Review Naim - Brisbane

Exploring our local, came for brunch with the family and really enjoyed the food. Flavoursome, generous and well presented. Service was excellent. Would be back to check out dinner at some stage.

Coming here was the most pleasant experience we have had in a ll g while. The coffee was great, food amazing, and service was top notch. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a healthy brunch!

I’ve sampled many famous food spots all around the world - Naim’s food is THAT kind of world-class. Run, don’t walk to try the food here. I’m confused by the reviews commenting on the food’s authenticity because the whole point of the food here is that it ISN’T authentic, it’s fusion with another cuisine. There’s a lot of high-level experimentation because the menu changes all the time. If you’re not a food adventurer, stick with a permanent menu item like the hummus bowl. Excellent coffee, no extra charge for alternative milks, very lovely staff.

My wife and I loved this cafe! Came here for my bday and so glad we did. It's fresh and delicious. We loved its vibe too, funky and homely. The staff are amazing too. Sad we don't live in Brisbane, but next time we are here, we'll come back. Thank you!

Oh my goodness 🙌🏼🥰❤️ Book early so that you can enjoy the stunning view in the main dining room. The staff are always lovely, the draft beer is delicious and the food is made with love ❤️ and you leave feeling fantastic. Plant based and it’s SO yummy!!! I think about their flat bread, humous and those plant based meatballs even when I’m not there😂 The owners must be there everyday because you can taste the love and don’t skip dessert … it’s delicious!!!

The food here is fresh, tasty and authentic. I had the plant based meat balls which tasted just like meat! The flavours are incredible. I'll be back :)

The shakshuka was perfection. I had it with the freshly made mint lemonade and they balanced each other so well. The coffee was also excellent. We visiting around 10am and there were only 2 other tables so it felt safe and clean. Great staff that were attentive but not pushy. I also got one of the cinnamon scrolls they bake and it was so, so good!

I was very grateful to have so many delicious vegan options. The servings are generous. We tried a few Vegan "meats". The Shawarma "chicken", the Vegan "meat balls" and the carrot falafels- all delicious

Loved it a lot!! The food was so delicious and the colours were beautiful! The restaurant is also beautiful and the staff are the best❤️. It was a bit overpriced though, but other than it it was so good :)

The food was scrumptious and the colours really popped on the plate, layout was beautiful. The sink in the bathroom was really cool too, and so were the tiles. <br/>A noice vibe to the place and the staff were nice. Would reccomend 10/10.

We visited Naim as our first dining experience since lockdown restrictions were eased. While there was a mix up with our reservation, staff were quick to rectify the situation and were great for the entire evening.<br/><br/>We started with the hummus platter and it was definitely the dish of the night. Absolutely delicious in every way!<br/><br/>My husband had the lamb shank, which was a tad dry which was a bit disappointing. Great flavour, though. I chose the kusheri chicken dish. It was quite a big serve, I couldn't finish it! I thought there were a few too many cranberries in my dish but everything else was super delicious.<br/><br/>The wine and beer list were small however all were good choices.<br/><br/>A wonderful spot, hidden down a little side street in Paddington and one I would highly recommend visiting. Delicious, authentic, warm and inviting.

Had the most amazing meal at Naïm last night! We are normally meat and dairy eaters but we felt like a big injection of veggies so decided Naïm was the place. <br/>We were not disappointed one bit. The Kusheri was packed full of flavour - those crispy onions and dried cranberry bits were to die for. We even loved the plant based meatballs, which is big for meat eaters! <br/>The eggplant had the most amazing smoked flavour and our sides (charred broccolini and spiced sweet potato mash) totally hit the spot. <br/>We will be back many times!

Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be even more than what you are.<br/><br/>That is the main lesson I learnt while visiting the beautiful Naïm.<br/><br/>It’s so easy as you get older to find the best in who you’ve become and to get a little complacent about it. But what if being ‘exactly who you are and want to be’ also meant trying to still fighting to be the best you could be? Why not continuing to challenge yourself to try new things and to thrive even more?<br/><br/>Last weekend I met Vince Estacio that had moved to Brisbane from San Francisco, as formerly a chef of Michelin starred restaurant, Mourad. And let me tell you that I felt very honoured to be having dinner here and trying some of the vegan items from their Middle Eastern inspired menu. <br/><br/>Naïm is pronounced nye-eem and it means in Arabic, 'happiness', and in Hebrew, 'pleasant'. And it represents what every single soul feels when they walk through their doors.<br/><br/>And they say Naïm rhymes with ‘big dream’ and I can attest that their dinning experience certainly makes you want to dream and become a better self. Even if you are happy and comfortable where you are in life, why not even fight for something a little bit higher? There is always something more, that little bit extra that you can give to the world 👌 #kindness<br/><br/>But if you’re not that into those vibes, well Naïm also rhymes with ice cream, and don’t you dare leaving this feast without having some of their vegan icecream 😂 I am very happy with life indeed 😍❤️ what an experience!<br/><br/>Naïm place has evolved over the years and the first owner B.J. Wall began as a guest back in 2014, when we were called Shouk Cafe. As they told me, it soon became a favourite place and decided to buy the place until last year, where some of his friends took over the place along with Head Chef and co-owner, Vince Estacio. They have been ore and more adventures with foods than ever and it has been massively popular with the locals and people all over Brisbane and beyond. Seriously, when I visited the place when from 0 to fully packed in seconds, as the doors opened! <br/><br/>The place is located at Paddington and it’s a very cute little house, with colourful designs that are quite abstract but not to the point where you don’t really understand what kind of art is going on - it’s a beauty to actually stare at the different colours and shapes on the walls and try to figure out what they represent! The doors are inviting and I was told that the line to enter the places goes all the way to the other side of the road and even more towards another pathway - it’s insane! It’s an insanity that people know it’s worth it!<br/><br/>When you walk in you get into a room where it reminds me some more Eastern counties and it has very simple wood tables but with candle lights in each one and a tissue napkin. There are also walls decorated with multiple paintings with again the same abstract feeling and there is a shelf with some items from plants to little lanterns. The bar station is right at the end of that room and if you’re all in even further you find yourself in a dining a room with lanterns lights (like those ones in the wedding videos) that once the sunset starts, the magic happens. It is outstanding to watch and a teu privilege to be in that room. The have a wall with wines hanging on a wall telling their story too and again there are some more paintings and even an area with some pillows that is the perfect spot for an event more private occasion.<br/><br/>The menu is quite varied and to be honest I’m not an expert when in comes to middle eastern cuisine. So I left my friends choose what we were having! All the presentation was outstanding and the meals were carefully catered and executed to perfection!<br/><br/>- Artichoke Pilaf - on a bed of spiced basmati rice and brown lentils this was surprisingly not as spicy as you would expect! Which obviously I am very grateful because my tolerance is minimal! The rice is very delicious and loose and pairs very nicely with the grilled marinated artichokes on top cutting in parts. In the mix there is also a caramelised onion curry that I found quite interesting and personally by itself you feel like something more crunchy is missing and that clearly why they add the toasted cashews and crispy shallots on the outer part of the bowl where everything comes! There are some golden raisins in the mix too that are very much appreciated to bring a sweet contrast to it and you could be with your eyes closed and you would certainly guess this is a typical Middle Eastern food! Spicy (mild and average) lovers, this is for you!<br/><br/>- Hummus Board - we tried the hummus bird that basically came with a huuuuuge portion of hummus in a wooden rounded board and then decorated on top with multiple things! It seemed like a grazing table to me actually 😂 it had spoon salad with cucumbers, lettuce, tomato and others, slices of watermelon radish that were absolutely the highlight for me and I definitely recommend using not only the toasted flatbread that it comes with but also this to eat with the hummus! (HUGE FAN 👏), some marinated olives, and a few more spices on top. The toasted flatbread is terrific and it is like a light garlic bread to me but obviously not crunchy, and instead, flat and soft! This was my favourite meal! It also came with some carrot falafels on the side and a spread made of dates and another secret ingredient that I’m not sure I can share 😂 the falafels are quite cute and smallish in size but packed with flavour and it was my first time having carrot falafels! Definitely approved in crunchiness and taste and I wished there were more 😂 the sauce was fantastic and as someone mostly sweet based I could definitely eat a loooooot of these indeed 😂 loved it and certainly my favourite in every aspect - size, taste and ingredients!<br/><br/>- Muhammara Spread - we also tried a little (Not little at all because it was actually the biggest meal 😂) spread that is called Muhammara spread that is from one of their other main meals, and it is basically a spicy pepper dip that originated from Aleppo, Syria, made with roasted red peppers, Aleppo chili flakes and walnuts! Surprisingly I didn’t find it spicy at all again (and it’s agilizes to be quite hot sometimes and I saw it as a mix of savory, sweet, and smoky with a little intense touch to it! You can tell it’s something very flavourful and that takes a lot of time to reach perfection, as anything else here! Absolutely loved it too and just felt that there was something missing to use as a way to eat it (like the flat bread) but we were just tasting the sauce not the exact meal, so it makes sense that it didn’t have much with it 😂 still very good and we used the hummus flatbread to eat it and even ate it with a sooon of how good it was 😂<br/><br/>- Elderflower & fresh blueberries vegan icecream - finally I wanted to try something sweet and had a go at their vegan icecream. It’s not creamy but more more like soft in consistency and the taste is something I’ve never had before. Quite interesting indeed! We added some improved scoops with a crumble and a little vegan chocolate sauce and the all paired very well but next time I sure want to have a read dessert because I’m sure they are fantastic!<br/><br/>Loved the area, the place and the food. The environment. I found the greatest pleasure and happiness here and can attest they make justice to there name indeed. Will definitely recommend (as the other dozens of people lining and waiting 😂) and will come back again.

I discover that my last and first review on this renowned cafe has been erased??!<br/>While I was walking along the Latrobe Tce this morning, I saw this cafe being tucked away from the main road that recalled my memory of the first visit. Although I just had my brekkie, the memorial episode tempted me to go for a take-away coffee.<br/>When I walked in, the grand vibe made me very comfortable. Approached the bar and ordered a take-away flat white. Despite the fact that the charge is higher than its competitor, but the service and the quality of my take-away coffee really compensate any discrepancy. <br/>Will return for brekkie one day👍<br/>Rating: 4.5/5

Naim is an eatery in Paddington that has been around for a few years now. It was formerly Shouk, but we had not visited since the change. From what we gathered, it had not actually changed hands, but perhaps adjusted direction a bit. The middle-eastern ethos remains, and we were interested to find out what they were doing now.

We arrived and asked for a table, the waiter told us that a table would be a 20 minute wait - we gave him our contact number and asked him to call us when a table was available. After over 45 minutes of waiting, the waiter still had not called and we returned to the restaurant. <br/><br/>When we returned, the waiter thought that it was funny that we had were waiting so long. I asked another waitress his name and I was told that it was ‘Filippo’. He offered no apology and I asked why not; he then lied and said that he did call us - I explained that he worked in customer service and should act as such, his work demeanour does a disservice to his colleagues. <br/><br/>I will not return and would not recommend anyone waste their time.

Overall score: 20/25 or ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>in 5 words: pleasant middle eastern brunch option <br/>*<br/>✅ recommended: shakshuka, brekky pita<br/>*<br/>💬 Review: We ventured to Paddington to this middle eastern cafe. Upon entering, we loved the relaxed cafe vibes and navy blur decor. Ample sunlight here - we enjoyed the view of Paddington suburbs and beyond from your table.<br/><br/>Our middle eastern brunch spread was visually beautiful and oh so delicious. Could tell the bread was homemade because it was so flaky. Shakshuka came with spicy sausages and tasted more spicy than tomato-ey if that makes sense. It really puts all the other shakshuka I’ve had in melbourne to shame! <br/><br/>As for the brekky pita, i really enjoyed putting the pita bread together - the scrambled eggs were simple but really buttery. Lamb was delicious! Coffee was not too shabby either. All in all, Naïm is certainly a brunch institution with unique brunch offerings - certainly not just avo toasts! <br/>*<br/>Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Price: ⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/><br/>

I dined here last Saturday and thought I'd order a little out of the box for this one (considering it was for breakfast) and I was blown away. I ordered the $18 Hummus bowl with chicken schnitzel, housemade hummus, Israeli salad, marinated olives, cumin gouda and toasted za'atar flatbread to scoop it all up. Probably a bit too heavy for breakfast as the portion was very large and filling but would be the perfect brunch/lunch. As always they were packed, however even though they were busy the staff were very attentive and the food arrived pretty quick

I went here this evening with a friend. My main meal was the mushroom pie. It was ok. Not great, just ok. Then we had desert. I ordered the peaches and cream. The peaches was ok but cream was brown. I wanted to try to be polite so after the first spoon I tried to eat another spoonful. But it was so bad that I just couldn’t eat any more. My tastebuds indicted very strongly to me that this is not something I should eat. I felt like it was something poisonous. Half an hour later I still feel as though I can smell the bad taste on my breath. Never in my life have I not been able to eat something from a restaurant. My friend wanted to be polite and he traded desert with me. I ate that and it was fine. We went to Woolworths for chewing gum afterwards because we felt as though we needed to remove the taste. We checked online for the reviews of this restaurant, as we were so surprised that the food was so terrible after seeing all the great reviews. We saw a picture of the peaches and cream which had white cream, not brown. I think there was some sort of mistake or accident with my food. We paid in full and didn’t complain or give feedback to them directly.

