TL;DR: Gauging only from the breakfast menu, it is a bit hard to get into the veins of what Chickpea will truly have to offer as a whole, yet from this angle it is a welcome addition. This is something unique and exotic to the burgeoning breakfast scene on a number of levels, least of all giving a proper break to the norm. In spite of it being one of the key cuisines in Australia's zeitgeist, Brisbane had kind of been missing out on Lebanese - well, we have a dark horse arriving in town and it is welcome to have a long stay.
You wouldn't know it if were here unless actively looking for it, which sooner or later becomes apparent with what makes the best, most enjoyable, and all-round rewarding finds in dining ventures. That separates some of the tourist traps from the real locations of value, which makes the food all that more rewarding. One under-rated, often overlooked, and thus under-utilised methods for this is hitting it closer to home for many folks, on a real literal level. The entry level to apartment complexes is a good place to start, and that brings us to Chickpea.
Taking turns each week in deciding what looks good, the ball was in my court this time. Within a previous week, upon doing the usual grocery shop I had noticed out of the corner of my eye a banner advertising this place, more so about a Lebanese-style breakfast that had only been recently introduced. Breakfast out is always the go-to option these days, and when something different for breakfast is happened before - the ears are all of a sudden propped up. All it took to convince my house mate to go here was having a peek at what was on offer, and the following Sunday it was off to here for a spot of breakfast.
No sooner is it that clients are walking into the restaurant from the car park that they may well step through the veil into a whole another world. This is one more place that deceives you from the outside, with plenty of space inside to spread all the tables out and be both roomy and cosy at the same time. They have a range of different seating, including classical tables and chairs, the comfy lounge chairs a coffee table beside them, and each one is set up as you go in. A few bits of artwork adorn the walls, as well as some trinkets from Lebanon.
As far as service goes, it is in that fine sort of area. Put it this way, the waitstaff here do manage to do their job and to really put out any outright criticism would possibly come out as unfair. It is more relaxed than usual around these quarters, albeit breakfast time was fairly new and both of us were there fairly early. In addition to that, this must have been one of the quickest ordering processes in the history of me eating out, with nary five minutes passing between sitting down with the menu and ordering the desired item. Near the end of the meal, the folks were willing for a chat and were discussing their plans with testing the breakfast options out quietly too see their success. It is apparent this is the hard-working, silent kind, and it can get the job done very well.
Getting into the bites they offer, do they have a range of treats here or what? Better yet, with the philosophy behind many Middle Eastern cuisines - Lebanese in particular - and the low median price of the menu items, sharing is certainly suggested. Most notably, getting an array of items here and there, in which the variety will have something for everyone. Starting first is the breakfast, which is divided into two sections - one that is breakfast plates, which are either classic Middle Eastern breakfasts or a twist on some standard favourites when going out for breakfast. The other one is traditional Lebanese breakfasts, (possibly) coincidentally pure vegetarian, a dip here and a salad there, this is like something else. Rounding off the breakfasts is something for the working man, the classical meat and egg wrap done in a distinct style.
Going into the main part of the menu, the spread of options that present themselves on the page is akin to the preview of a candy store. You could imagine the kid standing there with the mouth agape for all the possibilities, and any such fan of Mediterranean cuisine, tapas and whatnot would have a similar reaction. In a ingenious maneuver, it simultaneously becomes a treat to both vegetarians and carnivores alike. Those offerings include a bunch of mezza, char-grilled meats, and dips plus bread, alongside numerous salads and sides that can't get pigeon-holed into the other categories. For something much more substantial, you have shared plates and banquets which showcase the best of the meze and char-grills the kitchen has on hand. Main meals include a choice of char-grill with several sides to spruce them up. For something quick on the go, many of the char-grill choices can be put into a wrap at an agreeable price.
All that food is not where it ends either, starting off with the desserts menu which changes all the time, and the range of Lebanese sweets on offer. These can be gotten with either a coffee or tea for a set price. Speaking of which, those are just the start of the available beverages. They have them Arabic style, but the usual espresso options can also be ordered. Other choices include sodas, beers both on tap and in the bottle, a range of wines, plus spirits and cocktails. All that is in order to transform the eating into a real social occasion.
Starting off the venture - in ordering breakfast, coffee was certainly on the agenda. Plus, going Middle Eastern here so if Arabic coffee was available that was the name of the game. Well, strike the jackpot right there because it was available. This coffee is something else, with the sheer strength of it being able to wake the dead from just a small sip. On top of the concentrated strength, how the coffee is presented is a charm unto itself. It came with a tiny cup - one smaller than a doll's tea party set - the pot for pouring, and a handful of sugars to sweeten it all up. This is an adventure for coffee lovers, since you are going to be here quite a while with the heat and strength considerably higher than an espresso. It had a complex flavour, and if memory serves me correctly the coffee they use is from Merlo - well-played there, Merlo. I'm having more faith in you than I did beforehand.
Getting to the main part of the meal, quite a few options on the menu sounded appealing enough - including an aforementioned share platter. Ultimately, what took my fancy was their take on the big breakfast. This started off with a couple of eggs done in the style of choice - soft poached as per the norm with me - two kinds of sausage which includes the classical sujuk, fava beans, garlic-infused labneh, olives, and a salad consisting of tomatoes and cucumber. Finishing that off, it is a choice between toast or Lebanese flat bread, I went with the latter. It may well be one of the healthiest breakfasts I managed to have out, and the way it was presented on the plate was colourful, and aesthetically pleasing. They went to a great effort from the starting line, and the important aspect still remains - the food was delicious, and the breadth of aromas and such helped create a distinction.
Its best part comes from the sausages, in which the standard Lebanese sausage as a lamb one not unlike many that are available in continental delicatessens.The sujuk was more of a dry and spicy sausage, the specialty kind from small goods specialists. Both of them were quite tasty, and had good flavourings between them to allow some bite. The sujuk always works well on kebabs for a good reason, it is the Arabic answer to the classic chorizo. The eggs were pretty good as well, much smaller than what is common at most breakfast places and did their job. With the fava beans, they were mixed with some olive oil, garlic, and onion making a simple, effective enough side. I especially liked the labneh, with the garlic-infused flavour, and that went well with the flat bread - which there was plenty of it. As a bit of freshness, the tomatoes and cucumber were a good addition. All round, kudos will be given. I enjoyed the meal thoroughly.
Something which can't be taught, but more so harvested through thorough understanding has emerged. They have attention to detail with the ambiance, and the decor to give a combination of comfort and atmosphere which adds more to the eating experience. They haven't gone overboard with having the food be too fancy, still retaining quality. Albeit that it is outside of the eating experience here, what is still worth mentioning is the careful planing they have in putting themselves on the map. Sharing has been a running theme with their food, and the persistence of get that through any avenue - whether it be booked functions, or just a few folks walking in off the street - it is a work in progress currently in the beta stage, but what an elaborate beta stage it is.
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