Café Sopra, Waterloo – Rating: 19/25

Café Sopra

Housed above the Fratelli Fresh in Danks Street, café Sopra is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. We manage to find the stairwell, dodge the rows of pasta and then the café appears before us. Light floods into the room from the large windows facing the street and there are plenty of seating options. After being seated by the wait staff, it almost feels strange not sitting crammed up against diners next to us. Our orders are taken swiftly and the wait staff seem so calm and in control. Before we know it we’re sipping our drinks and salivating over the thought of our orders.

: Skim Cappuccino

The skim cappuccino ($3.50) arrives and it’s like drinking clouds. They seem creamier than normal and the coffee blend is superb. They don’t come served with chocolate on top however we don’t need the sweetness to balance the coffee.

Arancini & taleggio & mixed herbs

Next came the arancini & taleggio & mixed herbs ($18) which are fried balls of risotto rice. They are crunchy on the outside and soft in the centre. The shaved cheese, lemon and mayonnaise finish the dish perfectly and we are left wanting more. The price seems a bit high for breakfast and a small green salad on the side would’ve been a nice addition.

: Assorted toast

The mixed toast with Tom’s jam ($6) comes with a generous serving of apricot jam and a knob of butter. It was thick, delicious and very filling. We didn’t need a chainsaw to cut it which was a welcome change.

Baked rhubarb with natural yoghurt

The baked rhubarb with natural yoghurt ($9.50) looked amazing but was quite tart and not as enjoyable as we expected. We don’t recommend ordering it as a stand alone dish as there is so much of it. We would’ve welcomed advice on what to order it with.

Overall it was a very satisfying meal and the menu is one that departs from the standard breakfast dishes. We spied a delicious looking frittata on the table next to us and we’ll be trying one next time. Looking around there was a diverse range of diners. Of note was a table of young boys who couldn’t help but giggle at the topless figurines of the statues by the wall.

This is a good café to go to when you’ve got a lazy Sunday on your hands. It takes awhile to find parking in the neighbourhood and if you’re shopping at Fratelli Fresh you’ll wait again at the one register they have servicing the store. However they have some amazing produce and it’s worth taking the time to look around. The area around Danks Street has some interesting design and home furnishing stores. We recommend taking a stroll to have a look and then picking up some Sonoma bread before you head home. Yet another delightful weekend excursion.

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