Flavour Report with Derek Goforth: High praise for Geraldton’s Soul Food Cafe and Teahouse’s ‘flawless’ brekky

It’s a rare word to use: flawless. Perhaps a term best reserved for describing a diamond or a spouse. Yet, it’s the most fitting word I can summon to completely depict my recent visit to Soul Food Cafe and Teahouse in Geraldton — simply flawless. When we discuss a great experience in a cafe or restaurant, there are many expectations, and I must say, Soul Food met them all seamlessly. Seating and accessibility? A perfect 10 out of 10. Despite the bustling markets, the cafe owners ensured ample seating, and the spacious carpark made reaching the cafe a breeze. Then there’s the service, which was delightful. The two young ladies serving us were exceptionally helpful, providing alternatives, extras, and recommendations for the house’s best dishes. No curveball seemed to faze them, and the maturity they exhibited was beyond their years. I can only imagine they’ve been impeccably trained by their manager. We opted for Nutella pancakes and the special “Hash It Out” breakfast — three crunchy hash browns layered with baby spinach, fried tomato, middle bacon, and topped with the most delectable hollandaise sauce. At just over $56, including a couple of cappuccinos and a strawberry shake, we found it to be decent value for money, considering the portion sizes. However, as soon as the food arrived — after a reasonable wait — our perception of decent value turned into exceptional value. I don’t say this lightly, but this was unequivocally the best breakfast we’ve ever had. While it might sound like hyperbole for dramatic effect, this statement is a simple fact for this review. The pancakes arrived resembling a work of art — stunning, with fluffy pillows drizzled with rich chocolate sauce and accompanied by Nutella, whipped cream, and ice cream. The pancakes themselves just melted in the mouth. The simple stacked hash browns with perfectly cooked bacon and tomato were heaven on a plate. Topped with the creamiest, richest, and tastiest hollandaise, I wished I could take a litre home just to sip in the car. Finally, the coffees were up there with the very best the Mid West has to offer — smooth and mellow, striking the right balance. The strawberry shake was thick, rich, and bursting with strawberry flavour. We could not fault any aspect of the experience. As I’ve stated before, “flawless”. Not only that, this is my second review of Soul Food Cafe and Teahouse and in my humble opinion how much they have improved is remarkable. Every aspect of the service and output has flourished and blossomed. This has to be a credit to the owners and managers of this humble little eatery. All I can say is hats off to you guys because you have made a fantastic little business in our little community. We have a new favourite go-to place for breakfast, and that includes Freo, Perth, Milan, New York and now Gero. In this reviewer’s humble opinion, Soul Food Cafe and Teahouse would not be out of place in any of these cafe havens.