East Borough Eatery — Restaurant in Adelaide

Came here alone at 7.40am and was only intended to have a nice brunch as this place has a 4.6/5 rating, however I was kept asking the question ‘where r u from’ due to my Asian face! After informed that I had settled in Adelaide and not comfortable with that question, the guy kept asking. TRIGGER WARNING: if you are not white and have some horrible experiences in your previous country such as domestic violence, lost of a loved one due to war, dictatorship, etc. your day might be ruined.

He even tried to EDUCATE me that he’s from Nepal, he’s proud to say that, when he’s back to Nepal no one would ask where he’s from. BUT NEPAL IS GOOD FOR HIM DOES NOT MEAN ANOTHER COUNTRY IS GOOD FOR ANOTHER PERSON OKAY??? Also how can you EXCLUDE me from the Australian population based on my Asian face????????

Later, I heard him saying to the kitchen “she’s from Thailand’, well I am not sure whether he was to mention me (I was the only female in the cafe from the minute I walked in to the time he said that). Well, that country is NOT Thailand.

ALSO, surcharges are applied to credit card payments BUT you won’t be informed and he would just press on the machine. Well I always have cash with me to avoid surcharge. As I paid with two $20 notes (the meal was $27), I had received $3 coins only. After I told the guy that the change should be $13, he did gave me ten more bucks back but argued that it was because he was disturbed by me as when asked me something (i.e. where r u from), I gave him something else. Will that completely destroyed my appetite, I couldn’t tell if the food was good because I was tortured in my PREVIOUS country and his words had totally triggered me. That was...

Coffee was good, but not spectacular, a little strong for me, but I don’t particularly like strong coffee, so adding sugar or having a mocha was fine. Table water was provided and lightly chilled.

East Borough was split into two large rectangular rooms, with a combination of natural light and artificial that flows perfectly. There are many tables of many different sizes, to accomodate small and large groups. All had quite comfrtable chairs, and a few stools at benches and as extra chairs. It was also very clean, with staff cleaning the chairs during quite times.

There was a good amount of staff for busy and quite times. You didn’t feel like staff were overrun or bored, which benefits the customer’s experience. Their also very aware of the allergies and intollerances, which is muchly appreciated.

The food was fantastic, and came out a good time. And for freshly prepared food, came out in 10 minutes when quite of 20-30 when busy. Which is fantastic. I had sweet dishes both times, but the savory dishes I saw also looked very good.

It’s Child friendly, having high-chairs and toys. However, parking is very difficult, mostly side streets and if your lucky, on the main road. It can also get very loud, the space conains sound, so it is very loud when busy. When quite, the music is quite loud, but less...

The best chai latte I’ve ever had – absolutely incredible! Every sip was smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. Ordered the Halloumi steak, and it was cooked to perfection – flavorful, satisfying, and an absolute treat for the palate.

The café itself is such a gem – the interiors are subtle and pastel-themed, creating a calm and inviting atmosphere. The décor is tastefully done with just the right amount of charm, and there’s plenty of comfortable seating, making it a perfect spot whether you’re catching up with friends, working, or just enjoying some “me time.”

What really makes this place stand out is the excellent service. Sudeep and his team are warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly, making you feel welcome from the moment you step in. The prices are very reasonable considering the high quality of food, drinks, and overall experience.

This is definitely one of those places you’ll want to visit again and again – for the food, the drinks, the ambiance, and the people. Highly, highly recommended! Keep up the amazing work, Sudeep...