Sorelle Eatery

Why split your Sunday mornings between brunching and homewares browsing when you can combine the two together? Part cafe, part homewares store, St Lucia’s Sorelle Eatery lets you do just that. A new spot from iconic Brisbane hospitality family the Togninis, who you may recognise from Milton’s Togninis Deli Cafe (and previously Il Locale Italian), Sorelle means ‘sisters’ in Italian, named for both its place as sister venue to Tognini’s and for Mark and Narelle Tognini’s daughters, Madeleine and Nastassia, who have recently joined the family business. 

Very much the younger sibling of the 30-year-old Togninis, Sorella certainly looks it, with nearly all white  interiors filled with dark green and oak timber furnishings, jute rugs and arched shelving. Lining the shelves of the homewares section is a selection of ceramics, soft furnishings and children’s gifts from boutique Australian brands—so you’re sure to find something you just can’t leave behind as you stop for a quick browse on your way out.

Before that happens though, you’ll want to sit down for something to eat—and there is plenty worth sitting down for. The all-day breakfast menu offers up everything from wholesome nourish bowls loaded with crispy cauliflower, seasonal greens, quinoa, pumpkin hummus, spiced chickpeas and cashew cream, to hearty sicilian chilli scrambled eggs with sobrasada, fried capers and stracciatella sourdough. Our pick though, is the tiramisu cruffin: a croissant bun filled with tiramisu cream, espresso syrup, shaved chocolate and seasonal berries. 

If it’s lunch you’re after, you split a few share plates like beef carpaccio, burrata with heirloom tomatoes and a stacked salumi board, or dive straight into Italian-inspired mains like saffon risotto, veal cotaletta or a lighter mortadella toastie. There’s even a short but sweet wine list if you feel like a tipple with your midday meal (though that may make resisting the homewares even harder). 

Image credit: Callie Marshall