This cafe, awkwardly positioned in a pocket of Pickering Road, might seem familiar. Their interior…read morehas been done before - mismatched plates and cups, famous people as table numbers, kitsch china figurines and oddly, many lifesize jars of Nutella. But give it a chance. What gives this spot a point of difference, in my opinion, is their choose-your-own-adventure style breakfast menu. They give you the base (eggs and toast - $8.90) and the rest is up to you. Pulled pork (china town style, hoisin meets char siu and dances with soy), vegetable fritter, Haloumi, mushroom, hollandaise? The list is seemingly endless. I arrived to try it all out at 11:30ish on a Friday. It's not overly busy but noisy. You've been warned. The concrete shell of this store means sound proofing isn't an option. Their specialty drink appears to be a cappucino (Genovese beans) with weird and wonderful flavours like nutella or such mixed through. I stick with a flat white that's easy to drink but lacking any oomph. I had read a review previous to going that said ask for a double-shot if you prefer a real coffee kick and I'm inclined to agree. As tempted as I was by the sides menu, I opted for a 6-in Steak & Philly Sub ($10). I've never had a philly steak before but when my plate is served I'm a little lost as what to do with the second slice of baguette. Served as an open sandwich, I'd happily pay a little less for not having the lonesome slice of bread or pay a little extra to have more topping to use on the other slice. I'd actually also love to know if I could have swapped the baguette out for it all served on a bed of spinach. I quite like what's going on at Hansell & Gretel. It's not new but it is a new take on breakfast for this particular area which (and they're directly across the road from iconic Grub Street) I think makes it an interesting game of play for locals! I liked that it wasn't stuffy or pretentious, just familiar food done reasonably well.

Hansell & Gretel is a fairly new spot in Gaythorne, open for breakfasts and lunches every day of…read morethe week. It's small, unpretentious but a bit quirky, and does good food and coffee with friendly service and reasonable prices. The menu selection has some interesting things on there (each has a fairytale-themed name - cute), with a mix of savoury and sweet options, but what is excellent is the long list of extras that means you can tailor your meal to suit. I like being able to add avocado and haloumi to everything! There is also a small, slightly more lunch-focused section of the menu which has things like a burger, philly cheese steak sub, and banh mi. I'm told the philly cheese steak sub is good, it definitely is big! I haven't tried any of the sweet menu options yet, but so far the savoury things I've tried have been yum. They have a decent looking selection of cakes/muffins/etc, many of which are gluten-free or dairy-free (or both). Hansell & Gretel is right next to train (Gaythorne station) and bus (390), but free street parking is also available down nearby side-streets. Seating is both inside and outside, I just wish the outside seats got sunshine in winter! It should be a cooler outdoor spot in summer though to make up for it. Latest update: something has changed, and it's more than the refreshed menu with higher prices (that now exceed the value for money tipping point in my opinion - I know the Woodchopper's Breakfast is huge but it's also $28 and for breakfast I just can't bring myself to pay that). I can't quite put my finger on it but H&G is definitely not as great as it used to be, unfortunately. The coffee is still good, they still play good music, and the sweet treats cabinet still rates highly, but my brunch devotion has waned in favour of other places in the area.

We love our local - Little Fox Lane - great coffee and food (especially their yoghurt bowl and…read moregranola) all served with a friendly smile and wonderful customer service. Easy parking out front, but please be respectful of not parking in reserved spots for veterinary service nearby. Love their plants and homewares. Highly recommend!!!!

Funky Little off the beat Cafe. Blink and you'd miss it. Awesome paintwork. Very cool and casual…read more Pop in for a drink after work or a yummy fresh pizza. Relaxed atmosphere, dine inside or outside. Easy parking as its in a block of shops. Friendly staff who aren't in your face. Kid friendly and not excessively busy. One of my favourites!! Don't tell anyone cause I don't want everyone going there!

