Beach Break – where the coast meets sweet and savoury treats
FOUND one! After much bemoaning the lack of beachy eateries, where you can wriggle toes in our fine South Australian sand, we spy a West Beach gem.
FOUND one! After much bemoaning the lack of beachy eateries, where you can wriggle toes in our fine South Australian sand, we spy a West Beach gem.
It’s tiny compared to the likes of the rare coastal café, Bombora @ Goolwa, which is one fave heroing local fish on the dunes, but, more please.
On a sunny spring-day drive, we spy umbrellas outside the Henley Sailing Club. On a stretch of lawn between the clubrooms and beach, we see a few cute tables, a toy box for tots, and super casual diners with dogs at their feet.
Beach Break is in its second season (closed July and August). In the kitchen, an enterprising Dutch couple are delivering a very light all-day (Wed-Sun) brekkie/brunch menu, including good coffee, Dutch-style pancakes and cakes. Alas, it isn’t licensed, but we’re content. The sea is a stone’s throw, waves gently lapping, and, walkers and cyclists are the passing parade on a shoreline path that’s part of a project stretching about 70km along our stunning coast.
A free-range egg and bacon roll special is tempting, particularly as the menu promises everything is homemade using local produce, including organic veg, Five Senses coffee, Fleurieu milk, Cleland Gully eggs, Barossa meat and Laucke spelt flour, with some vegan and gluten-free options.
The food is simple and homestyle. Innovation is not a thing, but it wins for kitchen love, charming service, and, location, location, location.
It’s all about nicely put-together eggs, toasties, a “breakfast bliss” bowl, or those sweet or savoury pancakes. Could fish be in its future? Added bacon, avocado, and cheese make my “French Farmers” omelet a little heartier, with notably good bread.
T’other’s panini with salami, pecorino, tomato and basil, isn’t large, but fits well with the high and wide slab of housemade Dutch apple pie to follow. We’d only prefer a dollop of thick fresh cream rather than the aerated squiggle on the side.Another day, we might finish with locally made, natural Sunshine ice blocks, and stroll with dogs lolloping on the beach.