New Mount Gambier burger joint, Burger and Baker, celebrates successful opening month

A new burger and bakery that opened about a month ago has locals raving about the food and the service – and offers a delicious twist.

A new foodery has opened it doors in Mount Gambier, with Burger and Baker taking up residence at the former Bloom Eatery and Espresso Bar site.

Owner Tia Loulas said the new burger joint has had a busy opening month at 7 Commercial St West, with locals lining up over the past few weeks to try their range of chicken, beef and vegetarian craft burgers.

Burger and Baker has opened in Mount Gambier. Picture: Supplied

Tia Loulas also runs Kahma Coffee and Donuts. Picture: Supplied

But it doesn’t offer just burgers – as the name suggests, the eatery, which is open for both lunch and dinner, also sells a range of bakery staples including toasties, pies, pasties and barista-made coffee.

Ms Loulas is also the owner of Kahma Coffee, a small, hole-in-the-wall coffee and doughnut shop across the road at 2/16 Commercial Street West, which first opened last year.

Tia Loulas introduces Kahma Coffee to Mount Gambier. Picture: Arj Ganesan

In March 2024, it was announced her and her partner Aaron had brought Bloom Eatery and Espresso Bar from Mount Gambier power duo Jessie Pratt and Cody Jackson, with exciting plans for central cafe site – which eventuated into Burger and Baker.

Bloom Eatery and Espresso Bar in Mount Gambier has been sold to the owners of Kahma Coffee and Donuts. PICTURE: Supplied

‘After being on Commercial Street in the same area for over a year with Kahma, when this opportunity came up, we thought ‘what a great spot for lunch and evening trade’,” Ms Loulas said.

“(It’s) like a little food court at this end of the street,” she said referring to the shops neighbouring Burger and Baker, which include Zambreros, Ba-Mi – a Vietnamese restaurant – and Wild Ginger Thai, “so we decided to be diverse and make craft burgers”.

Some of the offerings at Burger and Baker. Picture: Supplied

Some of the offerings at Burger and Baker. Picture: Supplied

So far the business has been met with warm reception from locals, with Mount Gambier residents sharing on social media that the food is “really good”, “bloody beautiful”, and “well worth trying”.

One self-proclaimed “burger-pheen” shared online that they thought the food was “absolutely amazing”.

“I had the peri peri chicken burger with chippies and it was an 11/10!” they said.

“The service was the absolute best, they have done such an incredible job with the space!”