Cosy Hills cafe serving quirky dishes well worth the drive

There was a tense silence at the table as we waited for our meals to emerge from Kalamunda’s Mason & Bird kitchen.

This had nothing to do with the cosy cafe itself and everything to do with completing an hour-and-a-half hike just prior at Rocky Pool on an empty stomach.

My first recommendation is to give the scenic hike a shot for yourself (we did the 5km hard route, but there is an option to do an 11km moderate). My second recommendation is to eat breakfast before it.

My third is to give this cafe a try whether or not you’ve groaned and sweated your way over hills that have no business being so steep and slippery.

It’s bustling on a Sunday morning, full of trail bike riders, fellow out-of-towners looking a bit lost and locals. Much like cars doing laps of a packed carpark, we nabbed a spot outside the moment we saw movement.

The menu comprises filling brunch options — pork with chilli jam, grilled heirloom tomatoes, deluxe scrambled eggs and the like — as well as toasties and mains.

Selecting off the main menu, some of the group embraced their Sunday health kick with the shredded chicken salad ($19.50) and roast sweet potato salad with chicken ($23), whereas I was getting something with the chips I’d been daydreaming about throughout the hike.

This came in the form of the vegetarian burger — stacked with a grilled zucchini fritter, turmeric pickled cabbage and herbie hummus — with a well-cooked array of spuds.

It hit the spot, light with tasty flavours coming through the hummus. The filling didn’t cascade out, as can all too often happen with a good burger, and after a few bites I felt sustained enough to speak once more.

The shredded chicken salad, chosen by a friend who doubles as a fitness influencer, was healthy without being too boring, with honey roasted carrots, nuts and a tahini dressing.

Equally proving you can make friends with salad, the roast sweet potato had a slightly sweeter edge with the addition of craisins and white wine vinaigrette with a bit of a sugary finish.

Despite every table full, with a keen few keeping an eye out for a sign of departure, the food came out quickly, with service efficient and friendly.

Mason & Bird

7 Williams Street, Kalamunda

OPEN

Mon-Sun, 8am to 3pm

BOOKINGS

No

CONTACT

masonandbird.com.au

THE VERDICT

Escaping the big smoke and heading to the Hills has never been so delicious. This cosy cafe is dishing tasty and filling food, with plenty of quirky or healthy options.

15/20