#Eightysixcafe

1 Reviews on “#Eightysixcafe”

• Atreyu

  TL;DR: Pretty straightforward with what they have. Some coffees and teas, a few bites to pair with the said beverages, and the way the shopfront is designed suits their aim pretty well. Ultimately, it is nothing really that can be rightfully critiqued to in-depth, just having a simple aim – which they more or less have met. A strange little place that situates itself just a bit outside of the Milton area, #Eightysix simultaneously feels like it is in a backstreet area, feels like an oasis of sorts, plus also comes across as centralised, all at the same time. Akin to that alternative musician who really tries aspects of a few styles out, and melds them, it creates a uniqueness that is hard to directly replicate. I can see this utilised well when giving it a second thought, as it really is a place for all kinds of meetings, especially on the fly. It’s simplicity is not going to translate into a substantial bite, mind you. For a quick drink, though, the trick is done. The initial plan one weekend was to hit up the Bulimba area once again, which this time was going for the double banger with two places in mind. But, as all of us would know by now plans can change in an instance, which is exactly what happened this time around. Excited for a bahn mi and the equivocal coffee to go with it, he swore he had found the right place. That plan backfired on him in the end, and that is nothing that will be against this place. Just when your plans are as focused as his were, it is hard not to a bit dispirited. Still, this place is pretty simple as is, and does okay by its mission statement. Whatever part of town it is, or even a road trip a little bit out of it, the idea went as per norm on the Sunday morning. Often I’d be snoozing, so my house mate would sneak in with the air horn to blast me awake and soon we’d be on our merry little way. The location is a bit off to the side, and requires a sharp eye to find. When you come in at the right time, it is hard not to notice which one it is – as the crowd often gives it away. Inside is a compact little kitchen, where they have used their noodles in making an efficient use of the space. Around the side, they share the garden and dining space with the adjacent Japanese restaurant – and the design, when giving consideration, is pretty neat. Having a bit of greenery nearby always makes a fresher atmosphere, enough space is present so children can play, and it is one of the most dog-friendly spots yet. It is kept pretty simple with the service. You go up to the counter, order, and then pay. Afterwards, it is dependent on whether you want it on the run (in which during the business hours, they have several clients at one time opting for that) or want to eat in. Whatever the choice, the grub is there pretty quickly. Most notably what they serve is a plethora of hot beverages. Tea and coffee are the beverages of choice, plus the fridge full of juices, sodas and the ilk. Memory may or may not be serving me correctly, but there are possibly milkshakes, and other kinds of beverages on hand. For something to eat, they are all in the vein of either a sandwich, or something sweet to pair with a coffee. It follows a general menu, which then ticks off most of the basics from any small place that offers coffee. These include toasted sandwiches in various modes, a breakfast version of said toasted sandwich, wraps, and various sorts of sweets. For the health nuts, they have the fruit and yoghurt, and those who actually would like something sweet, a few cakes and such are there. With the coffee, they use beans from Cafe DiManfredi. This is definitely one I recall seeing all over town, at many a cafe. For the ones that most seem to rely on, this is a bit higher up for those particular to their blends, beans, and roasts. Overall, I don’t think I am strongly here or there about it, and getting an extra shot certainly won’t hurt either way. As it would already be obvious by now, what I was initially going to order was the banh mi (plenty of chili if possible). Not today. Looking at the small selection in the hot cabinet, it ended up being a ham and cheese croissant. Take the good news where you can, since they still were able to do the Vietnamese-style coffee.Well, it is better than nothing. Not a whole lot is really there to say about a ham and cheese croissant, since the idea behind it is pretty straightforward. From what I can recall, they put it on the sandwich maker for a couple of minutes – heat it up. From there, the cheese is a bit on the melted side, and the ham releases a slightly different flavour than when it is served right from the fridge. For the actual croissant itself, there was a bit of butter coming from it. Hot, and pretty soft, it did go down easily. For the choice of beans this time around, I am refraining from giving a critique for a couple of reasons. The first one is I generally don’t consider it that much with the Vietnamese coffee, as it is an entity unto its own. Secondly, even if I could deduce the choice of bean and how well it was roasted et al, it still will boil down to comparing like to like. This is not a batch brew, filter, or an espresso, so therefore critiquing, comparing, and contrasting won’t have its full effect. Nevertheless, this was around the hot time of year – and at this point, you can easily say that it was a scorcher. In that weather, any kind of cold drink will do right by you, and few do the trick as effectively as something on ice. This is where the Vietnamese iced coffee comes into play, and all the components that make it such an appealing drink were present. A strong, sharp coffee base was present to perk you up; the sweetness of the condensed milk then followed suit causing a contrast of flavours. With the power of these two components combined, it will have you alert and wanting to face the world before you know it. Whether you choose to have something like this hot or cold, it will work its own charms. The mode on ice gives an additional dimension, which chills it down a lot and somewhat relaxes you while the aforementioned is going on. Again, nothing will be put against this place in comparing what I was looking forward to, and what ended up being the requested bite. They had what they had, and the waitstaff behind the counter were pleasant enough about it all. For what #EightySix brings to the table, it does just fine. Credit is definitely being given where it is due, with the small amount of space for a kitchen and all the appliances, they have effectively set it out well – especially with the shared garden off to the side. In all honesty, with the set up and the idea they got, if there weren’t so many limitations they could well be a lot more. For all that has been said here, it really does suit itself well as the local neighbourhood spot. Simultaneously centralised along with having the aesthetics and atmosphere of a hidey-hole, for the folks who really do just want a spot of a drink, with an optional addition on the side, that perfectly sums #Eightysix. Final rating: 3.5.

  March 25, 2019, 7:08 pm

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