Venn

Venn Bar and Café
16 Queen Street
Perth
(08) 9321 8366

1. Comfort and surroundings

Lola: Well, Venn is a design shop, café, bar, gallery and artist's studio all rolled into one, so naturally, the surroundings are pretty great. Modern, colourful and functional pieces in the store are offset by the rustic, exposed brick walls and cut flowers on the tables. Nice things to look at. I was lucky enough to nab a booth style seat as I arrived before Alexander who was left with the chair. My comfort skyrocketed to a 4!

Alexander: Love, love, love the surroundings at Venn. It's just my type of place - exposed brick, concrete, light wood, splashes of colour, plenty of natural light. Of course, that's what you would expect from a design store-slash-gallery-slash-studi-slash-cafe-slash-bar. That's right, Venn does pretty much everything you could ever want - it's a little design oasis hidden amongst the CBD skyscrapers. And it's walking distance from my apartment. How could I not be comfortable here? 4.5.

2. Service

Lola: It's counter service here, though I was able to order a coffee from my table while awaiting my companion. My trip to the counter was met with friendliness: nothing more nothing less. That's okay, for sure. A mid range 3 from me.

Alexander: I didn't have much interaction with the kids behind the counter, but I can't imagine having any problems. Everyone seems efficient yet laid-back, without attitude or pretension. So, I'm going to give them a 3.5 benefit-of-the-doubt score.

3. Tastiness

Lola: Very unfortunately, both our first options were unavailable! My second choice was asparagus with quail eggs and parmesan. The asparagus was fresh, the eggs were soft and the parmesan plentiful. A very simple dish, but none of the ingredients really packed a punch. And while the eggs were perfectly cooked, most of the yolk remained on my plate with nothing to mop it up with. I felt like it needed another element. Great ingredients though, and beautifully cooked. Just... missing something. I can only go a 2.5, but I'd definitely return for more. Just an unlucky morning I guess! Oh and I would also like to mention that I love the aesthetics of the menu itself. Nice!

Alexander: I was pretty devastated when my first option was unavailable (I've had it before and it's this amazing goat's cheese custard with mushrooms and toast soldiers - so tasty). And while I enjoyed my choice in the end (a B.A.L.T. - crispy pancetta, avocado, watercress, roasted tomato), I think it was hard not to let my disappointment influence my feelings towards the dish. All the ingredients were well cooked, and the flavours worked well, but still... it just wasn't what I was hoping for! I almost feel bad for saying this was a 2.5.

4. Drinks

Lola: A delicious decaffeinated coffee, an order that always comes with the risk of not being as fresh or tasty as its caffeinated brother, but in this case the spot was well and truly hit. Just off perfect though, at 4.5.

Alexander: It was back to long black territory for me, and I have no complaints. I love getting a piping hot coffee, enjoying the smell until it's cool enough to drink, and then having plenty of time to savour the delicious coffee flavour, without a risk of it going cold. I was happy to experience the full sensory experience for my breakfast at Venn... mmm... 4.

5. Fiscal Matters

Lola: I need to preface this by saying I really enjoyed my morning at Venn, and I want to go back more and more. The overall experience was really lovely, and I think the comfort factor meant I could overlook this certain bit. But I have to be honest, I did feel a little thieved when my plate arrived after I'd forked out $14 for it. They do use good produce, and there were $6 and $6.50 toast options. And... I guess you are paying for the whole experience, but I still have to award just a 1.5. Hopefully my enjoyable whole experience is reflected in my overall score as I think Venn is a great place to come!

Alexander: I agree, by and large, with Lola's comments, although perhaps I am so jaded about Perth prices that I am willing to be a little more forgiving. The serve of food I received was not particularly huge for the price, and while good quality ingredients were evident, I think compared to other places, the price was perhaps slightly high. I would be happy paying the same price for a slightly bigger serve, but as things stand, I am going to award a 2.5.

The verdict...
Comfort and surroundings: 8.5
Service: 6.5
Tastiness: 5
Drinks: 8.5
Fiscal matters: 4

TOTAL: 33/50

The Tuck Shop Café

The Tuck Shop Café
U 1 / 178 Newcastle Street
Perth
(08) 9227 1659

1. Comfort and surroundings

Lola: Okay - after international escapades for the both of us, we are back in business. We managed to make it to two breakfast destinations at the very end of 2011 but it's taken this first few weeks of January for us to share them. But we are excited - 2012 is going to be a big year for breakfasting, I can feel it!

