Moose and Gibson

M&G is a cute spot in Woolloongabba off the main Stanley St strip of restaurants and shops with a lovely spacious but welcoming feel. I had the opportunity to sample their new breakfast menu recently and then went back for a re-​visit on my own. While it was all nice, there was nothing outstanding about it and I had questionable service during my re-​visit.
After re-​vamping what used to be an interesting menu, I’m a little disappointed to see that it’s lost some of that uniqueness. That’s not to say that it’s all just Smashed Avo and eggs on toast (although they have that still!) but it’s not quite still there. During my menu sampling, I tried the Breakfast Burrito which includes chipotle baked beans, crispy smoked speck, rocket, scrambled eggs and avocado on a gluten-​free wrap ($ 15.9) — note that I said ‘on a’ instead of ‘wrapped up in’ as that’s how it’s plated making eating it difficult unless you just go hands-​in and wrap it up yourself. The ingredients however are nice and I love that it’s a gluten-​free option (although the wrap is a tad dry) but it didn’t blow my mind. M&G are known for their Baked Potted Eggs which are eggs baked in a rich herb tomato sauce with large chunks of locally made chorizo with olive tapenade and baby spinach, served with toasted Turkish bread and blood plum balsamic ($ 18.9). The general consensus of the table was that they were delicious but salty and you would have to be a big chorizo fan to get through the generous amount, plus a few extra pieces of the toast wouldn’t have gone astray as there was plenty of that delicious sauce to mop up. But that’s all personal preference and I know that they’re hugely popular!
On my return visit, I showed up on a weekday morning to a relatively full café and hovered for a few minutes around the ‘Please Wait to be Seated’ sign but after no one appearing or acknowledging me, I sat down at one of the front benches. After waiting some time and no one appearing, I asked the barista if it was table or counter service… he replied table and sent a waitress over to me. After sweetly asking if I’d like some coffee, I asked for a menu and water which she did bring. After perusing the menu for some time and no waitress, I chose to order at the counter instead as I was in a bit of a hurry. The waiter at the register was very friendly and it transpired that it was the waitress’ first day.
I had the Avocado on Sourdough with persian fetta and lemon oil ($ 9.9) plus a side of mushrooms (+$ 4) and on gluten-​free bread (+$ 2). I also ordered a long black with a side of milk. The food didn’t take long and was nicely presented on the plate with the gluten-​free option being English muffins, which was a nice change from the usual small thin sandwich slices! I was disappointed to see only four small Swiss Brown mushrooms on the plate and the amount avocado slices looked a little minimal but honestly once I spread them on the muffins there was clearly plenty of it and the feta. The mushrooms were sauteed nicely but I still think not the best value given that all of the other sides like haloumi and bacon are the same price, although they may be small serves too. My long black arrived a little later and was an excellent brew on Seven Seeds beans.
Overall I was satisfied with my meal but underwhelmed, meaning I’m probably not going to rush back here when there are so many other great options around. Not to say that the food here is bad — it’s not — and they are very open to feedback which I really appreciate but there are a few things stopping it from excelling for me and also I just look for a different type of breakfast usually.
There is street parking available around and it’s quite easy to ride to, if cycling is your thing. I’d recommend not sitting out the front in the morning at this time of year as it can get very sunny!

Visited this café this morning after a walk in the rain. Location is a bit out of the way, but not too far away.
Street and bench seating. Tables of various sizes inside. Concrete and steel/​metal décor. Tables spread out, rather than packed. Toilet facilities. This café is more suited for adults, rather than families with young kids. I noticed that that a couple had a pair of small dogs at the front. So this place is somewhat pet friendly.
I had long black and an ham omelette.
The long black was excellent. Complex sweet and sour flavours. Definitely a top quartile coffee, and amongst the best coffees I’ve had this month. On it own, this coffee is a good enough reason to revisit this café.
I’m don’t often eat omelettes, but my dish was excellent. I will need to eat omelettes more often, I think.
Prices matching the quality, rather than being a budget experience.
Overall, my visit was definitely worth the walk in the rain. I can recommend this place and feel that giving this café less than 5 stars would be an injustice.

