Perched on some age old real estate just next to the Stones Corner round-about, Lady Marmalade cafe is a funky mishmash of retro and kitsch decor with obscure little trinkets and 1950’s dust collectors lining the walls and shelves. It’s got that old school feel that takes you back to school holidays at your Gran’s place, or hanging out at the corner store milk bar, and you can’t help but smile when you think of how that was all very passe back then, but now it’s nothing but cool.
MM and I had the pleasure of each other’s company for a breakfast date which was novel in itself, regardless of the venue. It was a cool morning and to my delight, Lady Marmalade has beautiful crocheted blankets for each of the patrons dining outside. The breakfast bar is by far the best seat in the house, overlooking the walkways of Stones Corner; we settled for a small table on the sidewalk which was pleasant, but very cool in the shade of the early morning.
MM was a little thrown by the menu. In line with the kitsch meets retro meets quirky decor (yes, that’s a toy budgie on our table in the below pic), the menu doesn’t exactly boast your standard brekky fare of bacon and eggs. It’s an all day menu, with your staples of toast and spreads, however the more satiable items consist of combinations I’d be too scared to put together, but Lady Marmalade obviously knows what she’s doing (the owners are Mal & Bec of My Kitchen Rules fame after all…).
MM played it safe with a flat white and the organic spelt toast with butter and vegemite ($5).
I pondered the menu while sipping my creamy cappuccino and was intrigued by the haloumi, roast pumpkin, chilli and mint pesto, tomato and spinach on sourdough ($10.50). I wasn’t quite sure how all this would go together on my uncultured palate; I’m not too adventurous when it comes to breakfast afterall…
The generous stack of fresh, homemade goodness was deliciously flavoursome, not rich at all and surprisingly filling. The warm gooey haloumi on top certainly made the dish, and the mint and chilli flavours in the pesto are well worth a mention.
For people on the go with no time to sit and check out the all day menu or the cool quirks Lady Marmalade has to offer, there’s a cabinet jam packed full of fresh sandwiches, toasties, soups and more for lunch and brekky to take away. They also do a great coffees and the service is prompt and super friendly.
- Lady Marmalade – Cnr Logan Rd & Cleveland St, Stones Corner +61 7 3324 2480