So, the Tuck Shop. I'd driven past this place a few times, since its opening last year, and it certainly captured my interest. A café, deli and PIE SHOP: oh yes! I didn't know what to expect. From the outside the shop is pretty modest and unfussy, but in the right way - it doesn't look flashy, it looks like they are focusing on what is happening in the kitchen! Unadorned it may be, but it is also clean, simple and sophisticated in this way. We had ample room and were comfortable enough to warrant a moderate score of 3.5.

Alexander: Yes, it has been a while, hasn't it? Never fear though, readers, we have still been having breakfasts far and wide, and we're looking forward to sharing more of our delicious experiences in 2012. As for the Tuck Shop, well this ranks pretty well in the comfort and surroundings department. The eating area is spread out over one room with tables dotted all over the place, which means finding a secluded, cosy spot isn't really an option. Instead, the feel is airy, light and modern, which is a-okay with me. My only criticism is that some of the tables are at an odd angle, so on a busy day, you might find yourself smack bang in the middle of another table's conversation. But hey, I'm happy they haven't skimped on the number of seats... I hate waiting for breakfast! 3.5 from me.

2. Service

Lola: After walking in I was seated by a shy but obliging waitress who remained that way through the course of the morning meal. Water was brought and waits were short, so pretty good all round. After going up to pay we met one of the trio of owners - clearly passionate about her business and happy to be one on one with her customers, she left me feeling energized and enthusiastic. I think I'll have to go for a 4.5.

Alexander: Service is good without being over-the-top. And yes, I share Lola's view of the owner we met - I think her passion definitely spreads throughout the entire cafe. It's nice to be in a place where you feel welcome and you get awesome service. I'm giving it a 4.

3. Tastiness

Lola: Though small, this menu did it for me! Listings such as basic toast, hearty porridge, healthy granola, sweet pancakes and savoury ham hock meant something for everyone. I opted for the fish fingers with a poached egg atop an English muffin and avocado salad. Interestingly, the fish fingers were the least tasty thing on my plate - the egg yolk oozed over the doughy muffin and the salad was fresh and perfectly proportioned. While the fingers themselves weren't the star, I'd still go a 4 for these inspired dishes.

Alexander: Oh my goodness, this breakfast made me so happy! Mushrooms, spinach, feta cheese... served on multigrain toast... topped off with a perfectly cooked egg. This is like my dream meal; I love each of the ingredients, and the combination of them in one dish was perfection. Execution of the dish was superb, with enough salt to bring out the flavours, and the correct level of cooking the vegetables. It doesn't get much better than this... 4.5!


4. Drinks

Lola: So I (unneccessarily) shared with the waitress that I wasn't sure if I felt like a hot chocolate or an OJ, but, and with Alexander as my witness, I opted for the former. Not long after I rued my decision but wasn't bothered to change it, yet I was brought an orange juice. For this reason, it was superb! But good luck (or telepathy) aside, it was cold, fresh and frothy. In terms of options, there were a few more than the regular basics, so in the absence of anything negative but also incredibleness, a 4 is the way for me.

Alexander: Back in (long) black was the theme of the day for me, and I was not disappointed. The Tuck Shop's coffee is Toby's Estate, so things were off to a good start. The product was the perfect temperature, with a beautiful flavour - it really hit the spot. 3.5!

5. Fiscal matters

Lola: Prices are slightly better than many Perth spots, with all breakfasts between $6.50 and $17.50. This is a relief! But with a drink it did hit the twenties. I'm going a 3.

Alexander: So the prices are mid-range, as Lola noted, but at least you feel like you're getting well selected, fresh ingredients. While you could get cheaper prices in Perth, you might not get the same quality, so I'll give it 3.5.

The verdict...
Comfort and surroundings: 7
Service: 8.5
Tastiness: 8.5
Drinks: 7.5
Fiscal matters: 6.5

TOTAL: 38/50

Coode Street Café

Coode Street Café
24 Coode Street
Maylands
(08) 9371 9900

1. Comfort and surroundings

Alexander: Sorry about the delay, folks, things have been a bit crazy in the lives of these breakfast bloggers! But with Lola's imminent departure on a European holiday, we knew we had to squeeze in a breakfast review! Coode Street Café was actually not our first choice on this particular occasion, but our first choice was inexplicably closed. Not to worry though, Coode Street Café was just a hop, skip and a jump (and a short car ride) away. Nestled on a leafy street in Maylands, you can tell that Coode Street Café has a good reputation by the number of cars parked within a 100m radius! After finding a carpark and securing a table outside, we settled in for breakfast. The café has a bustling, informal vibe, with an assortment of groupings (from friends to couples to families to singles) partaking in their morning meals. It's pleasant, if a little suburban for my taste, so I'll give it a 3.

