Waffle On Cairns – A Small Cafe With Big Taste

B25DF03D-BC4D-4E8E-931D-CFD314FE1D76Waffle On comes VERY highly recommended by reviewers at Trip Advisor and since I own stock in that company I try to heed their advice whenever possible. When I arrived the place was full which isn’t difficult considering there is only 1 table inside and 1 counter for 2 people. Outside there are maybe 5 tables, a couple with 4-5 seats and a few with 2 seats. There are people constantly stopping by to try to get a seat and unless they are masters at musical chairs and have the music timed right they are out of luck and are sent on their way. Those who are truly tenacious and demand their waffle will have to wait patiently on the sidewalk mean mugging the diners until they finally get up and give up their precious chairs. There is no to go ordering so you either sit here to eat or you go home and make your own damn waffles. Trust me your waffles will not hold a candle to these waffles and you will be missing out on one of the great wonders of the world. Yes. They are that good. 4544AC58-2CD1-4554-8078-1B2419288EB6

So now that you’ve scored a seat, do you want a traditional strawberry waffle, a plain waffle (yawn… just give up your seat now – what in the name of heaven is wrong with you???),  a “normal” breakfast perched on a waffle, or perhaps you are feeling like breakfast and dessert all in one fell swoop. If so you are in luck since there are an assortment of waffles that will satisfy that deep dark desire. 1628D1EA-397C-4281-A5F9-A690ACD80706Nothing to be ashamed of, just boldly order your dessert on a plate and pretend you are having a healthy breakfast. I do it all the time (if you’ve read my reviews you know this is oh too true). The prices for the sweet side of the menu run from 9.90 AUD for plain (yawn) to 15.90 for “Chronicles of Banan” which is served with Nutella, sliced banana, walnuts, caramel sauce, melted Belgian chocolate, and chocolate ice cream. If that doesn’t make you salivate then how about a Robert Brownie JNR made with a chocolate brownie waffle and served with chocolate AND vanilla ice cream, melted Belgian chocolate and your choice of strawberries, banana or both. There is a Maple Bacon waffle that is made with homemade candied bacon with maple syrup and vanilla ice cream. Gimme S’More is something that sounds heavenly – hand toasted (as opposed to foot toasted?) marshmallows, Belgian chocolate sauce topped crushed chocolate honeycomb with a side of vanilla and strawberry ice cream sandwiches between their delicious chocolate brownie waffle. There is a nod to the artist formerly known as Prince on their menu with a Raspberry Beret (yes there are raspberries in it – you are catching on..). The Cookie Monster is a decadent monstrosity which has brownie waffles filled with whipped cream, crushed Oreos, and served with both vanilla and chocolate ice cream, finished with melted white chocolate and chocolate Belgian sauce. ACAF39C2-8DF7-4B71-BE38-64F6D6F45E66Another waffle that had my stomach rumbling with desire was the Black Forest – chocolate brownie waffle with fresh raspberries and blueberries, served with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, dark cherry purée, topped with white and milk Belgian chocolate. If you, on the other hand want to act like an adult instead of a kid in a candy store (I’m on the kid in the candy store side but you may be more refined in your tastes) you can order some of the savory waffles (price from $14.90 – $16.90 AUD + $3 for extras) which include Avocado which not surprisingly has smashed avocado on the waffle, as well as scrambled egg, bacon (or mushroom – or both for a bit more money if you’re feeling famished) and finished with spring onion for $15.90 AUD. The Pommy breakfast is a homemade waffle served with baked beans,  bacon, egg, mushrooms, tomato and pork chipolata. I have no idea what chipolata is (look it up if you must know) but to me it sounds sort of like a pina colada with chocolate chips in it… They have a BLT waffle sandwich with the expected ingredients plus you can add avocado for $3 AUD. The mountain goat sounded tasty with goat cheese, smashed avocado, blueberry coulis and honey (see just add sweetness and I’m all over it). The Hot Spaniard is a waffle served with spicy chorizo, roasted red peppers, white beans in a spicy tomato sauce, topped with a poached egg and a side of sour cream. Any of the waffles can be made gluten free or vegan by substituting the regular waffle with a special coconut waffle.F1386955-EA6F-4427-8BA6-0B0A276AB5C0 I got greedy when I decided to order the Sir Eggs Benedict waffles and instead of bacon or mushrooms I got both (just another $3 AUD) PLUS I added goat cheese (just another $3 AUD) and oh my dear lord it was soooo worth that extra $3. I avoided the smoked salmon that was also an extra $3 because I have my limits, plus I can’t wrap my head around fish waffles… The mushrooms on the side were cut in thirds and complemented the Benedict perfectly. There was a MASSIVE pile of bacon that would send any pork lovin’ fool straight to heaven, pass go and DO collect that $200 because you are worth it. Anyway I loved the mushrooms but the bacon tasted different to me. I’m guessing it’s an Australian vs American bacon thing and I’m not about to get in the middle of that food fight. Honestly I’m sometimes a bit squirrelly about meat and large piles of it sort of freak me out… I know, I know, I’m in therapy for this, we’re working on it. I ate half the food and desperately wanted to inhale the other half but as someone who reviews a fair number of restaurants (and we’re not talking the sprouts and salads sort of restaurants) I’ve got to go easy on the portions or I’ll have to by my clothes in extra stretchy sizes. 

The waffle was lightly sweet so it didn’t taste weird (yes, I was afraid it might) with the eggs Benedict. The waffle complemented the eggs and hollandaise perfectly (eggs to waffle: “you look lovely today” hollandaise to waffle “Dahling you are simply divine!”). The whole thing was pure perfection.

To finish it all off (or to start) there are some healthy and not so healthy drink choices to include the normal coffees and teas but also fresh juice, smoothies, some decadent sounding shakes, and fresh fruit crushes.

and I’d travel on a plane for 10 hours to come back and have one of these again! In fact… I may sneak over there before my conference tomorrow to sample another one of these delightful waffle extravaganza creations.

Closed on Monday and open 7:30 am to 1:00 pm all other days.

64 Shields Street, Cairns, QLD, 4870 Australia

+61 429 930 921

 

Follow me on Instagram at @traveleatrinserepeat

 

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