Delicious Southerly
Newcastle Herald
Saturday September 6, 2008
The first thing you notice about Rolador down the north end of Beaumont Street near the Hamilton railway station is the decor. Or rather, the lack of decor.
This isn't a sleek, overdone cafe with polished surfaces and stark walls and service to match. Instead it is stripped back, wooden table tops, a wall full of community and band posters and news. The music is uplifting and the buzz from the diners is happy.With mismatched sugar bowls, the occasional 1970s cat statue and stacks of earthenware mugs, it is different to anything else offered in town. And that's because it is a bit of Melbourne brought back by born-and-bred Novocastrian Fiona Smart. She's spent the past five years down south, running two cafes before deciding to head home. Melbourne's loss, our gain.Her quirky style is all over the menu, too. For starters it is all about fresh, wholesome food, with plenty of vegetarian from the sweet potato and lentil curry with yoghurt, ginger chutney and tortilla crisps, $9.50, to the lentil burgers, $9.50.But the main attraction of this cafe is the coffee and the all-day breakfast. The coffee is DiBella and it is obvious that the Smarts are passionate about the brew. You can order and take away through the roller door on the side of the cafe facing into the railway station's car park. The coffee is smooth and she loves nothing better than to suggest that drinkers try it Rola style, which is a double-shot restrictive. It delivers a coffee that is strong but not bitter a perfect heart-starter full of flavour. When it comes to breakfast the menu ranges from basic toast, $4.50, which is also available gluten-free, through to a fruit and nut loaf, $4.50, baked croissants, from $4.50, a pumpkin, spinach and polenta loaf with avocado and fresh tomato salsa, $6.50, as well as a range of fresh muesli, porridge and bruschettas from $7.For a huge appetite you have to try the biggest breakfast, the burrito, $12.50, with scrambled free-range eggs, bacon and rocket all wrapped up in a tortilla and topped with avocado and fresh tomato salsa. It is huge, tasty and best of all, available all day.QUICK BITE What: Rolador, 1 Beaumont Street, Islington. Prices: from $4.50 to $12.50. Chefs: Owners Fiona and Phil Smart.Wines: BYO.Food and drink match: Try the vegan beans on toasted sourdough multigrain with a Genmaicha, a green tea with nutty puffed rice.Coffee: DiBella.Open: Monday to Friday from 6am to 5pm, Saturday 7am to 4pm. Closed Sundays during winter. Bookings: No need, just rock up and if it is full, just order through the side roller door.VERDICT A great cafe with a community vibe. The emphasis is on fresh, healthy food with plenty of flavour. Try it it just may be your style.
© 2008 Newcastle Herald
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