Lola: I love the leafy streets and the homely feel to this high Mt Lawley / Maylands border area. Locals flock to this property which retains a corner store vibe. After breakfast you can pick up your milk, a newspaper and other morning staples. It might be bustling and it might be suburban, but I like the sense of community that those things create. And although it's busy, the vast space means there's little crowding. I'll have to say a 4.

2. Service

Alexander: Our waiter was very friendly, breezing across to our table after giving us a couple of minutes to peruse the menu. After securing our coffee orders, our waiter gave us the special of the day (a little bit of a novelty at breakfast!) and then left us for just about the perfect amount of time to make our decision. The food came out fast for such a busy place, so you know they are experienced at catering for a lot of people at the same time. Points for that. Payment at the counter afterwards was a pretty easy affair, too. A 3.5 from me.

Lola: There isn't much more to say in the service department. The system works well with waiters seating you and taking your orders, with counter payment at the end. This gives you a chance to pick up a pie to take home for lunch after! Pretty good with another 4 from this side.

3. Tastiness

Alexander: I couldn't go past the special on this occasion - corn cakes serviced with an avocado salsa, plus bacon on the side! If I could dream up my perfect breakfast, this would definitely be on the menu. It all worked well together, even if the plating was a little rustic. I devoured my breakfast and was left satisfied without being stuffed. A very happy 4!

Lola: Ohh that special nearly had me too! In the end I settled for the grilled peaches and ricotta on fig toast. This was just delightful and warrants a 4.5! The ricotta cut the sweetness of the peaches perfectly, and the bread was jam packed full of figs. Though I don't felt like I overindulged, it kept me full for hours with all its goodness. Yum!

4. Drinks

Alexander: Today I was back in long black territory, so I won't mince words. Good coffee, not the best I've had, definitely not the worst. Above average coffee = a score of 3.

Lola: My flat white could have been a little more robust, but it served the caffeine fix purpose and warmed me from the inside. A 3 seems apt for my beverage, also.

5. Fiscal matters

Alexander: Prices are on par with similar establishments in the location, with breakfast for 2 including drinks coming to a little under $40. When you can get away without parting with more than a $20 note each, things are pretty good... by Perth standards, anyway! 3.5 from me.

Lola: I couldn't have said it better myself. That $20 is a bit of a line for me. Spend over and, although it's common, I feel slightly peeved. But if I can come home with only having bust an orange, I feel like I've done not too bad at all. I second that 3.5.




The verdict...
Comfort and surroundings: 7/10
Service: 7.5/10
Tastiness: 8.5/10
Drinks: 6/10
Fiscal matters: 7/10

TOTAL: 36/50

Atomic Espresso

Atomic Espresso
15/21 Mends St
South Perth
(08) 9368 0990

1. Comfort & surroundings

Alexander: Atomic Espresso is a bustling little cafe on leafy Mends Street. Only a short walk to the South Perth foreshore, it's a lovely location to have breakfast. And it's not surprising to see a lot of people who've been out and about, doing exercise, stop in for some food and drinks - with a very short wait time for food, it's perfect for people who've built up an appetite. Inside the cafe, things have a bit of a frenetic feel to them, with generally a long line of people waiting to order and wait staff dashing about with plates of food or empty dishes. Still, once you find a seat and discover that your food has arrived 35 seconds after ordering it, there's nothing to stop you enjoying a leisurely morning with the newspaper or good conversation. 3 from me.

Lola: There are staff bustling around everywhere here, but I guess for the establishment to be that efficient on a busy morning, they are being put to good use. Mind you they do blend in well - I thought one girl who was rearranging furniture was actually a patron being a little inappropriate by interrupting others' breakfasts. Considering it is busy and somewhat crowded in the counter area, the tables are well spread out. We were sitting next to the ordering queue yet I did not feel like there were people breathing down my neck. They've done well with what they've got, and made the most of the leafy trees out front, but it's nothing fantabulous. A 3.5 here.

