Kookaburra Cafe

PROFILED BY DEGROOTS MEDIA

Perched on a corner only five kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, Kookaburra Cafe’s food has been described by diners as honest and inventive, tasting and tempting. Open seven days a week from 10am to 11pm, the cafe has inside and outside seating for up to 200 people. The old building that houses the cafe was built in 1880 and operated for many years as a boot-making factory. Much of the character of the old workshop permeates the walls still and with a menu offering some of Australia’s time honoured favourites, this eatery is not just a café, but it’s a terrific place to meet and simply enjoy its charm.
There is a good selection of entrees and pastas while main dishes include prime slices of beef with a creamy crab sauce, and lamb shanks in red wine with potato mash. There is barramundi, pork spareribs and duck salad, and desserts for those who still have room. The olden-style trifle and the bread and butter pudding run close seconds to the very popular sticky date pudding, and for the chocolate lovers there is the stock favourite chocolate mud cake. There are party pizzas for groups, sandwiches, smoothies and milk shakes as well as alcoholic drinks to accompany the meals. Owner Steve Hall is the energetic backbone behind the scenes and personally shops for the fresh ingredients a few times a week to ensure the high quality of his dishes. After 26 years of owning and running Kookaburra Cafe, Steve believes his simple and honest approach to food is at the core of its success.
Madeleine Doherty