The Brisbane northside cafe worth driving across town for

Serving up healthy breakfast bowls and popcorn chicken rolls, this northside cafe offers tasty fare and sociable service in a beautiful sunny setting.

I live in Brisbane’s north. I’m a proud Northsider. But when it comes to quality cafes, the southside leaves us for dead. To every one good cafe on the northside, there are probably five great ones south of the river.

I’m not sure what’s behind this strange phenomena, but I think I speak on behalf of all the northside foodies, it needs to be addressed and ASAP.

Doing its bit for the northside – though technically just outside of Brisbane – is Good Company in Scarborough.

Good Company cafe in Scarborough. Picture: David Kelly

Set a toast flip back from the waters of Moreton Bay, the relaxed eatery, with its white exterior and flat roof, looks like a beachside bungalow – the type you find on the southern end of the Gold Coast chockers with the cool crowd in their activewear sipping almond milk lattes and scoffing avo on toast.

But there are no such influencers here, just residents from around the neighbourhood supporting their local. And this community vibe is intrinsically linked to the service, with knowledgeable and sociable staff happy to talk customers through the menu, make recommendations and help out wherever they can. Orders are taken at the counter or through QR codes on the tables, with diners able to sit inside in the slightly stark grey, white and yellow industrial-Scandi dining room; outside on metal chairs under a spacious covered awning, or at large timber picnic tables on the grass shielded from the sun by sizeable black umbrellas. The latter is definitely the spot to be, surrounded by palm trees and the cafe’s own herb garden.

The front covered area at Good Company. Picture: David Kelly

The menu is a simple affair of mostly classics, say, granola with Greek or coconut yoghurt, eggs your way, a bacon roll and the ubiquitous corn fritters with the option to add on sides like chorizo, pulled chicken, mushrooms and hash browns.

After spending the week battling a cold, I’m in need of some nutrition, so order the Good Morning Bowl ($24). Tangy house-fermented red cabbage, raw and slightly wilted spinach, mashed avocado, an abundance of soft, fried mushrooms and runny yolked poached eggs provide the health, while delightfully squishy haloumi and generously spiced chorizo from local butcher Gilly’s Smallgoods add a little indulgence to the substantial plate.

The good morning bowl with haloumi, chorizo, eggs, mushrooms, avo, sourdough and ferments. Picture: David Kelly

If you’re in the mood to go all out, however, there’s the popcorn chicken roll ($19).

It features a hot dog-style roll from Brasserie Bread lined with mixed leaves and studded with bite-sized pieces of chicken dusted in a mix of flours and fried until crispy.

Making it pop though is a house-made watermelon and chilli jam that’s more watermelon than chilli, bringing a lively sweetness to the dish. It would also be pretty good to dip the side of fries ($4 extra) into.

For those who like their coffee as smooth as a deep-sleep soundtrack, Good Company delivers, serving milky, bitter-free flat whites using Supreme beans; as well as white and black cold brews.

Good Company’s popcorn chicken roll. Picture: David Kelly

There are also hot and iced chocolates in your choice of dark or milk chocolate, teas, Hrvst St cold-pressed juices, Bobby sodas, Sipper iced teas, and smoothies, including a peanut butter, banana, mango and honey version that’s as thick as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s accent.

Good Company is a cafe any local would be happy to have in their neighbourhood – there just needs to be more of them on the northside.

Good Company Cafe

13 Thurecht Pde, Scarborough

goodcompany.cafe

Verdict

Food 4

Service 4.5

Ambience 4

Value 4

Overall 4