Casing the Menu | Brunch – Preston’s Takeaway / Cafe

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Brunch, it’s basically morning tea on steroids and the perfect excuse to catch up with friends. Over the next few weeks, I will continue to share my top 5 places to brunch in Perth, North of the river (NOR). Next up I’ll be sharing my CBD worth casing finds and then who knows, as food reviews slowly make their way back on the blogging menu here.

 

Preston’s Takeaway / Cafe & Gift Shop – Scarborough

 

There are a number of reasons why Preston’s Cafe is a favourite of mine. Apart from the fantastic food and service with a smile, it’s practically within walking distance from my office, has a relaxed vibe and I can easily lose myself in their gift shop, which is closing soon and currently has up to 40% off.

 

Gift Shop | Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

Gift Shop | Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

Gift Shop | Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

They also serve Karvan coffee, my favourite. If I do end up indulging in a cup of coffee, now that I’ve supposedly given the stuff up (heaven help me and anyone drinking coffee in my vicinity), I prefer to sit back and sip on the best.

 

The venue itself has plenty of quaint seating arrangements and dining options. Perfect if you are wanting to host a small group for brunch (hint hint my blogging friends, our next catch up is long overdue). Depending on the weather, I tend to head straight for the back courtyard or adjoining sunroom but there is also the side verandah and a newly furnished private room just inside the gift shop.

 

Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

When the cafe first opened in late 2013, I honestly found the service a bit hit and miss with forgotten orders and timely delays but lately (which is what our reviews are based on), they seem to have found their customer service feet. What they lacked in efficiency in the beginning they certainly made up for with their friendly staff and accommodating manner, which is why I continued to head back.

 

With an impressive breakfast menu and a dedicated brunch menu running till mid afternoon, in place of lunch, there are plenty of great dishes to case and I’m honestly not sure where to start or if I can pick a favourite.

 

Serving sizes are generous and pricing is reasonable for Perth but as I’ve said previously I’m still finding my feet in this area being relatively new to Perth and more than happy to be guided by you here?!

 

While there is a dedicated menu for your little ones of an evening, there isn’t one for breakfast/brunch. As I mentioned the serving sizes are generous, giving you the option to share a plate or you could perhaps case their full and fluffy pancakes ($13), served with grilled banana, vanilla ice-cream and the mandatory maple syrup.

 

There are also the quick pick specials of the day which you will find on the black board at the front counter. They often include muffins, raisin toast and several sweet tooth selections.

 

Quick Picks | Preston's takeaway / cafe & gift shop - Scarborough | Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case

 

Pancakes | Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

All brunch burgers and sandwiches arrive with a side serving of crispy beer battered fries. Gluten free and wholemeal bread is available on request with most dishes offering a vegetarian option. Sides or extras range between $3 and $4.

 

For those with an appetite your full breakfast plate ($19.50) includes hash brown, baked beans, bacon, roasted tomato, thyme garlic mushroom, pork and fennel chipolatas with your choice of fried, scrambled or poached eggs. I don’t know about you, but it’s poached eggs for me. Each and every time.

 

If I’m choosing to go poached, I’m more than a bit partial to eggs Benedict ($16.50) which gives you the option of bacon, smoked salmon or ham with your eggs on an English muffin together with spinach and hollandaise sauce.

 

Eggs Benedict | Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

BLT | Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

BLT | Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

I must say, Preston’s BLT ($13.50) really stacks up! Three tiers of bacon, lettuce and tomato on toasted to perfection Picasa bread, served with beer battered fries. There’s something about the Picasa bread that takes this BLT to the next level.

 

The bacon and egg burger with Swiss cheese ($11.50) is a real mouth full. So much so, that my partner in crime struggled to finish and the cafe owner suggested he wrap our leftovers to take with us. With this in mind, I would suggest going light on the sauce when it is offered so your Turkish bun doesn’t end up soggy before you get around to eating the rest.

 

Bacon and Egg Roll | Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

 

A bit left of field for most and worth casing on the brunch menu, if you like to spice things up, is their Nasi Goreng ($15.50) – basmati rice, bacon, onion, garlic, ginger, coriander, peas, carrot and the chef’s special Nasi sauce served with a fried egg.

 

From the breakfast menu the chorizo bean ($16.50) packs a punch – spiced beans, chorizo, oregano tomato with a fried egg on toasted Picasa.

 

Our mystery reviewers also thought the following dishes from both the breakfast and brunch menus should rate a worth casing mention:

 

  • Breaky wrap – tortilla, hash browns, bacon, fried eggs, grilled onion and choice of sauce ($13.50)
  • Apple crumble granola – house made mix of seeds, nuts and dried fruit together with honey yoghurt and apple cinnamon compote ($10.50)
  • Preston’s burger – house made beef patty, Swiss cheese, cos lettuce, tomato, onion jam, Deb’s chutney and aioli ($18.50)
  • Pumpkin salad – spinach, feta, pine nuts, semi-dried tomato, Spanish onions, balsamic reduction and extra virgin olive oil ($15.50)

 

 

Beetle Juice | Brunch Review | Agent Mystery Case | Preston's takeaway / cafe and gift shop - Scarborough Beach

 

There is plenty to choose from drinks wise, both hot and cold, as well. The yoghurt based smoothies are $7.50, milkshakes $6 and fresh daily juices are $7. My pick of the juice bunch is definitely Beetle Juice – orange, apple, celery, beetroot and ginger followed closely by Summer Breeze – watermelon, apple and pear.

 

Preston’s takeaway/Cafe have recently started opening for dinner with a rather impressive comfort food heavy menu that I’m really looking forward to casing next. I’m guessing it too will have me feeling like I’m coming home.

 

WORTH CASING

[review_bank review_id=3]

 

Rodney and Vicki Bridge, owners of the cafe, named their venture after their late son Preston, who died tragically at 16 following his school ball after party in 2013. My eldest daughter attended the same school as Preston. His death was felt by the entire school community and beyond. Opening the cafe in his memory is a fitting tribute. 

 

 

 

Not sponsored. No affiliate links. 100% my {eating} style. You can read more about our extensive food review process here

 

Are you a fan of brunch? Do you prefer sweet or savoury?

About Mystery Case 462 Articles
Follow Raychael aka Mystery Case on her mystery adventures 'casing' people, products and places to bring you her worth casing favourites.

17 Comments

  1. I am absolutely loving your reviews on these incredible places to eat. Thank you. Although I’m in Melboutne, the husband travels to Perth a lot for work so will enjoy these. Scarborough is one of my favourite places!!

  2. Oh Yum! You’ve made me hungry! I am a huge eggs benedict fan and my favourite way of eating my eggs is poached too! Shame I live in Brisbane and not Perth. I couldn’t eat a lot of what you’ve shown though as I’ve given up bread! Nothing stopping me having the meals without the bread though 🙂

    • I’ve given up bread as well, although I had tests which required me to reintroduce bread and gluten back into my diet briefly, which meant I was a tad more adventurous than normal with some my brunches.

  3. they look great raych!
    yes I’m hungry now too!
    I hardly ever eat bread!
    we went to Melbourne, geelong, queenscliff, and Sorrento!
    all had great eateries! you will be casing some joints there, I’m sure!
    hope you are doing ok after seeing your daughter off raych! … much love m:)X

    • I hardly ever eat bread either. I had to reintroduce gluten back into my diet recently for tests, so was a tad more adventurous with my brunch menus or I took a bread eating stunt double with me. I’m so much better off without the bread though.

  4. What a fabulous looking place with scrummy looking food. I love your description of brunch being morning tea on steroids – perfect x

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