Paddington's The Rogue Rennard is one of my favourite Brisbane cafés. Striking a wonderful balance between casual and sophisticated, it has, in my opinion, some of our city's very best coffee. Its owners, Dane and Alin, and their lovely staff, are always friendly and warm to newcomers and regulars alike. The food is excellent, well priced, and high quality. And they even tolerate my food intolerances.
With all of this in mind, you can well imagine I was thrilled when the guys announced they had secured a liquor licence and were serving dinner three nights a week, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
By night the Parisian style café retains its relaxed vibe, but is also even more charming with the addition of candles and the lights of Paddington around you. In this neck of the woods great night time options — including spots where you can just grab a drink and a few nibbles — are still pretty rare. I've visited a few times for an evening meal or drink and it seems the locals are as appreciative as I am. The space is intimate and cosy, which means that it is best to book to avoid missing out.
But what about the food? If you've visited the café for breakfast or lunch before, you will find the dinner options take things in a slightly different direction. This food is incredibly well considered and polished. It blends haute cuisine with casual fare very well. It is a small menu, divided in to 'Hors d'oeuvres', 'Fromage', 'Supper', and 'Dessert', which changes very frequently to keep regulars on their toes, and serves up the likes of terrine with cornichons, confit organic chicken, and pork belly with parsnip. Add to this an excellent wine, beer, and cider list and you've got plenty to keep you happily fed and watered.
If you want to do a little menu perusing for yourself, head to their website and take a look!
Image Credit: Simply Beef and Lamb