Mietta's Guide to Australian Restaurants

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Location

The Gun Shop Cafe

Ph: (07) 3844 2241 ; 53 Mollison St, WEST END 4101
Modern Australian, $$, * for Food & Ambience
Open Mon 7am-2.30pm Tue Sat 7am-late Sun 7am-1pm; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $8 bottle; AE DC MC V EFT, Outside seats
Chef Matthew Piggin & Mark Turbille (10-12-08) Owner Jason & Karen Coolen (10-12-08)
Gunshop Cafe

Mietta's Review
The outside of this one-time gun shop is painted an appropriate dark grey. Inside the white painted spaces are brightly lit so that its West End audience can adequately appreciate each other. The laid back attitude of the front of house conceals a very professional approach to running a cafe. Food is good, service spot on and prices, particularly for wine, are very reasonable. In 06 mains averaged $18.

Other published opinions

Queensland Food and Wine "When Gunshop opened it raised a new target for cafes in Brisbane to hit But this funky spot, with its bare-bricked walls, wooden boards and cool clientele hasn't rested on its laurels"

Courier Mail Food and Wine Guide 2009 Queensland Score: 14/20 "A 'no reservation' poiicy for weekend breakfasts and brunches may mean a wait. A line often snakes out of here on weekends, giving a clue to the cafe's conic status among breakfast and brunch aficionados"

Brisbane Times Score: 14/20

Courier Mail food and wine guide Queensland 2008 Score: 14/20 "When it's all good and you're feelin' cruisy, amble along to arguably Brisbane's busiest cafe. The cheerful breakfast queues on weekends progress nicely, and even on weekdays right up to lunchtime there's an occasional conga line and busy-ness all about, the bustle augmented by bright music and clangs and bangs from a kitchen working to capacity"

Brisbane News 24-10-2007 Tony Harper, Score: Food 8, Wine 7, Service 6.5, Ambience 7 "I've opted instead for one or two dinners over the years, and I've enjoyed them immensely. And since it changed hands just a few months ago, I thought it time to revisit and see what changes - if any - had happened to the place. But perhaps two previous visits weren't enough. There may be changes aplenty, but they are too subtle for my questionable memory. To me, it seems like the same mix of laid-back West End chic, purposefully plain surrounds and a thoroughly enticing menu."

Brisbane News Dining Out Guide 2007 "Everybody's talking about the Gunshop's breakfasts, such as potato fetta hash cakes, spinach, grilled tomato and herbed sour cream"

Courier-Mail GoodLife Cafe Alison Cotes 13/12/05 score Food: 16 Service: 16 Ambience: 14 Value for money: 15 "The Gunshop is not the place for quiet reflection, unless the courtyard out the back is available. Inside it's dark, with wooden tables and old-time chairs, and can become crowded."

Courier-Mail Goodlife Restaurant Guide 2006 * "If you want breakfast at the weekends get in early, because they only accept bookings during the week. The Gunshop is a legend in its own lifetime, and it's here you'll find Brisbane's alternative movers and shakers, who are there as much for the great food as for the atmosphere"

Brisbane News Eating Out Guide 2006 "Fans of great breakfasts flock to this funky West End cafe. A no-booking policy means you may have to wait for a table, but it's worth it."

Courier-Mail Goodlife Restaurant Guide 05 "Breakfasts and brunches go off with a bang bere on weekends, and so popular are they the owners don't accept bookings on Saturday and Sunday. It's a case of show up, and wait until someone vacates a table. Nobody seems to mind too much"

Courier-Mail Goodlife Restaurant Guide 05 Best cafes "colourful, contemporary food, basic decor, brisk service and low prices"

Brisbane News Dining Out Guide 2004 "The crumbling, exposed-brick walls and funky wooden furniture add a real sense of style to this cafe, which is known for its amazing breakfasts."

Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Australia 2004,'A.though best known for its breakfasts, The Gunshop is an extremely popular destination for lunch and dinner as well...The staff are dressed...but their attitude and attention leave no room for complaint. The food is very good, capably spanning the Asian and European classics...wine list is small but interesting'

Brisbane News 2002 Eating Out Guide

Or perhaps ...

The Gun Shop Cafe (07) 3844 2241, , 53 Mollison St, West End - The laid back attitude of the front of house conceals a very professional approach to running a cafe

Lock 'N' Load (07) 3844 0142, , 142 Boundary St, West End

Mao's (07) 3255 2442, 220 Melbourne St, West End

Melbourne Hotel (07) 3844 1571, 2 Browning St, West End

Mondo Restaurant (07) 3844 1132, 166 Hardgrave Rd, West End - This very busy and popular all organic smart cafe come retail outlet offers lots of yummy vegan, vegetarian and wheat free choices.

Posto (07) 3844 1792, Shop 4, 235 Boundary St, West End

The Office Bar (07) 3840 9888, Precinct 2 Melbourne Hotel, 10 Browning St, West End

Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House (07) 3844 6045, 58 Mollison St, West End - Cosy, atmospheric, eclectic cafe with oriental garden setting.

Tongue & Groove (07) 3846 0334, 63 Hardgrave Rd, West End - Funky and fun atmosphere, the Tongue and Groove also serves imaginative and value for money food.

Tukka (07) 3846 6333, , 145 Boundry St, West End - If you want to eat native flora and fauna this is the place for you. The setting, having a faintly feral feeling, rather suits the 'bush' menu.

Twelve (07) 3840 9888, Melbourne Hotel, 10 Browning St, West End