Little Hippo Cafe — Restaurant in Brisbane City

I've been to this café for lunch on a couple of occasions before and it was quite busy and the service was fairly slick and food good.

Certainly my experience recently is an exception. Coffee was still ok. The service was very slow although there was only one other table of 6 people inside and no one outside. The serving sizes were very small for the price! The variety on the menu was disappointing. Not a one salad choice for a lunch in a venue in our climate this time of year?? Mainly bread based dishes. We were not offered a wine or alcoholic drinks list and assumed that (now)there were none available but this in fact wasn't so. A fresh glass of bubbles or a crisp white for the ladies would be an attraction for more clientele as would some salad bowls.

We weren't offered a dessert menu after lunch so that went by the way too. Our table was not cleared after our meal of empty plates or glasses so we stacked them aside on a nearby table after an extended time. We were there for over an hour. The tables nearby that had food left on them when we came in were still not wiped down when we left and meanwhile we coped with the flies. I had to brush food off my seat before sitting down. The staff lent little attention to us. We had to get up from the table and asked for everything ie water, coffees, side plates for share dishes (numerous times). It was surprisingly noisy inside despite being almost empty -staff doing tasks. On previous visits I have sat outside but it was too hot this time.

I'm really disappointed to write this review as I had enjoyed visiting previously and believe there is a lot of potential but understand why there is/seems less business happening these days and no more dinners if this is the current standard. Staff need training and guidance. We need more novel places in the Centenary area that offer something unique (as this cafe can) not just burgers and pizza or sandwiches and ones that offer a good standard. And certainly ones that we can bring visitors to our area too and not be embarrassed. Just over $60 for two small mains...

The reason for my review of 2 stars.

We started coming in 2023. The chefs the atmosphere, the energy were all great so we would drive 40 minutes from south Brisbane (close to the Gold Coast) for the great food and service.

Today we returned after 12 months and having had a baby.

Immediately noticed new staff and new chefs. We arrived ed 10:50am.

Ordered 2 drinks and 3 meals. Kids waffles - the fruit was frozen or atleast everything but the strawberries. The waffles were so hard not even we could eat it and our child kept spitting it out as it was so hard to chew on. The miso mushroom - was tasty but was lacking the wow factor.

The lamb Benedict - again missing the wow factor.

The food was not unappetising, it just wasn’t the same as it was previously all the other times we had visited and if you had visited before you would understand how fantastic the atmosphere and menu really was. I’m assuming it’s either new owners or new chefs. To be honest I don’t have much positive to say. I just hope they can improve on both service and bring the excitement back that once was.

Side note - we ordered our drinks at 10:50am received one. Had to ask for the second at 11:45am but due to this cancelled the drink and then it was brought out. Asked for it to be removed from the bill and did not drink it. It was removed. Sadly I wouldn’t return.

Update: as an owner your response is extremely unprofessional and frankly embarrassing. Do better as a business owner please and learn to take constructive criticism. You had a sign on your door that asked for and welcomed feedback. And judging by the couple sitting across from us who didn’t finish their food, arrived after us, and left before us speaks volumes. In addition your social media page states the cafe was sold earlier on in the year by the original owners/chefs. Maybe if you put the same energy and effort into witting this response as you did your final product, you wouldn’t be...

To Be Or Not To Be Cafe is definitely an amazing restaurant. From its staff to its food it does resemble what William Shakespeare cafe woukd look like. Def a hidden gem!!!!

The cafe is great size very spacious lots of seats . Is very popular , luckily got a table without a reservation . The area is really clean and urban, very lively cute cafe!!

Large variety of dishes really good. Avacado smash was really good big size worth price. New York sandwhich was smaller and less dense than I thought , great cheese pull , really overpowering mustard. Mustard lovers try it!!! But still really good, good salad. Didn’t take long to come out even though it was busy. Nice presentation of the dishes. Really great service waiters were helpful and very kind. Really welcoming. Large variety of drinks , matcha really good. I’m impresssed! The matcha not too sweet and not too bitter really authentic tho a little bit it more matcha would make it nicer. Just a slightly stronger taste would make it over the top. Was a little expensive for a tiny cup of matcha. I expected a large cup since it is always a large cup and typically for $6.70 would expect it.

Atmosphere was great loved this cafe would definitely coming back soon to try other drinks. The red velvet latte looks good!! Overall experience was amazing loved this cafe and is such a hidden gem and is close to Mt Ommaney . Really enjoyed it here I would give it a 100000000000/10 would...