Everyone’s talking about Bruno’s. Mention to Coffs Coast locals that you’re looking for somewhere to eat and you’ll hear about the charming weatherboard cottage with a green picket fence, a cosy fire-warmed dining room, and a ripper side balcony where you can sip amaro and drink in the balmy Bello nights.

Everyone has an opinion on what to order. Some swear by the steak tartare spiked with house-made hot sauce and showered with crunchy potato straws. Others prefer the lamb belly skewers, richly charred and glistening in a date glaze. If you ask us, we’d say you need to order the whipped ricotta piled with fruity grilled peppers, plus a side of dukkah-crusted flatbread to swish it all up.

The cucumber gimlet laced with minty mastika is as delicious as it sounds, or for something more layered and textural, try the bright-tart blackberry sour. Locals will tell you they come here just for cocktails, too.

Must-order: Ricotta with marinated peppers, gremolata and almond.

Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.