Dome Cafe

I ordered scones and they looked like, and tasted like bread rolls. Dough consistency rather than cake-​like. The other order, a lemon-​coconut loaf was almost stale, only disguised by the fact that it is refrigerated. Poor show Dome, and on Valentine’s Day of all days.

This Dome is so very ocean front I feel it should be a bit more inspiring than it currently is.
Although, my objectivity for this review is a bit maimed. I don’t like the West Australian chain, on principle. The principle is that I don’t like chains in general. I have worked in Canada, where basically everything is a chain. And I do mean everything. I think the chain proliferation takes away from chance encounters and exciting finds and dulls everyday experience.
Although, for someone who is so anti-​Dome, I do end up going there a fair bit. So, to this Dome.
Well, the toilets are a problem. They’re upstairs and it seems like Dome really wanted to create a nautical feel for the loos. They have. Small and cramped and often a struggle to get the toilet paper to leave its encasement, I always feel like I’m in a portaloo, on a plane or on a rocking boat and I’m about to throw up. Mainly the latter. Gross.
Now, This Dome boasts large glass panels so you can see out to the beautiful blue ocean. But I don’t like it. I think the restaurant gives off a trapped, compartmentalised feel and I’m not 100 percent sure why.
It just always seems a bit stuffy in here. There’s often sand on the floor, which is okay, but it seems to clash with the Dome culture.
Having said all this, Scarborough Dome is Okay, just a little unsettling. Like a wonky ship at sea that’s lost its course.
The food is good and the staff are friendly so I shouldn’t complain too much about this close to the sea vessel.

Most Dome cafes have some kind of outdoor area, but this one tops them all. Located in Scarborough, it is close to the beach and to a nice café strip overlooking the ocean. What’s best about this place, however, is that the outdoor area is on top of a surf store so that you’re technically drinking your coffee outside but not on street level. I love it. You can hear, see, and smell the ocean.
This place has the same menu as all Dome cafes, and the coffee we had was great. It was nice and clean, a few people sitting outside reading the paper so it wasn’t noisy or loud. No children at the time I was there so that was cool. A nice place to also grab a take-​away and go down to the beach…