TL;DR: It is more about the surroundings and the inner-workings of the Wise Foundation than it is about the food on its own merits, thought with that being said the offerings are generally wholesome and filling, with something suited to each aspect of the work day. The added bonus is it being so close, yet filling like it is so hidden.
Again, as the word hidden starts to be thrown around a bit too much now, it comes to be shame for yet another time since this is more or less the perfect way to describe the Garden's Club. This is right between the botanical gardens and the university, hidden out the back end and on the corner. Little thoroughfare tends to happen considering this is right in the middle of town, and with all of the students present as well. Whatever the buildings were used for beforehand, recently they have been refurbished into a competently-run and aesthetically pleasing cafe, which is helped a lot by its surrounds and not to mention the general mentality behind it.
It is one more endeavour of the Wise Foundation, offering several avenues - albeit small, but still significant - for people experiencing barriers to gaining employment. Essentially, that means that every time something is bought from here the proceeds are going right back into the community. That always is something of a gold star, or at least gets a point right out of the gate in my book.
This combines some aspects of the canteen, and putting in the form of a cafe. Adding onto that, the cottage is able to be catered to hold all kinds of events including weddings and functions, adapting where need be. In a way, the best analogy from all of that is the jack-of-all-trades.
This may be a first, but if it is not, the case is still remaining that I don't think I have been to a place for back-to-back visits on the same day. The first one was the work break getting coffee around the break time, and then another one was a business meeting of sorts where my supervisor came into work and I thought this place was good to bring him to it for the coffee over business discussion.
To put it another way, two different occasions merely an hour or two apart both resulted in coming here. If that is any indication, it has to be at least pretty good. The first time was when someone knew of a different place to take a coffee break, and like stumbling upon a good, secret find it was time to pass on the message for the second round.
Like it was already mentioned with the decor and that, it is pretty nice. This is a heritage-listed building, the Curator's Cottage, which has a vintage charm among the concrete jungle - and adding it in the middle of all the greenery, and as a back drop to the river, does not make a for a bad arrangement.
Service is pretty basic. You go up to the counter, order then pay, and it is all a matter of waiting for it to arrive. At least when I was there, the young woman was doing what she could do, though I definitely could see there might still be a bit of practice needed before being noticeable. That is not a knock, but just an indication for getting a better, all-round customer service experience for future clients.
When it comes to the menu, it is more or less more of the same to be expected. There is the breakfast menu which has a number of the usual choices with an occasional tweak but nothing too unusual. Going onto lunch time, it is basically the same sort of case. You have a burger or two there, a range of salads, toasted sandwiches and a few healthier options along with the general side snacks. Within the cabinet is a range of sweets and such to have with your drinks.
Speaking of which, there are a few ways to wet your whistle right here. There is the general coffee and tea, plus cold drinks including milkshakes and their ilk, along with the standard lot of sodas, iced teas and juices. For something that is a bit harder, also on offer are beers, ciders and wines.
Out the front they have a big ice freezer with ice cream, which is perfect for when little kids are around.
For me, what I judge this off of is how they manage the coffee and cake. Both times, this was good. When I see that a place is using Toby's Estate as their choice of coffee it is a good indicator - what will more often than not be the case is that the coffee will be strong, and usually have some sort of chocolate flavour in the bean. It is rich and robust, and opinions will always vary but to me that is the ideal sort of bean to have. As always, the coffee was a doppio both times and it is two-for-two with for a good espresso.
The coffee was robust, it had a great body and flavour, along with the extraction being well-done and the texture being all smooth. That familiar cocoa flavour was certainly present, and continues to prove how good and reliable Toby's Estate has proven itself as one of the best coffee blends around.
And with the first time around, to break in the new place there had to be the general test with the coffee - how are the sweets? None other than the fudge brownie, that is what was chosen. I got it with a side of cream, and this was easily one of the best brownies that I had in ages. The size of it was pretty reasonable, and I particularly liked how it was set out on the plate - cut in half, and with some of the cream in the middle. The texture of the brownie was definitely like fudge; it was thick, though it melted in chocolate in your mouth, and the chocolate used was slightly dark. It had bits of nuts here and there, adding in some needed crunch, and the cream on the side simply sweetened the deal.
After all of that, the consensus to be had from here is that it is good in some ways, maybe not the best choice in others, and the good intentions are never going to be faulted either. What holds it back in my mind is the sort of standard kind of offerings they have, though to play devil's advocate I am saying that only looking and not eating - it could be among the best fare that is in town.
Nevertheless, as it stands for now they do a decent coffee and cake, I highly admire the work that they do for charity, plus with the surroundings and everything you have something that is worth searching for just that little bit more off the beaten track in the botanical gardens. Regardless, The Garden's Club is admirable for the aforementioned charity, and possibly reliable for all the functions they have on offer. Whatever mode is chosen, they deserve the support they can get.
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