Updated review. March 2020.<br/>Went here for lunch with friends.<br/>We ordered mimosas, as well as Lamb Ribs (beautifully tender and moreish), Muhammara Flatbread with Burrata (generous serving, perfect with the creamy burrata), Hummus Bowl (delicious with pleeeenty of hummus) and Falafel Benedict (perfect eggs, a healthy vegetarian option).<br/>Friendly and efficient service. Casual ambience. Reasonable prices (for a trendy Paddington cafe).<br/>Overall, a lovely lunch option with friends.<br/>____<br/>March 2019. Went here on a lazy weekend afternoon for late lunch with the partner.<br/><br/>I ordered the 'Butterfly' Iced Tea, which was one of the specials for the day. There was some performance involved as the dark purple drink turned pink once the lemon juice was added. Fun and deliciously refreshing.<br/><br/>To eat, we ordered the "Kusheri" - an unique blend of flavours and textures; delicious, and the "Brisket Pastrami" - homely, tender and generous portions of brisket.<br/><br/>Casual ambience within a Queenslander house. Service was a bit slow to start with, albeit were friendly. Reasonable for portions (well, at least for our chosen dishes).<br/><br/>Overall, a lovely (and popular) brunch spot in the trendy streets of Paddington.

Never disappointed when i go to Naim. Their menu is always interesting and executed well. The meal i chose featured lamb bacon! very impressed.<br/><br/>The venue is gives you a home feel and the service was great. <br/><br/>Will definitely keep coming back to this place for brekky

My friend & I came here for my birthday brunch last week. It was beautiful! Such a lovely different menu done well. The space is so light & airy, you could say all day. Highly recommended, I'll be back.

Naim has been on my list for ages now and l was not disappointed. Dined here with some lovely friends and we all enjoyed our meals. The restaurant is surprisingly big but had a nice cosy vibe to it. The food was exceptional. To share we got the hummus board. The hummas was so beautiful and perfect. For mains we got the barramundi. It was honestly the best cooked barra I've ever had. So much flavour and it just melted in my mouth. Really enjoyed the meals here. Service was also great. They were so sweet and patient. Can't wait to visit again.

Lovely atmosphere and staff. I went for brunch with two friends and we sat at the end of a big communal table area. Service was quick but did return multiple times in quick succession which was a little annoying. The menu made it seem like there was lots of gf and veg/vegan options but I ended up having to have a meal without some ingredients to satisfy dietaries. Given that the meal was somewhat lacking as a result I wasn’t super impressed. What I did eat was fresh and good.

Wow, so good!<br/>Had the amazing Bastilla and Majedra and was impressed by just about everything. Beautiful setting and great service. Will definitely return.

We had a lovely meal here with family, however the flavours could have been balanced a little better. Overall very enjoyable and would eat here again, I just wouldn't order the same dish.

Visited this beautiful restaurant with a friend for lunch today. Service and staff were great. The ambience was very nice and the staff were very welcoming. Food was nice. I had Majedra which was nice but too much cinnamon. Not so many vegetarian options for lunch.

Last week, I had the pleasure to come Naim (previous Shoulk) to try out their new menu.<br/><br/>We were in for an incredible feast ❤Amazing food, service, and I already want to come back<br/><br/>Read more at<br/><br/>foodieadam.com/blog/2018/10/1/naim-new-dinner-menu

One good meal always leads to another, and last Tuesday I had the good fortune (yet again, YAY!), of tagging along as FoodieAdam's plus one to try out the dinner menu at highly popular, local icon, Naim, in Paddington. I had been super excited for this all week, heading there straight after a long day's work, we were early for our 6pm reservation.

Located in a very quiet area, but always bustling with business. A nice place to take a girl out to brunch and enjoy the amazing food. You will get a bit of food envy from other people’s orders because everything looks so colourful and delicious.

It has been long on my list that needed to try. Have to say I’m a bit disappointed. The decorations and view was quite all right but food is not too high above average. We ordered the popular Shakushuka and another sweet breakfast orange waffle. Didn’t finish neither of them. The portion was quite generous but the Shakushuka taste too sour and and the waffle was too sweet. The place was worth visit but maybe not enough for a five star.

Visited Naim today for breakfast today with a friend and it was so lovely!<br/>We were greeted with smiles from every staff member and a wonderful and attentive waitress who was happy to give us menu recommendations. <br/>We shared two meals: the shakshuka and the latke. Both were delicious and were of a decent serving. The coffee was also great! Thanks for a wonderful morning! Will be back :)

I have never rated a place at below a 3 - but really!? - I have been going to this cafe for years as it serves a delightful range of food for breakfast that is varied and wonderfully tasty - but now, during the week, not only do they not open until 7:30am but they don’t serve any food until 9:30 - the coffee is not that good that I will bother going back. The seats are uncomfortable at best and do you really need to be mopping at 8am around our feet - what the bloody! The view is nice but the presentation of the premises is old and tired. I have given it a 2 as the food on weekends - assuming same menu - will be good.

Have not been over to Paddington in many years, seems like so many interesting places have popped up. My friend stumbled onto this cafe and raved about it post their visit, so we catch up there while I was in town. Interesting cuisine mix with a Middle Eastern spin through a classic brunch menu. The space out the back of a spacious half open room, letting the sunlight in, and over a nice view over the suburb. Service was friendly and accommodating. The food were a bit mix. My Latke was rubbery & the haloumi was bit dry, also need a bit more flavour through the latke. My friend's lamb dish though was smashing! Really wish I ordered that instead. Overall I would still a good place to catch up.

Latke stack was definitely the star of the show! The smoked salmon, the stacks, poached eggs!! I also love the desert dish with the crumbs, ice cream, strawberries, and of course, waffles!! Who doesnt love waffles? They had a really cozy restaurant, and a really big window where we could see the Paddington area from inside. The place was really artsy, with beautiful plates and ceramics being displayed. I felt like i was somewhere in East europe. Def will come back on my next visit to Brisbane.

Naim has by far the most unique blend of flavours of any cafe i've been to, its never disappointed and every thing i've tried is full of flavour and unlike any cafe i've visited! so fresh and creative :)

This is a quirky, enjoyable little Paddington eatery that hits the mark every time! The staff here work very hard and are eager to please with their delicious contemporary take on Middle Eastern food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all equally great. A fantastic Paddington staple. Nice work Naim, and thank you.

Staff are friendly. But Shashuka is way to watery. It would be better if add black beans in. Overall it’s not bad. Banana smoothie is wonderful!<br/>

Favourite spot in Paddington!! Great vibes, lovely staff and interesting middle-eastern influenced menu. The pumpkin and haloumi dish is 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼 (please bring it back)

Naim in Paddington is one of my local favs.. it never disappoints with amazing and innovative flavour combinations. The mix of Middle East and Australian, the care and love in presentation - everything is beautiful to look at and to taste. Staff are friendly and patient and welcoming even when flat out. Dont stress if you are waiting it is always worth it.

welcoming atmosphere with beautiful Mountain View! Friendly and Nice staffs. Beautiful look of food and Great taste. WELL-DONE boiled EGGs! That’s the point to exceed my expectation! Highly Recommended!

A cute cafe perched on a hill. Staff were attentive and offered us seats out the back, where you can enjoy uninterrupted views of Brisbane from inside.<br/><br/>We ordered the shakshuka (baked eggs) and the pumpkin and haloumi sourdough toast.<br/><br/>The shakshuka was quite thin and watery, almost like soup. I would have liked more solids (e.g. beans?), or otherwise have more bread on the side to soak up the baked eggs. The baked eggs came with two small slices of turkish bread. I ended up 'drinking' the baked eggs with a spoon once the bread was gone. I like soup so I don't mind personally but it definitely wasn't a hearty or filling dish. The pumpkin and haloumi toast was really nice though.<br/>

Had breakfast here.. a great little place with a nice atmosphere. The service was average due to the crowds gathering for their morning feast. You won’t be disappointed with the food on offer here. Definitely come back again !!

Wow what a stand out cafe! I've been here twice now and have been impressed by the food and service. The potato latke with poached eggs, halloumi and added avocado was delicious. This is a perfect spot for breakfast, lunch or cake and coffee. Will be back soon!

From the cafe, view is awesome !! <br/>Very vibrate atmosphere, nice staffs, unique menu. This place is one of my favourite breakfast place, ordered picked cabbage egg, it was beautiful flavour. If you go Naim, you must try this menu !! <br/>This breakfast made my day :) <br/><br/>Ps. I won'r recommend coffee.

Tucked away slightly from the busy street of Latrobe Terrace next to the iconic antique shop. A small but vibrant places. Sunny morning and it's buzzing with people, a mix of millennials, young families and never short of lover of all years. <br/><br/>The menus is as it reads. Nice and simple with a great variety for everyone to pick from. I ordered the Reuben! You may think ewwww! Pub food! Low and behold everything you wouldn't expect! They didn't skimp on anything just filled with flavour the desires of every hungry man's heart! Coffee is excellent too! <br/><br/>For those that haven't been it's a must go.

I recently had brunch at Naïm for the first time since its name changed from Shouk. The food continues to be delicious and the service is exceptional. The staff were very vigilant of my nut allergy, even to the point where they showed me the ingredients on the food packaging, prepared my food in a clean space and offered to prepare a different meal for me if I was still concerned about traces of nuts in the dish I received (I was fine with the original dish though). I recommend Naïm if you're looking for a brunch spot that's different to all the rest! I would also love to see the return of the chocolate and avocado smoothie and latke stack (from Shouk days)!

These guys are legends, their service is second to none and they put so much consideration into their impeccably consistent and amazing food.

I have been to Naim numerous times now and can not fault it. The food is always delicious and I find the menu interesting and exciting. The service is always exceptional with friendly, knowledgable and attentive staff. The space is bright and tastefully decorated. I'll keep coming back!

Had a fantastic brunch here! :) Bonus points: A bubbly waitress saw to us almost immediately even though they were busy, there was a surprisingly nice view from the windows (we are rather new to Brisbane so had no idea there'd be views worth mentioning in a random suburban cafe), and their kitchen remains open almost up to their closing time (it's always a pet peeve of mine when cafes close their kitchen more than an hour before closing time, unless this information is provided clearly on their website).<br/><br/>I had the shakshuka - eggs baked in a tomato, spices and capsicum sauce, with olives and merguez (a spicy sausage reminiscient of a chorizo) and the homemade hibiscus iced tea. I loved the shakshuka, the presentation was amazing and the flavours all complemented each other. According to their FB page this one was the "red shakshuka", and they sometimes have a "green shakshuka" with spinach etc on their menu instead. Fingers crossed I get to try that one next time... :)<br/><br/>The boy's loaded shawarma wasn't bad at all, but fries + bread didn't quite go together in my book -I much preferred my dish! Homemade iced tea was a nice touch, but fairly pricey for the rather small glass you got.<br/><br/>Would definitely come back some time, as they tick all the right boxes in my opinion.

I ordered the shakshuka and it was delicious. The service here is absolutely great, location is beautiful and the design of the cafe is gorgeous. This is a must go if you are starting your breakfast/brunch adventures or you love middle eastern food! Will definitely come back here again.

Naïm is off the chain!!!! This food is SO good and the service and setting matches it. Cannot fault a thing. Set in suburbia, it has a homely feel, especially since the restaurant is inside an old Queenslander style home. We sat in the corner where there's a heap of cushions and it was just so lovely. Our waiter was attentive, helpful, and very fast. The felafel they serve are full or coriander, honestly some of the best I've ever had, I highly recommend trying them. Every dish we had, we shared, and they were all fresh, delicious, and full of interesting flavours and textures. I went with a GF vegetarian, who could pretty much eat everything on the menu. Good wine choices also. You'll leave feeling very full, but a healthy full. We love Naïm and wish there was one in Sydney too!

Brought fam here for a sunday brunch and was really happy. <br/><br/>The service was 5/5 stars absolutely brilliant. Our server was really kind, upbeat and didn't hover when trying to decide what to eat. He was promt and had the right attitude.<br/><br/>Food 4/5 <br/>Very tasty. I often find with more hyped up cafes and restaurants the food gets super fancy and then misses the mark with the flavour but I think Naiim has found a good sweet spot for their customers. They have both sweet and savoury on their menu which I can appreciate. <br/><br/>Decor 4/5<br/>Nothing was too extravagant but the view was quite nice. During summer I can tell it may heat up quite a bit for a couple of customers sitting on one side as I visited on a colder day and the sun was burning through the glass. It didn't bother me though. <br/><br/>Good job Naiim!

food is super yum and definitely will come back<br/><br/>So we never really tried Middle Eastern food for brunch before as we don't know what we should order...and we went to Naim without knowing it is Middle Eastern style. Then it turned out to be a big surprise for us! We had chicken shawarma and pumpkin & haloumi, both are delicious and fulfilling

This place was so delicious! <br/><br/>I had the schnitzel pita with Israeli crumb- yum!! So much flavour- it was hard to eat with a knife and fork so hands it was- it stayed together really well. <br/><br/>Mum had a myo breakfast-it was exactly what she asked for. <br/><br/>Partner had chicken shawarma- I loved it! He said it was a bit juicy so made the bread go a bit soggy but honestly, it was so delicious that would be my top pick. Definitely coming back again

Had lunch with my partner and had the humus, mushroom side, koshari and green shukshuka and felt the following <br/>Pros<br/>-Great atmosphere and service <br/>-Most meals were amazing <br/><br/>Cons<br/>-The toilet (one unisex) was dirty and smelly. The artificial scent has long expired and there were dirty towels all over the floor. <br/>-The glasses (water) were unclean <br/>-The green shukshuka was not what I or my partner was expecting (we're both from Middle East - I'm Israeli and she is Arabian). The name I found very misleading as we were expecting a much more creative dish. We couldn't eat it. We received a small discount and then when I've expressed my disappointment with the fact that I was still being charged received a further discount (half price). To be honest I was not expecting to pay for a dish from our heritage that we could not eat. <br/><br/>Overall worth a visit but I won't be back.

