As trendy as a cafe’s interiors can be, as excellent its menu can read, as efficient as its service is; sometimes it’s the small things that add up to make it memorable.
A homemade cookie served alongside your coffee, a bowl of water brought out for your furry friend, Brother of Mine in Baldivis very kindly has a box of sanitary products available in its women’s bathroom.
Laika Coffee in Lathlain is one of these places that sprinkles small glimmers of kindness for a particularly special experience.
You’re greeted with a friendly hello immediately on arrival, a waiter goes out of their way to help a couple with their baby find the right table, they regularly donate to charity and there is even a basketball court out the back for the littlies (and no doubt plenty of adults too).
After an unsuccessful day of furniture shopping we plonked ourselves down at an outdoor table, a tad tired and in need of a pick-me-up.
The menu is a mix of modern brunch favourites — house-made crumpets, smashed avo with the addition of pea, chilli crab scramble — alongside more hearty lunch-friendly dishes such as a grilled chicken burger and cajun jambalaya. There is also a special poke menu.
We chose the spiced lamb banjo ($26), a dish the bubbly staff member at the till relayed was perfect for the overcast weather. She was spot on, the slow-cooked lamb shoulder boasted the comfort of home cooking while the other elements — creamy tzatziki, cherry tomatoes, feta and crispy dhal to pile onto quarters of pita bread — came together to feel like a warm hug.
I could have ordered anything from Jooey’s Poke menu (you can choose between four proteins, four dressings and three bases) each ingredient combo sounded delicious. My stomach led me to the poached and torched teriyaki Tasmanian salmon ($27) with miso and yuzu dressing on the chilled rice noodle (I’ll be back for the fried crispy chicken and salmon poke).
Much like Laika, the dish was a sum of its parts, with care poured into every element. The salmon was perfectly cooked yet it was the salad underneath packed with crunch, freshness and acidity from pickled ginger that made it excellent.
It was certainly the pick-me-up we needed.
Laika Coffee
11 Lathlain Place, Lathlain
OPEN
Mon-Sun, 6am to 2.30pm
BOOKINGS
Yes
CONTACT
Laikacoffee.com.au
THE VERDICT
A joyous experience from start to end. The team have created a space that feels welcoming and the food is excellent too.
17.5/20