Mrs. S, Maylands

Granny June’s cornbread, bacon, poached eggs and maple syrup. OH yeah… that’s me.

Granny June's cornbread, bacon, poached eggs and maple syrup

Granny June’s cornbread, bacon, poached eggs and maple syrup

Mrs. S Cafe is cute. Mismatched furniture, antique light fittings, vintage teacups and saucers, paper doilies, biscuit tins and printed tea towels give it a comfy, op shoppy feel. It’s Maylands at its sweetest and most charming with wholesome cooking, freshly squeezed fruit juice and homebaked treats wrapped in patty papers. The coffee’s good too.

There’s a large communal wooden table in the centre of the cafe and comfy bench seating along the wall. The little details and personal touches – figurines on the counter, a cook book collection in the shelves, the old fashioned weighing scales – all quietly create the atmosphere of the place. It’s cosy but cool, with not a whiff of mothballs or Franklin Mint collectibles on display.

The centrepiece has to be the drinks menu, handwritten on a large blackboard hanging on the wall, decorated with a tribute to Beatrix Potter, featuring a bushy-tailed squirrel, Peter Rabbit in a bright blue jacket, bunnies, little birdies and garden vegies.

Drinks menu board

Drinks menu board

The storybook theme continues on every table with the menu, pegged in place inside Little Golden Books. On our table are well-loved copies of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and My Little Golden Book of Dogs, and I see childhood classics on other tables including my brother’s favourite, Richard Scarry.

Mrs. S' menus are in Little Golden Books

Mrs. S’ menus are in Little Golden Books

A creamy flat white and scalding hot tea hit the spot but we are ready for so much more!

Flat white and English breakfast tea

Flat white and English breakfast tea

We order fresh fruit juices (AU$5 each) – watermelon and cloudy apple.

Fresh watermelon and apple juices

Fresh watermelon and apple juices

Caroline chooses the free range poached eggs, ciabatta toast and tomato relish (AU$12). It’s simple but done exactly right: gooey egg yolks, crisp ciabatta and tasty chunky relish bursting with flavour.

Free range poached eggs, ciabatta toast and tomato relish

Free range poached eggs, ciabatta toast and tomato relish

Craig orders the ham, Gruyere and fried egg toastie (AU$11.50), Mrs. S’ version of the croque madame. The golden-brown sandwich is topped with a sunny side-up egg sprinkled generously with pepper and chopped parsley, served with a rocket and onion salad and more of that gorgeous tomato relish.

Ham, Gruyere and fried egg toastie

Ham, Gruyere and fried egg toastie

Ham, Gruyere and fried egg toastie - close-up

Ham, Gruyere and fried egg toastie – close-up

I’ve ordered Granny June’s cornbread, bacon, poached eggs and maple syrup (AU$16.50). It’s two slabs of cornbread stacked high, piled with bacon and fresh rocket, with two poached eggs peppered and perched on top, the plate dribbled with maple syrup. There are corn kernels in the crumbly cornbread, which is deceptively substantial. The only thing that would improve this masterpiece is more maple syrup.

Granny June's cornbread, poached eggs, bacon and maple syrup

Granny June’s cornbread, poached eggs, bacon and maple syrup

Caroline can’t resist ordering a lemon curd cake (AU$4.50), served with a dollop of double cream. The little cake’s sugar-dusted crusty crown has lifted just enough to reveal the luscious yellow curd inside.

Lemon curd cake

Lemon curd cake with double cream.

The cake fork seems so civilised and unnecessary. This is beautiful foodgasm stuff for gooey food fans.

Lemon curd cake - innards

“Why yes, thank you Caroline, I’d love to try some lemon curd cake.”

The lemon curd cake is just one of the abundance of pastries, cakes, tarts, muffins and macarons on display at the counter to tease your sweet tooth.

Pastries and macarons on the counter at Mrs. S

Pastries and macarons on the counter at Mrs. S

Mrs. S' contact details and opening hours are displayed on a doily

Mrs. S’ contact details and opening hours are displayed on a doily in the window

It’s a gorgeous little cafe, and at its busiest, you may have to wait for a table.

Left: the painted wall opposite the Beatrix Potter blackboard. Right: the communal table in the centre of the cafe

Mrs S is conveniently located just across the road from the Maylands train station. I’m envious of the commuters who pass by Mrs S on their way to catch the train each day. I’d be tempted to drop in for a buttery little cake on my way to work. On weekends, Granny June’s cornbread and bacon.

Mrs. S Cafe, Maylands

Daily temptation on the corner at Mrs. S Cafe, Maylands

Mrs. S
178 Whatley Crescent (corner Eighth Avenue)
Maylands WA 6051
Telephone: (08) 9271 6690
Open
Tuesday to Friday 7am to 4pm – Closed this ANZAC Day
Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm
Closed Mondays and public holidays

Mrs. S on Urbanspoon


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Current competitions

Don’t forget to share your wok story for a chance to win a Scanpan 32cm Classic Covered Wok (Australian readers only) – closes 4 May 9pm AWST (Perth time).

And you have a couple of days left to enter to win “Secrets of Macarons” and “Macarons are not Macaroons” (open to readers worldwide) – closes 27 May 9pm AWST (Perth time).

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