Went here for dinner. Their bar menu has expanded, there's a lot of great options now. I just went with the falafel pita. Best felafel pita I think I've ever had!? Incredible. Some of the other meals my friends ordered were perhaps on the smaller side in terms of portions but incredible flavours. All staff including management were really friendly, offering advice and recommendations but also maintaining a really casual vibe. Well done guys! Can't wait to come back and try that breakfast menu!!

One of my favourite cafes yet. Middle Eastern style food in a cafe setting blew my expectations away, and their large vegan selection is something you MUST not miss. The food is beautifully presented and is a festival of funk in the mouth. A very open setting provides you with breathtaking views of the Paddington suburbia if you ever get bored of gazing upon your partner. 45/50 would recommendo.

What a great restaurant. Food was fresh and delicious, the staff were so friendly and the atmosphere was chilled and inviting. Definitely worth a visit. Best restaurant in Paddington.

I live in the next street so gave it two attempts. Not sure what the line ups are about. The food on both occasions was average. And I quite like middle eastern food. I am saying that every other near by cafe is better for breaky. Maybe I'll try lunch.

Aweosme place. Great service. Delicious coffee and food. Very inspired menu. I had the waffles and it was simply amazing. Will be back again for sure.

What a phenomenal experience. The staff was very friendly and they gave us great service. The food was just phenomenal and full of flavour and phenomenal coffee to finish everything off

Exotic menu and nicely executed. <br/>My long black was strong and savoury with a coco aftertaste. <br/>I ordered sardines on toasts which came with lahne and bits of condiments. It was quite favoursome despite being a plain simple dish. <br/>My mentor had citrus and saffron waffles and he almost licked the plate.

One of the first cafe I visited when I moved into the area and I've been back many times since then. I remembered ordering the panna cotta on my first visit and thought that it was the most beautiful dish and the best panna cotta I've tasted. The staff were and always very friendly and attentive. In my opinion this is one of the best cafe in Paddington!

If I could give this place a negative 100 I would, shouk please make it aware on your page that booking is essential. I got to the door and the waitress literally forced us out to the footpath (but let one girl in that came from behind us) closed the door behind her and with her clip board said if we didn't call ahead there is a 35 mintue wait. Ah no, you do not force customers out at all and speak to them the way you did, wont even be returning when there are vacancies because of that. Found a better coffee shop that respects customers and lets them in. Just a idea shouk, if you need that much space you have to start refusing customers then move to a larger location. Wont be back.

Back in April when we first met, my partner took me to Shouk for our first ever breakfast date. Let me tell you, I WAS IMPRESSED. Super lovely staff, amazing atmosphere and the food 😍😍 I went with "Pumpkin and Haloumi" and he went with "The Jackson".<br/>You guys sure impressed us!

Shouk cafe is located on top of a hill which affords a nice view when you sit at the back.  They serve some excellent breakfast items and some nice Middle Eastern fare like the latke stack which I enjoyed. I also highly recommend the lamb salad. The mint and lemon limonana is also quite refreshing. <br/>I didn't enjoy their Hummus Kawarma, the mince was just too salty and the spices were not really incorporated in well. <br/>Overall a pretty good experience, but I'm not sure I'd be heading back in much of a hurry considering that it is nestled a bit out of the way for me.

Arrived there with my friend when they were closing. But they still let us got a table. Very friendly staff. We just ordered two home made ice tea cause we don't wanna take them too long for closing :) the ice tea was quite unexpected cause it was purple. The waiter said it was made by the butterfly pea flower. Wow. Something different and it did tastes good. Nice atmosphere with great view. Will come back again.

According to their website, owners Guy Frawley and Adi Shabtay opened Shouk Cafe in March, 2014. We tried the following dishes. Citrus and Saffron Waffles ($18) - Belgian waffles with ruby grapefruit segments, lemon curd, saffron ice cream, orange powder and shredded coriander jelly. This was a well put-together dish with many textures. The waffles were very sweet so the sour elements complemented perfectly.

I've eaten here twice now and really enjoyed the food both times. The latke stack as great and I quite enjoyed the shakshuka (it will never be as good as my Jewish grandmothers though). The staff here are nice but the service could be better. The first time I dined here we got our meals quickly as expected but the second time I went, the meals took over an hour to get to the table. Although the staff were apologetic, it didn't make sense as it wasn't very busy at all. I would definitely come back here and recommend it to people, everything on the menu looks super appetising.

Amazing service! We went for breakfast and had the Shakshuka, Citrus and Saffron Waffles and Latke Stack - all so good! Not only was the food impressive and beautifully presented , but we were blown away by the friendly service. These guys were the nicest wait staff I have ever encountered. We will definitely come back and also  highly recommend this place to others. Well done Shouk Cafe!

Great food - deliciously and consistently prepared to the highest standards. A real winner in an excellent neighbourhood. A favourite to frequent

super busy cafe on the corner of Collingwood St, Paddington. the wait on food was long but worth it. Ate the 'pumpkin & haloumi & 2 poached eggs on sourdough' and 'Belgian waffles with grapefruit, saffron ice-cream & coriander jelly'. <br/><br/>the waffles were tasty - a lot of texture (thick and crunchy) and the side crumbles were nice. the grapefruit balanced out the sweetness. however, didn't like the saffron ice-cream. tip: share this dish between at least 2 people. <br/><br/>pumpkin and haloumi dish was yum - chilli sauce gave it extra flavour.

There is a reason why Shouk has such a fantastic reputation, their breakfast is definitely one of the best in Brisbane. The cafe is quite large inside and always packed, so try to pop in early to avoid the queues! The service was prompt and friendly, and the choices and flavours on offer are extensive. I tried the Shakshuka and the Latke stack, and we ordered a side of avocado which was served extremely generously. I would definitely recommend Shouk for a reliably satisfying breakfast.

Always a breakfast favourite! I've eaten my way through half the menu and it doesn't disappoint. Staff are friendly and attentive. My best tip would be to call an hour before you get there to beat the long queue.

Had breakfast here on Saturday morning. The service was great, everyone that worked there was very attentive and helpful. Food was lovely and although it was busy, we didn't have to wait long for our meals. I'll be coming back here for sure!

I had the citrus waffles which were very nice, however they were quite sweet. The savoury options are very nice though. The inside of the cafe is also very comfortable.

Amazing food! We had the latke stack, the Jackson, cumin toasted cauliflower and the pumpkin and Haloumi. The coffee was good and the food was amazing!!!

This small corner restaurant has had many changes over the years but this place has stuck, and it's no wonder. Great food, great views and great staff. We popped in for brekky, great variety of brekky options and loved how well the middle eastern flavours were worked to create interesting but delicious offerings. Eggs perfectly cooked, beautiful presentation, great coffee and knowledgable staff really make this eatery shine.

Shouk is a middle eastern style cafe, I came here after 12, and had the lunch menu. <br/><br/>Ordered a latke stack, it is made up of potato pancakes, 2 poached eggs, and your choice of salmon, haloumi or avocados. I picked the avocados, and the dish did not disappoint. The Avos were delicious, smashed nicely. The potato pancakes were crispy on the outside and oh so soft on the inside! The presentation of the dish was superb as well. <br/><br/>I will definitely recommend this place, and I will go back to try out the breakfast menu!

Really delicious food with great portions. The coffee is quite nice! They have options for vegans too which I always love to see, as it's difficult and awkward adjusting normal menu options to suit my needs :) lovely setting as well, lovely staff.

Absolutely beautiful !! This is an absolute gem with really innovative, fresh and delicious food. The service is also really welcoming and great. Coffee is a bit hit or miss though!!

Shouk has an interesting and varied breakfast menu, the atmosphere is relaxed as every good breakfast joint should be, if a bit forced with a rigid floor manager. <br/><br/>Having sampled the halumi and pumpkin, sardines on toast, latke stack, shakshuka over several visits, this is my current go to for something special and would recommend. Good coffee too.<br/><br/>Expect $50 for 2 people, pretty standard I guess.

I have never been treated with such disrespect from any restaurant. I attended the restaurant probably a week or two ago and unfortunately this experience has completely ruined all prior visits. <br/><br/>I was waiting to order and I waved staff over to my table that I was ready. The wait lady told us that we were to wait for other people to order first before ours could be taken. I'm sorry but when I'm ready to order I expect that mine should be taken not "whenever other customers are done" - for all I know the "other customers" could be taking their sweet time. In addition, I thought it was due to staff being busy - but no they were standing there having a laugh and 'high-fiving' each other. <br/><br/>We then approached another staff to request our our orders be taken - and yes, the gentleman was more polite, saying he'll "be back in a min", but then turns around to the original lady wait staff and she says "Let them wait I've already told them". <br/><br/>No matter which restaurant I've dined at (fine dining, takeaway, bars, pubs, cafes etc) when requested, orders will be taken. <br/><br/>Obviously if I was in a rush this place is not one that I would choose but needless to say to be treated with such disrespect and unpleasant manner I will not be returning. I have been here for over 3 years religiously and normally the staff have been very nice and helpful but this one experience has ruined all. Additionally being in such a busy brunching location one would know that parking at Paddington is such a mission so to arrive with such ill-mannered staff is the biggest embarrassment for any restaurant.

Amazing experience at Shouk. All the staff were extraordinarily friendly and polite - they were literally smiling ALL the time. <br/><br/>The wait for the food wasn't too long (despite the cafe being packed to the brim), and everything was spot on. I loved every bit of my dish, consisting of pumpkin, halloumi and poached eggs on toast. The pesto was a tad chili which was a pleasant surprise. <br/>Two of my friends ordered milkshakes which they thought were amazing.

Had the latke stack which is a potato pancake with cream cheese, dill, pickled red onions and etc. I opted for the halloumi. Food & service were very on point despite being a busy Saturday afternoon. Will def return.

I had a lovely breakfast at Shouk cafe- Avocado on toast accompanied by a good cappuccino. Waiters were friendly, food was tasty and the decor was nice. An enjoyable experience.

Came here with my family a few months ago, on a Saturday morning. We called at 9am to ask how their seating was - for a table of 8, they recommended booking and put us down for a table at 10am. Understandable, its a large table. We turn up at 9:45, they said give us 15 minutes. No problem. We then patiently wait 1.5 hours, while whole large groups come and go, including groups the same size as us who didn't have bookings but only turned up and put their name on a list. They get seated before us. It's clear that there's something a bit out of whack with their seating list. It gets to 11:15am, there's no one left waiting but us and we politely ask the maitre de what's happening with our table. He then comes out the front and YELLS AT ALL 8 OF US about how he has asked the previous table to leave, but that 3 mothers are breastfeeding and if he kicks them out they will complain to Mamamia and we wouldn't want that would we. We then get seated 20 mins later (if you're keeping up, it's now 11:40am), only to discover there is actually only 1 baby (were all 3 women taking turns at breastfeeding it?), and that the waitstaff had actually not even asked them to finish up or to pay, or mentioned that there were people waiting for their table.<br/><br/>I understand that Saturday mornings are stressful, but we weren't rude or pushy. And it doesn't warrant lying and blaming both sets of customers when your seating order gets screwed up. If he can't handle the stress or customer service, then maybe he should look at switching roles.  <br/><br/>They gave us a round of free drinks to make up for the delay, and the waitstaff inside were much nicer. But the food wasn't amazing - not worth a 3.5 hour wait. There are better options up the road, where the staff don't chastise you like a naughty child.

Walking into Shouk is like walking into someone's house; nice and comfortable. At first it seems like a quiet, empty cafe but do not be fooled. When you get past the front counter, the back of the cafe is a huge sunroom with perfect aircon that is buzzing with locals enjoying a selection of tasty food. Although the menu is quite small, I still felt overwhelmed by the choice because it all looked amazing. I settled on the Field Mushrooms and it was full of flavour. The service was efficient and friendly. I will definitely be going back to try the lunch menu.

