Hobby Lane

The Verdict

Chef and owner Peter Shaw has spent the past 25 years cooking for the rich and famous (Oprah, Naomi Campbell and The Royal Family have all tasted his grub). But if you ask him, he’ll tell you his real passion is a tiny cafe in Mitchelton called Hobby Lane.

“My vision is for Hobby Lane to become a place worth travelling to for the foodies who tend to stick to the inner-city Brisbane establishments,” Peter says.

You might recognize this as the old Delicatezza: a deli-style cafe with a loyal Mitchelton following. Peter has kept the soul of the venue intact, but the menu is all new. Think ricotta hotcakes with coconut caramel and finger lime pearls, crispy corn fritters with avocado and a wicked tomato kasundi, or maybe a Swiss mushroom toastie with fried halloumi (our personal pick).

The cafe is open for lunch Tuesday to Saturday, serving up heftier plates like smoked Wagyu topside sangers, slathered in beetroot jam. If your bathroom scales haven’t been friendly lately, go the kingfish poke bowl with cucumber, edamame and a tangy yuzu dressing (this thing is the bomb).

Drinks-wise, you’ve got Lindt hot chocolate, iced coffee from Toby’s, EBT and pots of steaming peppermint tea, plus cold-pressed juices and bottled kombucha. All the bases covered right there.

Need a cherry on top? Hobby Lane is the only Brissy cafe north of the river to stock Melbourne’s cult ice-cream cookies, Butterbings. 

Image credit: Hobby Lane