2. Service

Alexander: My views of counter service are well known but, to re-iterate, it leads to a loss of points. Atomic Cafe is all about counter service, and I am pretty sure there was an average wait time of about 5 minutes to get the front of the queue the whole time we were there. That being said, the person taking the orders was very efficient, so the line was constantly moving. Other interaction with the staff was equally efficient, if a little on the brusque side... but more on that from Lola. Overall, the service here is more about getting the job done than making you feel like a million bucks. I'm giving it a middle-of-the-road, 2.5.

Lola: I knew I would be on a tight schedule this particular Sunday morning, so I tried to book a table in advance, but unfortunately Atomic do not take bookings. This is no problem! Just a heads up. From our conversation I got the impression that they might have made exceptions for a large party, but since we were 2 they knew we'd get a table no problem. With such a quick turnover, and a fair amount of tables, I'm sure that the wait would never be long even if there was one. Okay so far so good. But to be honest, I was a little put out by a couple of later incidents. The first occurred when I took one of the (not overly large) water jugs and some glasses to our table. Someone turned up shortly afterwards and took the jug away, informing me that personal jugs are not allowed on busy days, only regular days. It all seems a bit hard to judge, to me. I don't mind rules if I am in someone's space, and a cafe is indeed someone else's space, but I did feel a little like a berated child who didn't know any better. Some understanding would have been nice. And larger glasses. Later on, I think they were so keen for a table turnaround that my plate was almost snatched away while I was still eating. Again, not the most welcoming. But look, they weren't rude or nasty, and I have to give them points for efficiency I suppose. A 2.5 from me too.

3. Tastiness

Alexander: My breakfast consisted of the mushroom bruschetta, topped off with goat cheese, and a side serve of poached eggs. Not bad, but not particularly exciting. The bruschetta toast was ciabatta - not one of my favourites - but the mushrooms were tasty and the cheese livened things up a bit. The eggs though! Served on the side of the plate, they just looked a bit sad, like most of the whites had been lost in the water bath. And the yolks were slightly overdone. It was a bit of a shame, because eggs, mushrooms and goats cheese has the potential to be an amazing combination. I can't give this more than 2.5 though.

Lola: I, on the other hand, love some sliced, toasted ciabatta as a base for bruschetta. Atop mine was fresh tomato and avocado, and I also chose to add (equally sad) poached eggs. It was small, but it was enough. The drizzle of olive oil was mostly on the plate and I couldn't help thinking how much nicer it would have been with just a squeeze of lemon on such a fresh dish. I regretted adding the eggs, but the tomato and avocado on toast, while not the perfect specimen, still hit the spot. The menu is really vast, and I'm keen to sample one of their omelettes next time. Based on this day, the dish gets a 3.5.

4. Drinks

Alexander: Iced long black? Sign me up! Given Perth's high temperatures, I'm surprised this doesn't make an appearance on more menus, particularly as it's ideal for people who want a cold caffeinated beverage without the dairy. Atomic Cafe's version was a bit odd though - served with a slice of lemon. It's not iced tea, and I don't think I've ever heard of a coffee/lemon combo before. So I was in disappointment city unfortunately. This one gets a 2.

Lola: It was a hot morning, but I felt like coffee, yet nothing too heavy. An iced cafe latte delivered the middle ground. I'm with Alexander, these varied iced coffee options are a great idea! The coffee itself, while drinkable, was a bit lacking for me, so I'll settle on a score of 3.

5. Fiscal matters

Alexander: Prices at Atomic Cafe are very easy to digest. Given the premium location, you'd probably expect something exorbitant, but my food was only $14 and my drink was $5. A full breakfast for under $20 isn't easy in Perth, so I was pleasantly surprised. This is the top scoring round from me - I'm giving it a 4. (PS it's cash only, so make a trip to the ATM before you come to Atomic.)

Lola: The bruschetta alone was $8.50, and while I mentioned above that it was small, it was definitely enough for a lightish morning feed, and the price is most definitely A OK. $5.50 for an egg addition is reasonable I suppose, and the coffees are heading to the steep side, but overall I was well pleased with what I had to fork out. Plenty of cheaper options, and from memory no dish hitting the $20 mark. I'll say 4.5.

