Shady Palms Café & Bar

a quirky café with a hipster vibe that will take you effortlessly from morning til night.

where // shady palms café & bar, 427 logan rd, greenslopes

 the younger sibling of the popular lady marmalade, shady palms is located just around the corner at the end of a row of shops. it's a deceptively large space, with the open front bar area expanding backwards into an outdoor setting. the outfit of the café really makes for a pleasant vibe, with wooden furnishings and beautifully upholstered antique couches.

 when // brunch yet again. it was very hot!

what // we got there before 12 so the breakfast menu was still on. had a lot of trouble deciding what to order - the menu offers some unique breakfast options (tortillas, taco, croquettes).

sticky date, spiced pumpkin and ricotta hotcakes with pecan praline ice cream (12.5) how could you go past this? thought i was being a bit adventurous here - never have i ever had i had pumpkin as a breakfast food. it didn't disappoint, and i was salivating as soon as the dish got to the table (fairy floss!). the flavours were good - big chunks of sticky date, which i loved. you could definitely taste the pumpkin as well, but it wasn't as strange as i anticipated. ice cream is always a plus. in the end the portion size was too much for me - too much sweetness for me! a coffee would have helped.

pulled pork soft tacos (two) w chimmichurri, corn salsa, shredded iceberg and chiptole (14.5) beautifully presented little dish with vibrant colours. the sauce gave it a bit of a kick, a good way to wake you up for the day! the lettuce was nice and crisp. two thumbs up. warning: serving size not that big especially if you're voraciously hungry.

cherry, chocolate and oreo shake (6.5) after the amazingness that was pablo's shakes (3.5 for a drink about the same size) i feel my expectations have been unnecessarily raised. there was nothing wrong with the drink, but i was disappointed with the absence of cherry flavour. just a regular oreo shake. (p.s. also the wrong choice to go with the pancakes unless you like pure sugar running in your veins)

verdict // the food was a hit, and there are a few more menu items for both breakfast and lunch that i have my eye on for next time. i loved the interior and the fact that instead of table numbers, they use celebrities. it's also very well priced in my opinion. they also open late and offer lots of alcohol options (craft beers and ciders and the like). will be back!

info // open wed-sun 8am til late. breakfast is before 12 with the lunch menu going from then til close. parking is tricky around the area - might be a bit of a trek! 

links // www.shadypalmscafe.com 

Pablo, New Farm

one of brisbane's favourites, for good reason.

where // pablo, 893 brunswick street, new farm

 if you read any 'best of brisbane breakfast' article, pablo is sure to feature. they are renowned for their all-day breakfasts which are inventive takes on the classics. the popular café is small and cosy with fairly limited seating, which means waiting in peak times. i've certainly never found it empty even during the weekdays.

 when // brunch time!

what // while the lunch menu sounds fantastic, i couldn't go past breakfast on either occasion. the drinks are also excellent value. aside from those meals featured below, i've seen a few other menu choices (avo/haloumi/labneh/dukkha tomatoes on toast, salmon/eggs on toast) and they were generous portions with fresh ingredients.

savoury mince, slow cooked with chorizo, speck bacon, cherry tomatoes & baby spinach, served with herbed crème fraiche, free-range fried egg, sourdough toast, fresh lemon (17) they describe it all with the menu, really! mince isn't usually my first choice, but i went for this after seeing it feature on the urban list's savoury mince article. it was full of flavour, especially with the chunks of chorizo in the mix. the créme fraiche mellowed out the mince nicely and a generous squeeze of lemon topped it off.

brioche french toast, spiced poached pears, homemade chai tea ice cream, hazelnut fairy floss, crushed pistachios, Heilala vanilla syrup (15) i had this the first time i went to pablo, and i had to talk myself out of it the second time as i have such a sweet tooth. it was absolutely incredible. the beautiful soft, warm pears on syrupy toast was an indulgent wintry delight. but the part that blew my mind was the chai tea ice cream - amazing flavours! and who doesn't like ice cream for breakfast?

confit of portabella mushrooms, baked with a feta & herb crumble, braised fennel, dill scrambled eggs, smoked tomato compote, crumbled feta, fresh lemon, rye & caraway toas (17) such a rubbish photo, apologies. i haven't had one all to myself yet (next time!) but the mouthful i tried was yummy. juicy mushrooms with enough texture and flavour from the crumble.

espresso with vanilla milkshake (3.5) as i said, these drinks are really good value - at $3.5, i did not expect the small sized milkshake to be this big! the coffee hit was definitely there as well not being too sweet. i thought it was a little bit warm (the coffee shot) for a milkshake but that still wouldn't deter me from re-ordering. they have a ton of other flavour options as well (oreo anybody?).

