You’d never know a slice of Paris sits hidden in the heart of Liebig Street.
Tucked away in a speakeasy-like setting, is The Café at Provincial. At 9.30 in the morning, I watch friends catch up over coffee and juices. A trio of mothers happily rid of their duties for at least an hour. Men in suits, mothers with prams, retail workers all purposefully glide through the home living store for the cheery staff awaiting their orders.
There is a selection of tables big and small, estimating approximately 50 capacity, not including the adorable alfresco dining. There is no discernible common trait of attendees/consumers/breakie-eaters; just a local place to catch up.
My neurodivergent brain is weighing up the stimuli and so far, so good. It’s a well-lit environment, but the skylight and warm tones don’t exacerbate the ‘Big Light’ displeasures. Soft music plays and there is a hum of conversation and coffee machines simply adding to the atmosphere.
In terms of actual dining experience; I love self-serve water stations. I help myself and grab a menu and sit at the end of a table for ten so I can quietly observe the goings-on. They allow me to have the kids serving of waffles because I explained I couldn’t finish a full serve. But I added bacon on the side and I am forever happy with my decision. Generous portion considering it is kids size. The plates and mugs are so sweet and the coffee is perfection. For less than $25, I am stoked.
On a personal tangent, I am surprised to see someone that I matched with on Hinge over a month ago that I definitely failed to continue maintaining conversation with since bailing on a catch-up. He politely waves – to his credit – before briskly legging it as fast and as far from me as possible and it still hasn’t hindered my experience here!
I debate pancakes vs waffles with the father & daughter duo who sit at the end of the table and enjoy my aspirational surroundings.
There’s a slight chill from the open store-front but having sat here for an hour I feel like that’s a "me-problem" for failing to wear a jumper in the middle of June.
Also, their menu is reasonably extensive for a limited selection and having had a sticky-beak at my neighbours’ Eggs Benny, I can confirm their savoury options look mighty delicious too.
I just watched a little yoyo sweet treat be delivered on the worlds tiniest plate to an older couple who then proceeded to split it in half. I may never recover.