‘Welcoming and friendly’ was the vision young couple, Matt and Nicole, had when they decided to renovate their restaurant/café and turn it into The Cutlery Drawer! Now that the drawer is open and the secret is out, I would like to invite you to enjoy one of Manning’s new additions; TCD offers great coffee and amazing brunch.
TCD embodies my ideal of a great suburban café and reflects Matt and Nicole’s years of hospitality-driven experience. As Manning locals themselves, their aim was to create a fresh look and an inviting, relaxed atmosphere. In their own words, they want TCD to be ?a place for the locals to hang out?.
So why does TCD embody my ideal of great café? Well, Matt has been a professional chef for almost two decades; he developed a great deal of his passion for food and culinary knowledge whilst travelling around Australia and Europe where he worked in many renowned restaurants. His focus is on working with fresh, high quality produce and his goal is to create an approachable and uncomplicated breakfast and lunch menu, as well offering some delicious freshly baked cakes, tarts, rolls and even healthy living treats!
To pair with the great food, Nicole has really focused on the coffee and her hospitality and coffee experience complement their friendly service perfectly.
It is hard not to notice their brand new, white Vintage-look Expobar Ruggero and the small army of Mazzer Grinders. The espresso coffee menu offers the always reliable Five Senses Crompton Road blend, as well as a rotating Single Origin program showcasing individual origin qualities. Over the warm months ahead, I’m pleased that Nicole has decided to implement a slow, cold drip coffee program. The coffee produced is refreshing and sweet, and can be enjoyed with milk, sparkling water or even ice cream!
On my last visit, I enjoyed the sautéed mushrooms on sourdough toast topped with Persian feta, free range poached eggs and fresh greens. The food was cooked beautifully and the presentation was mouthwatering. The coffee was a long black from their single origin, the Colombian Primaveral, which was well prepared with a juicy mouth feel, refined sugar sweetness and a delicate floral finish; just what I needed for my early spring brunch.
Matt and Nicole are genuinely excited about the possibilities ahead and I bet the locals in Manning are thanking them for it! Their lives have evolved greatly since they first opened the doors of their restaurant/café many years ago, and through this journey, they have gained some wonderful customers and built some real friendships.
Due to their new lifestyle, their focus is on morning trade. The café also offers catering services and functions. You will find this friendly space on Welwyn Road and they are open from 7am till 4pm, Tuesday till Sunday with plenty of parking available.
The Cutlery Drawer
27 Welwyn Avenue,
Manning, WA, 6152
Opening hours
Tuesday — Friday 7:00am — 4:00pm
Saturday & Sunday 8:00am — 2:00pm
Facebook: facebook.com/TCDrawer
Twitter: @T_C_Drawer
Instagram: @TheCutleryDrawer
© Photos provided with permission by Matt O’Donohue from Abstract Gourmet. All rights reserved by photographer
