Googs Cafe: French-style Toowoomba eatery near Empire Theatre opened by married couple

Featuring authentic French-style crepes and omelettes, a new cafe is opening just metres from a Toowoomba landmark. And the couple behind say it’s a dream more than 40 years in the making.

Michelle Birchley has dreamt of opening her own eatery called Googs Cafe for more than 40 years — it was a vision her wife Clare wanted to turn into a reality.

The happy couple will officially launch the French-style cafe on Neil Street on Saturday, having enjoyed a large turnout for their soft launch across Thursday and Friday.

Built out of a former gym less than 30m from the famous Empire Theatre, Googs and its owners hope to crack Toowoomba’s competitive cafe market by offering a different style of food and atmosphere.

Michelle and Clare Birchley of Googs Cafe in Neil St. Friday, August 5, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

English-born Michelle, who has loved cooking since she was a child, came up with the name at 15 and was later trained in French cuisine by a former head chef of world-famous Parisian restaurant Maxim’s.

A special wall clock from the legendary venue hangs above the entrance to the kitchen — a gift from her mentor that she promised to erect in her own establishment.

“He gave me that and I said one day I would hang that clock in my own place and when it was put up a few weeks ago I got really teary because it means a lot,” Michelle said.

Googs Cafe in Neil St. Friday, August 5, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Clare said Thursday’s soft launch, where the staff smashed out more than 60 meals, gave her confidence the couple was ready to hit the ground running.

“We get a lot of great feedback because with French-style crepes and omelettes, there isn’t (a venue) in Toowoomba,” she said.

“These are dedicated omelettes and crepes, and tastes from all over the world.

“She was trained by a French chef years and years ago, she was in her 20s when she started and she’s worked in high-end hotels in Adelaide.

“Everything is made from scratch, if you ordered a crepe right now, the batter is made then and there, it’s not sitting in a fridge overnight.

“The flavours on them are from all over the world but it’s based on the traditional French style.”

Clare Birchley of Googs Cafe in Neil St. Friday, August 5, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The launch caps a whirlwind month for the couple, who got married recently a year after they met.

“We met last year and she was telling me about (her dream) and I’d had enough of where I was (working), so I said let’s do it,” Clare said.

“She was in Alice Springs and I was here — we talked for three or four months on the phone and (after she moved here) we got in the car, and drove around town until we found a place.

“We got married here, we moved house, got through (a bout of) Covid-19 and then opened a restaurant.”

The cafe will employ eight residents, including two apprentice chefs.

For more information about Googs Cafe, head to the Facebook page.