Brilliant atmosphere inside this venue! The staff are friendly and know their menu well. Eggs benedict are amazing and everything I needed right now. The bread tastes like it was made here, fresh and deliciously sweet. Great coffee too! This place is a total GEM

It's so refreshing to see a cafe like Shouk appear on the scene, with its Middle Eastern inspired dishes and friendly service this cafe has become a favourite (even though we don't live in the area). As a vegetarian it can be difficult to find Cafes that offer something different to Avocado on toast and so I really appreciate the unique menu that caters for everyone. My favourites are the waffles and the potato/haloumi stack. The only downside is the lack of parking, but unfortunately that's just the reality of being in Paddington these days.

Quality food with great service and a beautiful view of Paddington. It gets pretty busy at brunch so if you don't mind the wait it's a great eat.

Consistent quality and friendly service. Well presented food with a good varity - something for everyone. The atmosphere is relaxed but can be noisy. <br/>I cant say enough about how much i have enjoyed the many times i have been to Shouk. If there is something you dont like then you haven't asked or looked hard enough! I recommend Shouk for a beautiful culinary experiance.

Have come here plenty of times the last year and the jackson is always a winner with me. Service may sometimes be slow but can't blame them for the wait times though- they are literally busy. I must admit, i miss the french toast from the previous menu but the waffles are awesome!

Great cafe. Coffee was perfect. I ordered the smashed avocado which was delicious. It came with feta and grapefruit gel which gave it something a little different. I ordered a side of haloumi which went with it perfectly. The only downside is how busy this cafe is. We usually call before hand to make sure we get a table or else you can be waiting for a long time.

Really nice food with a good service! They care about presentation and taste great as well. Highly recommended for a breakfast or even a brunch.

At the risk of swimming against the tide (as Shouk is the most popular place in the universe it seems) I have been there once and haven't rushed back.  The food is quite novel, with a middle eastern twist - for example, I had falafel scotch eggs.  They were quite decent.<br/>The issue I have with Shouk is that it's packed to the gills, which isn't such a bad thing .... except it's incredibly slow.  Service was at a snails pace, and if you're sitting in a crowded room for lunch (without alcohol), waiting for a long time, it's a bit disconcerting.  I get why their popular, just not for me.

AMAZING FOOD!!! I have had the latke stack countless times and it is always GREAT! The flavours work extremely well together and you can have it with a number of options (bacon, salmon, avocado) which all taste delicious. I have also tried the french toast and eggs bene which were just as tasty! Coffee is consistently good and the wait staff are extremely professional and attentive!

Today was my first visit Shouk cafè. I didn't expect to come here at all, but I was long looking forward to it after hearing many glowing reviews about it from friends and seeing very palatable photos of the food on various social networking sites.<br/>Shouk cafè has been quite different to other establishments I have visited. For one, when I perused the menu, it didn't have the usual foods like steak, sushi or lasagne that I usually gravitate towards. It's middle eastern style food which I rarely have, so it was good to try something new instead of staying in my food comfort zone all the time.<br/><br/>I chose the lamb schwarma and the iced tea with hibiscus. The tea felt refreshing and didn't feel overloaded with sweeteners like the commercial ones. I imagine this is what iced tea is actually meant to taste like. The food took a bit of time to arrive, but that was understandable as it was quite busy when we went. <br/><br/>We had a great view from the window. As the cafè was on the top a steep hill, it felt like we in a restaurant on the top of a small mountain on an overcast day. <br/><br/>When my lamb schwarma came, it was like how I imagined - very beautifully presented and colourful. The olives and pickled red onion were delicious, and the lamb was soft and not overcooked. The hummus was delicious and flavoursome and none of the flavours felt overpowering at all. I guess I really need to try new dishes more often. <br/><br/>The service was excellent and the wait staff were very attentive and responsive in checking on how we were going with our meals as well as ordering. They even had the option of letting me take away my food when I couldn't finish it all.<br/><br/>I would most certainly return here, and this cafè definitely deserves the positive reviews that it gets. Being someone that doesn't live around the Red Hill/Paddington area, I am in serious envy of those who do! I wouldn't mind living here at all. Walking around the suburb, it appears that the area is populated with some very quality cafès and restaurants.

This is definitely a popular place, especially for a lazy Sunday breakfast. <br/>We left out number and were called when they had a seat for us (nice service!). I ordered the smoked salmon stack and hubby ordered the baked eggs. We were advised that there would be a wait because they were very busy - that's fine. We had a coffee, then another, then realised that people who arrived after us were being served food before us. We alerted the very nice staff who realised that our order had been misplaced. They quickly fixed this and we had our meals in around 3 minutes after that. The stack was cooked perfectly, great ingredients but I left it needed something green or fresh. I couldn't finish it for that reason. Hubby's baked eggs were amazing, served with beautiful fresh bread. I had serious plate envy. <br/>One the way out we received more apologies for the wait and were given a yummy brownie as a parting gift. <br/>I can see that our order was a simple mistake thus completely forgiven (due to the otherwise great service and the brownie!), and so have not marked down for that, the score of three is due to my dish being average. If I had had the baked eggs I probably would have rated 4.5.<br/>Oh, and the coffee was excellent, the iced coffee was a perfect treat in the hot weather.

Really lovely little cafe with excellent service and excellent food. Have been a number of times and have brought friends to try it out too.

Excellent service experienced in this cafe, we will definitely be coming back! Food was fabulous and filling and well presented, perfect for photos ;) coffee was also one of the best I've had and the scrambled eggs were full of flavour. The only mistake I made was I ordered the special that had pickled cabbage without realising that pickled cabbage was sauerkraut (WOOPS!) which I don't personally like but other then that will for sure be back :)

Impeccable service and the food is always delicious. So much flavour in the avocado toast. Coffee was great although the beans are a bit stock. Something with a bit more character would be nice. All in all, one of Brisbane's best.

Yummo! Love the breakfasts here in this little Paddington gem. Staff are always helpful and food is great. A great place for catchups too with a nice ambience and quiet areas to chat.

Last night we were there for a birthday party for my dad, was a nice dinner with my family. Perfect atmosphere and yummy food. Thanks guys good job.

Going usually for breakfast and once for dinner with friends, have tried different dishes, Best beeakfast and service ever, great staff, highly recommended😊😋

Such a wonderful experience at Shouk this morning! We sat down at the lovely table by the window, we took a while to decide what we wanted to order because there were so many tasty options on offer but we both ended up choosing the eggs Benedict. I added a side of tomato and bacon and asked if I could have my bacon crispy. The meals came out and were presented well and tasted even better! The hollandaise was house made and tasted amazing. The eggs were perfectly poached and the bread was next level. The Bene comes with kale too and I'm not a big fan of kale but when I tasted this I was converted instantly. Such a good breakfast will be returning to taste everything on the menu!

Great food, tasty and unique menu, a refreshing change from the usual simple breakfast and avocado and toast scenario happening a lot at the moment . Great mix of flavours and portion size was decent ! Great wait staff too- they messed up an order but graciously fixed the problem. Very happy !

Shouk is a great cafe in the cafe-capital of Brisbane. Always busy and always a wait to grab a table, the middle eastern inspired eatery has a seasonal menu but always maintains its favourites. The salmon stack and the eggs benedict were both excellent, however the eggs were a little on the hard side. Not detrimental to the dish however there is no better feeling than cutting a poached egg open and seeing that yolk just pour out. I would come back to Shouk despite the egg problem.

Breakfast club has assembled here on a few occasions and definitely one of the best breakky spots in Bris (BSB).  The food is insanely good, fresh and interesting however I recommend you take a pack lunch as it can take awhile to firstly get seated, then have the food delivered.   Have only been at breakfast/brunch times and it appears to be a lot busier then.However, this is not a problem if you are not in a rush.  Will be returning to go all out again.

We've been here many times for breakfast and recently took a group of friends for dinner. Amazing food, service and value for money. Our friends were blown away and they've just found a new favourite too

Amazing breakfast on a sunny Friday morning. I had the potato latke stack with bacon and haloumi. Hubby had the Shouk equivalent of a big breakfast. Both were delicious and presented beautifully. The sausage in the big breakfast had a bit of bite, but a beautiful flavour. Coffee was lovely. Service friendly.

Love this cafe good coffee and even better food! We come here as often as we can! It's a family favourite love the Avocado on toast with pomegranate molasses!

Service was good, food was spectacular and coffee's were perfect. Had the avocado on toast, the grapefruit gel really made the dish with a subtle sweet all round flavour. The family and I are already talking about our next trip here.

Went here for breakfast today. Great place, great food and the staff were fantastic. Really enjoyed everything and will be back. Had the pancakes for breakfast and thoroughly enjoyed it.<br/>

Amazing food, location and service. I dined here for brunch with a friend after hearing good things and was certainly not disappointed. Will definitely return and recommend to friends regularly.

Been here a couple times for breakfast with friends. Beautiful food and great service. Love the atmosphere the most such a pretty place to have breakfast.

Popped in recently for a late weekday brunch and already planning a return visit. Amazing flavours - friend's avocado latke stack with pickled onions arrived looking deceptively simple, then blew my mind when I stole a bite. My eggs benedict had the best hollandaise sauce I've tasted. First experience with challah bread and it was interesting. Found it to be similar to a sweet brioche, resulting in a (almost) too decadent eggs benedict. I'm picky about coffee and Shouk's definitely hit the spot. Only quibble was the poor acoustics of the dining room, which when combined with loud music, made for a shouty brunch session.

Food okay. Staff need to manage expectations more effectively. Waited 1.5hr after being told we were the next table. Try some where around the corner <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/> <br/>

Been here the third time, keep coming back because it never fails us. but this time we just got to wait for 30 mins...but we still want to have it so we walked around in the antique shop and got back to the cafe after 30 mins. Food was great as usual.

The guys at shouk work hard. Really hard. The owners Adi and Guy are lovely people who deserve a successful business. <br/>The wait staff are always super friendly and the food coming out of their kitchen is tasty.<br/>Well done lads!

Breakfast like a king is what the experts say and it's no chore at Shouk Cafe, just off Latrobe Terrace in Paddington. Established in March 2014, this cafe quickly established itself as a top breakfast destination and happily nothing has changed. Owned by Guy Frawley and Adi Shabtay, Shouk runs like a well oiled machine from the kitchen to the floor.

Beautiful dish but the flavours were too over powering especially the cardamom in the panacotta made it hard to finish. The pizza my friend had was delicious! Price was okay for the dish ~$15

Best cafe in Brisbane I would say. The bread was wonderful the sausage was full of flavour. I really enjoy it. Flat was was great. Egg benefit was perfectly cook with the crunch of kale and wonderful sauce. Would definitely go back

<br/>Hmmm….I don’t really know too much about mediterran food, but I would die for it if it is like the food that Shouk Cafe gave me.<br/><br/>Beautiful deco, friendly and prompt service, cozy ambience and perfect food. The coffee has a perfect balance, the barista really knows how to make a good cappuccino. The milk foam was made extra fine, which totally upgrade the texture of the coffee. The Shakshuka I had can really be the highlight of the year. It is Tunisian style eggs baked in rich sauce of tomato, capsicum, onion, olive. Of course I added some meguez sausage for only two dollars. The source is definitely savory, well seasoned and the eggs were cooked perfectly. The toasted challah bread served with Shakshuka was also yummy. It is tender, fragrant and a bit sweet. The sweet taste balanced the sour in the main dish. What a good match!!<br/><br/>Can’t be satisfied more, great job Shouk Cafe.

Food was amazing and service was even better!!! :) My friends and i enjoyed the atmosphere and loved the view from our table. We loved every dish that we ordered especially the stack!!

Came here for the first time for a midweek brunch and had one of my favourite breakfasts this year. The cafe was relaxing, quant, simple and not crazy busy. Service was friendly and fast. I got the big breakfast and it was magnificent, the middle eastern flavours are bold and tasty but not overpowering. The merguez sausage was nice and spicy, great bacon and eggs, nice thick juicy mushroom, lovely buttery toasted bread and I even enjoyed the garlicy kale. Loved having harrisa on the side too. My mate and I were happily full after the meal and just as happy with the price. Definitely worth visiting and can't wait to go back and try the honey & cardamom panna cotta with smashed baklava!!! I mean c'mon that sounds phenomenal.

Incredible food with an incredible view, was very busy when I went on a Sunday morning so make sure you book a table in advance, we had to wait half an hour to be seated.

Delicious. The potato latke is divine. Probably tag best breakfast I have had in Brisbane. Will definitely be back. One of the servers was kind of pretentious,

one of the better coffees in Brisbane; cant remember the last time I had a second one! my lamb salad was excellent :) friends had pear waffles, scotch eggs and eggs benedict and everyone was pleased with their meals. wife's beetroot and ginger juice was amazing too :) Gladys Chang, Brenda Chang.

Avo toast with salmon and poached eggs. Sounds simple, but when it's served with pomegranate molasses, watercress and fetta on sourdough, it's enough to make your soul explode with delight. Worth every second of the wait for a table - remember, there's a crowd for a reason!

My friend had the pumpkin + halloumi (?) whilst I had the Latke stack. Although the latke stack was nothing special, it was still delicious and the pumpkin halloumi was delicious. We also ordered the pana cotta to share but was a little disappointing.

Found this little gem a couple of months ago and been coming back every week. Absolutely love the food and the service is always great. Definitely worth half hour wait when they are busy.

