The Little Pantry

The food is ambrosial, scrumptious, and flavoursome. The staff are hospitable, and the ambience homely and warm. The interiors & decorations are minimalist, sophisticated, and cute.

I’m talking about The Little Pantry in Subiaco, my new favourite cafe. The pantry is owned and run by Aleks Kesic, who has over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry. Head barista Manuel Goria does the coffee & tea, and interior designer Gabbi McAually works with Aleks and the young staff to prepare food and serve customers.

The Little Pantry

Walking down Nicholson Street

The Little Pantry cafe in Subiaco

Aleks, Gabbi, and Manuel

Gabbi and Manuel working hard at the counter

Coffee, coffee, coffee

Aunty B’s Chocolate Panforte

Window display of cakes, rolls, wraps, and sandwiches

Display window

I come here for lunch after a caffeinated morning, with stops at Zebba and Cnr. in Northbridge prior. I am greeted with smiles and hellos from Aleks, Manuel, and Gabbi as I walk to the counter. I order the Rare roast beef fillet, with oven roasted tomatoes, caramelised balsamic onions, Jarlsberg cheese, and mayo ($10.00), and a long macchiato ($3.00) before sitting down at the only empty table at the time.

As I wait for my order to arrive, I look up, down, left, and right with eyes and mouth wide open. I either look like a crazy person or a kid in a candy shop. To the right of me is a dark brown cubic shelving, with San Pellegrino water lined in a perfect row at the top. In the compartments below are coffee machines & yellow teacups, green teapots, bright & funky coloured candles, olive oils, preserves in jars, glasses, and tins. To the left of me is a small table of aqua glass tumblers and abstract white jugs full of water. I go over and pour myself a glass of water. In the middle of the cafe is a communal table with people talking, reading, eating, and drinking.

Cute yellow teacups

My aqua tinged glass tumbler

My long mac arrives first, served in one of those cool aqua glass tumblers. It is made from a special Italian coffee called Caffe Torrefazione Ponchione. Manuel sources his beans directly from Caffè Ponchione, an Italian micro-roaster and cafe in Asti, Italy, which is rated very highly by the locals. He is a close family friend of the people who run the business, which is why The Little Pantry is the only cafe to serve Ponchione in Australia. Caffè Ponchione is also a part of the Slow Food movement, which means that production of food and coffee is done in a good, clean, and fair way, and is sustainable, healthy, and harvested in good working conditions. My coffee has a dense brown colour, and is dark, smokey, and full of body. The aroma is earthy and the coffee leaves a strong, lingering bitterness on the back of my tongue. It is not bad.

Caffe Torrefazione Ponchione Long Machiatto

My rare roast beef fillet sandwich is served to me shortly after, which is toasted. Nicely, toasted. The bread is Turkish with olive oil, rosemary, and sea salt. It has a tea-like aroma, is soft on the inside, and has a bit of crunch to it. Inside are large slices of rare roast beef fillet which are perfectly cooked – they are juicy and tender. Overall the sandwich is nutty and sweet, with tinges of saltiness, and loads of texture. It fills me up very quickly and I am unable to finish the other half off. Gabbi takes it off my hands, wrapping it tightly in paper, an then popping it into a brown paper bag.

Rare roast beef fillet, with oven roasted tomatoes, caramelised balsamic onions, Jarlsberg cheese, and mayo

Mmm…melted Jarlsberg cheese – nutty and sweet

Before I leave, I speak to Aleks about The Little Pantry. She is charming and friendly. I see the passion in her eyes. Aleks loves her place to bits, and has made every effort to offer quality food and coffee at reasonable prices. Her coffee prices range from $2.00 for an espresso to $2.50 for a cappuccino, and then all the way up to a whopping $3.00 for a mocha. Melbourne prices.

So in brief, what can I say about The Little Pantry?

The food is cheap. The coffee is cheap. The quality of food is high. Go there. Now.

The Little Pantry
Address: 206 Nicholson Road, Subiaco
Tel: +61 8 9388 8780

Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday (7:00am – 6:00pm)
Saturday (7:00am – 4:00pm)

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