The verdict...
Comfort & surroundings: 6.5/10
Service: 5/10
Tastiness: 6/10
Drinks: 5/10
Fiscal matters: 8.5/10
TOTAL: 31/50

Greenhouse

Greenhouse
100 St Georges Terrace
Perth
(08) 9481 8333

http://www.greenhouseperth.com/

1. Comfort & surroundings

Alexander: For Greenhouse, I think it's necessary to break down "comfort" and "surroundings" and consider each one separately. Starting with the surroundings, you definitely know when you're approaching Greenhouse by the hundreds of potted plants adorning the exterior walls of the building. It definitely makes for a striking garden look given its setting amidst the skyscrapers of St Georges Terrace. The plants are part of Greenhouse's sustainability gimmick, which extends to the recycled materials all throughout the restaurant (including the bathrooms). Pretty cool and it definitely makes for one of the more original and interesting surroundings for Perth breakfast venues. Unfortunately, original and interesting do not a comfortable experience make. The seats here are made of recycled crates and, while I like the concept of being able to use them interchangeably as stools, chairs or low tables, they are heavy and unfinished. Don't get me wrong, it's a small complaint, but I just can't stand the thought of having to remove another splinter... 5 for the surroundings minus 1 for discomfort equals a score of 4.

Lola: I truly appreciate the commitment to sustainability made by Greenhouse, and I think it adds a lot to the surroundings. Unfortunately I am biased against the CBD and generally find it a stressful, unpleasant expedition. This is not Greenhouse's fault, and hopefully with more and more places like it I will begin feeling differently. We were lucky, in my opinion, to be seated on a chair incarnation and not a stool one as I think the former are not too uncomfortable at all. Not the greatest things to lounge around on, but given what they're made of, I'm not too fussed. The restaurant is well lit and open, the tables spacious enough. Despite the city setting, I think I've just talked myself up to a 4.

2. Service

Alexander: My first encounter with the service at Greenhouse occurred when I called to change the reservation that had been made by Lola only minutes earlier. While trying to explain that I wanted to make the reservation for Lola half an hour earlier on a mobile with bad reception, it turned out that Lola's reservation wasn't actually in the book! In fact, there was no reservations for breakfast that particular day. So very strange. Upon arrival, I took a seat under the reservation I had made for two people and was then asked if anyone was joining me. Duuuh. And I would have preferred about an extra 10% friendliness from the staff. But aside from those things, it's table service at Greenhouse, which is a plus. It wasn't busy, so our orders were taken pretty quickly and there was only a short wait for the food. Just a warning, though, look into the kitchen at your own peril: it's full of teenage chefs with tattoos and massive holes in their ears. 3.5 from me.

Lola: Interestingly, the guy who took my original reservation seemed quite jovial (if not a little scatty) and quite pleased to be taking down the information. The mix up didn't cause any trouble, as it turned out, so I certainly can't take marks off for that, though the wait staff did just seem to be going through the motions. A 3.5 with an extra mark for table service, bringing it up to a 4.5. (And let it be said, I very much enjoy a young, heavily tattooed chef; so thanks to Matt Stone and his team.)

3. Tastiness

Alexander: I'm just gonna say it, this was probably my favourite breakfast in Perth for quite a long time. I ordered slow cooked eggs on toast with wild mushrooms, all of which was as close to perfect as you could get in my books. The flour for their bread is handmilled and then baked on-site, so the toast had a delicious earthiness to it - pretty much the opposite of Wonder White. I don't know how exactly the eggs were slow cooked, but they turned out like fantastic gooey poached eggs. And the assorted mushrooms were lightly sauteed in butter to bring out their natural flavour. All of this, served with fresh herbs and nasturtium petals, made for an amazing combination. This is a transcendent breakfast. FIVE OUT OF FIVE.

Lola: Not only was my choice equally delicious, but it has to be the most beautiful breakfast I've ever set my eyes on. Unfortunately I don't think the photo above does it justice, but it really was ecsquisite. A crab and egg tart sat in a ring of fresh herbs, thinly sliced fennel, nasturtiums and pansies - marvelous. The tart itself was a delight, with fluffy eggs and fresh tasting crab sitting within some of the flakiest filo I've had the good fortune to enjoy. Despite these rich flavours, the dish was not an overly heavy one, the fennel and herbs proving a sharp contrast. The serving size was generous without being excessive. Not only was there nothing to fault, but the dish was even more than I could have imagined. It has to be a 5!