I seriously love this cafe. I've been twice with friends and I cannot fault the roast pumpkin and haloumi dish. One friend ordered the super bowl and she loved it as well. I tried the limonade but I wasn't a fan as it was a little bitter. Weekend service is slow but they are extremely busy so it's to be expected. Make sure you ring an hr before you want to go to be on the waiting list. Prices are a little higher than I usually like but the food lives up to expectations.

We popped in for lunch yesterday and had to come right back for breakfast this morning! Simple, inspired, delicious! Lovely, happy, warm team!! A Brisbane fave!!

I'd walked past this place on a Saturday a few months ago and the line up was crazy. Decided I would check it out on a weekday morning when there wasn't a wait to get a table. I can definitely see why people line up for this place... the salmon latke stack was delicious. Can't wait to go back to try one of the sweeter dishes.

Terrible service! Staffs always intentionally ignore us when we call them. 5 mins to get the menu, 15 mins to get coffee, and we wait for food more than 30mins. Staying in here for an hour and get no food. Will never come back.

Definitely earns its high rating. Was a great atmosphere and friendly service. Really busy so get a booking in. Food and coffee were both quality.

Decided to try this place out after hearing rave reviews from friends & it sure did not disappoint! The latke stack was a big hit at our table but personally my favourite was the pumpkin & haloumi. This place does get quite busy so dont be suprised if u have to wait for a table. The staff are wonderful though & do their best to get you seated as soon as possible.

Checked out this highly praised cafe a month ago. I can see why it is the talk of the town. Went there for brunch and I'm happy to say that I left the place more than satisfied. Will definitely return. Service was excellent.

I have heard many great thing about Shouk Cafe so I was pretty excited to eat here. I arrived around 1.30pm and the place was quite busy but I manage to get a table at the back of the cafe and the view from here was definitely stunning. <br/><br/>My friends and I order from their all day breakfast menu, so I got the Challah French Toast and a Cardamom & Honey Panna Cotta to share. Although it took a while for our meals to come but by the time that it arrived I was blow away from the presentation and quality of the food! I definitely enjoy my french toast but I thought it was too sweet for my likening but nevertheless I still finished it. On the hand, I didn't really enjoy the panna cotta as much. <br/><br/>Overall, I would definitely come back again and try other items on their menu! Their service was very good and everyone at the cafe was very friendly and welcoming

Great cafe. The food looks so good and their dish is pretty healthy. It ll better if there's more taste to avocado toast. It's quite a popular cafe so be sure to book. We went there without booking a table and waited for about 10 mins. There prices are pretty reasonable when considering all other brunch places.

Everything was perfect from the service to the food. Had the beef cheeks and boy, it was so tender and flavorful. Thank you for the wonderful service and food!! Will be back for more :)

I had heard a lot about this cafe and decided to give it a go! Definitely did not disappoint! My friend and I ordered the waffles and eggs benny and were told about a 30 minute wait which was fine. The food came out, beautifully presented and so full of flavour! The portions were also very satisfying. Overall the food was great, service was spot on and staff were lovely. Definitely coming back :)

Everything was almost perfect.... Except for the coffee, that would be the only negative if any - wasn't hot enough for me, also wasn't very strong.... But overall a very enjoyable breakfast, would recommend to others and we will be back.

Always great for breakfast, this weekend we thought we would try a lunch - good idea! The highlight was the shwarma with hummus and artichokes. Boom! Recommend thoroughly.<br/><br/>Call early and figure out how much of a wait it will be. Staff handle the customer volume well.<br/><br/>Coffees up there with the best of the area.

Beautifully plated and prepared food. I had the pumpkin and halloumi on toast. The poached eggs were perfect and the water cress added a nice peppery balance. My dining partners had the beetroot salad and the avo on toast, both enjoyed their meals. I had a long black to finish, unfortunately the coffee was not hot enough.

Good quality food in a nice atmosphere and with good service. I had the beetroot salad. It wasn't a large meal by any means but it was delicious and immaculately presented. My eating partners had more substantial meals and they were both very pleased with their choices which came with delicious breads and perfectly poached eggs. All the seating is indoors which makes it ideal for wet or cooler days. Overall, an excellent choice in Paddington. Please note it was called Shouk Cafe when we visited so I'm not sure whether the ownership has changed.

Outstanding!<br/>Superb Contemporary Middle Eastern food.<br/>Great service.<br/>Nice atmosphere.

One word to describe this experience AMAZING. Its becoming hard for us to be impressed by a menu, this one blows us out of the water. Thoughtful ingredients, amazing presentation, and the flavours.. Wow. And to top it all off, the staff were the friendliest we have experience in a very long time. We did manage to dine here mid week though, I'm sure this place would be packed on the weekends. Worth the wait, make sure you head out the back to sit as it's fantastic. New favourite place in Brisbane, thank you Shouk! Can't wait to return

Ive been to shouk a couple of times now for breakfast and lunch and not once have i been disappointed. Now hurry up and reopen for dinner!!!

Yummmm!! Had the panna cotta and juice special, both were delicious! Attentive staff and lovely vibe from the back room! Interesting and different breakfast options, will definitely be back to try more!

Absolutely delicious! We have wanted to try out Shouk for so long and it was better than expected. We got the salmon with quinoa and lamb flatbread for lunch and the flavours and presentation were fantastic! Can't wait to come back and try more.

The dishes at this Paddington cafe all have a touch of Middle Eastern flair about them, which makes for both interesting and delicious eating. I love anywhere that has smashed baklava as a regular meal accompaniment.<br/>So what Autumn/Winter delights are on offer at Shouk? Let's find out.

Mother's Day. Delish! <br/>All staff super nice

Great food & service. Waiters here are very friendly and attentive. Food is great and coffee is good! I had ordered an eggs benedict and a latte. The ambience is rather exotic as it's kinda likw middle eastern style of environment. I've only been here once and will definitely come over here for breakfast/lunch again!

Jacqueline. 10/10<br/>Great atmosphere. <br/>Helpful, smiling staff.<br/>Food, absolutely delicious. prepared exactly as requested. <br/>Coffee some of the best we have ever had

Look for Shouk - one of Brisbane's most popular cafes. With a range of Middle Eastern inspired dishes and exotic Israeli options including Shakshuka (Tunisian style eggs baked with spices) and  Flatbread and Lamb, it's bound to tingle your senses!  Drinks Lunch Breakfast We started off with a Chai Latte ($4) - I could really taste the aromatic spices in it.

Great breakfast. One of the best breakfasts in Brisbane. Beautiful and unique menu and excellent food. Get there early to avoid the crowd and wait times.

Trendy little cafe, very accommodating as I had a pram & my son with me. Staff were friendly and the food was delish! I had the smashed avo on toast & hubby got the mushrooms - get the mushrooms!! Soooo good!!!

Beautiful food! Shame the staff tried to hurry us out to get more people in.

Did not disappoint!. My first ever review and I am pleased to say it is a positive one! My partner had taken me to this beautiful cafe this morning for my birthday and I am so pleased to say that it was beautiful; not only were the staff cheerful and helpful, but the atmosphere and set-up of this cafe was great! The food was really beautiful and I have to recommend the Latke stack with salmon.. and add a side of avacado you won't be disappointed! I will definitely be back here in the very near future. Great Job Shouke cafe!

Yes. Good food, great service, killer atmosphere. The coffee was quick and delicious! <br/><br/>But get there early or you'll be stuck waiting in the street.

The Latke stack – potato pancakes stacked with cream, dill, pickled red onions, two poached eggs, and our request of haloumi which they actually layered into the stack! I mean come on, lightly deep fried potato and haloumi? The combination was genius.

Delicious and great service. Great food and excellent service. Had to wait and we learnt that you could call ahead to reserve a table (even on Sunday brunch) and arrive to be seated straight away! That's the way to go!

Sunday breakfast of Shakshuka is really good. Great flavours and worth a revisit. Worth waiting in the queue.

Good potential with a few let-downs. I had been wanting to try Shouk for months so I was very eager when I turned up to their cafe on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately I ended up having to wait around 45 minutes for a table but it is understandable on one of the busiest days of the week. Unfortunately there was a similar wait for the food and when ordering I thought it was quite strange that the waitress had to ask her manager if she could swap halloumi for avocado. Nevertheless, our meals were quite yummy when we got them. <br/><br/>I cannot say I was a fan of the 63degree eggs as I like my yolks runny and the yolks were hard whilst the whites were runny. When I asked the waiter if this was how they were supposed be, he said yes and that the yolks should be firm. This puzzled me as from my understanding of 63 degree eggs is that the egg yolks and the white should be of similar consistency. The combination of the pumpkin, eggs and zhoug sauce was nice however. <br/><br/>Their avocado is nicely seasoned and the feta is a nice addition to their avo smash. My friend who had the waffles said they were very delicious but slightly on the dry side by the time you started eating the second waffle. She did, however, love the addition of the halva. Their coffee is smooth and subtle and I definitely could have had a second one. <br/><br/>The service on the whole was friendly despite being slightly slow at times. I would definitely be keen to try the other dishes at shouk in the future provides that the wait times aren't as long next time. I would recommend this new and unique cafe with it's innovative twist on favourites but with the hope that they improve their consistency and time-management.

Perfect. Great food, service was especially fantastic, coffee was good and the restaurant was beautiful. Will visit again.

Inconsistent. I have dined here twice now. Both times the service and atmosphere have been wonderful- air conditioned, nice decor, friendly staff, etc. The food and drinks however have been very inconsistent. <br/>The first time I visited I dined with a friend and we shared the shakshuka and the latke stack. Both were very nice, the standout being the challah bread that came with the eggs. Soo good, warm and fresh and sweet. I also had a very nice chai latte. <br/>The next time I dined here with 3 family members, the food was a real mixed bag. The drinks came out promptly. The iced latte was lukewarm and watery, certainly not iced, barely cold. We then waited a very long time for our meals to arrive, although it was clear that they were busy, we eventually had to check that they hadn't forgotten about us and the friendly waitress did bring our food out shortly thereafter. My sister and I both ordered the avo on toast, which was really nicely done- avocado was fresh, nicely balanced with salty feta and the pomegranate added a nice twist of sweetness that worked surprisingly well with the meal. Our poached eggs were also good, not too over or under done. My side of thyme mushrooms was just ok, under seasoned, it lacked the flavour punch I was expecting, My other family members ordered the eggs benedict with salmon and both were underwhelmed by their meals. The eggs were WAY undercooked to the point of being completely clear and runny , but neither wanted to send them back to the kitchen after having waited for so long for their meals. They also both felt that the braised kale was a strange addition that didn't complement the other flavours on the plate. They left feeling disappointed.<br/>Would I recommend? Not sure. My measure of a good brekky cafe is how well they can cook an egg. On this front they failed. These guys seem to do some things really well, and then fall way short on others. A bit more consistency is needed in the kitchen.

First time and impressed!. Amazed at service and food! Unique and wow! Coming from a middle eastern background this restaurant passed my test. Would definitely be back and highly recommend it. :)

Perfect. Been here 4 times now, and not once has there been anything to complain about! Food, coffee, and customer service have all been 100% perfect every time. If only I lived closer!!

My friend and I visited Shouk Cafe on a quiet weekday morning. We sat at a table out the back with a great view and air conditioning! The food was delicious! We had the latke stack and the panna cotta, both of which were presented beautifully and tasted amazing! Our coffees were nice and my friend had a lemonatta which was very refreshing. The staff were also exception. The young guy that served us was so friendly and attentive. He asked for feedback and was very personable. We will definitely be back!

Beautifully presented. I had the latke stack with haloumi on the weekend. It was delicious! And beautifully presented. Great atmosphere too. I thought the coffee was too weak though... that is probably the only thing I didn't like.

Just average. The ambience was great! They were constantly busy and have a nice concept of being able to call ahead and book a table which is great! The food was average, nothing to rave on about. In saying that their juice was amazing!

Best cafe in Brisbane, easily! My best friend and I are here every week and it's always amazing. The staff are so welcoming and friendly - such great service and atmosphere. The food is always absolute perfection, and coffee to match. Try to latke stack... Do it!

More than just the standard bacon and eggs. Go here if you want something more than the standard bacon and eggs; however don't go if you're limited on time. It is so popular that it usually takes up to half an hour for a table at peak times (they're lovely enough to take phone numbers so you can go for a stroll and they'll give you a call when a table is free) and longer to get served with your food. The staff members are lovely that if it takes too long, they acknowledge, apologize and then will offer the coffee on the house - this is much appreciated in today's world of 'customer isn't right'! The food is great - it's fun, interesting and so beautifully presented you're scared of ruining the artwork. But when you do, it all melts in your mouth. Looks can be deceiving though: some may not look like big dishes but it's not long till you feel like Santa Claus and would like a nap right there and then. May be on the higher side for brekky ($17-20) but I guess that's now the new norm for the Brisbane brekky scene; might as well try a labne stack or a date panna cotta than boring ol' eggs benedict! I don't drink coffee so am unable to comment on this. The place itself (refurbished Paddington house) is lovely but when full of people, conversations bounce off the wooden interiors. Despite the long service I enjoy Shouk on my relaxing lazy days. Keep up the good work!