With a pinch of service, and a sprinkle of icing sugar, this cosy cafe nestled away in Everton…read moreHills reached every level of cute. For the most affordable prices, the food was amazing and the service was incredibly welcoming and full of smiles. I will definitely be visiting here as a local hot spot on the regular!

Great food and generous serves with friendly staff, what more could you want from your local…read morecafe/burger joint?

Wonderful little cafe, great service with reasonable prices. Quick and fast service with convenient…read moreopening hours. There menu has a wide variety to suit the fit and healthy to the splugger. Well recommended

A lot can happen in 12 months and thus it's time to update my previous review of The Lodge. Now a…read moreresident on "this side of town" I find The Lodge a great local spot to have up my sleeve and have grown to appreciate the healthy menu items, the fact they pour Odyssey Project beans (a personal favourite) and the opportunity to see an array of customers come in and out as they go about their day. Their all day menu gives plenty of options and all items feature a focus on fresh ingredients and a good dose of wholesome nutrition. I had the brekkie wrap this morning with mushrooms, spinach, eggs and onion relish. For less than a tenner it set me up for a day of errand running. There's no effort from the staff to rush you and it's become a great spot to bring my notebook for a session to gather my thoughts before really getting into the day. Lani of 2015 really thinks Lani of December 2013 was being way too harsh.

Whenever I'm in The Gap I'll grab a coffee from here. Always happy staff ready to take my order and…read morealways a top tasting coffee and breaky!! Can also grab a bag of beans for the home machine while I'm there too!

Been going here for over 2 years now. Probably the best coffee I've ever had. It is so good…read more Food is great. Bacon and egg burger is good value as the ingredients are stacked on. My wife often gets the avo and toast, which she is always happy with.

Only does cabinet food for lunch which is kind of a bummer.. but the cabinet stuff is nice so it's…read moreokay. Service was excellent, would do anything to help you out

For our almost-regular Tuesday lunches, we decided to head to Mrs. Luu's to grab a sandwich, and…read moreended up giving in to our desires for an iced hot chocolate! Oh, the calories! I've been wanting to try Bunker for the longest time, and today was the day. I love the vine covered hub, which reminds me of a burrow, and of a cafe that I used to visit back in L.A. Instead of getting my usual latte, I went for the bottled ice dark chocolate (5). I'm not the biggest fan of hot chocolate, as it's usually too sweet and heavy for me to finish (I know, strange, because I can finish a whole Chipotle burrito), but I decided that the unusually warm weather called for an iced chocolate. We were greeted by a really friendly barista who helped us right away - and well - the iced dark chocolate and dark chocolate mocha were pre-bottled, so there wasn't much work. The iced dark chocolate, made with organic milk (I think?) and fair trade chocolate, was quickly consumed! It wasn't too sweet, and I would definitely go for it again. The iced dark mocha was also really good, and not at all grainy, which often happens in a lot of mochas. My only complaint was that the bottles were a bit harder to open (I prefer Bean's bottles), and the straws were too short and kept falling in! The drinks were so delicious it didin't matter though....

Bunker eptiomsises why I have faith Brisbane will sustain its growing 'cool' factor. Taking a…read moredisused war-time bunker on Milton Road, Bunker Coffee has turned a small space into a urban retreat. Sitting against the cool brick wall sipping an ice coffee, flat white or hot chocolate you feel a million miles away from the city despite the fact Milton train station is above you. In the same way Blackstar Coffee paved the way for coffee appreciation in Brisbane many years ago, Bunker continues the tradition introducing and encouraging a new set of palettes to appreciate and respect good coffee. They also offer take-home coffee beans which they will grind for you depending on what device you'll be using them in.

Quaint. The coffee shop and bar are well out of sight from…read morethe streets on either side of the passage that connects them. Disability access is from the Elizabeth St side. Look for the sign boards to guide. You go here as the coffee is good and it has a pleasant vibe in a secluded spot. They have been here for a long while so doing something right. Worth exploring.

