COFFEE AND CHATS THE NEW NETWORKING AT BURLEIGH SOCIAL
Mix three men, a shed and a smart menu and you get Burleigh Social, sating an appetite for casual dining
AIRLINE mates Jarrod Barnett, Kane Gibson and Ray Lich haven’t done things the traditional way with cafe collaboration Burleigh Social.
While not seasoned restaurateurs, with a savvy social media strategy, hands-on approach and well-considered community ethos, the trio are far from winging it. They started from the grounds-up – with coffee – and have since evolved to encompass a strong food offering.
“I worked for Jetstar and the two boys for Qantas. They’re pilots and I was in operations, but I’m full-time managing here now,” Jarrod says.
“We’ve done all the work ourselves and have had the kitchen in for about a month. It’s taken off – we’ve got another chef starting and we’ll be staying open until later.”
The business occupies the tin shed at the back of the corner block once home to Feather and Docks. In a beautiful symbiosis, bridal treasure trove Grace Loves Lace lives in the house and a florist pop-up brightens the backyard. The boys have transformed the shed into an open kitchen and coffee bar, with a window on to alfresco seating, where diners pick up their food after ordering at the counter. Nobody’s a stranger thanks to the communal bench seating, shaded by umbrellas and arranged amid fragrant pots of rosemary.
We’re sharing with a polite dachshund and rottweiler couple and their humans, who’ve wandered over from the beach, brushing sand from their feet before settling on the front lawn with a couple of Nutella Bounty muffins from the cabinet. One menu covers most bases, divided into light offerings (available from 6.30am onwards), breakfast (from 7am) and lunch (from 10am), and supplemented by specials. The coffee is Allpress, out of Burleigh, acai bowls are sweetened with honeycomb from Mt Tamborine and Panya Bakery supplies the sourdough, rye and burger buns.
Everything’s made to grab and go in takeaway cardboard, but the bacon and egg roll ($12) is the biggest seller, loaded with streaky bacon, free-range eggs, avo and tomato relish and sandwiched by slightly sweet brioche.
There are also paleo ($15) and vegan ($12.90) breakfasts, the former with sweet potato, kale and smoked salmon or ham, and the later starring garlic-roasted portobello mushrooms.
Afternoon appetite antidotes include a barbecue pulled pork and slaw burger ($16) and grilled Cajun chicken with avocado, bacon and chilli mayo ($15).
Burleigh Social is open daily from 6am until at least 2pm, with extended hours pending.