4. Drinks

Alexander: The coffee here is top-notch, so even my simple long black was a delight: full bodied with that little touch of crema. Greenhouse will caffeinate you properly, so it gets a 4.

Lola: Not the best flat white I've had, but definitely one that I'd order again and again. A 4 from me too.

5. Fiscal matters

Alexander: My breakfast and coffee came to $20 exactly, which is a pretty average price point in Perth. Beware: don't expect the same if you visit for lunch or dinner, as I have heard that the prices at those times seem pretty inflated. But we're about breakfast on this blog, so that's what I'm judging it on, and I am going to give it a 4 based on the price in combination with the quality of the ingredients.

Lola: I'm going with Alexander again on this one and giving a 4 too. My total was only a few dollars over the twenty mark, and for a faultless, filling breakfast with a good cup of joe, I'd pay that any day of the week.

The verdict...
Comfort & surroundings: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Tastiness: 10/10
Drinks: 8/10
Fiscal matters: 8/10
TOTAL: 42/50

Blossom Restaurant

Blossom Restaurant
Jl. Pura Telaga Waja

Seminyak, Bali

1. Comfort & surroundings

Alexander: Welcome to our first breakfast-bloggers-on-patrol post! It turns out that Lola and I made separate plans to be in Bali at the same time, so we couldn't pass up the opportunity to sample some local cuisine and review a Bali breakfast location! We picked Blossom Restaurant because it is connected to the hotel at which I was staying (Sentosa Villas - totally recommended by the way). It's a lovely venue, with semi-open walls connecting the cool slate interior with the tropical exterior. The restaurant tables also spill out across the deck, giving some areas a scenic view of the oasis-like pool. Now, it was hot and sticky, everywhere in Bali is, but the design helped keep things a bit cooler. I was also very impressed by the long booth seats, which would be perfect for a larger group of people. All up, Blossom is calm and comfy enclave amongst the hustle, bustle and heat of Bali.

Lola: The convenience of meeting at Blossom, coupled with the reviews we had been privy to, made our decision of which of the thousands of possible eateries to choose, an easy one. It is not just a restaurant for those staying at Sentosa Villas; with a talented chef with a great reputation, it is worth visiting Blossom just for a meal. As I walked in I could instantly see what makes Sentosa Villas a popular choice for accommodation, as it managed to feel relaxed as well as clean and crisp. The spacious restaurant was also a perfectly de-stressed area, where you could sit around for hours (at least until the lure of the swimming pool became too much).

2. Service

Alexander: Attentive with a capital "A". The staff were polite, obliging and always on the look out for anything you could ever need at breakfast. There was always someone hovering a polite distance away, ready to assist with any request. And the staff were totally attitude free - real service with a smile. I know it's hard to compare, but I think a few Perth venues could learn a lot from the staff at Blossom.

Lola: Yes, the service was perfection! Mind you, we were eating in a restaurant with one of the top reputations on the island. While the waitstaff were ultra attentive, as Alexander mentioned, I didn't feel like I was being watched, and when you are sampling as much food as I did this is a very good thing.

3. Tastiness

Alexander: All the breakfast meals at Blossom start with a basket of delicious pastries and a beautifully-presented fruit platter - a combination of the decadent and the healthy! Not that we needed the excess food, as we also had access to a delicious spread of fruits, cereals, tarts, Asian treats and juices at the buffet PLUS a choice of main course! For my main, I ordered the lobster benedict - poached eggs on toasted muffins with spinach, lobster, chilli hollandaise and caviar. Tasty and unique! From start to finish, this meal was a breakfast taste sensation overload, and I was left full and happy.

Lola: Oh boy, just the a la carte menu was incredible! On it we found some innovative Western style dishes and some Indonesian style delights also. I opted for the Nasi Goreng. Nice and sticky and with a good amount of chilli on the side, it was a tasty one, but not among the best I'd had. The pastries were plentiful and delicious, and though we ate our way through as many as we could and I was sad to leave the remainder.

4. Drinks

Alexander: The breakfast buffet has drip coffee, tea and four varieties of juice on offer, plus you can order individually made coffees from the barista. I actually like drip coffee, so I was happy to go with what was on offer... plus I didn't want to fill up on calorific drinks given the wide variety of food options! The perfect side for a big breakfast.

