There are gleaming, white-tiled walls, hanging pots filled with greenery and bright blue ceramics at Civic's latest eatery, Milk Crate Cafe.
On the menu are house-made New York bagels with flavoured cream cheeses and a distinct Mediterranean flavour with dishes such as Cypriot scrolls filled with tahini and pekmez ("like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich"). Coffee is from Sydney's Drumroll roasters and teas are from T Totaler.
Owner Hakan Demir came to Canberra for love – moving to the capital with his wife earlier this year. But he's also an experienced restaurateur – he says he's set up and sold at least five cafes in his hometown of Sydney.
So Demir took a look at a couple of sites and settled on this semi-circular spot tucked into a courtyard at the back of 12 Moore Street (you can also enter around the corner just off Rudd Street). "I just figure there's a lot of potential in Canberra," he says.
Chef Aaron Fain also came to the capital for love – the Tennessee native jumped at the chance to move halfway across the world when his wife took a job at the Australian National University.
Demir has plans to turn the Milk Crate Cafe idea into a franchise and will be opening more outlets around the city.
The cafe serves up from 6.30am and will do breakfast and lunches but Demir says he's getting a liquor licence with a view to eventually staying open in the evening to serve casual post-work drinks and snacks.
Are you opening a cafe or eatery? Email: food.and.wine@canberratimes.com.au