I’ve got to be honest here, it took three visits for me to finally understand what the Moose and Gibson hype was about. Previously I had found the joint to be fairly mediocre. Having ordered first the eggs on toast and second the avo special. I can’t honestly say I walked away feeling the moose was any more special than my kitchen at home!
However! Yesterday I visited the place again and it felt like a whole new establishment, the vibe was vastly improved, the staff seemed happier, the service was better, the coffee was the best thing since 1989 and the food came out in record timing and was absolutely delicious! We both ordered the breakfast burger special — bacon, egg, haloumi, avocado, hash brown and a tomato relish absolutely hit the spot! If this is what the moose and Gibson vibe is really about that I’m glad it’s three times a charm!

Food’s always great. love this place. just had a pulled pork with red quinoa on mustard dressing and it was delicious. lunch menu starts at 11:30.

Great looking café in a totally unassuming location. Nice green wall, wooden backdrop over the kitchen, different styles of seating.
We had some great dishes in our group. I chose the quinoa muesli based on a photo I had seen on Unilocal recently. This must have been at a different café, because my muesli didn’t look anything like the one I had seen. No problem though, as it was very delicious and fresh; I bet this is a big hit during summer time.
The big breakfast had a tasty croquette that was both interesting (with pieces of black pudding) and light, some great onion relish, excellent poached eggs, and nice bread. The sauteed wild mushrooms on brioche were also delicious. I can see some people complaining about portion size here (not a big deal for us as we ordered sides of chorizo), but based on the taste/​flavor alone it was a very worthy dish. The pan baked egg with chorizo (with a side of haloumi) is, for starters, a beautiful brekkie. The egg was a bit too hard for my liking, but it looked fantastic and got a thumbs up review on the taste.
I do agree that it was a bit of a wait; first to get a table, and then to receive our food. But you know what, it is weekend! Good places are going to full. I thought the service was attentive (even though we sat at the furthest table outside). If you can’t stand the wait, you’ve got to bring better conversation material!

I’m about to go to town on this — keep reading if you want to know the details.
The wait was excruciating, waited a good 15mins before the wait staff even acknowledged we wanted to order.
Coffee was good. The ‘lychee mint coconut’ frappé was not. Tasted like ice and mint leaves.
I ordered the coconut pancakes. My mate order the chorizo something. Anyway, the photo attached is my pancakes with a gocard for reference — tiny. The ‘coconut’ pancakes were also very flour-​ly. «Wow omg caramelized banana and some ### nuts. Much original!» Is what I would say if I were surprised. However as you could tell so far, I was far from it. The chorizo something also looked and tasted pretty ordinary, considering were waited 30 mins for these meals.
The back of house felt way to small for the front of house requirements. The chefs are probably brilliantly capable however I feel they were just pumping out food to keep the masses happy.
My bill came to $ 27 for one coffee, pancakes and a frappé — with a dash of waiting and being ignored.
tldr — coffee is good, kitchen too small, staff too busy and food is over priced and boring (cooked well but the recipes need some larger inspiration)
And this is why this place gets stars. Milton™

Beautifully set up little café with a lot of potential, but service is a little slow and meals are always just a little bit disappointing. The staff are lovely and the coffee is fantastic though!

