TL;DR: Possibly just as much an art project as it is its own well-run cafe, Little Dreamer is definitely one that you couldn't miss walking past even in a haze. So much colour exudes right from the doorway, which is an indication of what is in store. They have hopped on board the Japanese-style breakfast (which I have grown to really like) where they put Asian spins on all kinds of breakfast and lunch favourites from around the world, plus many kinds of cold drinks to wet your whistle. Reasons do exist for this place to be hustling.
Around this part of the world, the time between Christmas and around about before February, businesses are at their quietest. It gets particularly pronounced in the last week of the year. This came to a head on that last Sunday, when a lot of businesses are closed making it hard to find a place. Right on the day, on the morning, my house mate was at a loss for where to go - and I became the persistent one. It took a bit of trial and error, looking beyond the Zomato entries and into Facebook pages and whatnot. From what I knew, Sunnybank or just going Asian was the safest bet. I also aimed to stay in the southern area. Well, all of this led to finding Little Dreamer was open during that time of year - and that was decided. Getting there, it was a case of managing to squeeze in a table. No dramas!
It is not in the most aesthetically striking, nor most trendy of places within town. In fact, the complex where it gets situated is yet another one of many bland shopping junctions around the outer areas of town. The folk here turn it into an opportunity, with a big massive cherry blossom plant signalling where they are. Inside has even more flowers, coming across a bit like a florist. Having a look around, especially with the waitstaff, it should become apparent very quickly that this is one place that lives and breathes aesthetics. It is a wonderment of Technicolour - that might be an understatement.
When it comes to the service, this is in a weird sort of middle zone. Not anything about it is out and out awful, yet to say that it is pretty good is a misnomer with many example of how great service can even come from small places in which here doesn't compare. With all else given great attention to detail, service is basic. Essentially you go up to the counter to order, pay, and they eventually find you with the order. Water and the ilk is up to you, with it being right on the counter to collect. It isn't without some big credit, such as the fact the food comes out fairly quickly. Plus, to give them some decent credit - they were also fairly busy at the time.
Whether it was a special case they were open or otherwise, the menu definitely did a good job in catching my eye. If something is becoming apparent now, it is that Asian-fusion style brunches are starting to become a norm. If that is the case, it is one I will say welcome to. It perfectly sums it up, where they put an Asian-style influence (mostly Japanese) on all kinds of breakfast favourites from around the world. While keeping an apparent and underlying theme in tact, they managed to expand the horizons pretty far in about a dozen or so options. Each one was practically a photo-shoot waiting to happen. If choice is getting a bit hard, they have three sizes for a share platter. Still keeping that distinct Asian-fusion flavour in tact, moving onto the lunch time dishes includes some pastas, burgers, salads and the ilk.
But you know that it has the Japanese influence all over it when the drinks menu arrives. It favours both hot and cold, giving the usual tea and coffee options for the former and getting the creative juices flowing for the latter. No pun was intended there with the pressed juices they have. Also, any kind of coffee drink is practically available in the iced variety. A few different smoothies are also there, as de facto milkshakes (which might be there, I can't remember). What really gets their creativity to the front line is the range of frappes. Only a few are present, but each one gets distinct from the other.
After all of this, they still got that cabinet. The one with a range of sweets if something sweet after the meal - or rather then - is to your liking. It is all covered pretty well here, and that is possibly why it has captured such attention.
Getting into the groove, the first battle plan was what drink to have. Well, it was one quite hot summer akin to walking in a sauna. Adding to that, it was time for the coffees. With it all being the right time of year and day, having the cold options on the menu was quite the relief. Hence, it was an iced long black. They put a good amount of ice in here, and the strong flavour of coffee was more pronounced as usual. It did its job well.
When it came to ordering the food part, truth be told a lot did catch my eye - even after the meal is done. While this was not overall the most tempting, I have found when it comes to finding a new way around the classic eggs Benedict I get suckered in. This time around, it was basically a case of "how can I not"? Instead of bread, they used fried croquettes - potato and zucchini. This then had the usual poached eggs (soft yolk yet again) and spinach, then the hollandaise sauce - but this time, they mix some sriarcha into it. Going on from there, they have a couple of the usual meats but get a couple of characteristic ones. Them characteristic meats are usually why they catch my eye, and this was why: some irresistible pork belly as the meat. Because I could, on the side I ordered some beer battered fries. These came with some aioli.
It may not have been the biggest breakfast that I have had, even in recent memory, yet it sure ended up being among the most filling. Each component about it was absolutely delicious in the best way possible. You couldn't have cooked those croquettes any better. The batter was perfect, and when cutting into them the potato was finely mashed, and supported with the zucchini's flavour. That was before the thick, and fiery hollandaise smothered it. Mixing that sauce with the sauce formed from a soft yolk, it soon becomes a rave on the taste buds. The thick piece of pork belly made it even better, cooked perfectly in a German-style. It was tender where it needed to be, got a slight bit of crisp in it with the well rendered rind, and that said rind went down the throat like butter. Plus, the fries on the side were well seasoned, crispy, and quite hot. This is my sort of breakfast.
In the end, Little Dreamer is pretty lively in many cases of the word. Even without much competition open at the said time, the crowd here is definitely enough of an indication that they are doing something right. It is the case where it is not absolutely perfect after giving it some thought, though in that assessment not that much was really too off about it. Breakfast basically went well, going in expecting something delicious, and it delivered. A couple of stand-out aspects are there, yet all-in-all it is one more competent place that has attracted heaps of clients.
Final rating: 4.0
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