Ellen & Rod — Restaurant in Ipswich City

This cafe has been my favourite cafe in Ipswich for years. I don't get to go there as often as I'd like, but love it each time I do get there, except for today. The food is amazing, presentation is perfect. The quaint atmosphere is relaxing. Just don't ask for a milkshake for your coeliac child with ice instead of ice cream as their ice cream has gluten in it. I've never been treated as though this request is a thorn in one's side before, with one child coeliac another lactose intolerant, milkshakes without the ice cream is something I've asked for at many places and everywhere is only too happy to oblige. Their response is 'we don't do frappes', I'm pretty sure a frappe is a coffee drink, I just asked for a milkshake with ice instead of ice cream. I got the same response when I spoke to the owner, he said 'we do have a long list of things we do do', when all their other milk based options were coffee based and not appropriate for a child. My daughter is 12, is only 28 kilos, is on a GF diet as coeliac disease causes growth delay in children. So this cafe I still recommend, but if your request requires a response with a bit of kindness...

Persistent in quality and dependability. It's small inside with mostly exterior seating. The coffee is consistently well executed cleverly extracted from the 'Five Senses' brand of choice. Milk beautifully textured. On point. On the rare occasion I dine in, the food is lovingly delivered to my table from the chef. Today Eggs Benny Royale with a perfectly gooey poached egg that looks so sexy I have to stop to photograph it. The yellow pumpkin sourdough is a devinely coloured flavorful base to the plated stack. Cabinet choices are daily fresh, both sweet and savoury takeaway options with premium beverages (Emma & Toms juices etc) for flavour on the fly. Meat head & Veggo options too. There are no stairs so if you're on wheels access is pretty good with a low side window for direct ordering from the footpath. If you're lucky enough to live within walking distance it's hound friendly and accessible offering cold water and seating for pooches and...

Went to breakfast to dine in and just did not enjoy many aspects of it unfortunately. I am not one to write these sorts of reviews but we did not have a great experience here.

Mango and banana smoothies had this sort of floury taste and texture. They lacked the actual mango and banana flavour. Iced latte had no flavour and was very milky. The hollandaise sauce on the eggs benny's was watery.

On a good note, the hot coffees were great, and the eggs on toast were delicious. The outdoor sitting area is very cosy and enjoyable.

The reason we did not send anything back was because of the very long wait time for food and breakky. We have seen other reviews raving about the food and service here, so we were baffled when we received what was previously mentioned. Was not worth our time...