I was invited to experience Moose and Gibson’s new silent movie and tapas Thursdays. What an incredible evening with fellow foodies and awesome food bloggers.
Being the first to arrive, I was greeted by the staff and they sat me down at the table. Both the staff and I weren’t sure when everyone was arriving so I perused through the tapas menu. I saw a few items that stood out for me such as the slow cooked beef rib and blue cheese salad with lemon and couldn’t wait to try them.
The drinks menu was a good mix of beer, cider, and wine. I tried the bubbles and was very pleased. I had just ordered the trip dips when the rest of the party joined!
The tapas menu was created by head chef Luke Tye. He was busy in the kitchen the entire evening serving us up everything on the menu! I didn’t realize that we would be trying every item on the tapas menu. Even the owner, Malcolm came by and asked us for feedback on the dishes and how they could improve for the future. He was so kind and personable.
So… here’s what we ate (in no particular order):
Mixed Olives– I didn’t love them but it’s only because I don’t eat olives. Everyone else was raving about how awesome they are so I would suggest you order them if you’re into olives.
Trio dip platter– My favorite dip was the balsamic one! It was just a burst of awesomeness in your mouth. The other dips were olive, pumpkin with mint, and carrot. I felt that the pumpkin with mint needed a bigger punch but liked the interesting combination.
Oysters– Must order! They had the option of natural or ones with pomegranate tea jelly. The Sydney rock oysters were so fresh and tasty. I squirted mine was lemon and slurped them right down. I tried the pomegranate ones and I’m glad I tried it but definitely prefer them natural with lemon. Another fellow foodie was a huge fan like me so we were both in oyster heaven for a bit!

House Cured Salmon– This was unique because they cure their salmon by putting whiskey in it! The Southern gal in me was so pumped to try this dish! It was served with dill cucumber which was a perfect combination.
Chorizo– They were good seasoned with paprika and a touch of balsamic. I would have preferred for them to be a bit spicier. It didn’t have the kick I like with my chorizo. This was a nice portion to share or for just yourself.
Slow cooked Beef Short Ribs– Super tender and quite tasty! This was the dish I really wanted to try and it did not disappoint.
Popcorn Chicken– This was the most interesting dish of the evening. There was real popcorn covering the chicken instead of batter! The concept is very unique but it wouldn’t be on my must order again list. I think I would have liked for the popcorn to be seasoned with an unusual seasoning to give additional dimension.
Cashew Nuts– I liked the dried peppers mixed in but they weren’t my favorite dish.
Wild rice pork belly and cabbage rolls– They were probably my least favorites of the evening even though I love cabbage rolls and it had lime marinade! The rolls would have been a lot nicer had they been served hot/​warm. Once the cabbage cools, it hardens and isn’t as tasty. Flavor is lost as it cools as well.
I could go on and on and on. I definitely think going to visit M&G on a Thursday evening will allow you to have a great evening with tapas, drinks, and a silent film. What a fun concept! This would be a super fun date, friends gathering, or just hanging. They have a little bit of outdoor seating. The location is very close to two bus stops in Woollongabba. There’s no excuse to not drop by! I hope that you’ll have a great experience like I did.

Brisbane! You just keep surprising me don’t you?
Whilst being the area at the ‘Gabba for a charity fitness event for the MND & Me Foundation, my workmates and I were hungry for tasty and filling feed post workout which would sit and cater for a large group.
At first glance when we arrived at Moose and Gibson, we felt out of place a little bit underdressed as we were kitted out in our swanky (albeit sweaty) matching corporate workout garb in comparison to the hipster and stylish vibe that the Café presents. However, within minutes we were made to feel welcome by the staff and an appropriate sized area was cleared for us whilst we were left to peruse the ample and delightful breakfast menu and a drinks order was taken.
The coffees are made well and if you dare to order a mug — you’ll be in store for massive serve. I after much debate over the menu items decided to go for the Baked Potted Eggs, let me tell you I was not disappointed.
The eggs were cooked to perfection with a great combination of chorizo (my fave!), tomato, spinach and herbs to season with a delicious side of brioche bread that could be topped off with a truffle (omg, yes) butter! Presentation of the dish was also top notch (see my ‘Jamie/​Donna-​esque’ pic).
From a group perspective, all of the dishes were well enjoyed and all came out within timely — which was a godsend for the hungry troops esp the Mad Moose Dish if your belly is especially rumbling post wake up.
Overall would definitely recommend this restaurant onto friends and colleagues for Breakfast — great vibe and tasty treasures in an unassuming location.

