PSA: Griffith has a brand new café with the opening of Recess Coffee

Posted on 12 August, 2024

 If you live in Griffith, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee because the suburb has a brand new café with the opening of Recess Coffee.

The new café and roasters is a collaboration between hospitality veterans Anthony Iannelli (the brains behind hatted restaurant Terra) and coffee aficionado Scott Brewer (formerly of Barrio), and promises a flavour-forward reimagination of all-day dining, in addition to retail elements.

It will serve breakfast, lunch, and snacks all day, seven days a week – putting in place Anthony’s long-held vision for a classic café serving superior dishes and exemplary cups of coffee. Which (in good news for caffiends) means they will be roasting their own beans.

“Recess will be a culmination of what we think makes a truly great café,” says Anthony.

“The quality of the coffee is integral to the venue, and Scott will be roasting all of our coffee right here in Canberra – a few for in-store and a few for take-home purchase. Service is also important to our success. You won’t find any QR codes here. Instead, we’ll be going back to the days of table service – giving diners the attentive and friendly experience they deserve.”

But it’s the fresh produce and the quality of the food that will set Recess apart.

The food menu (helmed by chef Vance Arellano, formerly of Silo Bakery) boasts classic brunch staples. Simple and moreish, expect lighter dishes like toast with preserves or banana bread accompanying old school classics like eggs benedict with saffron hollandaise, fluffy pancake stacks topped with butter and maple syrup, and a breaky muffin layered with folded egg and choice of beef sausage or bacon.

For those looking for a new lunch location, like Terra, Recess Coffee will hero “Plates” of mouth-watering proteins like wagyu rump steak and pork cutlets. Other highlights? “Handheld” servings of fried chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers and charcoal roasted porchetta sandwiches, “Pasta & Other Stuff” such as Fusilli Calabrese with Italian sausage ragu and potato and leek soup with truffle & goat cheese, and seasonal “Sides” including house-baked baguettes with butter.

And like any good café, a rotating selection of cakes and pastries will be available to enjoy with Recess’ freshly brewed coffee, house-made smoothies and cold-pressed juices. There will also be the option to enjoy a beer or bottle of local or natural wine during lunch service, with a rotating list of wines by the glass.

With a relaxed retro feel thanks to a major makeover by MyMyMy Architecture and Iannelli’s wife Kristin, the interiors are welcoming and cosy – an external courtyard with heating and lush greenery is perfect for warmer weather. Tunes will come courtesy of a vinyl record player spinning throughout the day.

Nestled in the quaint Griffith Shops precinct, it’s a quintessential classic café.

Photography: Ash St George.