Something for Jess

Overview

Usually when you walk out of a cafe you're visiting for the first time, you will talk about how the coffee was or how (non-)delicious your meal was, yet upon leaving Something for Jess, all I could speak of was how happy I felt having visited. That is not to say the menu was not worth talking about, heck it is even worth writing home about. It just has such a captivating personality that you cannot help but fall in love with this quirky Chippendale boutique.

As soon as you enter, you are swimming in positivity. Natural light illuminates the space and colour is splashed across the walls. A vivacity lives in the street- and op shop-sourced furniture, in the fresh flowers on tabletops, on the friendly smiles of the staff and on the wonderfully fresh and diverse menus chalked on ladders and chalkboards across the cafe. That's right, no boring old paper here; your eyes have to circumnavigate the whole interior and take in its complete character in order to uncover the fresh gems you would like to eat and drink.

Fresh is the perfect word to describe the palette on offer. The seasonal menu transforms weekly according to the fresh produce received, meaning that there are plenty of reasons to return each week and even each day, with a new juice of the day on offer. For that reason I would recommend skipping the coffee ($3.50 and delicious) to enjoy the juice (a $5 thirst-quenching blend of pineapple, rockmelon and pear when this writer visited) or delicious affogato on offer.

Once you've wet your whistle, you can choose from the tantalising menu. What it lacks in meal choice, it more than makes up for in flavour provision. Despite the limited range, it will take you quite some time to decide exactly which dish sounds most delicious and trust me, you only need one dish as they are deceptively filling. The torta de milanesa ($15.50) arrives on an aesthetically pleasing mishmash selection of crockery and delivers a perfect concoction of satisfying flavours that was matched by the heavenly raised portobello mushroom ($16).

Whilst it is highly likely these dishes will not still be on offer when you attend, you will certainly have something equally, if not more delicious awaiting. Eating on the run is also catered for with a variety of sandwiches ($8-$10), friands ($4.50) and muffins ($4) availabl,e but if you have the time, sit down and enjoy the pleasant optimistic slice of Chippendale on offer here — it is what truly makes the place.

A lot of love and thought has gone into Something for Jess — the owner named it after his wife — and it is ready to share that love with all of you. So head down for some brunch; it is the best meal of the day and not many places provide brunch-friendly meals this good.

Image: jingyuuaann via Instagram.