This arty, hearty breakfast with Italian flavour will hit the spot

Café: True Italic Italian Art Cafe Address: 15 Bree Street Contact: 021 418 7655 Hours: Mondays: 7am to 7pm, Tuesdays: to Fridays: 7am to 10pm, Saturdays: 6pm to 11pm Dish eaten: Full Italic Price: R60

WENDYL MARTIN

YOU WOULDN’T think that there was much going on at the lower end of Bree Street, but things are changing.

A while ago, Latino restaurant Orinoco popped up and across the street it looks like laundromat-cum-coffee shop I Love My Laundry is opening.

Enter the True Italic Italian Art Cafe, a place narrow enough to miss if you are not aiming for 15 Bree Street hard enough.

Feeling a bit peckish this week, I ordered one of their full breakfasts, the Full Italic. Served on a large chopping board, it was a plate of two fried eggs, Sicilian homemade pork sausage, oven-baked cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans and the pancetta. I most enjoyed the thin, streaky pancetta which was a nice change from the usual bacon I eat with these sort of dishes. It was a meal big enough for me not to want to finish my toast.

My colleague ordered the Full Virgin (R60) which is usually eggs, bacon, sausage baked beans, tomato and mushrooms; pretty standard. As she is vegetarian, they were kind enough to swop her meat for avocado and roasted vegetables.

It was a hot day, so we both ordered the Caffe Shekerato (ice shaked coffee), R25. It was not as creamy as I expected and resembled more of a soda in its look. The fizzy drink was topped with a foam.

The next time I’m there, I’m going to give their poached egg on rye a try; it’s served with a napoletana sauce.

The True Italic has a literature and arts theme. Its logo is that of a typewriter and old books are part of the decor. True to its name, the exposed walls are a space for painters to showcase their work and the venue regularly hosts live music events.

On the morning we were there, my colleague and I found ourselves bopping to the sounds of VH1 classics, providing much chatter of cheesy songs of the ’90s. The videos are projected for you to enjoy.

The service has a personal touch. The staff are engaging about their food and it was served promptly.

If you get there early enough, there are daily specials that run until 8.30am. Twitter:@WendylMartin wendyl.martin@inl.co.za