LoKal Cafe, Wolli Creek
Experience the Middle Eastern twist on brunch classics
Located 8/6 Discovery Point Place, Wolli Creek NSW 2205
Discovery Point in Wolli Creek feels like you’re stepping into contemporary paradise — with its towering designer apartments and impressive water features. I recently took a trip to Discovery Point after spotting a green tea croissant available at Discovery Point’s Top Impression Bakery on Instagram. Hastily, I convinced my friend to join me at Wolli Creek to try out this one-of-a-kind pastry.
Before we went to Top Impression Bakery, we stopped at LoKal Café for brunch. The lively café was abuzz with customers and we were extremely lucky to have snagged a spot in the centre without waiting more than 5 minutes. For drinks, I opted for a 3/4 cup cappuccino and my friend ordered a latte. The beans were Campos so the coffee didn’t falter on flavour! If you’ve got a sweet tooth, the folks at LoKal have also got you covered with a Nutella Shake complete with a Nutella-filled doughnut. The offering is similar to the shake that made Erksineville’s Tella Balls brand a global sensation.
My friend was ravenous so she ordered the Big Breakfast (Habib). LoKal Café does their big breakfast a little differently — basing it off the Middle Eastern diet. On the mammoth plate, there featured cucumber, olives, tomato, labnah, spicy sausage and grilled haloumi. Patrons can have their eggs cooked any way: we chose to have them scrambled. The Zaatar manouch was a highlight because it was generously spread with the Zaatar spice blend to give it that incredible flavour and crunch. The incorporation of the fresh tomato and cucumber gave the whole meal a real lightness and this helped balance the more heavier items on the plate.
I grabbed the Shakshouka as I have always been a fan of baked egg. The dish was replete with spicy tomato paste, giving my mouth a tingly sensation when I first took a bite. The sourdough was perfectly toasted, making for an ideal base to load the eggs, capsicum, spinach and beef from the shakshouka itself. The only downside was that the dish itself was a bit too watery so I was left with a lot of juices.
Overall
Forget the tired old eggs benedict and bacon and egg roll from the local café. Lokal Café does things differently (and it’s not just in the variation of the nomenclature). The Middle Eastern twist to classic brunch options makes for a wonderful and unique meal to start the day. Not only does the café deliver on taste, but the waitresses are friendly as well. They were attentive even when every corner of the joint was filled with patrons. I’d love to come back again — perhaps next time to try their lunch specialties. The lamb kafta sounds pretty tempting!
Verdict: Yummy in my Tummy
Service: 5/5
Cost: $18 per person