What a fabulous find down the alleyway! Big kudos to my friend who suggested this location…read more It was the first night they were a bar so we decided to check it out! They were super friendly and let you enjoy the space and your company. They serve you water as soon as you are seated and then ask you what you'd like. I had the Lucy while my friend had the Coffee Ale. The sizes come in Pony, Mare, or Stallion! My friend loved the coffee ale. I'm not the biggest beer fan but the Lucy was light. We started to chit-chat with the bartenders and they showed us this chili vodka! He had me at "Chili..." My friend had the Bloody Mary and she kept raving how it was tomato soup for adults. She loved it! The bartender was great and nervous about creating a drink for me. We went with a pineapple chili vodka with a touch of mint. Yum! It needs some fine tuning but the foundation is set. We were having a great time and as if beer to vodka wasn't enough, we moved right along to tequila! Yes, some quality tequila and verdita. I'm a huge fan and they explained to us how quality tequila is for sipping. We didn't want to leave but the time had come. Thankfully, I know I'll be coming back very soon. Thanks for a great Introduction.

Alfina's is a quaint little suburban coffee shop on Brisbane's North side. It is located in a…read moresmall group of shops away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD. This little shop is so sweet - as soon as you enter the smell of roasting coffee beans hits your nose and excites your senses! The little glass service cabinet is always filled with beautifully decorated cakes and slices and the staff are always pleasant. It's a great place to catch up with friends and grab a bite to eat. If you're not into cake and coffee (ahhh.. isn't everybody) Alfina's have a few light lunch options available including a variety of salads, mixed sandwiches, quiche and toasted foccacias. I have only ever had coffee here as I am almost always on a diet when I visit and I swear I gain a kg just looking at these cakes! As if their delicious cakes and coffee weren't enough - they also sell gorgeous little giftware's like homemade jewellery and the like. In 2009 Alfina's won the Small Business Achievers Award and were nominated again in 2010. Aside from the standard coffee shop service they host high teas, private functions and make speciality cakes to order! If you are on the North side of Brisbane, definitely recommend checking it out.

Alfina's coffee and cake is a lovely little family type coffee shop. Alfina makes the cakes, slices…read moreand biscuits from scratch, toiling over a hot oven from early in the morning before she opens. The sweet food is always yummy and fresh. She accommodates most requests. She makes the best omelette around. The prices are very reasonable. She is personable and makes you feel at home. There is always plenty of magazines to read. I would recommend paying her a visit.

Espresso House is a cute little cafe hidden in the backroads of Windsor near Kedron Brook. After…read moredriving past many times, I finally managed to drop in and try the coffee. The coffee is really good, though on the expensive side (based on my experience). However, the service is great, and its a pleasant place to pass the time fine sipping on a coffee and reading the paper. The cafe is near Kedron Brook, so handy if you feel like a walk, it need a recharge whilst you're out walking. They also have duck food for the ducks!!

So impressed with Espresso House Windsor. After discovering…read morethis cute little cafe tucked in behind Maygar Rd, at a help for homeless event yesterday I made inquires as to whether they are "Also" vegan friendly. This was the response I got- ---"Absolutely Kym! All of our bagels are egg free (except the gluten free bagels) and we have Gluten Free Grain Free Deek's multigrain bread for sandwiches. We do a lovely Mediterranean filling with roasted capsicum, eggplant, sun dried tomatoes, baby spinach and pesto. Naturally we can do a gourmet garden salad platter for you or we also have a chickpea salad with spinach, cherry tomatoes, cashews & macadamias throughout. For dessert we can offer a seasonal fruit plate with berries. Hope to see you Friday! If you have any special requests, please give me a call " The food and the indulgent treats looked mouthwatering yesterday. I can also vouch for the delicious coffee.. The owners really have put their heart and soul in to pleasing the clientèle, and helping the community too. There is 3 areas to enjoy your food, out front with street view which is very pleasant on this quiet location, inside with the delicious aromas and cosy atmosphere and also out back in a comfortable, clean and quirky courtyard. Highly recommended nice to know our money goes to people who genuinely care!