New cafe packed on first day

Enthusiastic customers started flowing through the door as soon as they openend

Owner, Toby Robinson mans the till on opening day at The Farmhouse Cafe. Picture: DEIRDRE SMITH

The newest eatery in town, The Farmhouse Cafe, was flat out after its first day open at 11am.

Owner, Tammy Robinson said people had "been waiting all week” and started flowing in as soon as the doors opened.

The cafe is in Maryland Street, Stanthorpe, just metres away from Cafe 77 that Tammy also runs with her husband, Toby.

Even with five minutes to go before 12 noon, the stylish, new grey and neutral space was full of people ordering cake and toasted sandwiches and considering ice-cream choices.

As one would expect in a venue that styles itself as a "Melbourne-style' cafe, the espresso machine was purring away too.

Tammy said the cafe already had more than 100 advance bookings for the next month.

Opening day at Farmhouse Cafe

VIEW GALLERY

The pair have already found success with their Cafe 77 venue, which specialises in hamburgers.

"It has never run out of the honeymoon period,” she said.

"The customers told us what to cook. It wasn't the direction it was going to take but it turned into hamburgers.”

Tammy, who is a chef, met Toby when they worked together at fine-dining restaurant, Gabby's in Toowoomba.

They called their now 13-year-old daughter Gabby.

Tammy sees The Farmhouse Cafe as more her baby, while Toby will run Cafe 77.

"I've been a chef for 25 years,” she said.

"I wanted to showcase local produce.”

Notable features include Giancarlo coffee from Melbourne, Stanthorpe apple ice-cream made in-house and a licence that offer Granite Belt wines.

The venue has been attracting attention for two months, as the pair have worked long into the night renovating and designing the space.

"Toby did everything except the gyprock and the electricals,” Tammy said.

"He tiled the floor but he's a carpenter by trade.

"I saved a lot of money by using him.”