Closes early. We were disappointed when the new cafe across the road Dirty South, had closed early on a Friday night, so I knew this one was new too and excited I had a second chance at a new local place, only to be let down again. They closed at 8pm on a Friday night as well? I can't believe a new inner city cafe to closes so early, its not like we live in the country. So disappointed! Come on Brisbane.

Not bad. Had breakfast here.<br/>Menu had a decent range of food. Staff were friendly. <br/>Food was presented very nicely but was a bit bland. <br/>Would come here again for the air conditioning and to try lunch.

Great breakfast in a friendly atmosphere. This is now one of my favourite places for breakfast in Brisbane. The food is delicious with plenty to choose from on the menu. The menu is inspired by the flavours of the Middle East and works well in the bris Vegas breakfast culture. It's reputation means it gets busy, especially at weekends. The staff are extremely friendly and accomodating however.

Awesome place for breakfast or lunch. Went to Shouk Café for a late breakfast/lunch today. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. The menu is very diverse and has many interesting options to choose from. I ordered the paella which had a nice smoky flavour to it. Other orders the health bowl, which a mix of different things it. Other orders were pumpkin and haloumi with 63 degree eggs on sourdough and also the latke stack, which included potato stack with smoked salmon, eggs, cream cheese, dill.<br/>All the food was super tasty and cooked to perfection, definitely will be back again.

Outstanding. First place we have been to that has been really busy but offered to take our mobile number and call us as soon as a table became available. It was very much appreciated. The food was excellent and there was no prolonged delay despite the shop being packed. They seem to have excellent communication amongst their staff and it shows. Great job, guys! :-)

Homely set up in the hills of Paddington. We waited 25mins for a table, but went and looked in the shops across the road. The price is a little on the high side with only one or two things on the menu for breakfast under $15. Majority of the menu was in the $17-20 range. The food was good and had lots of flavour. The staff smiled! All in all its been a good experience, but I wouldn't frequent here on a regular basis.

Nice homely setup. Food dis.... Nice homely setup.<br/>Food disappointing though considering reviews. Shakshouka came with raw egg... Clearly uncooked and still served it. Off putting. Good service.

Nothing to write home about.<br/>More than half an hour wait for a table and more than 45 minutes wait for food which, although beautifully plated, was uninspiring. Coffees on the house to make up for the wait were appreciated. Not the greatest first impression, although I am sure I could be persuaded to try it again - just not on a weekend. Too much Urbanspoon hype around this new cafe.

Amazing breakfast. The food was just amazing, flavour combinations I have never tried before but with the chefs encouragement and the promise of a replacement breakfast if I was disappointment I ventured to have the cumin and lime crepes alfreddo, YUM. We will be back next week to try the pear fritta with pistachio haloumi. <br/>The service was perfect.

Delicious!!. Been here a couple of times for breakfast (pre-rush hour) and I love it! High points: The staff are friendly and easy-going, something that is sorely missing elsewhere in Paddington. The food is interesting, abundant, and delicious, with great attention to detail. The music is in the background - just where it should be when you want to read or converse during your meal. The place is light and airy with a great view. Our celiac companion was easily accommodated (although such a pity she didn't get to eat the yummy bread we had!). Low points: It seems a latte is consistently served 'just short of hot enough' unless you specifically ask for it hot. The ONLY other low point is I have yet to try the date pannacotta - something that I need to rectify soon!

Sensational. Hidden away slightly in Paddington, this gem is a fabulous place for a relaxing and luxurious breakfast. <br/><br/>We've been here several times now and the service and for are so consistently excellent. No sign of the all-too-common we're-to-good-to-serve you wait staff here - each time we've been we've felt welcomed, and left discussing what we're going to have next time we go!<br/><br/>The aspect out the back is so open and calming it immediately makes you relax, and the food with the Middle-Eastern theme is interesting and delicious. I've particularly loved the Latke stack, and the Tunisian eggs - Yummo!<br/><br/>One of the best places around for breakfast and coffee!

Avocado Feta Toast. Delicious

Initial impressions were great, as my partner and I were seated straight away on a busy Saturday morning by a kind well presented waiter. In fact the service was very good the entire time, it's just that the chefs failed to join in on the high standard. I ordered the avocado on toast with poached eggs which bragged of a middle eastern flare with the added touches. There were many choices on the menu that I could have easily enjoyed. Yet when I was greeted with my meal, it was very underwealming. My poached eggs were SO overcooked, one of the yolks was almost white! Clearly the chef had over poured the vinegar when cooking, as the whites which I managed to eat (unlike the yolks) tasted so strong of acidity. The avocado was mostly brown, hinting that it was far from fresh. I also managed to chomp into the hard end of the avocado which was mixed through the meal...I stopped eating at this point. My partner ordered his usual eggs Bene...his words "I've had better". Quite a disappointing experience to somewhere I have been looking forward to enjoying for a long time.

Friendly helpful staff and amazing food. One of my favourite places in Brisbane

Mobile Reviews. Service is good but .......<br/>"The Jackson"=> the worst scramble eggs I have ever have in the world ; the eggs were overcooked and in two colours -yello and white .<br/>considering one hour to wait for seating; 40 mins to wait for the meal to come.... I will never come here again.

This place can do no wrong! The staff are so incredibly lovely. Well done to whoever employed those stars. There are many places in brisbane to get good food, what's rare is good food and spot on service. Thank you! x<br/><br/><br/>-----23 Sep, 2014-----<br/><br/>Beautiful breakfast, great value for $, relaxing energy to the place, efficient and lovely (and good looking) waiters. Thank you Shouk! You will become a regular watering hole for me xx

Food is ok but nothing impressive, service is good, coffee is good!

The absolute best. BEST DAMN CAFE IN BRISBANE! Maybe even Australia! Maybe even the woooorld! I have been to this cafe about 8 times now and every time has been better than the last. Friendly, helpful and observant staff, beyond amazing food (gorgeous presentation too) and some of the best coffee I've ever had. The chicken tagine is a personal recommendation but honestly, you can't go wrong with anything. Hands down my favourite place to eat in Brisbane.

This is top 10 brisbane cafe for a reason. <br/>This was a great place. Because of our wrong timing. we came here when it was Father's Day. So we had to wait 30 minutes to be seated at the table. But the waiting wasn't such a problem as next door there was a giant antique shop that was interesting. Although I have to say that all that waiting was definitely worth it. Because the food was so beautiful. It was presented so well and the taste was just sensational every bite. The customer service was awesome everyone was so friendly and engaging. <br/>I recommend everyone to go to this restaurant. In trip advisor this is not so popular however urban spoon this is brisbane top 10 cafe. <br/>Need to try this!

A friend and I visited her last night the owner was so helpful as we both have dietry issues and the food and atmosphere where amazing i cannot fault this place at all. Hats off!!!!!!

Excellent. The whole experience was very pleasant. Service was warm and attentive without being over-the-top.<br/>The food was excellent. We ordered the Jackson (big breakfast) and the muesli + two coffees.<br/><br/>The Jackson was superb, every element was cooked to perfection and despite being $20, was worth every cent. I skipped lunch that day. The presentation of the muesli was superb, as is with most of the dishes at Shouk. Whilst it was not the best EVER muesli, it was still tasty and the accompanying fruit was very tasty. Would definitely come back again :)

Authentic. That's all I can say, and I've been to the Middle East a couple of times. Their Shakshuka and the Shwarma, you could get that the same way anywhere between Tunis and Beirut, and the locals would love it. But the highlight for me is the Latke stack, that's a delicious Jewish dish you can get only in Israel (or New York), so yummy. The coffee and the service is good. But expect and accept that they are very popular atm. And it is a bit noisy inside, they need a few more carpets....;-) <br/>Great addition to the Brisbane foodie map

Out of this world!. Went there last night and tried the new dinner menu that Shouk have. I'm absolutely lost for words at how amazing the entire experience was. Friendliest service and the food is nothing that you'd be able to experience elsewhere in Brisbane (I had the Eggplant dish and the flavours were just out of this world!). I'm so stoked to have discovered this gem as it really is one of a kind. I'll definitely be back!

Great food. I went here on the weekend with my family, the food was amazing although the time to get it was not! I get a bit grumpy after 30min of waiting, coffee was also good

Had breakfast here yesterday, the place was busy and we had a small wait (30 min) due to this reason, our food was AMAZING and coffee also good. Will be back

Don't bother. Bad food, poor service.. I think you guys would do well to examine your business objectively. Providing one sugar per coffee, and one minuscule cube of butter when requested sends a message of pure stinginess. On top of this, your food is simply second rate. Eggs served nearly raw may be some attempt to introduce a trendy alternative, but you owe it to your customers to warn them that that's what they'll be getting, even when you're serving something as well established as plain old eggs Benedict. Also, having to wait nearly an hour for breakfast is inexcusable, especially when the food was so awful.

Good food slow service. Ordered the shakshuka which was amazing, but took 40mins to turn up. Ambience, waiting staff and everything else was great though!

Shouk Cafe - Paddington, Brisbane. In one of Brisbane's most prolific suburbs to get breakfast, Shouk opts to be more elusive than many of the other choices. It is on the corner of two suburban streets, and we are talking deep suburbia away from the main streets. A bit earlier than usual, my dining buddy and I were out of the house making a beeline for this place; it had been talked about a lot with much ardency in the foodie sector, and was really popular with both local's and non-local's alike. Luckily, we managed to get there in time as about half an hour after getting a table, Shouk was full up and more people were trying to get in only to be disappointed in missing the opportunity. I will say to those people, keep on trying. Simply because after all of it is said and done, you could not ask for a better run, more enjoyable and pleasant place to eat at for breakfast. <br/><br/>This is not an overt hyperbole; everything about this place operates at an A-grade level. We are talking about:<br/>fantastic design - there is the layout of a corner store among all the houses. Just open the glass sliding door and there you are in a brilliant looking and feeling cafe. They have fitted it out well to manage to fit in so many tables. There was a whole second back area for tables. To further get the Mediterranean vibe, the owner's have utilsed fresh paint and a mosaic tile bringing out a lot of flair. With one of the streets that it corner's onto being essentially the hillside, diner's out the back can expect to prepare for a scenic view. <br/>brilliant service - this is both really friendly service, and efficient team work that contribute to having one of the best finds in recent memory. The crew show a great deal of love to their craft. Food arrives in a sufficient amount of time and you are made to feel welcome. Even with a full house on board, the planning and efficiency that has gone into covering all bases makes sure no one is ignored or overseen. <br/>a pleasant atmosphere - with a great deal of cleanliness, a good choice of location, wonderful ambiance and the service contributing a great deal. It has a laid back atmosphere, perfect for any kind of weekend breakfast. <br/>and most of all, the keystone to any good, much less great, cafe or restaurant - the food. It showcases the best aspects of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine: how inventive it is, the colourful nature, sharp flavours and a general enjoyment of food as a whole with plenty of aesthetics. Specials were on a roll of brown paper on the wall for every diner to see. Like any self-respecting cuisine from that region, it also has a great deal of emphasis on coffee. <br/><br/>That was the first order of business, like always. This coffee was so good I came back for seconds at the end; both times were a double shot cappuccino. They use Veneziano blend, therefore it has a rich and aromatic flavour to it along with a decent amount of strength. Few choices so as much encouragement as the choice of blend that a cafe decides upon; there are a few guaranteed blends that shall deliver a consistently tasty and strong brew and Veneziano is one of them. <br/><br/>The menu is an eclectic mixture of Israeli-inspired dishes. Therefore, with plenty of nearby and historic influence there are hints of Arabic flavours, plus some African and plenty of Eastern European echoes which all make a great selection. This is one of the most vibrant and exciting menus I have come across. Some of the norms still exist; but with tangines and dishes which contain distinct flavours why settle for those?<br/><br/>Having to decide upon one dish is really hard, and with how good the food is returns are warranted; therefore, it that is some good news on that front. After quite a while of indecision, I finally went with the lamb shawarma. It is almost like a kebab, shaved bits of meat from a bigger cut that is slow-roasted for many hours before being served in a variety of fashions. <br/><br/>At Shouk, the lamb meat is served on top of flat bread then accompanied with pickled red onion, olives, artichoke heart, houmous and lemon. This meal is served big and high. The amount of meat is generous and the mixture is well done; they do not skimp on any of the aforementioned ingredients. It is not only that it is so generous, but the lamb is really tender and the deep flavours of it are allowed to come out accompanied by sharp, strong flavours. <br/><br/>As usual, I opted for some sides. At Shouk, they have a set price for the whole of the sides ($3 each) with a good deal where you can get two for $5. Even going down to the sides menu, it starts getting hard to know what to select. Ultimately, I opted for haluomi and Merguez sausage. Both sides were delicious and great choices. As always, the haloumi was great and this time it was cooked just right - still slightly soft and moderately sharp. Merguez sausage is a type of sausage made from beef, lamb or a combination of both. It is often used in North African cooking along with Middle Eastern and some parts of Southern Europe. This sausage has a spiciness to its flavour. I quite enjoyed it as well. <br/><br/>My dining buddy got a latke stack. These are Polish potato pancakes topped with cream cheese, dill, two poached eggs and pickled red onion plus a choice of either ham or smoked salmon to complete it (my dining buddy chose the latter). It ought not to be said at this moment, yet at the beginning there was the usual swapping of the other's plate. Therefore, I did get to try a bit of the latke stack. It was also delicious, very tasty. A more subtle contrast to the shawarma, there were still distinct tastes throughout. The latke was similar to a rosti, cooked until it was crisp. The other components were top quality, with the smoked salmon injecting its sharp, distinctive flavour into the mix plus a complimenting dill-cream cheese mixture finishing it off. For something that has such as simple looking edge to it, there is plenty of attention to detail to make something delicious. <br/><br/>Even if you are not a "foodie" per se, this is one that ought to be sought out. They say that breakfast is where people are the most predictable and boring with their breakfast choices, and with Brisbane being one of the most prolific cities for having breakfast out often people would want something different. What Shouk does is throw some much welcomed variety into the mixture even bucking the trend of "breakfasty" food choices to those less particular. <br/><br/>It used to just be a term tossed around, but now to have to use it it has got to mean something. This time around, there is no joshing, or mincing words, or saying it to just appear polite. I would be more than happy to make a return to this place, mostly on the basis of the all-round quality (and I often just go by how good the food is) as well as the variety there is to eat. Shouk is enjoying a well-deserved siege in popularity among diners; hopefully, that can continue into the future and that the restaurant has a long and vibrant life.

