As well as excellent victuals and an artistic space in which to enjoy them, the thing that keeps people going back to UR Caffe is the “nice” – the way owners Kate and Boyd Pattarapongkasame make everyone feel so good.
Their friendliness and the fact that they are living their dream just leaves a really pleasant taste in your mouth.
Kate and Boyd migrated to Australia from Thailand in 2007. In Sydney, Boyd worked as a barista by day and a chef at night. Kate, who already had qualifications in food science, added to her skill-set by studying to become a pastry chef while working in a health food store. Both had a dream to open their own café, but Sydney was out of the equation.
UR Caffe interior. Photo Nat Rogers/InDaily
They travelled to various destinations around Australia to look at possibilities. Despite having no family or friends here, they chose Melbourne Street, North Adelaide, in which to build their future and make their mark.
“You never know your destiny,” says Kate.
With UR Caffe, the couple have broken with the modern Thai food mould. Kate describes the food as “fusion, with a bit of Asian flavour”.
Spicy Corn Fritters. Photo Nat Rogers/InDaily
The breakfast menu is fairly standard at its core, with classic bacon and eggs and house-made banana bread, but the omelette, made with free-range eggs and smoked salmon, is served on sourdough toast with parmesan and Thai chilli sauce. The scrambled eggs are made with smoked salmon and asparagus, and topped with shaved radish and spicy coconut sauce.
The lunch menu lists a substantial offering of open sandwiches described using the French word “tartine”. It’s confounding – you just can’t put the UR Caffe menu in a box.
Recycled and DIY furniture. Photo Nat Rogers/InDaily
It’s interesting and refreshing, like the décor – a colourful and unpretentious fit-out using recycled and DIY pieces, with customers’ artworks on the walls.
But at the heart of UR Caffe is good coffee, generous breakfast and lunch dishes, homemade cakes and pastries, and smoothies that promise to make you healthier. And if what InDaily sampled is any measure, you would do well to trust in any of Kate and Boyd’s blends of colours, textures and flavours.
Favourite dish: Spicy Corn Fritters ($13.90). A stack of golden fritters (gluten and dairy-free) served on a bed of salad leaves and topped with avocado salsa.
UR Signature Chicken Satay Tartine and Alkaline Smoothie. Photo Nat Rogers/InDaily
Other dishes: UR Signature Chicken Satay Tartine ($13.90). If you like satay and you are hungry, you will love this dish. A slice of sourdough bread is topped with salad leaves and really tender grilled chicken and satay sauce. If we were there few hours earlier, closer to breakfast than lunch, the Avo Pomegranate Breakfast (pictured at top) would have been the order of the day.
Something sweet/to drink: InDaily just had to try one of Kate’s small-batch, blueberry friands. It was made fresh that morning using fresh blueberries, she said, laden with butter and achingly tender.
Maqui Smoothie. Photo Nat Rogers/InDaily
There are six smoothies on the menu, but three of them – Protein, Alkaline and Maqui – are laced with goodies to boost your vim and vigour. The Maqui blends powdered South American maqui berries with yoghurt and skim milk – a thick purple and naturally sweet drink that is supposed to be five times higher in antioxidants than the acai berry. Our favourite was the Alkaline, a mix of barley grass, wheat grass, spirulina and chlorella powder (more superfoods) blended with green juice. Coffee is by Thebarton roaster Goat Candy.
UR Caffe
119 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide
Ph 8267 3553
Open for breakfast and lunch seven days. Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 3.30pm. Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm.
