The Cool Room review: Freo cafe uses great local ingredients in interesting food, and welcomes furry friends

If a cafe courtyard full of wagging tails is a drawcard for you, head directly for The Cool Room. On my Sunday morning visit to this spot, tucked away off Marmion Street in the eastern part of Fremantle, I counted no fewer than five golden retrievers, two poodles, a greyhound and two small pups of indistinct origin holding court in its corner of the carpark. Wedged between a vintage shop and a pet groomer, perhaps this is no surprise. But it adds a layer of charm to this already cute-as little cafe, with its collection of umbrellas, tables on astroturf and potted trees. This spot was a favourite of mine years back, when its halloumi bruschetta became one of my go-to brunches. Now under new management, it retains its kitschy, homely atmosphere and collection of delectable-looking sweet treats at the counter. My two primary-school aged kids and I are on a brunch date, and we settle into a table inside, only because all the dog-adjacent ones outside are full. There’s a board on the side listing the local producers the cafe works with; Twin Peaks coffee, Little Farm eggs, cheese from Dellendale Creamery, Stakehill Produce tomatoes, loaves from Hunter Bread. We go for menu staple, the bacon bap ($17) with an added egg ($3), plus a chorizo omelette ($27), a smoked salmon and soda bread dish ($27) and a plate of seasonal fruit ($10). I manage to get a couple of mouthfuls of the bap in the approximately three minutes it lasts before the kids devour it; soft bun with a toasty char, thick bacon and a plum and apple ketchup that provides a great X-factor. Smoky, salty and sweet: what more could you want? The chorizo omelette looks the goods, soft and oozing paprika-tinted oil from the sausage, stuffed with sauteed greens and topped with shavings of cheddar and chives. It was a flavour bomb, with the chorizo dominant; delicious but also very rich. Your mileage may vary but I’d split it with an (adult) friend next time. The smoked salmon was an intriguing plate; high quality salmon sprinkled with dill, creme fraiche, house pickles and two wedges of soda bread under halved boiled eggs. The dense bread has a cake-like quality with a nutty edge and the combination of the salmon with the creamy sauce, hit of pickles, and the juice of an accompanying lemon wedge is very moreish. The fruit plate hits the table looking beautiful, with fresh strawberries, mango, something called a “donut peach”, pieces of nectarine and a wedge of pomegranate. All very fresh, making the most of the season’s bounty. But the pomegranate, while certainly aesthetically pleasing, is a case of form over function: it’s quite difficult to separate the crimson jewels from their casing. My son gives it a crack with the fork supplied and prises a few free, much to his delight, but the red juice spattering his face and shirt makes me add more Napisan to my mental shopping list. All in all, as we wander out with full bellies, patting a few furry heads on the way, we all agree that this is a very pleasant way to spend a lazy Sunday morning. The verdict: 14.5/20 The cutest little cafe with local produce, a quirky menu and doggies galore. The Cool Room 114 Holland Street, Fremantle Open Wednesday to Sunday 8am-12.30pm Contact 0461 520 916 Bookings Yes