Not only is the southern part of Goodwood Road becoming a bit a food hub, the inside streets even have their own trendy little cafes. Locals may be familiar with The Stranded Store, but if you’re a visitor to the area, you’ll need to look up the address on a map.

This quaint little store is mainly open for breakfast and lunch with the occasional pop up dinner. Their current Winter breakfast menu offers a choice of 7 classic dishes, while their lunch menu is a bit more extensive with starters, salads and meat dishes. There is an emphasis on fresh and local ingredients which is evident on their menu.

As mentioned earlier, this place is small. There are a few bar seats at the entrance, a few dozen more in the separate dining area and some outdoor seating.

I like the timber furnishings, the exposed brickwork and the large windows that allow plenty of natural light to flow through. I was seated next to the entrance which had perfect lighting for the food photography, but it did feel a little confined.

For breakfast, I had the Eggs Benedict with Harris Smoked Salmon. The dish came out after a 15 minute wait and was beautifully presented.

The sauteed baby spinach had a lovely sweet mild taste that was balanced by the tangy flavour of the hollandaise sauce. The salmon was nice and smokey with a silky smooth texture which complemented the runny yolk from the two perfectly poached eggs. The bread was lightly toasted and more than inch thick.

A very well executed dish.

The staff were friendly and the service was good. Drinks arrived promptly and my plate was cleared as I finished. One of the main advantages of it’s secluded location is the reduced traffic that passes through the area. This creates a very casual relaxed atmosphere and an ideal setting for a lazy afternoon.

I think this place is expensive. Speaking to business owners, I know menu prices are reflective of rents, and with the location of this store, I can’t imagine rents would be as high as if it was on a main road. My meal set me back $18, which was the most expensive on the breakfast menu, and then the lunch options go up to $26. I thought the breakfast prices were a bit higher than average, while the lunch prices were expensive.

Don’t get me wrong, the food here is great and the presentation of the dishes are photo worthy. Coupled with the relaxed atmosphere and great customer service, you’re almost guaranteed a fantastic experience, however, I don’t think they should be charging restaurant prices for where they’re located.

WHERE: 14 The Strand, Colonel Light Gardens