Right up the top of the Mount Gravatt look-out, after one venture failed to make much business up there - and it was not very good - a second chance has appeared in its place. It is set up by the Hope Foundation, where it is set up for women wanting to gain employment and make better life choices as a result. With it already having several months of operation it has become another hot spot on this side of town. This is potentially helped by the fact that it is on one of the landmarks, that is, Mount Gravatt Lookout as I have said. As for how it is, and the comparison to the previous institution? Well, it is better by default in every way, and the food is basically wholesome. Decent quality, and it will do for what it is.
It was a late Friday morning, and my house mate/dining buddy saw that the usual arrangements might not work out for him (the usual breakfast man-date is on Saturday mornings, right before I have church) so before my pastor was coming over for a session - which turned out to be late afternoon - so the usual ritual was done early for here. And that is alright with me, as I had nowhere to be. Absolutely no clues were dropped on his part, so it was a complete surprise - that is until, I pieced it together and there was only one route that could be taken with where he was driving.
Anyone familiar with the Mount Gravatt Lookout will need no introduction or explanation. This is one of Brisbane's best and most under-rated little gems, just a left turn away from the main drag. You are practically in nature when up here and there is one of the best city views - maybe even the best one around - right up here seeing the CBD and possibly all the way to the edge of town. On top of the lookout, there is a playground, a decent car park, a garden, and a building that can accommodate services in which is the subject of the review now.
The building itself is pretty simple. It is not unlike a building used in camping, with a simple layout and most of it being open air. At one point it was possibly a single room, which is now being renovated to include a kitchen for the establishment here. Walking right in, it is really comfortable and furnished well. Much like the signage for the Hope Foundation, the pastels that are chosen for the furniture and decorations are baby blues and such - the colours are definitely bright, but soft on the eye to give a relaxing yet inviting aesthetic. This is chosen well, and can even attract the children further - in which it is aiming to do, and works in conjunction with the playground nearby. The best part of it though is the deck,
Service is pretty simple, and manages to be quick. It is all done at the counter, then you get a table number - this time a wooden spoon to slot in the bucket (with the cutlery and whatnot) - and just wait on the meals to come. They are really friendly, and constantly busy throughout it all. That is about all that it needs to be here.
As for the food, they keep it simple as well. Breakfast is a big deal here, as with a whole lot of other places around Brisbane, being possibly the selling point. There is several basic options, and some more common onesĀ which includes a "build-your-own" breakfast, and pancakes. For lunch, there is gourmet sandwiches, salads and some other pretty basic fare there. In the cabinet is some sweets to have on the side of the drinks. These drinks include tea and coffee, milkshakes, several sorts of sodas, and some other varieties. My dining buddy basically said it was like a kiosk more or less, and that is a point he has. For what it is, I am not complaining.
The first things first is the order of business, and that is what coffee to have. Well, as per the norm, it was the usual order for me. At the LoveWell Project, the coffee that they use is from DiBella, which is never really one of the greats. A passable cup can be produced from using the beans, and does not falter if the barista is a talented one either. However, it generally is a little bit weaker and will need an extra shot in there is that buzz is what you need from your coffee. What usually ends up being the case is that the coffee is not memorable, or the memorable part of the meal. It was as such either - which, I reiterate - does not mean it was a bad one. That extra shot was needed, and it was good and hot. In conjunction with the meal, it will do.
For my meal, the one that I got was a vegetarian breakfast. This was ready made with a sweet potato rosti, two halves of an avocado, and mushrooms, with a house made relish and toast. It is weird that there is no egg anywhere in the meal, but methinks it is to be vegan as well. Well, fear-not as I am neither vegan nor vegetarian - so I respectively went against that with a side order of haloumi and bacon. It is not going to be one of these meals that I will remember and talk about next month, but there was not really anything wrong with it. All of the items were good quality, and the apparent aim was definitely to have it be healthier than normal. The avocado was creamy, the mushrooms were tender enough to be releasing flavour, the sweet potato rostis could have benefited from a bit of grease to make them crispy, but all up I was impressed. The bacon was nice, so was the haloumi, and the toast topped it all off.
My dining buddy went a little more simple, and got their breakfast pie. This was filled with barbecued pork, scrambled egg, bacon, sausage, hashbrown and mushrooms. Not a bad combination at all, and some of the items in there were more apparent than others - such as the egg to the hash brown. Still, this is what you need for a good pie with the pastry being solid and flaky, plus being filled to the brim with good quality items that are not vague. To go on the side, he ordered some fries and they were good. Hot, crispy, and well seasoned. Plus, the portion that was given was generous - both as a side order, and a quick snack.
Channeling the usual test for a place I reckon has the potential for a 5-score, this was getting it except it would be a 4-score. The food so far was not too bad, kind of standard, with a definite plus to the portions and value for money. Regardless, it was seeming good enough for a 4-score, but the real way to test it out would be via a sweet. I split this with my dining buddy, and the one that I chose was a sticky date muffin. This was a pretty good snack. There was a generous amount of caramel sauce in the middle of it, which was sticky and sweet - as it should be - and the cake part of the muffin was soft, moreish and tender. Not much more has to be said about it, the muffin was all it needed to be. That was also a case to get another coffee to go with it. Decent coffee again, nothing special but it will do in most cases.
So this is the LoveWell Project. Not only as a spot to get something quick to eat and/or drink, but in the charitable mentality it was set up, it deserves to do as well as it can (the resulting bump to 4.0 is helped by that). The location is right, the fare they have is reasonable and wholesome, plus the benefits are being in nature and seeing a really good view. Don't come expecting anything cordon bleu, and you just might be impressed enough to bring others along with you.
TL;DR: For a really great meal, this is not the sort of scene you are looking for. However, on close to every other front that is imaginable, this certainly has it. For the surroundings, all that has to be known is where it is located, and the view from the top is quite good. There is also quick service, and a lovely atmosphere. Maybe adding a few more items to the menu - such as burgers - could really bring this place out, and a few other possible tweaks could make it truly special.
As someone who is soon to be a born again Christian, it is with all my loving heart, supportive nature, and the willingness to both forgive and wish these ladies the best, that I truly enjoyed going to this place with something else in mind but getting some good grub into my stomach. This is a charity that has its heart in the right place, and really knows what it is doing. I really want to see this place to well for itself, and that the ladies working here get back on their feet. With this cafe, what it does is benefit all concerned and it could not be in a better part of the city.
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