Ballaboosta

Went last night for the first time
I loved it! We had a wonderful night
The service was fantastic
The food was incredible
I am going back for more…

Decent coffee (I quite enjoyed my iced coffee) but a convoluted payment system at the end of the meal due to having a big group was a bit confusing. Not many options for coeliacs unfortunately. I don’t expect to eat everywhere (and this fact doesn’t contribute to the rating) but a surcharge of $ 5 for gluten free is quite steep on a breakfast menu — my friends enjoyed their food though lots which is always good to see
One of the servers was lovely and one unfortunately sounded frustrated by having to deal with a larger group on Sunday morning (maybe 12 people) and made it quite clear. That was a shame.
My overall impression: AOK — maybe just not for me :)

Tasty pizzas for brekky, lunch and dinner. Super cheap. Full of flavour. Awesome coffee (has improved since the first time I went there). Open all day. Easy to park. Family-​run business. No fuss, just good quality produce making damn fine pizzas.
Definitely worth checking out if you’re down the south-​east end of town, especially if you’re a fan of dem carbohydrates ;)

I was not impressed and found the menu limited and lacking. Portion sizes are smaller than average though flavourful. I just expected a larger selection of dishes and found the menu focusing too heavily on pizza.
Maybe after having breakfast there I may update my review. For now — meh.

BALLABOOSTA is Yiddish for «perfect housewife». Being born to that persuasion myself I was tempted to go there. In my opinion the only good thing about being born into a Jewish family, is the food! I don’t know anyone similar who doesn’t have a penchant and appreciation for good food.
Well, the coffee and homemade shortbread were to die for and sadly that’s all I had time for. BUT the ambiance was very welcoming and inviting and I had stumbled upon it the week before so decided to make time for a visit. I sat on the edge of the café in the sun and the fresh air and was really jealous of the dishes I oogled being delivered to customers less rushed than me.
I was actually having a crap week, felt like shit and probably looked like it too and was most put out when the waiter asked «where will you be sitting today Sir?» Sir? In all my life I have never owned a penis, but I let it go because I was feeling so awful. Next time, and there will be a next time because I know a good thing when I sniff one out, I will put on my makeup first! Don’t miss it. I reckon it’s going to be a tradition in the making.

(Four and a half stars)
Just 6 weeks old, this Mediterranean and Middle-​Eastern-​influenced café offers something different to the southeast of the city. Tucked away on Halifax Street, just off Hutt St, beside Alfonso, you can almost miss this place. The set up is modern-​rustic, and very welcoming. The wood-​fired oven can be seen in the back of the café, and there are a few tables that caught the morning/​afternoon sun.
The service was enthusiastic and attentive. My coffee order was taken straight away while I looked through the menu. There are breakfast meals, mezzes (dips, tapas) and pizzas. This is a family-​run café, with a brother & sister team at the helm, and so they bring with them their Lebanese culinary exposure.
I was there for quick brunch on a work day so I tried the Mediterranean omelette with wood fired pita. I could just taste the goodness of the ingredients, and the good quality olive oil. The freshly made wood fired pita was certainly the highlight of my meal. I’m already planning my next visit there, with toddlers in tow, so we can try the mezze dishes (my kids love dips & tapas!).
The all-​day dining menu caters for GF/​V/​DF/​VE and all sounds so delicious and just a bit different to the usual café fare that one gets at the nearby cafes. I think that Ballaboosta offers not only delicious, wholesome food but also outstanding value for the quality of the food (under $ 10 for brekkie items and nothing else on the menu is over $ 15, even the pizzas). I recommend checking this place out.