I was told that the Coffee Lab in Civic had started doing all day breakfast and since I pass by regularly, I had a peek at the menu. Prices are decent for the city ranging from $7-17. A few weeks ago, I met up with a friend for breakfast before work one weekday morning to check it out. This was during those really hot weeks in Canberra so I didn’t particularly want a hot drink. Our waitress mentioned they do cold drip coffees so I thought I would try that. The cold drip coffee arrived in a glass beaker with a glass filled with ice. I’m not used to having pure full strength coffee (I do like my mochas), so this was a bit strong to begin with. However, I found it was very smooth, easy to drink and left no bitter aftertaste.
I wanted something light for breakfast and ordered the Little Italy ($14) of confit garlic smashed into multigrain toast with lightly pickled heirloom cherry tomatoes, torn basil, garlic chips and fior di latte cheese balls. I have to say that this looked fabulous when it was brought out. So colourful! You really do need to like tomatoes to enjoy it. The cheese balls had been deep fried a golden crispy colour, and the cheese was still warm and a little gooey – so good! This was a wonderfully light and simple breakfast.
My friend ordered the Ol Faithful ($12.50) which was a bacon and egg roll with two fried eggs, and two rashers of Pialligo Estate bacon in a Turkish roll. Filling and satisfying.
Breakfast is available all day, but there is also a small lunch menu on offer with items such as a cheeseburger, salad and chicken BLT. There is table service but I found this to be a little slow due to the never ending queue and wait for coffee orders. There are tables comfortable enough for two or three people inside and one large communal table as well as a few tables out by the footpath.
The Coffee Lab is always busy in the mornings with so many office workers dropping in for their morning coffee fix. It’s worth giving the food a try.
Foodgasm 7.5/10
Value for money 7.5/10
Service 7/10
FPJ score 22/30
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