This French cafe with its Impressionist mural depicting Parisienne life seems displaced amongst the…read moreAsian eateries of Market Square but don't be fooled. This hardy veteran has seen many Asian restaurants come and go, and is still as popular as ever. I admit it took about five years before I finally made a dinner reservation. I just couldn't believe that a Vietnamese chef/ owner in Sunnybank could do good French food. I was a fool to have waited so long. Their steaks are excellent, especially when served with a side of fried and garden greens. Prices are around $25 for a main except for their 1kg Wagyu which is expensive but very popular. These days I come out here late at night for a coffee and dessert. It's great to find crème brulee or Crepes Suzette in the middle of suburban China town. The staff here are flexible and don't mind me taking a table just for coffee and dessert even though they could be easily packed out with dinner diners. They also do a variety of cakes - but these are your 'Coffee Club' style cheesecakes so you'd be much better off ordering a dessert of the menu.

Star 1 - Hole-in-the-wall, yet great ambiance and cute…read moreFrench bistro. Great for casual lunch/dinner. Quaint, yet cozy and can be romantic. Star 2 - Cute and attentive waitresses, great Chef - Bravo! I'd be happy to practice my French if they hire a French waiter one day. Star 3 - The great menu is ready to be tackled by tastebuds and that's what you are looking for when entering a French bistro or a Fusion French/Vietnamese eatery! Menu features some French Classics like Boeuf Bourguignon, Canard a l'Orange or a quality Steak au Poivre, Rillettes de Canards etc etc Simple, good, honest French cooking that keeps everyone complimenting on as they put their fork down between each bite. Generous portions, well sauced and well executed! Star 4 - Risk taking is great, but having a solid backup is even better! Oh la la, you drive all the way to Sunnybank to have French food!? Come on! : ) Dessert is my favourite part of a meal. Being French of Viet ethnic, when you meet a French who tells you this place has the best Crème Brulee in Brisbane and will keep ordering it... You just have to try it - if your craving for Crepe Suzette doesn't overtake it. If you like French food, I would definitely recommend Café les Amoureux. Bon appetit, bien sur! ; )

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.

Very nice bakery, the bread is nice, staff are friendly. I'm a fan of the pasties and the coffee…read more Can't go wrof for a morning treat!

A great place to meet friends for a coffee, especially since their extension into the next door…read moretenancy. The coffee is hit and miss but the cakes and sweet items are worth the travel. I love their carrot cake. Just bare in mind parking isn't the best, so maybe try a side street.

I really liked this breakfast pad and judging by the number of people there so does Brisbane…read more This place is not the biggest so don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table during the busy weekend rush but I can highly recommend this place. When I visited they were one of the finalists in the running for Brisbane's best coffee, best barrister and best breakfast so they obviously have been turning a lot of heads. This place seems to be a hit with the little guests too. They have a small table offering loads of pens and colouring in books to entertain the children and there were quite a few families with small children there and is obviously one of those children friendly cafés Mum's and Dad's seek out, without fearing dirty looks from those around them. The coffee really was very smooth..........I am a skinny flat white drinker and it really hit the spot and was just delicious. I was so hungry after the gym I thought I was going to cry as my tummy told me it was going to start to digest itself if I did not eat immediately. I therefore went for "The Revival Beast" offering free range bacon, cassoulet, mushroom, organic poached eggs, triple cooked chips & toasted organic sourdough. Oh yes................my tummy thanked me for this choice. Tasty and was really pleased to be presented with a very generous portion size. So the verdict.......great filling tasty breakfast venue, serving the smoothest coffee I have tasted, that is seriously worth a little trip out to Red Hill to try. Mum's and Dad's feel free to bring the kids here, you will get some seriously good food and once the kids get bored of the usual distractions you give them, there is a table full of new distractions to keep them content whilst you finish you morning revival.

There's a new Mimi & Frank mural to admire, a whole new menu (including one dedicated to avocado on…read moretoast) but never fear, the space that was Cockadoodle Cafe, still has a few familiar faces behind the counter (including the barista) and they're still pouring Supreme Roast beans. I ventured up Enoggera Terrace on a Monday (yes! These guys are now opening the cafe on a Monday) after hearing they have WiFi. What better way to kick start the working week than with a coffee in their courtyard area. The avo on toast was, frankly, just the delicious icing on the cake. There's about 8 different avocado on toast combos on their menu, I went with Number 3: smoked salmon, feta and avocado. Plum Tucker is casual and cool like the impossibly twee friend we all have. They're on trend but they're aloof about it - they don't need to sing it from the roof top for it to be true. It's a cafe I know I'll come back to again and enjoy feeling like I'm away from the bustle of the outside world while squirreled away in this former cottage.

