GLASS FULL

Breakfast is new territory for Willow Dining Room and one thing’s for sure: their cups runneth over

FOR the first time, Willow is opening its doors for breakfast … albeit only dipping a toe in the water on Fridays and Saturdays. Tables are available inside the cosy Burleigh eatery or on the sidewalk, each one charmingly topped with fresh flowers.

The morning menu is a melting pot of Mediterranean, Asian, Middle Eastern and modern Australian influence. Owner and head chef Ian Jul Banghal calls it “comfort breakfast”.

And it doesn’t get much more comforting than the dessertrefreshment Frankenstein that is Willow’s Crazy Chocolate Chips smoothie ($17).

Taking super shakes to the next level, the overflowing, caloriecrowded creation has a whole flourless mug cake crammed inside, along with a blend of dark and white chocolate, marshmallow, Kit Kat, stuffed choc raisins, chocolate wafer and, finally, a drizzle of fudge. Really.

There’s obviously the more standard stuff too, including green, red, yellow and white smoothies, tea and coffee.

Continuing the indulgence theme on the food front, vivid red velvet pancakes are smothered with roasted walnuts, fresh strawberry, berry compote, cream cheese, cream and chocolate fudge syrup ($18).

On the savoury side, I tried a vegetarian option of homemade Napoli kidney beans, half an avocado, grilled haloumi, herbroasted tomato and a mushroom baked with cream cheese, arranged with sourdough and little pots of dukkah and an olive and balsamic reduction ($18). The baked egg tajine ($19) has a lovely, satisfying warmth – it includes Mediterranean pork and veal meatballs, patatas bravas, smoky kidney beans and melty cheese on Turkish with more dukkah.

Taking into account the dominance of its neighbours Commune and Street Corner Espresso, Willow doesn’t offer the most competitive value proposition, but it does deliver dishes with difference. If you’re bored with bacon, give it a go. 1840 GOLD COAST HIGHWAY, BURLEIGH HEADS

Get it while it’s hot: Breakfast Friday and Saturday from 7am Hungry? Jerk chicken – marinated chicken breast, sourdough, haloumi, herb-baked tomato, Napoli beans, hummus tahini and apple hickory smoke ($20) Healthy? Breakfast bowl with almond and vanilla muesli, dried cranberries, grilled peaches, honey yoghurt and berry compote ($15)