One of the first meals we had during our weekend in Canberra was at Penny University Cafe & Coffee Roasters in Kingston. The cafe was super busy when we arrived, with people not only at the tables inside and out, but lining up for takeaway coffee and food as well! Luckily we were able to snag a table straight away, and the staff were excellent despite the hubbub around them.
The menu changes seasonally and includes both all-day breakfast options and lunch options, with plenty of vegetarian, dairy free and gluten free choices (all of which are well marked on the menu). The drinks list is also extensive, and given they roast coffee on site the coffee was excellent (so much so it is where my sister buys her coffee beans to take home!). They also had a fancy milkshake special for Easter but I think it would have been chocolate overload for me, so I stuck with my regular soy flat white which was delicious!
My family has a terrible habit of ordering the same meals as each other, and this happened again this time with my parents both getting the same dish off the specials board, and my sister and I ordering the same thing as well! At least that means there is more of the menu to try next time!
The special my folks ordered was the blueberry quinoa hotcakes which were topped with maple syrup, figs, strawberries, homemade muesli and a whole host of other goodies (approximately $17). The hotcakes were absolutely packed with blueberries and were light and fluffy, and not overly sweet. They were an absolutely huge serving which meant I got to steal a taste off my mum’s plate and the dish was so good I wished I had room for more! The combination of toppings added great textures and flavours, making it an absolute winner. We were off to a good start with our Canberra eating!
My sister and I ordered the Za’atar eggs ($17) which were served with roasted chickpeas, eggplant, kale, cucumber & mint with sheep’s milk yoghurt & capsicum muhamarra spread on turkish bread. Whilst this might not have been as impressive looking as the hotcakes it definitely wasn’t short on flavour, and we both really enjoyed this dish. The roasted chickpeas and dukkah added a whole host of crunchy texture, and the overall combination of flavours was an absolute winner. I would definitely order this again, that’s for sure!
Penny University Cafe also does a great looking range of takeaway salad and sandwiches, as well as some impressive looking sweet treats so it would be an excellent cafe to have near your work! Particularly when paired with the delicious coffee! Overall we had a delicious brunch, so much so we tried to squeeze in a second visit but ran out of time – next time I guess!
If you find yourself in Canberra I highly recommend giving Penny University Cafe a visit!
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I Spy Plum Pie is Liz, an early 30s kiwi-born, Melbourne raised girl who is passionate about the environment and sustainability, food, exploring and learning new things. Join me on my journey to a happy, sustainable life!