With what is already and under-rated and overlooked pocket for dining in Sunnybank (but apologies, Market Square will always be supreme there), comes yet another great surprise that is just waiting for more clientele to come and discover it. That is what sets the mood and how a cafe can transform beyond a place to get a drink, and be turned into the local hangout. Since the Nathan campus of Griffith is not far away, all those students wanting some night time caffienation now have somewhere to be (and I am jealous beyond belief). Yeah, this is a nifty little spot.
After a bit of a non-event of a meal close by, my dining buddy and I were driving back but had noticed beforehand that a previous establishment here looked to have been replaced. This was one you could see from across the road, where a new sign was on the overhanging shade on the roof (is there a fancy name for it?). Driving back, he turned into the carpark for us to have a bit of a gander at it. Well, that was that and before soon we were trying out the product. That was only the first time. This review is a combination of two visits, where a big event is happening soon for me, and my house mate/dining buddy decided to shout me a treat. Not many places were open late in the afternoon, but this one was, so back here it was.
Often I will go on to describe the general look of the place, and point out some characteristic decorations that are around the place. This time though, the assignment is actually to come here for yourself and see the different little touches that make it have a unique character and aesthetic that is hard to describe is such a short detail. It is comfortable, the general hues are darker black, and it definitely has the feel and appearance of a hang-out. Taking place of Secret Trees, which I mentioned looked like it was designed by Peter Pan; here it is more where Elvira would be hanging out these days. Such a stark contrast, and this is the one I prefer.
While it still at a relaxed pace, the speed of the service manages to remain prompt. It could be to do with how it is set up, since there is none of the rush that I have usually felt at coffee places right here. In fact, I would have felt a fool to have any other kind of mindset but to take my time. They are very friendly, and you only have to show up once for them to remember your face. If this is not an example for customer service, then that bar must be very high in the sky to meet.
Are you the kind of person who doesn't mind staying out or staying up late? If so, do the pubs and clubs not really do it for you and prefer somewhere with a bit of peace and quiet? Oh, and alcohol not your thing either? As someone who sympathises with that, I say that this might be the near-perfect place then. They have a good range of drinks here, which include all sorts of mocktails, different types of specialty coffee, the usual coffee offerings, smoothies and milkshakes to say a few. Nothing here is ever going to be the normal kind, so be prepared for some great twists here and there, and the flavours will be far from stock standard. It also has heaps of Chinese style desserts going on, which means they are a tad less sweet than the usual offerings. A couple of savoury options are there, and the menu will expand.
First time coming here, my dining buddy and I both grabbed a coffee and sweet each. Because this really went to an effort to be so strange, and have such an eclectic mix of offerings, I would be a fool to do the normal thing. They help you out a bit by having a specials board, or more so a "greatest hits" for what is on offer. That is a good guide if you are indecisive. I got a rainbow latte, while my dining buddy got an Irish coffee. Now this did not have actual whiskey in it, but instead Irish coffee flavoured syrup. There was also the whipped cream, and from a taste - not bad. That is all really, pleasant and nothing really to give or take. For the rainbow latte, that was where they used food colouring to create a rainbow pattern in the frothed milk, and a shot of coffee to pour in. To my taste buds, a bit over milky - and I admit over the past couple of years that I have gotten used to strong, unadulterated shots of black coffee. So I might not be the best clientele to judge it.
On the side, the sweets were the classic coffee log, and something that was quite chocolatey (but I can't remember its name). Both were fantastic, and I will give lip service to the presentation as well - each sweet is served on a wooden board, and given a swirl of chocolate syrup around it along with some strawberries and sprinkles to liven it up. The coffee log was soft and moreish, plenty of mousse and it is one that I order a lot - so there you go. The chocolate sweet was dark and rich, plus it was soft and buttery. Thumbs are going up to both.
The second time around, the dining buddy went for a cappuccino. I forgot to mention, I am not sure what the blend of coffee is that they use here. It must be a rarer kind, since from the tastes of it I can't quite recognise it. It is pleasant, it is a little unusual, and it will definitely not go down as one of the strongest varieties around. It had a slight astringent undertone, and the milk was frothed to perfection, where the foam and milk part could not be separated. This is Italian style, so no chocolate powder on top.
As for me, something different again went through my head. All sorts of choices, and one of them I knew I had to try where their Monster Shakes. Or as I like to call them, skull shakes. This ain't your old school milk bar with the lot they have. Expect more inventive flavours, or ones from a time past. That second one is important, since the flavour I got was the Australian classic "blue heaven". This, for no lack of a better word, is absolutely cool. By "skull", that is the shape of the glass, and the design gets even niftier. Each one looks like it has a giant afro, with the big lot of fairy floss on top. Let's just say on the way home I was feeling a sugar rush go all through my body. Neither my dentist nor my personal trainer is going to be impressed with that.
This time around for sweets, there was a New York cheesecake (which is delicious, soft, moreish and has a good cookie crumb base - it is a New York cheesecake; how many times can it really get described without covering old territory?) and a white chocolate mousse cone. That latter one might have had a proper name which I can't remember. As a result, I am going to refer to it as a witch's teat (which is what it looked like). The witches teat was great, with the mousse being smooth and delicious, and the decorations added to it with some melted chocolate and almond to round it up. If there is any way to make a sweet, a few pointers can be gotten from Caffeine Monster.
It is often just trying to be positive, no matter what the outcome, and seeing the good in most places, but for once the pleasantries are outright honest. This is one place that I am excited for how well it will do. All the right elements are in place, and even if it is in the developmental stages, this already has the makings of a complete product. For such a late night sweets splurge, or somewhere close by just for a coffee, in the most unlikely of places comes a niche-looking coffee shop. You can bet on your life that there are going to be many returns from me to this place, due to how unusual it is, how lovely it is, and just the whole dynamics of it all (also it has kopi lupak for something not so outrageous - look it up if you are keen to know). It will be where I lead people.
TL;DR: There is plenty of style to spare with this little hidey-hole, and finally there is a dessert bar where the items do not cost a mozza for once. It is very relaxed, and they must have been doing something right to attract more clientele since it is already doing really well. It has more of a focus on drinks, which range from mocktails to shakes to specialty coffees, as opposed to desserts, but there is enough of a variety there to appease the sweet tooth. At the time of writing, there are plans to bring in more types of food. The right elements of a coffee shop (from what I think of when reading "coffee shop") and a dessert bar, which go together really well, and it is a good PG-rated option (i.e. non-alcoholic) for the night owls to finally have a hangout. Let's just hope to heaven that this becomes a success.
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