Jed's Food Store, North Bondi

Zapatista Eggs, $16.50

I'm a morning person and I love a vibrant café scene, but honestly, I don't like spending money on breakfast. I'm always more pleased with what I can make at home. Jed's however, debunk my breakfast-bitterness with an eccentric brunch menu that I'd happily part with pennies for. Breakfast eggs get exciting with themes of the Yucatan, Jamaica and Japan. Case in point: the 'Zapatista Eggs': Chiapas style egg scramble with corn tortilla, pickled cactus, white corn, coriander, avo, crumbled cheese and green salsa. Colourful, creative, wholesome meals where exotic spices and garnishes bring the flavour, rather than buttery sauces and bacon fat. My kinda breakfast place.


Jed's Food Store
96 Glenayr Avenue
North Bondi

Breakfast + Lunch - 7 days

To The Woods, 6054

Bassendean just upped its cute factor. Newly placed on Old Perth Road, this humble coffee shop is a neat little meeting point between Guildford and the city. Hot drinks and cakelets come made-in-house or locally sourced. Brunchy things - breakfast parfait, Pear Raspberry Banana Bread and savoury croissants, will see you with change for $10. Simple, thrifty and lovely. Coffee is creamy good and Little Miss Glass Half Full making it, is infectiously chipper. If the weather's sweet, grab a $5 gourmet pie to go and drive down to nearby Point Reserve for some river vistas.

I'm pegging Old Perth Road as the next Maylands strip. Watch this space.

To The Woods

Mon-Fri: 7am - 3pm

Sat: 8am-1pm
9 Old Perth Road
Bassendean, WA
08 6363 5453

Mary Street Bakery, 6050

2 parts flour, 1 part hipster, add yeast, bake.

Finally, Perth gets its first new-age artisan bakery. Cos, if you read the food journalism, its totally the in-thing right now. And the hipsters have already found their way to MSB.

You'll be welcomed by the familair faces from Cantina/El Publico/ACE, who warm you with their knowledge, charismatic demeanour and carefully mismatched shirts. The refreshed fit out is on the money, too. White-out walls, mixed wood features and the occasional totally non-naff hanging pot plant. It's a formula for paired back decor that makes you feel at home. There's a good barista on deck, but i'm yet to come around to the Pound coffee bean. It's a bit too easy-drinking for my taste.

Soy Cap, $4

Day 2, lunch hour

The creative baked goods will make you curse a gluten-free diet. Beautiful loaves, bread-based brunches, gut-busting cakes and biscuits, daily pie and sausage roll specials, and Aesop to wash the grease of your hands afterwards.  One Beef and mushroom pie, $7 was smashingly good; a buttery golden pastry housing rich meaty innards. Extra credit for the house-made tomato sauce, which we used liberally!

Today's pie; Beef and Mushroom, $7

Oozey beef, break-away pastry

Escargot, $5

If you can't face a carb-a-thon, you'll be pleased at the sight of seasonal soup ($13) and salads ($11), plus a couple of more substantial lunch items, this day involving Mullet, barley, baba ganoush, radicchio, $21 and another of Slow cooked lamb. The Mullet dish was plated with the similar rustic flair as those dishes I enjoy so well at sister restaurant, Cantina 663. I loved it and would order it again. Steer clear however, if you have an aversion to coriander!

Daily salads; chickpea and spiced pumpkin, $11

Mullet, Radicchio, barley, baba ganoush, $21

After two visits in two days, I say, I can't think of a better tenant to fill the dried-out Soto space. I've pretty much already consigned those guys to oblivion. Mary Street Bakery, it's a little bit hip, but its down-to-earth too. Tastes YUM, feels comfortable and it's so 'now'.

Food: 4/5 (Traditional methods meet newfangled flavours. Fresh, homemade and modern).
Coffee: 3/5 (Crafted well, but too subtle for this pigeon)
Service: 5/5 (Vibrant, amiable and they know their product)
Ambience: 4/5 (Warm, casual and not overdone-hipster)
Value: 4/5 (Pretty much spot on. Salads $11, Pies $7, Sweet baked goods $5, Breakfast $11-$20

Mrs S., 6690

Mrs S. has remained in my top 3 decadent Perth brunch destinations since it opened. The food is next level, service is sweet and don't forget those insanely delicious, voluptuous cakes. On a recent visit, the Divine Mrs. S had whipped up some unbelievable Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Chocolate Lamingtons. I know, right!! Is that even legal?!? That is like, four kinds of amazing in one. Pure hedonism.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Love Thy Neighbour, 6003

In a word: humble

Rear entrance and courtyard neighbouring Ezra Pound

LTN aren't trying to be anything far-out or exotic, just a warmhearted place with quality comfort food, at reasonable prices. Coffee is strong and the home style brunch has that (currently trending) American-Canadian twang. Boston Baked Beans with poached egg come under $15 and are warming and delicious. A rich tomato sugo seeps through the rye bread forming soggy tomato-y goodness. This is the kind of food and feeling you fancy on an overcast/antisocial/hungover day.

