Perth Voice Interactive

I  WASN’T surprised when the Coode Street Cafe was named one of Perth’s top breakfast spots.

Off the beaten track in a leafy Mt Lawley street, it’s a bit far out of my patch for breakfast, but I’ve dropped in for lunch a few times when in the vicinity and in need of victuals.

The food is unfailingly good, the cakes too tempting for their own good, the coffee great, and the staff friendly and efficient.

Oh, and the ambience is perfect—so relaxing.

The young woman serving us on this day was particularly refreshing in her direct approach, and when my lunch companion asked for her recommendation of a chicken dish over the lamb fillet she didn’t hold back.

“It depends what you feel like,” she started a little bluntly, but quickly redeemed herself with a full dissertation on which of the two dishes my mate was likely to make herself at home, pointing out the obvious choice was the one she wouldn’t.

It made such perfect sense my mate stopped dithering and ordered the lamb ($25.70).

Moist tender chunks, doused in a minted dijon mustard, arrived atop a veritable mountain of sweet potato mash, with a serve of rather tasty butter beans on the side.

“Traditional but reliable and a real winner,” she said, licking her plate clean.

Like the sweets version, the cabinet of savoury pastries is a veritable artists’ palette, with glistening golden pies, colourful quiches and slices, tuna patties (I can vouch for these)—and a very eye-catching Mediterranean tart ($16.30 with salad).

Both pastry and filling were delicious and it didn’t take me long to reduce the colourful mix to nothing but a few crumbs on the plate.

With no reason to rush we inspected the line-up of cakes for the second time, eventually ordering the salted carmel peanut slice and a lemon/lime brulee ($7.40), with coffee of course.

The brulee was spot on in its fusion of sweetness and tartness, and the caramel slice was everything one hopes for but rarely gets, the sweetness of the caramel registering on the taste buds a second or two before a delicious nutty saltiness kicked in.

by JENNY D’ANGER

Coode Street Cafe
24 Coode Street, Mt Lawley
9371 9900
open 7 days 7am–4pm Mon–Sat,
8am–4pm Sun (closed public hols)