The Gold Coast cafe with 32k Instagram followers and a 30-minute wait
It’s attracted a huge social media following, with diners consistently having to queue for a table, so what makes this Gold Coast cafe so popular? We reveal its secret.
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OH MY god, it’s so pretty I don’t want to eat it,” gasps my friend.
The “Pod special acai” bowl ($20) at plant-based cafe The Cardamom Pod in Southport has her utterly enamoured.
With acai now on almost every breakfast menu from Cairns to Coolangatta, this version stands out like the Mona Lisa in a sea of kindergarten drawings.
Channelling Japan’s kawaii style that celebrates all things cutesy, the receptacle comes crowned with dragonfruit and kiwi cut into the shape of flowers, twirls of orange slices, hand-carved berries, slices of banana scattered with pink coconut, sprinklings of granola, a puddle of passionfruit, and a turquoise-hued mermaid tail peeking out of the ocean of acai blended with blueberries, banana and coconut water below.
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It’s a work of art, and with breakfasts like this it’s no wonder the cafe has a whopping 31,800 followers on Instagram.
Thankfully, however, this isn’t a case of style over substance, with the chilled fruit bowl as tasty as it is photogenic.
But it’s not just the acai that has the bustling cafe’s chefs embracing their inner Monet.
Presentation is a clear focus at The Cardamom Pod with everything from Indian street food waffles to gluten-free banana and walnut pancakes styled more carefully than a Vogue cover shoot.
In fact, a simple dish of beetroot gnocchi ($25) takes on Chanel catwalk vibes with stunning sheets of charcoal tuile resembling black lace artfully protruding from the red-tinged, meltingly soft dumplings lacquered with a herbaceous pesto.
A garden of carved roasted beets on the side adds further visual interest, as does a cold cauliflower panna cotta that – although unnecessary to the dish’s overall flavour – is pretty to look at after being set in a flower-shaped mould.
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The only downside to having a picture-perfect breakfast is that the cafe can’t guarantee that you and your dining companion’s plates will arrive at the same time, with acai bowls and hot food coming out of different kitchens and many dishes delivered as they’re ready rather than together. In our case, it’s eight minutes between our first and second dish hitting the table in the bohemian-meets-industrial-look cafe with blue banquette seating, tribal-inspired artwork, timber chevron walls and polished concrete floors.
To make the wait easier is the drinks list which runs from specialty brews like an apple pie latte or gingerbread hot chocolate to their Botanica organic coffee, super smoothies and cold-pressed juices.
A silky, cinnamon-infused chai latte is worth ordering for the beautiful ceramic mug it comes in alone.
The Cardamom Pod at Southport is the visual diner’s dream, proving that if you make vegan food pretty enough you won’t even miss the meat. Just make sure to book, with waits of half an hour on tables common.
The Cardamom Pod
The Brickworks, 3/3 Brolga Ave, Southport
0424 251 008
Open daily 8am-3pm
VERDICT - Scores out of 5
Food 4
Ambience 3
Service 3.5
Value 3.5
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