Disgusting. Breakfast was served stone cold. No one even bothered to come back and check on us and our meals. Long wait and it wasn't even very busy. Service was average at best.

Wonderful breakfast.. A faultless dining experience. If your palate is somewhat jaded, then I recommend this place for a different take on the standard breakfast menu. I would come early as it does tend to get busy. I had a Veneziano bean cappuccino to start with. As this is currently my favourite roast , I had high expectations and I was not disappointed. I quickly drank it down and immediately ordered another. The polish latke potato pancakes were sensational and I tried my friend's lamb shawarma which was also an inspired choice. The service was friendly and very efficient and It reminded me go Flute at Coorparoo in it's precision and execution. I admire the planning that has gone into this place and it's attention to the small details. I will return , as there are 3-4 other signature dishes here that I plan to sample.

Mixed Feelings. Shouk Cafe was yet another of the restaurants on my wish list (which is looong) and on Saturday we decided to venture a little further afield from our usual haunts and give it a go. We already knew it would be busy and that we would likely have to wait. We were greeted by a very pleasant young man who took my mobile number and suggested we might like to have a look around the nearby shops, as a table was probably 20 minutes at least away. So off we went to browse the antique store, we had only been in there 10 minutes (with me eyeing off jewellery) when we got "the" call - my husband was relieved I think.<br/><br/>Anyway we were seated in the front room rather than out on the verandah (which sounds lovely) and the first thing I will say is that this place is really really noisy. Probably made more so on our visit by the table of four girls who felt the need to screech loudly at each other, thereby ensuring that everyone else in the small space also had to shout to their table companions to be heard over the top of the said table. As it was breakfast/brunch a slightly quieter vibe would have been nice, but I guess that can't be helped.<br/><br/>Menus were out quickly and our orders taken. Our flat whites arrived in a timely fashion, but unfortunately could have been a little hotter. Hubby ended up ordering another in a takeaway cup and that was perfectly hot - anyway it was such a busy morning we decided not to re-order the coffees as they were just warm enough to satisfy us. As another reviewer mentioned, these came out long before our food so were long gone by the time breakfast arrived - but I made do with water and hubby had his takeaway.<br/><br/>The menu is really interesting and there was much I could have ordered. In the end I settled on the latkes with ham and poached eggs, hubby went with the Jackson - specifying soft-poached eggs with his meal. They arrived and were really good sized servings. Our only issue was the eggs - we are increasingly finding that the soft poaching of an egg is hard to come by when dining out. Of my two eggs, one was soft poached, the other not - I didn't mind too much as I hadn't specified how I wanted them poached and thought that was my own fault (does anyone ever really want eggs that are poached hard?). However hubby who had specified got two hard poached eggs on his breakkie - disappointing. We didn't send them back as it had taken over 30 minutes for breakfast to arrive - no problem, we can see they are busy and didn't expect the meals to arrive sooner - but we also didn't want to wait even longer to get "hopefully" soft poached eggs.<br/><br/>So eggs aside - we both really enjoyed the rest of the meal. My latkes were delicious with a generous spread of cream cheese on each one and a good size bit of ham - again like another a reviewer, this would be even more delicious if it were ham off the bone - but it was good nonetheless. Hubby also enjoyed his Jackson, with both of us feeling very full on departure. They really are good sized servings.<br/><br/>We will be back as there is a lot more on the menu I would like to try - especially the avo on toast. One of my favourite breakfasts of all time (and the only reason I didn't order it was because I have it so often and thought I'd try something different). Next time though we will be very specific with how we like our eggs poached - busy morning it can be forgiven ... just the once.

Bad experience. The coffees were lukewarm. The meals were ok but the baked eggs were very overcooked. My girlfriend asked to replace eggs and dukkah with mushrooms, and the waitress insisted she had to charge extra, then delivered 1 1/2 small mushrooms. We won't be paying $19 for avocado on toast with 1 1/2 mushrooms again any time soon

Grilled Zucchini and Halloumi on Flatbread. Delicious! And the caramel lattes are the best I've ever had

Its a Winner!. Only 4 months open and these guys are onto a good thing here. This is the best breakfast I have had all year - its a unique menu (Middle Eastern influence) and I will definitely be going back to try the Lebanese share plate. We tried the Latke with both a ham version and salmon (they could improve this by using ham off the bone!) and the eggs benedict. Coffee is great, lovely old character building and friendly, accommodating staff. This place is both relaxing and tasty and I really hope it does well!

Didn't like it at all! Waited for nearly an hour.

Original and delicious. Pear fritters unreal! Staff attentive and friendly. This cafe deserves great success!

Unbelievably amazing! Delicious food, fantastic service, beautiful atmosphere! My sister and I want to go back to eat through the entire menu!

Definitely worth a look. Went to Shouk on Sunday morning for breakfast, glad we got there early before the rush as there was a line up when we left. Service was really great, coffee was probably a little on the cool side and brought out way before the meal so we had finished before we ate which I don't personally love. We both had the avo on toast with poached eggs and an extra side each. Very yummy. Definitely worth going as they have some really interesting and different breakfast options, prices were good although servings were a little on the small side (the side of mushrooms was 1 mushroom) and it's a shame they don't have more gluten free options or menu markings to indicate meals can be made gluten free, It can be hard work looking through a menu to decipher what can become gluten free simply by swapping out the toast etc. Will definitely be back to check out some of the more exotic menu options.

Had breakfast this morning at the cafe and I must say, they have the best eggs Benedict! Lovely cafe with good food and service. I will definitely be back.

Fantastic cafe with a very intriguing and extensive breakfast menu. Although we've waited each time we've been, the gentlemen running the queue is particularly nice and very accommodating.<br/><br/>The latkes were delicious and the avo with pomegranate molasses was equally sensational.<br/><br/>It's great to see the ottolengghi-inspired menu taking off as there are a few too many bacon and egg-based menus in the area.<br/><br/>The back area is a real sweet spot with views of Paddington. I'd certainly recommend giving it a try.

Went here for breakfast on Saturday morning. Fantastic service. Great breakfast. Cant fault it anything

Best Cafe in Brisbane. Shouk greets you with a surprisingly large balcony out the back, I recommend the seating near the windows to take in the Brisbane valley views over the rooftops. <br/><br/>Their inventive all day breakfast menu keeps me coming back for more. Meals are moderately priced, serving sizes are plentiful and beautifully presented on the plate. The staff have always been friendly and the owner has always inquired about our meals and experience before we leave. The criticism is it can be a little on the loud side when the place is buzzing of people, it's worth asking the staff to open windows so the sound can travel out... <br/><br/>I recommend the Shakshuka, the best I've ever had, sweetly and lightly spiced with perfect eggs that still held soft goodness inside, along with the Salmon Latke potato cakes, and juices of the day a perfect way to start any day.

I am a regular in Paddington so was pleased when I heard a new cafe with middle eastern flare was opening where the old Jazzcat restaurant used to be. I dined at Shouk Cafe for the first time today. I enjoyed the decor however my main meal, the slow cooked lamb with hummus was completely underwhelming. It was by far the worst meal I have had in years, I could not have been more disappointed. Every part of it was bland bland bland. No spice. No marinade. No herbs. No seasoning. I love big flavours but also love subtle flavours- this meal tasted of nothing. The pickled onions were the beat part of it however they were sparse. I would scrap this meal off the menu, the other meals around me looked far tastier. I tried a friend's cummin crepes with fruit salad and they at least were tasty. I left feeling angry that I paid $16 for that plate of blandness though. Not sure whether I'd bother going back I'm afraid. In Brisbane's modern day gourmet dining culture this isn't good enough.

Diana. This place is really buzzing. We stopped by for an early breakfast & were suprised to see it almost full, however we did not have to wait long for coffee or food. The service was friendly & relaxed but efficient. Was even offered a blanket as there was a distinct chill in the air! Shame they don't have outdoor seating (maybe a tad difficult due to the sloping terrain!) so we were unable to bring the pooch along! (Think you can tie them up outside the door though- however ours would not be well behaved doing that!!) The food here is a delight, was tempted to try their daily special of eggplant done six ways, but decided on the haloumi with zuchini. This was served on a bed of olives with houmus & herbs, just a great combo for me with that hint of dill. My partner enjoyed the corn fritters which were crunchy on the outside & moist & flavoursome on the inside. Coffee was Veneziano & also a great pour with smooth flavour & decent strength.

Recommended. Just had a quiet weekday lunch there and enjoyed it. The staff and the setting were lovely. We were happy with our Lamb Shawarma and Shakshuka, though the shakshuka is on the warm side (spice wise) if you are a wimp like me.

Excellent coffee and interesting food. Love the different breakfast menu offered here, if you're looking to sample something other than the standard breakfast fair offered at other places you should definately try Shouk. Food is delicious and the barista dude with the beard makes a flawless espresso.

8/10. This place is great. Cool venue and the food is amazing. My friends and I all tried each others meals and loved them all. The only gripe I have is that the service was so slow. It took about half an hour before we even got our order taken and then quite a while for the food to come out. Don't eat here if you're in a rush, but it sure is delicious!

Best Breakfast in Paddington. Omg... The most delicate yummy and well executed breakfast i have had latelly.. My GF and I cant wait for the weekend for some of those gifted eggs.. Coffee is amazing and service even better.. Keep the good work, i love the non wannabe and pretentious vibe you get in other cafes in Pado.. 10 out of 10!!!!!!

Amazing place, lovely relaxed atmosphere, fantastic service and omg the food, Had the date pannacotta, and it's the best breakfast I have ever had, not too sweet, lovely kattafi pastry and super fresh fruit. Will be back.

Though the food was decent and well presented, the service was slow (forspire being a quiet day) and when it was finally delivered it was rude and felt rushed. The table was dirty and the atmosophere felt stale. It was dissappointing from all the positive reviews we had read previously.

I have found my new local!. The most amazing food! Executed perfectly and presented beautifully. The ambiance is relaxed and inviting making it perfect for a lazy brunch. And the service is the icing on the cake. I know I will definitely be back for more!

Congratulations! I must admit I new this place would be good as one of my baristas has had a hand in the coffee. That said I have now found a new home away from work. The food was prepared with care and attention, a generous serving and so good I finished it all. Service is warn and friendly and I loved that laughter was heard throughout while I enjoyed my breakfast. A wonderful addition to the Paddington scene. Well done guys I will be seeing you often. X Ruchelle

It's great! Hearty, tasty breakfast. And there's a kickass map of the Middle East occupying an entire wall out the back.

Great breakfast. First thing I noticed about Shouk Cafe was the light refreshing space they have created there. The service was very excellent, we were greeted by one of the owners and seated out the back with a lovely view of Paddington. We ordered the avocado feta toast and the baked eggs (Shakshuka). Both delicious, full of flavour and looked amazing. One poached egg was very overcooked and when I told the waitress, she was extremely friendly and offered us replacement eggs. She also came back to check if everything was okay which we appreciated very much. Overall we were very impressed with the service, ambiance and food. I will be recommending this place to my friends and family.

Very very impressed!. Visited Shouk this morning and it was a really enjoyable experience with one of the more creative breakfast menus I have seen in Brisbane. We wanted to try everything! Warm, friendly , professional, personalised and efficient service was really excellent. The shared breakfast made up of an assortment of delicious plates was amazing. Best hummus I have tasted and very generous serving size - lovely fresh warm bread and pastries too. Grilled Zucchini and Halloumi on flatbread was delicious. The special drink of the day, rhubarb and rose water syrup topped up with soda water, was refreshing and really pretty. Coffee was also very good. I hope you guys do very well. You certainly are off to a great start and we shall definitely be returning...thank you!

Disappointing. I had heard wonderful things about Shouk and went on Sunday morning. My friend and I walked in and were not even acknowledged by 2 of the staff members. We walked to the back of the room where a third staff member was standing at a till. We were shown to our seat and advised that one of the wait staff would be over with water and menus... this never happened. One of the staff served the people behind and in front of us but never came near us. We ended up leaving. Judging by what had happened so far I knew it would be a disastrous experience and I couldn't be bothered. There are far too many nice cafes in Paddington to put up with sub par customer service. I wouldn't waste my time giving it a second chance.

