Cafe On Johnston

Super friendly service even to people with kids & dogs. Food is great, some dishes have Lebanese/​Turkish influence which is refreshing. It has relaxed outdoor setting for quiet weekend brunch.

Hey people you have to make some time to go to this great café, delicious food, great coffee and the friendliest service you will ever get anywhere. The Menu is huge and after 2 visits there was not one thing that we all have had that was not delicious. Home made savouries and sweets all at an affordable price. Simply our new favourite place. Ps if you like Lebanese food I have not had better. God bless Owner SAMs mum. .X

I love the setting here at this café, both inside and out. It’s very cozy and feels homely.
The service is friendly with their smiley and helpful staff.
The menu has excellent choices. I love it when a café offers breakfast all day. I have never had an Eggs Benedict that was more delicious than the one I got from here. I was very impressed.

I have always had a hard time asking for free stuff, hence why the free coffee voucher from Café On Johnston’s recent windscreen wiper blitz still sits on my desk. As obviously indicated, this café sits on Johnston street and thus gets a slight edge from the Booth St staples for «I have just woken up and I feel like death, please take my coins and do not look me in the eye» coffee place. What a prestigious award, I know.
Whilst in this world of internal fog, I came to realise that this café is a modern option with a very bright design on the interior. The sandwich options in the front cabinet looked extremely appetising, particularly as one guy wrapped the bread in Glad-​Wrap with ninja-​like precision. I was impressed, although I can barely manage to get it off the roll, so it doesn’t take much to wow me.
Still, not having to cross a set of lights and being welcomed into a warm and bright room is exactly the thing you need some mornings, making this a perfect option for when you’re not ready to face the day.

Before I get to the gastro bit, I just have to say what a nice building this is. Facing the church, this must have once been one of the finer houses in Annandale. It is tall and red bricked with bright yellow arches to welcome the customer in. There is also outside seating round the side with charming mismatched furniture and a kind of backyard feel. The other customers in here seemed to be predominantly mother/​daughter combinations and one terribly awkward date, so this clearly draws people in for the charm factor.
The main room is painted in a similar jolly yellow and has the counter at the far end. Although there were menus on the tables I skipped straight to the counter as I was in the mood for a quick lunch. There was the offer of a few uninspiring wraps on the blackboard but the friendly guy behind the counter recommended some yummy lunchtime specials, mushroom risotto is a capsicum or vegetable lasagna, both would come accompanied with the multi-​coloured and imaginative salads exhibited. I plumped for the veggie lasagna and a rocket side salad which came to $ 12.50.
Sitting outside in the sun I was blissfully unaware about how long it was taking to warm up the lasagna, until I realised my lunch break was nearly over. When it did come, the lasagne was slightly over-​dominated by the tomato purée and could have done with a more diverse range of flavours, but the salad redeemed the dish. Cous cous, rocket, pomegranite and pear all made an unlikely but beautiful combination which sweetened the blander lasagna.
Slightly overpriced? Perhaps, but the setting is very special.