They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and after visiting Urban Food Store + Cafe, I am inclined to agree. Two friends and I decided to have a lazy catch-up over breakfast before work on a glorious Canberra spring day.
After hearing many a Canberran rave about Urban Food, located in the New Acton precinct, we were all enthusiastic to visit. Our lively host, Ryan, seated us and was quick to present the breakfast essentials; steaming hot cups of coffee and freshly squeezed juices, served in quirky glasses. Apple and pear, orange and ginger, beetroot, ginger and carrot; the combinations were endless and I’m left feeling refreshed.
I was surprised at how busy the venue was so early in the morning, on a relatively average Tuesday. Almost all the tables were full, with people coming in and out to grab a coffee, visit the adjoining supermarket to buy organic treats, or like me and my friends, lounge around before work.
The breakfast menu is long and varied, with options to suit a broad range of café go-ers. The real focus here is on fresh, organic, interesting food and those with allergies or special diets; vegans, to vegetarians, to coeliacs are well catered for. It struck me that Urban Food is quite unique to Canberra, for its quality, fresh and healthy food. It also stands out for its impeccable customer services. After chatting to Ryan it was clear that no special needs are too hard or complicated for the team here, and everything is done with a smile.
The menu offers a range of carefully thought out options. I ordered the Bircher Muesli ($13.90), but this is no ordinary muesli. I was presented with a giant tower of creamy muesli, overflowing with nuts and plump juicy fruit and topped with a decadent yoghurt and blueberry compote. The tower was served with a side of rose and cinnamon poached apples and pears. The oats, fruit and nuts had been soaked for 24 hours in cloudy juice, and the result was a muesli infused with sweet, fruit flavour – an absolutely decadent start to the day.
An equally delectable dish was presented to my friend who ordered the brioche French toast, served with mixed berry compote and mascarpone ($16.90). This dish is not for the faint hearted; fluffy, thick pieces of perfectly baked brioche, topped with succulent cherries and strawberries with creamy mascarpone – the perfect indulgence for those with a sweet morning craving.
A more savoury option was ordered by my second friend. The smoked salmon ‘Royale’ ($17.90) really is a dish fit for a king. A layered stack comprised of fresh Atlantic salmon, baby spinach, potato, dill and Spanish onion rosti and topped with a free range egg (poached to perfection) and a light lemon vinaigrette. The rosti was golden and delicious, just the right mix of flavours, and an excellent combination of crispy and creamy.
Next time I visit, I will be tempted to try the scrambled silken tofu with free range eggs ($14.90) which l caught a glimpse of at the next table, or the vegan breakfast stack (15.90) which also looked a treat.
For those looking for something a little ‘meatier,’ I don’t think you could go past the Urban Breakfast ($29.90) a monstrous serving of bacon, eggs, chorizo, mushrooms, spinach, potato rosti, grilled haloumi and tomatoes topped with a creamy hollandaise sauce.
Urban Food is open for breakfast and lunch, seven days a week, for yummy meals or just coffee and cake. I’m excited about going back for breakfast on the weekend, and I’m told they often have a DJ in the corner, spinning laid back tunes or live acoustic music, certainly making it the breakfast spot to be at. I would strongly recommend calling ahead and booking however, as this gem of a breakfast venue is extremely popular and I’ve heard you can often find long lines of excitable patrons waiting for a seat.
The team at Urban Food are offering 10% off, exclusively to our readers. This discount can be used at both the supermarket and cafe. Print voucher