Boston Baked Beans on Rye Sourdough with Poached egg, 

Home cooking isn't the only thing to warm you up at LTN. The pint sized cafe rests inside William St Arcade. It's closed off and hushful. Introverted, yet cool. Mahogany coloured decor and personable baristas, lend that familiar vibe. LTN makes you feel at home. 

Poached eggs on Rye Sourdough $9.50

If you're on a diet, take full use of the table service and avoid the counter at all costs. The sweets are deadly! Some guest appearances: Banana Caramel Layer Cake, Mississippi Mudpies, Oreo Cupcakes and many more gut-busting Americana experiments! Peanut butter is a favoured ingredient.

Food: 4/5 (Simple hearty food, lovingly prepared)
Coffee: 4/5 (Velvet smooth and on the stronger side. Like!)

Ambience: 5/5 (Buried at the end of an arcade. Warm, quiet and mellow.)

Service: 5/5 (Affable and relaxed. Not all up in your business but pleased to serve you)

Value: 4.5/5 (On a hipster budget. $9.50 for eggs on toast. No. B.S.)

Typika, 6010

Britney Spears ‘Toxic’ and Anastacia ‘I’m Outta Love’ were the last tunes I expected to hear when I visited the latest hotspot for a fashionable brunch last week. I like to indulge in some noughties pop now and then, just not over morning eggs and artisan-roast coffee. Thankfully, the taste in brunch hour music was the only point out of shape here.

Typika has become an instant favourite among Western suburb ladies of leisure and you don’t have to spy hard to see why. Exciting menu, quality cooking, smart service and a behemoth space that features a state-of-the-art coffee roaster. With floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the lab-like roasting room takes the limelight at Typika. The mammoth yellow building is a bit of an eyesore from the street, but there's a buzz inside and you sort of feel like you’re dining in a stylish, pumping factory. 

The AM menu is fresh, thoughtful and full of things that sound like something you’d want to try. Typika really used their genius when they dreamed up the Spiced Beef Benedict ($18.50). Gooey poach eggs and tears of slow-cooked beef come smothered with Harissa (Tunisian chilli paste) spiced Hollandaise. A defiant version of a breakfast classic. It’s that dish that creates buzz, and launches a hundred Instagram tags. The dish that your boyfriend/dad/big brother will probably order. 

Eggs Benedict with salmon on house baked gluten free bread

Not having the backbone for beef at 10am, I went for the Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. The helping of fleshy pink salmon, wilted spinach and Hollandaise, was generous. What really impressed me was their Multigrain Gluten Free Bread ($2? extra) which they bake on site. A combination of Tapioca, Soy and Rice flour, this was seriously the most deceptively gluten-free bread I have ever tried. Springy, fluffy and wonderfully not like cardboard! 

The tour de force: coffee. Well, it was very good. Full-bodied, rich and smooth. The only downside are the steep prices, but admittedly, I wasn’t surprised by them in this neck of the woods, especially as the owners (of Cimbalino) are famously elevated pricers.

Also on offer are some little deconstructed cake pots and biscuits that would make fine breakfast dessert. Next time! 

With food this exciting and coffee this good; finally that mediocre Atomic place has some healthy competition. 

Food: 3.5/5 (Big portions, bold flavours and fantastic house baking)
Coffee: 3.5/5 (In house roasting is pretty good)
Service: 3/5 (Efficient but dismissive at times)
Ambience: 3/5 (On the fence. Bustling, open....questionable music)

Value: 3/5 (Not cheap. Paying for quality and locale.)

Excelsior Deli, 6008

I chanced upon Excelsior Deli whilst running errands in the Western Suburbs the other morning. The pleasant location is accessible yet somewhat secret. A small detour from the Subiaco commercial hub, this cafe-delicatessen is positioned on a leafy Shenton Park street.

I stopped in for a Soy Long Mac after observing the gadgets and damn, it was delicious! The combination of - Synesso machine, 5 Senses Compton Road blend and a moustached barista- is proving a heady mix! Smooth and creamy texture with a hazelnutty, buttery taste. Perfect with soy milk and the best i've had in months! It reminded me a lot of the stuff at The Daily Espresso Bar in Swanbourne, who guess what? - use the Synesso/5 senses/hipster barista formula too.

The nifty space has seating to convenience a variety of visitors: 4 seaters, alfresco seekers, newspaper readers and a big table up the back with a bit more privacy that would work nicely for client meetings.

Back table ideal for meetings

There are some tidy looking sweets like Portuguese tarts, chocolate banana bread and oval berry friands which look either home made or very well sourced. You could also make a satisfying brunch of one of the savoury items. And also: gelato! I'm not sure of the brand or if its homemade but it stood out as high quality to me.

     


Need to get caffeinated in Subi? Detour to Onslow Rd. You wont be disappointed.

Coffee: 4.5/5 (Food and drink is not cheap but oh, that coffee was gewwwd!)

