‘Is this Logan’s coolest new cafe?’: Never Been cafe impresses

A massive new cafe with an innovative menu and epic bottomless brunches is drawing the big crowds on the southside.

Is this Logan’s coolest new cafe? Industrial modern fit-out? Tick. Contemporary quirky menu. Tick. Breakfast cocktails. Tick. The new Never Been eatery in Underwood is sure ticking a lot of boxes.

From the crew behind Holland Park’s popular Deedot Coffee House and previously Groundhog Social, Banter Coffee House and Three Brews Bar + Kitchen, this sprawling eatery is their biggest and boldest yet.

Taking the hidden, multi-level void space of a brand new office building along Logan Rd’s commercial strip, it’s quite the surprise package.

As diners round the industrial chic outdoor area lined with potted and hanging plants and slick furniture imported from Italy, they enter into a vast chasm.

Never Been is at 2908 Logan Rd, Underwood. Picture: David Kelly

Like that of a CBD skyscraper lobby, the polished concrete-floored canyon features a bar and counter down one wall where customers order, a long lounge space across the opposite wall with ultra modern geometric furniture that can be curtained off for private functions and, in the centre, the main dining area with cafeteria-like chairs and tables bordered by more plants.

Its colossal size makes it seem like it would be a hard place to fill on weekdays, but on our Sunday brunch visit, the place is bustling.

The demographic is diverse, but what seems to be popular with the groups of girlfriends around us is the bottomless brunch package, where for $49 you can have your choice of meal plus endless mimosas or lagers for an hour. Or pay $69 for two hours.

Turkish eggs at Never Been. Picture: David Kelly

The same deal is also available at lunchtime – lucky for those office workers upstairs on a Friday.

If mimosas or beer aren’t your thing, the cafe also serves an array of other cocktails like margaritas, spritzes and espresso martinis, alongside spiked iced tea and five wines.

Not drinking? No worries. There is cold-pressed juice, plus frappes, hot and sparkling iced tea, special house sodas, fruit and protein smoothies, flavoured lattes, milkshakes, including a caramel number that will transport you back to your childhood, and decently strong coffee using the Gold Coast’s Roast by Yili beans.

Reuben benedict. Picture: David Kelly

Just as long, broad and affordably priced as the drinks list is the all-day food menu.

Here you can play it simple with eggs or avo on toast; go fancy with yuzu and coconut panna cotta or perhaps eton mess french toast, or fall somewhere in between with a lamb kofta burger or a mortadella Italian-style sub.

Never Been blends two classics together for their signature “reuben benedict” ($22) with runny-centred poached eggs sitting on a slab of corned beef blanketed by melted swiss cheese and crowned with sauerkraut and slices of pickle.

With a seeded mustard hollandaise spilling over the top, it’s the best of both dishes and is one seriously tasty love child.

Spag bol croque madame. Picture: David Kelly

They take the hybrid approach to two more favourite dishes: spaghetti bolognese and the croque madame ($21) – stuffing mince-laced pasta into a bechamel and cheese-slathered sandwich and crowning with a fried egg.

What’s missing though is the ham inside the croque madame, and far more bolognese sauce, with it mostly just slightly soft pasta within more carbs. Adjust the ratios and add some ham for seasoning and this too could be a winner.

Never Been is certainly a worthy addition to Logan’s cafe scene and with its friendly, professional service and bottomless brunches, they might soon be changing their name to “always there”.

delicious.com.au/eatout

NEVER BEEN
2908 Logan Rd, Underwood

0484 943 382

neverbeen.au

Open

Mon-Fri 7am-2pm,
Sat-Sun 7.30am-2pm

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