Little gem!. Had my birthday breakfast here last week. Very impressed with the coffee, uncomplicated food and good portion sizes (skipped lunch!). I like the nice touch of both using and advertising local ingredients on the menu. The 'soft opening' menu is well balanced and I am looking forward to seeing the new one soon.

Wow.. Shouk Cafe is the best thing to happen to the Brisbane cafe scene in a long time. This place has it all; an innovative, delicious menu, genuinely friendly and welcoming staff/owners, great coffee and a subtle, tasteful fit out. The food is Israeli-inspired. The date panna cotta is one of the best breakfast dishes I have eaten, not to mention the prettiest. This place is wonderful.

This place has everything going for it- a beautiful space, warm service, good coffee, a creative menu and great food. We will definitely be back! I highly recommend.

Fantastic!! Food and service was spot on. The only thing that would need changing is the cutlery. Small forks and blunt knives made it difficult to deal with the delicious sourdough crust.

Delicious food and fantastic service. Is my new favourite cafe.

The Eggs Benedict was fantastic and the challah bread was yummy

Food was amazing, will definitely return more than once. Only negatives are 1) ordered the zucchini and halloumi fritters with avocado and mushrooms which came out without halloumi. 2) one staff member was wearing a very small pair of shorts and when she leant forward nothing was left to the imagination which unfortunately isn't what I wanted during breakfast. 3) no blinds or tint on side windows which made for a very hot and bright meal. Aside from these hiccups it's a fab venue, amazing food and friendly staff. Definitely worth a visit

What an awesome place! The food was absolutely amazing and the service was exceptional ! We will be back!!!

Great first visit - surprisingly smooth for the first week of operation. Delicious food and the menu has a lot of variety - enough to tempt us back for a second

Devine!! Had the crepe souffle and want it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.. Beautifully presented with great service and gorgeous atmosphere. Def returning when back in Brisbane.

Innovative and beautifully presented food. Staff are extremely friendly and accommodating. Will be back very soon.

Delicious food- so fresh! Very friendly staff and great location.

Hidden Treasure. Loving this new cafe in Paddington, everything about this cafe is excellent. The food is fresh and innovative and the coffee is great too!

With so many great cafes in Brisbane, serial brunchers have never had it so good as we do now. It does mean though, that it has become harder and harder for a restaurant to stand out. One place that has made a name for itself on the awkward hours dining scene, is this little gem of a cafe in Paddington: Shouk Cafe . With an all day breakfast menu as well as vast lunch and dinner menus, Shouk has every hour of your day covered for anytime you get a Mediterranean craving. I love cafes with a nice feel to them, and the little tabletop plants and Paddington rooftop views make settling in at Shouk a bit of a zen experience. Below we had an iced latte and peppermint tea to kick off our appetites. We then opted to hedge our brunching bets and go for a mix of things from the all day breakfast menu and the lunch menu, including: Cardamon and Honey Panna Cotta with Smashed Baklava: Lightly sweetened honey and cardamon panna cotta with smashed baklava and pistachio persian fairy floss Lamb Shwarma Flatbread: Slow cooked lamb shwarma wrapped in flat bread with pickles, hummus and a tahini sauce I probably don't need to say this, but these dishes were little works of art. We sat and just looked at them for a few minutes until the panna cotta began melting and we decided we'd done enough aesthetic admiring. The panna cotta had some beautiful fresh flavours, which just worked with its creamy texture. I also felt extremely virtuous eating this with the fruit salad that accompanied it.  I think I've talked off all my friends' ears about the lamb shwarma flatbread. Quite simply, I loved it.  The lamb was perfectly slow cooked with soft meat and some uplifting herbs and spices added into the mix. The hummus it was served with was fresh and creamy and the flatbread itself tasted like it had just come out of the oven. Also from the breakfast menu was this stellar dish: Pumpkin and Halloumi on Toast: Roast pumpkin, spicy zhoug sauce, pureed pumpkin and two 63 degree eggs on sourdough toa

The trendy inner-city suburb is now home to a little gem called Shouk Cafe, which Jo and I visited one Saturday with special guest star Heather Locklear Johann. Watch what we thought here! We knew that we might be in for a wait since Shouk doesn't take bookings; sure enough, when we arrived, we were told there'd only be a table free after about 25 minutes. The three of us decided to go for a bit of a wander to kill the time—there's certainly a lot to look at in the area—but you can't arrive starving because they're just so popular right now that you'll almost certainly have to wait. Once the time was up, we were asked whether we'd like to squeeze up at a table for two. It made the quarter slightly cramped but we didn't mind. Surely, one of the biggest first-world problems of our generation has to be whether to have a savoury breakfast or a sweet breakfast when dining out. While a savoury breakfast, by most accounts, is the sensible

...trying to think of a place to breakfast, I suggested Shouk Cafe in Paddington. Now Paddington is not a particularly bike-friendly area (at least not for me and my bike) with it's many hills so I decided this would have to be a non-biking adventure. We planned to meet at 8:30am but I, running late as usual, turned into Collingwood St a little after 8:30 and then spent the n

The buzz surrounding Shouk Cafe has been getting louder and louder over the past fews month and it was high time I paid it a visit, and I am so glad I did…twice in fact! It really is that good! Offering modern, middle-eastern inspired dishes and a lovely relaxed atmosphere all served up with a smile, Shouk is pretty much my ideal destination for a breakfast date. The menu is fresh, delicious, seriously beautiful (look at that panna cotta!) and a little bit different to what you’ll find at most Brisbane cafe’s on any given morning and it’s clearly a hit with locals – the place is always packed! On my first visit this is what I ate: Shouk Cafe Goats Milk Panna Cotta Is this not the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?? It is the Goats Milk and Date Panna Cotta with pistachio, seasonal fruits and a kataifi pastry nest. Not only was it absolutely STUNNING but it was also bloody deeeeeeelicoous! On my second visit I went for the much heartier  s low cooked lamb shwarma wrapped in flat bre

Paddington’s Latrobe and Given Terraces aren’t short of breakfast options – it would take you months of Sunday mornings to try each of them. Living close by it has been sad to see some great venues come and go (we loved Hamptons!), however, the revolving door looks like it may have stopped spinning on the little Collingwood Street cafe. Shouk is fantastic. Overlooking quintessential Paddington cottages, Shouk serves up Middle Eastern inspired dishes for breakfast and lunch, daily. We tried the zucchini fritters with haloumi and the delicious shakshuka and challah bread alongside two full-bodied coffees. We also tried one of their drink specials, the Limonata – blended lemon, mint, sugar syrup and ice. We’ll be back to try the delicious sounding (and looking!) goats milk date panna cotta. 14 Collingwood Street, Paddington

My friend Yaz and I caught up over breakfast the other day at Shouk Cafe- the latest edition to the Paddington cafe scene. Perched just off Given's Terrace this cute little cafe sits in a renovated Queenslander that is decorated with wooden floorboards, mosaic tiling and bentwood chairs. Although it tries very hard to live up to it's callcard of having Middle Eastern influence, truth be told, the only influence it had were on their tile selection and a few ingredients on their dishes (ie goats cheese, dukkah, cumin and artichokes). Perhaps it was more apt to describe it as a Modern Australia with a dash of Middle Eastern vibe? Nonetheless I'm being  rather picky. It was a remarkable experience as the staff were lovely, the food fantastic and the ambiance great. We were waited to the seating area at the back. There were open glass windows which allowed warm winter's sun to light the room while the diners could overlook the hills of Paddington. The staff were very attentive and professio

We left our dripping umbrellas outside and entered the warm timber cafe.<br/><br/>We browsed the list of Middle Eastern inspired dishes, conflicted between sweet or savoury – Cardamom and Honey Panna Cotta, Latke stack, 63 Degree Eggs and Challah French Toast.<br/><br/>With our orders placed, we chatted the morning away...

The eggs benne came presented on toasted challah and crispy bacon with sumac peppered hollandaise and the garlic buttered kale. It looked quite lovely with the contrasting red of the bacon and sumac on the bright yellow of the hollandaise sauce. The perfectly cooked eggs exploded with bright yellow yolk which further added to the kaleidoscope of colours on the plate. It was a really good traditional dish that was given a Middle Eastern makeover that worked a treat.

SHOUK SHOUK SHOUK! I've been wanting to go here since it opened up and I saw the menu featured on the Urbanlist. I really hate heading north of the Brisbane CBD though...  The cafe menu has a few more details on it like where they get their Merguez sausage from and who bakes their challah but otherwise is nearly identical!

Perched on the corner of Collingwood and Hazlewood Streets is the new  Shouk Cafe, a vibrant space where Colonial design meets the Middle East, with exotic patterns and tiling, skillfully carved wood elements, old maps and bentwood chairs! There was a line of eager diners waiting outside, and the friendly staff asked us if we wanted to make a coffee order first, constantly updating us on the status of our table (which is extremely refreshing compared to some experiences where sourpusses go “uh.. that’ll be a 30 minute wait … so…” ) the back dining room overlooks hilly Paddington below Turkish ceramic tiles as a paperweight! a Middle-eastern inspired menu with an contemporary Australian twist silky Veneziano soy cap Spicy Shakshouka! Tunisian style eggs baked in a rich sauce of tomato, capsicum and spices. Served with toasted challah, olives and Persian fetta and merguez sausage. Oh this challah was amazing! Latke Stack Polish potato pancake stack with smoked salmon, crème fraîche, dil

Eggs were amazing, with an oozy centre, and the flavour combination of the avocado mash was tangy, with a slight kick which was delicious! The Jackson, which is their equivalent of the big breakfast, sure looked big, and it was my pleasure to help my cousin finish it, for it was actually too much for him! Bacon, eggs, kale, mushrooms that were roasted, merguez sausage, roasted tomato and latke made up the ginormous plate! Service was attentive but not obstructive, and staff were friendly in their approach. Food did take a while to come out, but the restaurant was quite busy during the time. Would be back more often if it wasn't so far away!

I must admit I felt quite uninspired by dining out lately, it seemed like I’m having yet another tapas, same breakfast or not so different from others seafood or pasta. Same food – different place, I didn’t even bother taking photos. But with my recent visit to Shouk Cafe I finally got excited.

I am really impressed by the side brioche that accompanied this meal. The brioche was warm and so soft! It is like a 'sponge', soaking up all the sauce! Yum!

On the day we arrived in sunny Brisbane, we were all keen to head for a nice breakfast. We met up with Aga, another blogger, for coffee at John Mills Himself. Once we had gotten our caffeine hit, we asked Aga where we could get an amazing breakfast. She quickly replied that her current favourite is Shouk Café in Paddington, so the four of us hopped into a taxi and made our way there. When we arrived, we were seated in the area out the back of the restaurant, which looks out over a hilly suburbia view. Shouk Café is a modern middle-eastern influenced café that has a variety of unique dishes on the menu, which includes polish and modern Australian influences. I ordered a second coffee and it was strong but smooth. For my breakfast, I ordered the Eggs Benedict, which I know was a boring choice in comparison to the excit

The Jackson is Shouk Cafe‘s interpretation of the big breakfast and they were not sparing anything or anyone with this menu number. Two eggs done the way you like it, mer guez sausage, crispy bacon, herb roasted tomato, garlic butter braised kale, latke and two slabs of toasted sourdough – take that, hunger pangs! This would definitely be the one for the massive hangover.

The lightly sweetened goats milk and date panna cotta was served with pistachio, seasonal fruits and a kataifi pastry nest, and dare I say it was the prettiest breakfast dish I've ever had.

ended up with the very instagrammable Cardamon and Honey Pannacotta served with smashed baklava and a fluffy pistachio Persian fairy floss. The pannacotta was amongst the best I have tried, and I was very pleased to see my favourite dessert on a breakfast menu.

Shouk left a positive impression on me not only with its food quality and variety but also with its friendly staff. Everyone who came to our table was smiley and happy. There weren't long waits for food and drink. Even though it's obviously a busy location, we didn't feel rushed or forgotten about.

Shouk Cafe is at the first position of this month’s Talk of the Town in Urbanspoon Brisbane, why it is so special? Food: excellent! Coffee: loved the Veneziano Coffee and  Maleny Milk! Service: impeccable! Ambience: loved the decor! Shouk Cafe was opened on 11th March in 2014 at  Paddington , one of my favourite brekky suburb! Their menu is inspired by the marketplaces of  Middle East .  I haven’t had much dining experience about  Middle East  food and the only thing I love is the  Shakshouka ! Today we had a  Shashkua (Tunisian style eggs baked in rich sauce of tomato, capsicum, spices, merguez sausage and served with toasted challah )  and  The Jackson (big  breakfast of scrambled eggs, merguez sausage, bacon, garlic butter braised kale, latke and toasted sourdough).  I never had  challah but it was quite interesting. I found on wikipedia  challah  is a braided bread and  Shouk Cafe’s  challah is sourced from  La Vosh Patisserie   in  Red Hill . We loved their breakfast es