Perfect little Coffee Shop / Takeaway to catch up with a friend or enjoy morning tea before / after…read morethe shopping!! This shopping centre is located on one of the extensive bike tracks that meander through the Gap hence you quite often see joggers / walkers taking a quick break! The staff always have smile. Not sure what brand of coffee they use but its always nice. Regular prices, good place to grab a roll / sandwich on the go too! Heaps of parking in this centre, makes life easy for everyone.

Great little bakery and Vietnamese food. Quite small and old fashioned. Run by a older couple who…read moreseem to really know what they are doing. The pho (beef noodle soup) is one of the better ones I have had in Brisbane. They also do a great Vietnamese salad with grilled pork, rice noodle, carrot, cucumber, sprouts, mint and sauce. The Asian menu is limited but what they do, they do well. Coffee is just average, but the baked goods make up for this. Definitely worth a visit.

I love this place…read more I have loved every meal I have ordered here and the vibe is relaxed thanks to the awesome staff, decor/aesthetic, sense of humour (blackboard) and excellent music. My key picks for breakfast - mushrooms. Never had such zesty delicious mushrooms, with the perfect amount of parsley. My partner loves the breakfast beans, and hell yeah, so awesome. Cumin, chili and tomato; can't go wrong. If you want to add some meat, you can, chorizo is available. If I'm wanting a bit extra, I usually opt for the haloumi because it kicks so much butt. Bar food I had the other week was Parmesan fries with truffle oil, awesome. Also had nachos with chili con carne, yum. Will come back for breakfast and lunch/dinner!

Look for the thai restaurant neon sign near Windsor train station and you've found The Low Road…read moreCafe. For locals and commuters you're in for a treat with fresh Genovese coffee being poured and an interesting and unsurprisingly quirky menu on offer. I had stopped in for breakfast and was greeted with choices including a Breakfast Salad (haloumi, leaves, dukkah egg, asparagus) and more standard options like avocado on toast. In the end I set my sights on the Breakfast Banana Split - fresh banana, berries (raspberries and strawberries), toasted museli, grated dark chocolate, toasted coconut and, frozen whipped banana). Served in a sundae glass it felt a lot more "naughty" and calorie-laden than it actually was and the frozen whipped banana (a great recipe with ridiculous ease) gives this a creamy sensation without the regret later in the day! Verdict: The coffee is consistent and for commuters stoping enroute to the train, this is key. The menu is cute and quirky and from my experience today backs it up with the goods. Four weeks in since opening, locals have clearly adopted this new kid on the block as their own and there's already customer / barista first-name-basis relationships in action. But, to be honest, it didn't blow me away. It's a great staple for locals but not for a trip to visit here alone.

EDIT: As of March 2013, Bite My Biscuit has moved from Stafford to Geebung (right around the corner…read morefrom me) WOOHOO! They are now conveniently located in the Geebung complex of shops, right across the road from the Geebung Train station. Pop over for a quick coffee before heading to your train, or grab a pack of biscuits on your way to work and surprise your office :) There is plenty of parking in front or up the side street. The owners, Paul and Annie make a range of delicious, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits made with real butter, not margarine. You can taste the difference. Not only do they have this Espresso bar and retail store, but they also sell their biscuits to wholesale clients. Their shortbread sell in 12 packs for $7 and 24 packs for $14. If you stop in for a coffee you can grab a couple of individual biscuits to enjoy there. The flavours on offer are always changing, but some of my favourites are Thai Banana & Manuka Honey, White Choc & Macadamia, Strawberry Chia Seed and Lavender, Quince & Lemon. Shortbread biscuits are their speciality, and they also sell Melting Moments, Petits Fours and gluten free Macaroons.

Nice strong handmade coffee & lovely biscuits, very casual sitting room atmosphere where you can…read moreread a magazine or the paper looking. It's right opposite the Geebung train station and there is street parking out front.

Had a nice coffee and banana bread. Coffee was well made, good local vibe. Staff were friendly…read moreenough and parking conveniently located behind the cafe.

The houseproud suburb of Ashgrove, with its high concentration of families and stay at home parents…read morewho like to brunch (notice I'm staying gender-non-specific here), is the perfect place for such a coffee&cake/cookbooks&crafts business. I've been here once and managed to pick up a cook book for a birthday present and took advantage of the opportunity to grab a coffee and a croissant at the same time. The food and drink were top notch and the service appropriately homely as well. I'd definitely go back to try their bigger meals, which looked tantalising from where I was sitting.