For a while now I’ve been watching the slow transformation of an old mechanic workshop into a bright and light café. We’ve seen a hardware store successfully converted into a café (read here) so why not a mechanics? This week I took a moment to visit the new occupant, The Little Shop of Plenty.
Little Shop of Plenty © The Ponder Room
Situated opposite the Dome and Maylands Train Station the café boasts three sitting areas and a small shop. The main sitting area, which would have been the old office, was already full of patrons huddled over interesting looking bowls of produce.
The Little Shop of Plenty © The Ponder Room
Two of the outdoor tables were already occupied with patrons enjoying a sunny winters day, so I chose a table in the second dining area.
As I sat down and placed the complimentary rug over my knees I pondered how different the space was to when I’d last seen it operating. Gone were the oil puddles, hoists and myriad of cars waiting their turn to be tinkered with. In their place were fresh white walls and splashes of lime green. The wall colour echoed the theme of the menu, which was described as live, raw, health food.
The Little Shop of Plenty © The Ponder Room
Healthy options such as raw pizzas, kale super-salad, Thai style kelp noodle salad, superfood smoothies, healthy toasties, and organic teas placed the café firmly at the opposite side of town to McDonalds.
I opted for the zucchini salad which arrived in a bowl that was full to the brim. As I fossicked inside I found ribbons of zucchini, fennel, spinach, snow peas, olives, fresh herb sprouts, and avocado, you couldn’t get a greaner salad. The cashew crème fraiche sauce was creamy enough to stop me from feeling completely smug. Beside the bowl were several pieces of crisp ‘bread’ or herbed buckwheat bark to be exact, which I ended up taking home for later.
The Little Shop of Plenty © The Ponder Room
The sunny winters day called for a hot chocolate, the rich cocoa mixture was infinitely better than the usual squeeze of premixed sauce.
The warm blankets were a nice touch as was the small sandpit which proved irresistible to the kids sitting at the next table.
The Little Shop of Plenty © The Ponder Room
It was nice to see the tables well spaced, as it meant you could enjoy your own space rather than be taken over by the conversation on the next table.
The small shop area had a number of interesting pieces including some cute hanging pots and terrariums which solved a birthday present dilemma I’d been trying to solve all morning.The service was brilliant, especially considering the café had only been open for a few weeks. I was both surprised and thrilled when one of the employees asked if she could carry my parcel to the car.
The Little Shop of Plenty © The Ponder Room
The Little Shop of Plenty © The Ponder Room
On the way out I noticed the fresh produce growing in large cement containers in the forecourt, which for some reason felt like a nod to the old mechanics store.
As I placed the passenger seatbelt around the plant I pondered …
- The Little Shop of Plenty is an ideal place for a healthy guilt free lunch and a quick browse.
- I can see the outside being very popular in summer. This may put pressure on the car park out the back, but you can always arrive by train.
- Speaking of trains it will be paradise for train spotters. For the movie buffs … don’t worry the toilet was clean. It even had a neat trick where the light came on automatically as you walked up to the toilet door. Wish I had that feature for my late night visits at home.
- It’s interesting to see the café positioned opposite Dome but I’d imagine the clientele will be very different, and I believe the Dome manager even helped The Little Shop of Plenty manager out when setting up. Now that’s great community spirit.
- I can imagine the café becoming a focal point of the local community.
- The Café also offers great access for disabled customers.
For more information go to The Little Shop of Plenty
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