33 Degrees South Cafe, North Perth

Visiting the South West region of Western Australia is often associated with casual long weekends, laid back culture, local produce and a visit to the wineries to name a few.

If you live close to or otherwise visit North Perth, you'll probably have noticed the increasing amount of cafes popping up around, many of which specialise in laid back brunches and a good range of coffee and tea.  Combining a little bit of North Perth's coffee culture with the laid-back culture and produce of the South West is 33 Degrees South Cafe, situated at the corner of Fitzgerald and Forrest Streets.

33 Degrees South Cafe gets its name from the region down south that lies at that degree of latitude and encompasses places such as the infamous Margaret River region.  It is a casual cafe with a simple casual layout made cozy with a few decorative aspects such as tables with "33 degrees" enamelled on and produce from the South West (mainly Margaret River) on display for purchase.

The menu at 33 Degrees South Cafe is simple but contains a lot of home style meals, from your "big breakfast" through to eggs on toast, muesli and onto nachos and quesadilla for lunch or even sandwiches and quiches that are on display.  Supplementing all those choices is a selection of cakes for the sweet tooth, and of course coffee and tea.

For better or worse, the service is a little different at 33 Degrees South.  On an average day, many of the staff don't exactly seem very friendly or attentive, not that they are unfriendly but seemingly more just indifferent.  However, regulars might be able to get a quick smile and hello.

33's Big One - $20.50

This "big" breakfast comes with all the trimmings - bacon, eggs, toast, fried tomato, sausage, mushrooms, potato gratin, spinach and rocket in addition to slices of bread with curls of butter and tomato salsa.  When I first starting eating their breakfasts, there was enough food to fill me for breakfast and lunch.  However over time I found the breakfasts to get a little less filling such that it's now just a decently big breakfast as opposed to overload.

Compared to some of the other breakfasts on offer around the area, this breakfast is pretty good value in terms of quantity.  

Over the multiple breakfasts I've had here, each of the elements can vary on each visit.  However, generally the bacon is sizzled short of crunchy, and poached eggs can be overcooked at times but if you order scrambled it tends to be rich and creamy.  The potato rosti can vary a bit too, but generally it's moderately seasoned with firm but soft (i.e. not crunchy) potato.

It may not be the most gourmet or inspired breakfast around but it does have a homely feel to it and can be quite hearty and almost gluttonous.

Nachos with Chicken

The nachos was pretty much standard fare with corn chips and cheese, a serving of sour cream, and had its own guacamole and topped with a couple of jalapeños.

The whole dish had been heated just prior to serving, with the plate being hot to touch and the waiter using a cloth to hold the dish.  Serving size was decent for a single serving, of corn chips were well mixed with the just-melted cheese and lean chicken pieces (at additional cost).  The guacamole was home made with a relatively chunky texture and a fresh taste to it.

Quesadilla with Chicken

The quesadilla was made with thin flour tortillas (almost as thin as a crepe) filled with cheese and chicken.  The tortillas were light, thin and had a bit of an egg taste to it.  The cheese and chicken were similar to that provided in the nachos above, with the cheese melted and the chicken lean and thinly sliced and evenly laid out through the quesadilla.  The quesadilla was cut into quarters and placed onto the plate.

The quesadilla was served with some guacamole, vinegar dressed diced tomato and onion, sour cream and some gourmet lettuce salad.

Cappuccino

33 Degrees South advertise the use of Toby Estate’s Arabica Beans.

You can get most coffees in cup or mug sizes with the latter costing 50 cents more.

We liked: Home cooked style food and quantity; brings a bit of the South West to Perth

We didn't like: The variations in quality of meals; inconsistent service attitude

Other things to note: Free Wifi; Facing a busy Fitzgerald Street can make the limited al fresco dining a little unpleasant

33 Degrees South
410 Fitzgerald Street
North Perth WA 6006
(08) 9227 0964
http://www.33degreessouth.net.au/

Trading Hours

Tuesday to Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm

Saturday: 8am to 3:30pm
Sunday: 8am to 2pm

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