LOCATIONThe Logan Road antique strip, moments from the Gabba sportsground in east Brisbane.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIABrisbane can breathe a sigh of relief – the citywide search for spectacular cafe fare is over. Tucked into Woolloongabba’s growing Logan Road antique strip is Pearl Café; an unassuming eatery bursting at the seams with hungry crowds on most days of the week. Saturday mornings will see people hustle and queue for its French provincial charm – unpretentious food that is full of flavour and a confident chef who knows how to execute mouth-watering simplicity. The ingredients are top notch, the service consistent, given the influx of crowds, and the menu is a restaurant version of a hug – a well-made cup of tea with a touch of brasserie nostalgia that will have you planning your return trip to Paris.
Pearl Cafe’s success lies in chef Daniel Rowe’s ability to revive the classics: think terrines, croque monsieur and duck confit, without the burden of pretension. The blackboards brim with specials, the counters are laden with cakes and the coffee is comforting and strong. Serving sizes are generous and the menu meets the whims of just about every diner – from salad-driven lunch-ers to those wishing to eat away the pain of the night before. And the triple-chocolate brownies will break every resolve. These decadent squares of goodness will have you lusting for more long after the last crumb is gone.
Katrina Meynink