The Lillipad Cafe Review

Cafe of my dreams

There was once a time, long ago, when Cairns locals owned and ran small retail shops and cafes in the old buildings that line many of Cairns' streets. Customers would park their cars on the side of the road and wander from shop to shop, occasionally getting rained on but certainly enjoying themselves. But over the past few years, with the help of economic rationalisation ideologies, mega retail chains and huge shopping malls have been erected alongside the small shops, and sometimes on top of them. Huge buildings that claim they are the ‘centre of everything' dominate the streetscape so the small operators are literally squashed out of business. I blatantly call this process "the slow destruction of the ‘old' Cairns". By that, I refer to street side shops that have been around for longer than I can recall being run out of business. This process of economic obliteration dismays me.

So when I stumbled across a small independent café called the Lillipad Café on Grafton Street, I was immediately thrown back to a time when small cafes were the norm on Cairns city streets. To be fair, there has been a recent resurgence of locally owned shops around Cairns since the invasion of the big boys, but it has taken a long time and a lot of businesses with it.

I was thrilled when I sat down at an old, small table with writing on it ranging from interesting anecdotes to philosophic musings. It was lunchtime and all the tables, inside and out, were fully occupied. There was a buzz in the air. Some people were chatting and laughing, others were leaning back in their comfortable chairs pondering the nature of the universe. Funky music was playing softly in the background and post-modernist artwork hung from the brightly painted walls. A waitress came to my table and took my order for the biggest cappuccino they had and a chicken, onion and mushroom foccacia.

It was a wonderful experience to know I was sitting on the side of the street, chatting wildly with my partner, breathing the fresh air and enjoying the midday sun. There were no mega-chain food stores in sight, and no pastel-coloured paint to be seen.

Then the greatness of the Lillipad Café was heightened. My coffee was delicious and massive - enough to double the speed of my conversation and triple the rate of my eye flickering. My foccacia was fresh and delicious, obviously made on the spot, and completely satisfying. The price for my meal was well below what I expected to pay, so I opted for a chunky piece of chocolate mudcake for lunch-dessert. I must admit, I'm never sure whether lunch is supposed to have a dessert, but when I next return to the Lillipad Café I will make it my duty to reaffirm my lunch-dessert vows. The chocolate cake was massive and filling.

For a lunchtime or snack venue, this Cairns café is difficult to beat. The coffee is excellent and is available with soy milk if you prefer. The food is fresh and healthy with many vegetarian options. You can choose to eat al fresco on the sidewalk or inside in the funky dining area. I highly recommend The Lillipad Café as a venue for lunch or a coffee break. It's genuine ‘Cairns locals' charm has me hooked - I love it.

- Diner Diller

The Lillipad Cafe	Cairns CBD
The Lillipad Cafe specialises in fresh vegetarian cuisine, complimented by the famous Mungali Creek Dairy products. But you can also order fantastic focaccias and sandwiches that are refreshing and healthy. This cafe also serves wonderful coffee in a funky setting.
cuisines: Contemporary, Vegan, Vegetarian features: A la carte, Al fresco, Cafe, Family Friendly, Organic review: Cafe of my dreams (8/8/2003) contact: (07) 40519565 | Grafton St, next to City Arcade
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