TL;DR: Sometimes there is a vibe to a place that may resonate to you personally, and that is that. Something like that happened right here, having Peach Cafe be smack-bang in suburbia but it could well have been influenced from the Northern Rivers. They got the quality of the food to a T, customer service that is welcoming and homely, and not to mention how it is designed shows a great deal of respect. Not particularly delving into a trend or scene, this is tailor-made in knowing what their vision is.

From so many trips to the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, I can't but help be reminded of that area of the world when going through the doorway of Peach Cafe and being able to absorb the rustic atmosphere that it possesses. That part of the world has a respect for the old, rustic style, by keeping much of it in tact and having an otherworldly charm that is lost in areas just a short crow's flight away. A lot like many instances where it is the case, you can be reminded of something and not exactly know why in a brief sense of the word - that is how Peach Cafe in Auchenflower speaks to me.

It may be a Brisbane sort of thing going around, but so many cafes find their best roots being on the quiet suburban streets. Often they provide a good atmosphere that is welcoming and relaxing, being a world away from the rat race. This set up allows the little cafes to be a surprise, and going on a scavenger hunt around the more unfamiliar parts of town is all part of the joy in getting to them. This was one of two possible places this time around, and the other just so happened to be closed for that weekend. By default, that meant it was off to Peach. All of this was not before the usual rude awakening by the airhorn; that is all I need to know it is time to put the breakfast on.

What is a definite plus to the place is how they have their finger on the pulse regarding customer service. For instance, if it weren't for the lovely young lady at the counter giving directions, I would have not had any idea that there was much more seating out the back, and in the fresh air. That is already a good sign, and they beckon you to make yourself comfortable at your choice of tables. The service is done via the counter, which might be the gripe that I have about it all - that aspect is more about my preferences and is not in any a criticism of the place. After the ordering, you just need to pay and then wait for the orders to arrive.

There has to be something with the process that they have finely tuned it to work so well, without any kind of hiccups or tricks up their sleeves. The food that they serve is not the stock standard kind, yet when it arrives the meals are pipping hot, and are good quality, obviously being prepared right on the order. They even seem to know where you sit, and it is all done with a smile. In fact, I don't think I was even seated when the food arrived on the table; I was more looking around at the intrinsic aspects of the place. Nevertheless, they got so many points in their favour already.

If it were not mentioned already, if the waitress hadn't pointed out the outdoor area out the back I would have been none the wiser. That changed my impression of the place immensely. Walking right into the cafe, the aesthetics are quaint and certainly indicate they have a particular demographic in mind - it is mothers, and the back area gives weight to that. Peach is an apt name, as they use the contrast of peaches and cream colours for the furniture and their coffee cups. This was definitely a Queenslander before it got renovated into a restaurant, with the shed out the back getting the renovations as well. In that, they got a cosy aesthetic, plenty of pictures books around the wall to read to kids while they wait, and a big yard for them to run around in. Heck, attention to detail with the aesthetics goes just as much to the furniture as what they put on it - even the cutlery is well chosen, and made of good material. They had a real knack, and they manage to keep it clean and presentable.

Getting to the menu, even that sort of reminds me about the Northern Rivers area. They will give just about anything a go, and maintain the uptmost standard of health and ethically sourcing all the ingredients down to the flour. It really is one location that is for the health nut out there, along with throwing in a couple of the odd old favourites for good measure. In addition to that, always make sure you check the cabinet for the sweet treats. The beverages menu is more or less what you would expect with the normal cafe - coffee, tea, mikshakes, juices and the ilk.

It went to the first order of business with ordering, and that was good old coffee. They had the general range of espressos, so hence it was a doppio. I'll take a break from critiquing the beans that they are using - because I can't remember what one they chose, it was nice nonetheless. Instead, it will be to notify their attention to detail down to the cutlery and the cups. While mine was a simple little shotglass, my house mate's cappuccino came in a cup that was brilliantly potted. The outside was insulated so you didn't burn your hand, and it was matched to a saucer which had a divet sticking up to latch the cup onto. It looked old-style, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this being sold at a market. Heck, I'd be tempted to by a couple of these cups - and that doesn't often cross my mind.

As for the coffee itself, I have much faith that it is a high quality blend - maybe even a single origin, or something that is locally sourced. Regardless of that fact, it had a strong flavour and a real smooth texture. They got everything just right when making it, and the small notes of fruit and such made it all the more better. It was hot, the beans were fresh, and it went down a treat.

It took me less than a minute to know what I was going to have. Something different for breakfast has always been my jam, and this was alive right here. It was a Korean-style fried rice, laced with lots of kim chi. The mixture has a black rice base (no comment, I couldn't tell you one rice from another), with a combination of pork belly, pineapple, broccoli, fried egg, fresh herbs, and a whole lot of chilli. This was a well done meal, that was as fresh as it was tasty. They did not go overboard with ingredients, and allowed each one to present their unique flavour base. The pineapple gave a rare sweetness that is characteristic in Korean cooking - they balance out all the flavour notes akin to the balance of nature. The broccoli gave a good crunch, you will always see me get happy over plenty of chilli, then the piece a la resistance was the pork belly, crispy and buttery. Shorter words, a nice breakfast that is surprisingly homely.

You have yourselves a rare gem of place right here. Even when I do find a place that I would regard highly, it gets acknowledged that certain aspects about it possibly outshine other ones; what we got here is something that is an all-rounder, and it is an all-rounder which manages each and every aspect to a high degree. For that to be possibly, you just know a whole lot of hard work is consistently going on behind the scenes and I respect them for that.

It isn't even that which makes Peach Cafe such a wonderful location for the residents of Auchenflower. Not many places are so perfect for those mums with little kids, where they have room to run around just as much as the books and such to play with - and a great playground is just adjacent which makes it even better. Even if I am more of a dark colours man, the colour scheme using peach and cream gives the aesthetic both a modern and traditional touch.

Final rating: 4.5