Family cafe sporting heritage and good vibes opens in Kellyville Ridge

In the centre of the cafe sits the table that started it all. Nonna Fiorinda’s pasta table, now handed down to the next generation who hope to share that relaxed family meal atmosphere with their Kellyville Ridge diners.

The Borrowed Table’s Rosemary Frangipani Pancake, inspired by a frangipani tart the sisters tried during their travels. Pictures: Troy Snook

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A new cafe in Kellyville Ridge has hit a winning formula of a modern beach aesthetic with a passion for honouring the past.

The Borrowed Table, owned by sisters Lerissa and Isabella Aspite, opened on Merriville Rd on January 19 and quickly generated excitement among locals for its relaxed coastal vibe and Mediterranean menu.

Sarah looks after front of house at the cafe.

The table referenced in the name sits in the centre of the cafe, a precious heirloom given to the sisters by their nonna Fiorinda.

“Our grandmother got given that table by a neighbour … it’s about 80 plus years old now,” Lerissa said.

It became the centrepiece for the family — a place where the girls learnt to make pasta alongside their nonna and where, laden with share plates, the extended family gathered around for lively meals.

The Aspite sisters aim to bring that same shared meal to their first cafe venture, and naturally it is a family affair.

Lerissa and Sarah take care of the floor while Isabella is the coffee guru and their mum, Gioia, can be found helping out in the kitchen, where head chef Ashley Brennan helps bring the sisters’ food vision to life.

The succinct all-day breakfast menu offers plenty of interesting options from a Mediterranean style breakfast pitta, an Asian style breakfast poke bowl, and rosemary and frangipani pancakes.

The lunch menu is filled with plates designed to share, from roast pumpkin and feta salad with honeycomb to heirloom tomatoes and burrata.

The Borrowed Table’s white and timber details are echoed throughout the cafe.

“It’s all hearty, wholesome food,” Lerissa said.

The coffee is from Alexandria roasters Mecca while cold drinks include a range of house made sodas.

The cafe’s fit out, a beachy mix of white concrete, wicker and timber fittings, was designed by Lerissa and her sister Sarah, both interior designers by trade.

Sisters Lerissa and Isabella opened the cafe in late January.

Many trips to Byron Bay were undertaken for inspiration and to source furniture and decor, with the aim of creating an “oasis”.

“We wanted to create a space where people can enjoy and relax,” Lerissa said.

And of course, Fiorinda gives the cafe her seal of approval, coming to visit on the opening day.

“It was really nice to have her around the table,” Lerissa said.

The details: The Borrowed Table is open at 8 Merrivale Rd, Kellyville Ridge, from 6am-3pm Tuesdays to Fridays, 7am-3pm weekends