Lola: It was juice all the way for me. With four options, why would I need to look elsewhere? In that heat, a cool refreshment was exactly what I was after.

5. Fiscal matters

Alexander: Not applicable. The breakfast was included in the hotel rate!

Lola: Bargain!

Soto Espresso

Soto Espresso
507 Beaufort St
Highgate
(08) 9227 7686

1. Comfort & surroundings

Lola: Though I regularly pop into Soto for a takeaway beverage before work, I'd never sampled their kitchen offerings before this visit. It's down the Highgate end of the Beaufort Street strip, with scattered tables, a long booth seat down one side of one room, and art for sale which changes every so often. Somewhat surprisingly, you might think, we decided against one of the half booths, but just because of the spaciousness of our chosen table's corner location. The seats aren't conducive to relaxing for a whole morning, but overall it's not a bad place to spend some time, and I did like this art rotation. A 2.5 here.

Alexander: Beaufort Street is probably one of Perth's most popular cafe strips, so breakfast purveyors need to do a decent job to survive amidst all of the competition. Soto has been around for a while, so it must be doing alright! The venue has a casual vibe, although there are plenty of people around to give it a lively atmosphere. As Lola mentioned, you get your choice of seat type, either booths or tables. I am a big fan of the booth, but so were a lot of other people, so we decided to give ourselves some more space at a table. I could have happily sat around people watching for a while, so I will give it a 3.5.

2. Service

Lola: It's counter service here with self service water too. This, of course, is not a problem, but it does mean that our contact with staff was minimal. So nothing to complain about, but no one seemed particularly happy to be working either. So a 3.

Alexander: Lola's right - counter service and minimal contact make it hard to say much on this front. I thought our server at the counter seemed friendly enough, but the waiter who brought us our food had a more surly attitude. Of course the biggest crime was that my plate was cleared before Lola finished... uh oh, 2.5 from me.

3. Tastiness

Lola: I had spied the menu while waiting for a takeaway one morning and the interesting sounding options enticed us to give it a crack. I chose the pork belly chorizo omelette with sugar candied bacon over the smoked kipper, which also sounded appealing. It was a close fight for my taste buds! The omelette was ginormous, I reckon there must have been six eggs in it, and it came with a hefty slab of sourdough toast and a handful of rocket. The chorizo was tasty though the bacon was easily overlooked. There was some softened onion throughout the dish which added some much needed sweetness, and the freshness of the rocket was appreciated. I say freshness but the rocket wasn't all that fresh, really, a sizable amount of it being old and yellow. I would have loved some balsamic to help the onion and rocket out. Determined to get through the mountain of food, I left the toast and focused on filling my belly with the good stuff. And while I did manage it quite comfortably I was so full and eggy that I couldn't possibly eat anything until dinner time. Maybe this is a good quality for a meal, but I felt it was a bit heavy for my liking. I'll go with a 2.5.

Alexander: I love eggs so it came as some surprise to me that I was drawn to the grilled mushroom and asparagus with Persian feta. Even more of a surprise, I didn't regret not getting eggs - this was deee-licious! The mushroom/asparagus/feta flavours all worked really well together, and the addition of some rocket and balsamic lifted it to something a bit more special. Plus, there were some carbs under there to help fill me up! Well done Soto, this gets a 4.

4. Drinks

Lola: Soto do a good mocha. My only complaint is that they are a little bit small! This brings my score down to a 4.5.

Alexander: The people at Soto care about their coffee, so I strayed back to long black territory for this breakfast. I was amply impressed without being blown-away. 3.5 from me!

5. Fiscal matters

Lola: I suppose a dish so large with so many eggs and so much sausage comes close to warranting an $18 price tag. But no one needs to eat that much, really, and I resented having to pay that fee when I probably would have been better off with half that amount and spending $9. The little coffee was $4, I believe, and although it is not uncommon, looking back I feel it was a bit steep. I'll give a 2.5.

Alexander: Prices are pretty average here, not too expensive, not outstandingly cheap. There is probably a small "location premium" built in, but this is balanced out by the fact that there are plenty of other cafes around competing for your business. I was happy to pay under $20 for breakfast and coffee, so I am giving it 3.5.

The verdict...
Comfort & surroundings: 6/10
Service: 5.5/10
Tastiness: 6.5/10
Drinks: 8/10
Fiscal matters: 6/10
TOTAL: 32.50