), and they've built a quiet but loyal following on the coast for exactly the kind of cooking Charly describes: simple, soulful, and honest.
Where to Stay: Mondrian Gold Coast — Burleigh Heads
"If you have to stay somewhere in Queensland, I would say stay at the Mondrian on the Gold Coast. Newly open, right on the beach in Burleigh Heads. Beautiful hotel facing the ocean, incredible pool bar, surf right in front of the hotel. The Mondrian is absolutely amazing."
Mondrian Gold Coast is the brand's first property in Australia, and it's made an entrance. Sitting right on the waterfront at Burleigh Heads, the 208-room hotel features ocean-facing rooms, a resort-style pool, multiple restaurants including coastal Italian spot LiTO and seafood-focused Haven, and a wellness spa. If you're doing a Queensland food trip and need a base on the Gold Coast, Charly's already made the call for you.
