Caph's Bar and Restaurant

Having been to Manuka more often at night than in the morning, I was tempted to find a breakfast to remember for no other reason than being really hungry. As my appetite has always been rather large-ish, my choice of menu items was going to be equally large-ish.
I was initially disappointed looking at the menu as there was nothing jumping out at me suggesting size did matter.

Eggs, bacon and cheese served on Turkish toast eventually struck a cord as I noticed the long list of side orders available. As I sat down at a well shaded table, a polite young waitress was there within the minute and took my order. The mug of latte turned up almost instantaneously and not five minutes later the meal arrived. Happiness has yet another dimension: Time.

The side orders of baked beans, mushrooms and sausages turned the plate into a magnificent 'big breakfast' and again I was suitably impressed.

Now, while I'm not the world's biggest fan of spring onions, I won't hold that against the cook. Besides, I have become an expert in surgically removing the offending vegetable from most items of delight - including the prized pile of mushrooms now in front of me.

The egg, bacon and cheese in the Turkish toast was superb. It even looked healthy! The light Turkish bread makes such a difference. Mind you it was not long on the plate. Two large sausages complete with their own dish of sauce were certainly worth their price and thank goodness they tasted like good old sausages, not some namby-pamby tofu-ridden, skinless, meatless, tasteless homebrand excuse for nutmeat.

Two thirds of my way through to feeling full, the latte ran out and there was a need for more liquid. Part of the test has to be the freshly squeezed orange juice, so without so much as a glance towards the waitress, I had the said juice, sparkling in front of me. Although the sign of a good juice is having trouble fitting the flesh through the straw, I do prefer the wider straw, but I am often known for my inherent ability to eat for speed so this won't affect everyone.

Despite this restaurant cheating and having me arrive on one of the sweetest summer mornings Canberra can offer, the ambience was quiet but surprisingly homely. No loud music, no busy kitchen noises, just the casual and sometimes passionate discussion from the Roman forum perched just inside the restaurant next to the bar. All part of the effect.
I can honestly say this was a surprise package for breakfast as the place certainly holds it's own of an evening. The food is generous, the waitress is both easy on the eye and almost classically trained in her service which is so refreshing. I will be hard pressed to find better but, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

Thank you Caphs.