I’m no fan of oysters but was bold enough to taste one of the Oysters garnished with a Pomegranate Tea Jelly ($ 2.50 ea). Pretty to look at with a creamy oyster and slightly tart dressing, one was enough for me but others enjoyed them so much that a second plate was delivered. House Cured Salmon ($ 10) was served gravlax style, cured with whisky with traditional accompaniments of black bread and dill cucumber.
Larger shared plates included the cut of the moment — slow cooked Beef Short Rib ($ 10), served on this occasion off the bone but meltingly tender and probably the dish of the day for me. Popcorn Chicken was served with a twist. Rather than small pieces of chicken crumbed and fried to replicate popcorn, it was actually goujons of chicken crumbed in dehydrated popcorn before cooking. Tasty but I really couldn’t discern a popcorn or corn flavour on the coating. It’s hard to complain at only $ 9 a serve and they were fresh as can be.
All of the food was simple, well cooked and not over styled to within an inch of its life. It’s early days for the menu and they are hoping to expand it though I am a fan of the short menu where you could, if you so desired, order every dish on the menu to share amongst a group. Our waitress for the evening was a delight. Knowledgeable and friendly without overstepping the mark, she was a real asset to the team and helped the evening to run seamlessly.

Despite living nearby, only managed to finally check out Moose & Gibson this week. We went in for breakfast. Despite looking quite busy as we approached, we got a table straight away. Staff were attentive and kept us informed of wait on coffee. To be honest, I’ve waited longer for coffee at other places without staff bothering to mention it, so kudos to Moose & Gibson team there.
I only ordered the scrambled eggs with a side of bacon. When it first arrived, I thought the portion of egg looked a little stingy, but I ended up quite full. The truffle butter was delicious, I had to resist the urge to lick the dish clean, so resorted to scraping every last drop out.
My co diner had the equivalent of a big breakfast, can’t recall the exact dish name. They were really happy with all the flavours and amount of food.
I did eyeball the baked eggs and the pancakes heading out to other diners, which looked really good. I think I’ll definitely come back to try the rest of the menu.

It’s always a shame when a place that holds so much promise falls short of expectation. In a precinct known for delicious food, breakfast at Moose & Gibson was just not all that I’d hoped for. I had the Quark Eggs ($ 16.50) and although I know, when deconstructed, it’s just poached eggs, ham, turkish bread and asparagus with a kind of hollandaise sauce I can’t help but think it could be so much more flavour-​filled. The pear and vanilla smoothie, however, was a glimpse at what their one-​page breakfast menu could be. It was delicious. Light and balanced with a combination I never would have thought of piecing together myself. My dining companion had the baked eggs and it looked wholesome and hearty. M&G looks good and there’s still plenty of time for them to find their feet and refine their offering — I hope they do because they’re in a prime location and could pack more punch than they currently are.

Oh, man, I should really buckle down on studying, but no! I went out to Woolloongabba and decided on stopping by Moose & Gibson, a fairly new establishment amongst the scattered cafes south of the city. Upon seeing Lani of Unilocal’s photos, I decided that the ambience was just what I was looking for — low key, earthy, and perfect for a shady day in Brisbane.
There weren’t any seats when I arrived, but thankfully I didn’t have to wait long before I was seated. I was about to head to Banneton down the street if the wait was long! I had a latte to start, and ordered the Quark Eggs (15.6). I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but what I got essentially was an open ham sandwich with two poached eggs and asparagus. The flavor was light but tasteful, but I was hoping for the quark cheese to be something special, and it seemed like it was just less flavorful hollandaise. One of my poached eggs was also not runny, which is always a bit disappointing, but that is a minor complaint. I was a bit disappointed with the Two Seasons coffee (well, more so with my latte). My latte tasted burt and overly dark, and I do enjoy a good dark roast latte from time to time, but this was not one of them. It was lightly aromatic, but the burnt and acidic taste just did not suit my liking. Oh well, maybe their new lunch menu will be more up to par!
Note: So far, thumbs up on the ambience! I love their antler chandelier (reminds me of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast) and the wooden details. Service was slow and I wasn’t offered water, but otherwise, fair.