It’s a bit like sitting down to eat in your crazy aunt’s kitchen, but the food is much better.
That’s the feeling I have sitting inside the quirky old Paddington Queenslander with its tongue and grove walls, vintage tables and mismatched chairs. The old Sunbeam Mixmasters perched high on the bookshelf crammed full of old magazines and books just add to the aura.
Owner Peter Clarke says there’s no airs and graces at Sassafrass, the café he has owned for 16 years.
“It’s all about good, homely comfort food that people want to come back for,” he says.
Peter sourced the furniture long before it was uber trendy to have op shop décor because he didn’t have money for anything else. Paying no more than $40 for a chair suited him just fine.
It helps, of course, that head chef Chris has great relationships with several farmers so he can have freshly picked greens from a grower in Toowoomba on your plate by 10am the same day. You can always taste that sort of freshness.
It also helps that just about everything, from the cakes and muffins to the mayonnaise, is house made. Bread is one of the exceptions and that is sourced from artisan baker, Sol Breads.
From the front Sassafrass looks like a tiny little café but rock out the back into the courtyard and you’ll be amazed by the large open space edged by tropical style gardens. With a large bar area, this is also a great area for functions which now often include multiple generations from the same family who are all regular café diners.
The coffee is now Single Origin Roasters, a blend used by Peter’s favourite Sydney coffee shop and in Brisbane only found also at Aria. It’s fair trade, sustainable and roasted on solar power.
Reading their breakfast menu is a mouth-watering experience. The most popular item is
Eggs Benedict but Peter’s favourite is Avocado on sourdough with a side of salmon. Other breakfast best sellers include the Chilli corn cakes, Ricotta hot cakes and the Big breakfast. Don’t miss the free coffee with every breakfast from 7am to 8am on Saturday and Sunday.
While Sassafrass is known for its Green eggs and ham, it’s only on the specials list so if that’s your must-have just keep on popping in!
There’s also afternoon tea on the menu on the last Saturday of the month from 2pm to 4 pm (bookings essential).
Sassafrass, 88 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington
Kerry Heaney
Disclaimer: Ed+bK was a guest for breakfast at Sassafrass