Service: 3/5 (Nay the fastest coffee up, but they're concentrating on consistency)

Value: 2/5 (Regular Soy Long Mac = $5)

Ley Sreet Cafe, 6152

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find weekend brunch can turn into a stressful assignment. Deciding where to go is the first hurdle, and then when you reach your DBS (Destination Brunch Spot)* there's the task of coordinating your party to eye-off and shotgun tables (or if you're desperate; squeezing your group of five onto a table that's really designed for two), and then deciding on what lavish dish to order. Occasionally I yearn for the ease of a quiet NBS (Neighborhood Brunch Spot)** where you can just breeze in at a desired hour and the menu isn't going to overwhelm you with choice. Occasionally I don't want to get dressed up to eat breakfast. Occasionally I like to walk away from breakfast with change for a $20.

 

Ley Street Café falls into the NBS category. It's an understated and homely nook with salvaged furniture and chalk squiggled walls. An unfussy menu of hearty breakfast includes cheesy scrambled eggs ($9), Bacon & Egg Sandwhich with homemade BBQ Sauce ($12), and (really good) hollandaise eggs served on the humble English muffin ($6.50 for one egg, $12 for two). While the food isn't exactly the stuff of a foodie Instagram feed, it's comforting and cooked well. Between the Sayers and the Tuck Shops, I relished the simplicity at Ley Street. 

Eggs Florentine, two eggs ($12) and Cheesy scrambled eggs on toast ($9) with Mushrooms

 
It's a one-man show, so the food takes a bit of time. And that coffee...well, its drinkable at least. Owner-chef Adam makes up for these little glitches with his endearing Louis Theroux-ness. ALSO you have the option of a half or full serve of eggs AND my breakfast and coffee came to under $10. True story. 

One egg Eggs Florentine with Adam's tangy-buttery-delish Hollandaise ($6.50)

Cheesy Scrambled eggs on toast ($9) with side of mushrooms

*Involves any combination of: Decadent breakfast menu. You've ventured from your side of the River to get there. 15+ minute wait to get a table after 9:00am. Artisan roast coffee. Sh*tty parking prospects on account of the aforementioned things.

**Is defined by two or more of: Breakfast menu does not read like a work of creative fiction. You could linger over the paper and breakfast crumbs without receiving death stares from waiting patrons. You wouldn't cross any Causeways to get there. Unsurprising to see a diner sporting tracksuit pants/ugg boots/bed hair.

Food: 3/5 - Cooked well, prepared simply. 

Coffee: 2/5 - Mediocre, soy milk was less than great.

Ambience: 3.5/5 - Down-home, stress-free comforts

Value: 4.5/5 - $10 for an Eggs Benny. Yippee!

Chinta, 6018

The creators of the Balinese sanctuary that is Chinta, have shaped a perfect tangle of gift shop and cafe. Sitting in the beautiful courtyard surrounded by potted bamboo, stone carved Buddhas, hanging lanterns and trickling water, whilst sipping chai from delicate teacups, has got to be good for your soul.

The kitchen delivers on creamy coffee and excellent café cabinet fare. We had the beef quesadilla served with a delish lime and mint yoghurt dressing, as well as the roast veggie stack, $14. Layered baked carrot, pumpkin, zucchini, sweet potato and what I think was vine leaf, made the perfect healthy lunch. The chai tea brewed with soy- was the best I’d drank since Leaf Tea Merchants closed down, too. 

Top: beef quesadilla, Bottom: Roast veg stack $14

So tastefully decorated, the island home wares and tropical merchandise, seep effortlessly into the ambience. So much so, that it’s hard to pick what’s for sale and what is a permanent fixture. At loss of a less clichéd metaphor - Chinta is quite accurately, an oasis among the Scarborough Beach Rd drought.

Food: 4/5 (Healthy, light and flavourful lunches with side salads worth eating)

Drink: Chai Tea and juice -  4/5 (Best chai in a while! Not too sweet, tastes natural. Order with soy)
Ambience: 5/5 (Merchandise that actually adds to the atmosphere without being overbearing. That courtyard!)
Service: 4/5 (Efficient and gracious)

Value: 4/5 (Standard suburban cafe prices)

Canvas, 6160

Canvas is housed inside the beautiful and historic Fremantle Art Centre. Its a truly tranquil spot to bring a group of friends, some BYO bubbles and have a long table birthday brunch...with a Middle Eastern bent.

 The stars of the menu are the Shak-shukas. You probably know the traditional form - eggs poached in a rich tomato sauce with aromatic spices and fresh herbs, served in a small skillet. Well Canvas have taken this traditional berbers breakfast and made it their signature, offering versions that include fancy things like barrumundi, prawns and pork chipolatas...even lamb brains.

Sea shak-shuka with whiting

I tried the "Sea" version with my pick of whiting. The plentiful dish came with buttered spinach and herbs, labneh, harissa and a side of Moorish (extremely satisfying) bread, olives and herbed butter. The serving was enough for two, but too delicious to be shared :D.

Soup of the day - bean, ham hock

It's still a bit of a Freo kept secret but its in an easy running for one of the best brunches in Perth in my books. 

Ups: inspired breakfast menu, generous serves, house made bread and luxurious herbed butter, peaceful setting

Downs: Coffee was just ok, courtyard cold in Winter. 

Subsequent visit worthy? Yep