By Amanda – On The Chopping Board
Looking for somewhere to enjoy a casual mid-week birthday lunch with the ladies of the family, I (Amanda) decide to give Light Bulb Cafe a go. Located just outside of the CBD on King William Road it was central, convenient and easy to find a nearby car park. Better still, they take bookings!
The front of the cafe houses half a dozen small tables and behind this, a counter with a lovely window display of cakes. Beside this is a L-shaped lounge with coffee tables which is a great waiting area for your takeaway coffee or to enjoy a little afternoon tea and cake. Along the side of the cafe is a narrow outdoor undercover area with more seating perfect for a sunny day.
The menu has a large breakfast focus with a small selection of lunch type dishes. I ordered the omelette with truffled mushroom duxelle, chives, goats feta and toasted ciabatta. When taking my order, the waiter informed me that the dish was quite rich and distinct tasting, allowing me the opportunity to change my mind but I continued with this decision as I’m a huge fan of truffles and mushrooms. The dish arrived and it is simply plated compared to the other dishes my family order. Simply plated but not at all simple in flavour. The omelette is perfectly rolled with a juicy filling of truffled mushrooms, fresh chives and creamy goats feta. The egg is cooked well and the toasted ciabatta balances out the rich creamy flavours of the truffle and goats feta. Overall a warming and satisfying dish that I would order again.
Three of my other dining companions all ordered the warm root vegetable salad with char grilled chicken breast topped with seeds and grains. One of the three salads arrived looking noticeably smaller in size than the other two. When we pointed this out to the waitress she immediately asked if we would like it to be returned to the kitchen so more salad could be added. Not long after, the salad returned with a plentiful supply of chicken and vegetables. The quick, non-fussed approach to this feedback reflects the type of wonderful customer service Light Bulb Cafe exhibits. All three guests thoroughly enjoyed this salad and talked about how delicious it was for days after.
The fifth diner ordered the savoury soft polenta with mascarpone and charred corn, roasted cherry tomatoes, aged balsamic and dried prosciutto. This was her first time trying polenta and lets just say not a thing was left behind in this bowl! The presentation of this dish was definitely photo worthy with the gorgeous placement of the cherry tomatoes and dried prosciutto and the pretty and colourful edible flowers.
For dessert I selected the strawberry and honey mini cheesecake. Little did I know one of my family members alerted the cafe that it was my birthday, so when the cake was placed in front of me, it was plated with a chocolate piping of ‘Happy Birthday’ on the plate! Another lovely touch Light Bulb Cafe did to go out of their way to please their customers. The cheesecake was an absolute delight! So light and creamy with a lovely little crunch from the biscuit base and a large sweet strawberry on top. We are informed all the cakes are made on site by Light Bulb Cafe which I just love. I also have a small bite of the lemon curd tart and it was just as delicious! So lovely and tart with a perfect melt in your mouth pastry base.
Overall, I think Light Bulb Cafe is a cute addition to King William street utilising local produce and serving simple good food with a modern twist.
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly :: A couple of vegetarian options.
Child Friendly :: Yes but the cafe is small so maybe leave the pram at home.
Ambiance :: 2.5/5 We visited on a quiet weekday and it was quite cold inside due to the front door being open all day, so I lost that warm and cosy feel on a cold autumn day.
Service :: 4/5 Quick and friendly.
Food :: 8/10 Great food and lovely homemade cakes.
In total OTCB gives Light Bulb Cafe 14.5/20 chops on The Chopping Board.
Amanda xx
