cafe: Mary Street Bakery / West Leederville / 01sep18
Plenty of parking -- but it's Saturday. I suspect that week-day parking would be... lucky if you can.
First impression: absolutely packed. Twenty people queued to order, just two spare tables. Then we are told that the queue is for takeaway, we sit for table service. Good !
We order a "choc malt doughnut" and coffees. The doughnut arrives, it's... a cold doughnut with sweet icing. I think I can detect "malt" but not "choc". A bit more solid than a fresh cooked doughnut. Not complaining, it's sweet, has enough body to satisfy two. Just what we want.
Coffee takes longer to arrive, with apologies for the delay. Luke warm coffee... which is as I like it.
Waiting for the coffee, we look around. Looking for evidence that this café is, indeed, "hipster". Okay, it's a repurposed space. Walls of scraped-back brick, floor is well worn concrete. Instant shelving supporting various service items. I don't notice any stylish artwork.
We are, perhaps, the second-oldest people in the café. The only older couple look somewhat bemused. If my life depended on it I would suggest that many customers work in marketing, dressing down to emphasise that they are actually, of the people.
We have enough time to watch the takeaway queue gradually take their orders and go. Many -- strangely -- takeaway only coffee...
Why, we wonder, would someone come to a café to buy just coffee ? Office workers who must be seen back at their desks ? But it's Saturday. Lonely people who want to experience the almost-sociability of a crowded café ? Then why buy and leave ?! We watch: some customers take their coffee and walk, others get in their car and drive. Is coffee so essential ? Why did they not make & drink coffee before they left home ?
Perhaps, we (or I) decide, this is the next stage of eating out. More and more people eat out. Eating out is no longer a special occasion. So why sit still while eating out ? Get the food -- or just coffee -- and take it away to whatever more exciting activity is next on the busy agenda...
We, however, sit, sip, enjoy. Watching other people is one of the great joys of life. Others, I guess, prefer to take their coffee and keep on moving.
Our coffees come with a smile and an apology for the delay. Staff are friendly, their smiles seem natural. There is a pleasant buzz to the café atmosphere. Very enjoyable, for the people-watching as much as for the coffee & cake. And, of course, pleasant for the good company :-)
Score 2 out of 3: We enjoyed it but would not go out of our way to visit again.
Although: There are four "Mary Street Cafes". I prefer one-off cafes, for the expected variety. I would not go out of my way to revisit this café. But it's good enough that I would enjoy testing any of the other three of the same name.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
===
"When it comes to ideas, some people will stop at nothing." … per Ginger Meggs
===
No comments:
Post a Comment