“It’s the kind of cafe that creeps up on you, the way the misunderstood Nice Guy does to the heroine in romantic comedies.”
This was fellow food reviewer Kate Emery’s 2020 playful description of Source Foods in Highgate.
We’ve all met a version of the metaphorical “nice guy” during our years of dining out. They’re the spots that you might overlook at first, but if you give them a chance, they will win you over with their subtle charm and thoughtfulness.
This was certainly the case for the delicious brunch dishes we gobbled down at Source Foods after a bit of a stumbling start, mostly on our part.
After struggling to find a free table, we thought we’d nabbed one, only to have a couple sit at it while we’d turned our backs to look for menus. Touché.
Once we located a solo spare menu and free table, we browsed the nutritious and wholesome menu. There’s a breakfast board with dippy egg, burnt butter wild mushies with polenta and French toast with saffron poached pear.
The sweetcorn and haloumi fritters ($20) arrive hidden by a mound of rocket and kohlrabi, but under the forest of nicely dressed leaves I find a generous portion of the fritters. They’re quite subtle in taste, I would have loved a tad more seasoning or flavour, though saying that when the salsa verde (also concealed under the greens) is smeared on top, it’s a tasty bite.
Its twist on smashed avo ($20) with a punchy napa kimchi plus poached egg, some wakame peanuts and gochujang lime vinaigrette is a winner. A super savoury and filling brekkie with an abundance of different flavours and textures.
A vegan friend is impressed with an option completely dedicated to her diet ($22) with vegan feta, miso roast pumpkin, kale, pickled cabbage, toasted seeds, lemon and confit garlic dressing and flatbread. It’s some of the best crispy cauliflower she’s had — and she’s tried most of them across Perth — and the other ingredients and well-cooked and tasty.
Service was friendly but there were some slight issues with timing and the clearing of tables, however not enough to have a massive impact on the experience.
After the wholesome and pleasant meal, it’s safe to say this nice guy won us over and we’re open to a second date.
4/289 Beaufort St, Perth
OPEN
Mon-Sat 7am-2pm, Sun 7.30am-2pm
BOOKINGS
Yes
CONTACT
sourcefoods.com.au
THE VERDICT
Wholesome and nutritious food served in a buzzy corner cafe. On weekends allow a bit of time for food and coffee and book a table if you can if you don’t want FOMO.
14/20
Register and have your say.
Already have an account?