verdict // i like everything about this café: the overly descriptive menu titles, the atmosphere, the tasty food, the generous portion sizes, and the wonderful drinks. they serve lots of drinks actually - the menu is pages and pages long, and includes alcohol. my friend (who knows beer) was pleasantly surprised by the range on offer. a brisbane staple for reasons that are very clear. well-priced, will be back.

info // open 7 days 7am-3pm, taking orders til 2.30pm. breakfast is all day while the lunch menu starts at 11.30. parking is street and can be a little tricky unless you're willing to walk. again, it's not very big so pick your times.

links // www.pablonewfarm.com/
facebook 

*first image from the pablo website
 

The Rogue Rennard, Paddington

a gorgeous cafe in the heart of paddington, with great food and coffee to boot.

where // 106a latrobe terrace, paddington

if you choose to open a cafe in paddington, you better know what you’re doing in order to compete with the likes of popular establishments such as sassafras and anouk. since opening mid last year, the rogue rennard has demonstrated comprehensively that it has what it takes. most of the seating is outside and perfect for enjoying the sunny brisbane weather. the cafe is frequented by a range of people, prominently trendy hipster students.

when // a few times here and there

what // their menu changes every now and again, keeping things fresh with one or two substitutions every time.

madame mushroom (14). roasted mushrooms, w/ baby spinach, chevre, a poached egg and Madame’s herb and garlic crème sauce on sourdough. just plain yummy and a must try for all the mushroom-lovers out there. the serving size was more than adequate and i definitely left incredibly satisfied.

the trading company (14). mashed peas w/ orange chutney, slow - cooked ham hock and poached egg on sourdough. one of their more recent additions to the menu, it was one that i was keen to try out as a change from your stock standard breakfast offerings. the sweet and salty flavours went surprisingly well together, with the almost caramelised ham making the dish.

vanilla bean bircher (7.5). soaked oats w/ green apple, honeyed macadamia, natural yoghurt and seasonal fruit. i’m always on the lookout for good and affordable muesli. this one was a bit too wet for me and had lost texture. that said, the serving was very generous and i had trouble finishing it. i enjoyed the apple, but had no idea on what the pink-orange fruit on top was - any ideas?

avocat le fleur (6.5 for 1/11 for two). avocado w/ Persian fetta , crushed pine nuts and pistachio , fleur de sel, cracked pepper and lemon. i have a principle of not ordering avo on toast (as it’s one of the few things i can ‘cook’ for myself) but a friend had this. no pictures, but rest assured there was a massive amount of fresh cut avocado served. one for those who enjoy sliced avo rather than mashed.

flat white (3.5). the coffee is roasted by cup specialty coffee, so you know it’s going to be good.

verdict // a new favourite. lots of fresh, tasty options on the menu, great coffee and a beautiful outdoor setting to watch the world to go by - three basic ingredients for a fantastic place to go. they’re opening for dinner shortly as well, which is super exciting and i will be checking that one out.

info // open mon 7am-12pm, tues-sat 7am-4pm and sun 8am-4pm. as i said, they will be doing dinner from next week. lots of parking on nearby streets or in the shopping centre across the road. they have a loyalty stamp card too.

links // www.theroguerennard.com

www.facebook.com/TheRogueRennard

photo // top photo from rr’s facebook page.

Bare Bones Society, Jindalee

where // shop 22, jindalee homemaker city, goggs road

one of the many new suburban cafes to have opened its doors this year, the bare bones signage proudly proclaims ‘est. 2013’. it is a small but open space, with glass windows all around. the cafe is punctuated by colourful plastic seats, which fit in with the clientele; many families filled the room for a sunday breakfast. undoubtedly best suited to breezy summer days.

when // on a foggy sunday morning for breakfast

what // mushies on toast with poached eggs (16.5), green eggs and ham (15.5), flat white (3.8)

green eggs and ham; scrambled eggs, crispy prosciutto, spinach, basil, shallots and pesto (13.5) + sourdough (2). didn’t taste this one - but it looks incredible and tasty. on the list to try next time.

mushies on toast (pictured); roast field mushrooms, feta, creamed spinach and pecorino on sourdough (12) + 2 poached eggs (4.5). this was everything you want out of a mushroomy breakfast - generous, filling and lifted by the cheeses. eggs were well poached.

menu // very sneaky menu pic - the breakfast side.

verdict // the new local spot for breakfast, it is a less expensive and more casual alternative to the nook. the meals were reasonably priced and hearty - no need for lunch after this. coffee was toby’s estate which was wasn’t bad. as the first people through the door, meals took 30 minutes - a bit longer than expected. overall, a welcome addition to the western suburbs of brisbane.

info // open tues - sun from 8-4. they run the breakfast menu from 8.30-11.30 with standard offerings such as avo on toast (10) & porridge (9.5) with a few oddities thrown in such as the mexican burrito (14). lunch is also fairly standard with sandwiches and burgers. the specials board changes daily. plenty of parking in homemaker city.

links // https://www.facebook.com/BareBonesSociety