Common Ground Eatery

Overview

Typically the place to bury your face in ice cream after a frolic on the beach, Browns Bay welcomes a slick new eatery that will have you hanging around the strip for a pre- or post-swim caffeine hit. Common Ground Eatery captures inventive café fare and really, really good coffee.

Interior designers We Don't Have Elephants were charged with the fit-out of the long, narrow space. The result is a clean, minimalist setting with long bench seating, large shared booths, plenty of exposed wood and greenery, with just the right amount of natural light.

Before jumping into the all-day menu, first you should refuel. Even if you're not in the business of coffee we recommend indulging for the pure, silky cups of gold that come from the white La Marzocco coffee machine. Boutique coffee roasters Rocket Espresso and Supreme provide the beans and diners can enjoy all the black and white favourites alongside specialised batch and cold brew. To recreate the experience at home, or at least give it a bash, beans and a lineup of brewing equipment are available for purchase from behind the counter.

While the full menu is still rolling out, the introductory list offers some inventive options for a daylight meal. The chilli and herb-enhanced scrambled eggs come atop broccolini, baba ganoush and halloumi with a thin slice of The Midnight Baker's Freedom Loaf. It offers the health benefits while making it entirely acceptable to enjoy cheese first thing in the morning. The bacon and hash is a great option for those adhering to a gluten-free lifestyle. It comes served in a stack with house-made hash, streaky bacon, sautéed kale, poached eggs and a generous helping of pecorino and queso on top.

Then there's mushroom and blue cheese soup, eggs benedict with soft shell crab (or pulled pork or salmon), and a fried brioche with passionfruit curd, caramelised banana, nut crumble and a scoop of Nice-Cream. Beyond the a la carte menu there's a cabinet filled with sweet and savoury treats. Take your pick from date and walnut loaf, baked cheesecake, caramel slice and a selection of tarts and quiches — all perfect to take away with your coffee down to the beach.