Dining

DINING / Gang Gang Café

Downer Hidden gem at the local shops

CANBERRA loves its local shops. As much as we can be attached to our own, it’s worth exploring the ACT’s local shop landscape to see what you can uncover.

Recently, that landed me in a sunny spot at the Gang Gang Café, a hidden gem in Downer (Frencham Place).

The place has a strong, friendly community vibe and couldn’t be more relaxed if it tried. Bricks are exposed on inside walls, concrete floors polished, the furniture a medley of pieces with some individual tables and some communal. And a café with the name Gang Gang wouldn’t be complete without at least one piece of artwork on the wall featuring a shy gang gang cockatoo, this one a male with a crimson red head and fluffy light-grey, feathered body.

Gang Gang is a neighbour to the Downer Community Centre and the local oval is just across the road. The shop’s bronze kangaroo sculpture, unveiled in 2019 to replace a previous sculpture that went missing (who knows where?) adds character.

The breakfast menu kicks off with simple toast and choice of jam, Vegemite or peanut butter ($9). I was peckish but couldn’t decide sweet or savoury. The berry and banana buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup caught my eye ($18) and so did the ricotta and berry raisin toast ($16). Hmmm.

In the end I settled, as I so often do with my first meal of the day, on savoury, ordering the baked eggs shakshuka ($20). Who doesn’t love a piping hot serve of a hearty Mediterranean dish to take away the tummy grumbles? Shakshuka means ‘mixture’ and the dish was just that.

Baked eggs shakshuka… smoky baked beans, two baked eggs, tomatoes, onions, and a secret mix of spices all oven baked in a large, flat skillet. Photo: Wendy Johnson Smoky baked beans, two baked eggs, tomatoes, Both inside and outside dining areas are quite onions, and a secret mix of spices all oven baked large and Gang Gang Café is dog friendly. You in a large, flat skillet. order at the counter and food is served at your

The dish arrived piping hot and was served table. The coffee is good. with white sourdough toast smothered with Covid-style, Gang Gang’s full menu is now butter. It was a huge serve and super tasty. It available for pick up and delivery. A new pizza truly did hit the spot, although my eggs were a menu has been introduced, with delivery available tad overcooked for my liking. from 3pm to 8pm. Open seven

Other items on Gang Gang Café’s all-day days. Free wifi. breakfast menu include an intriguing and healthy-sounding bircher muesli ($15), eggs Gang Gang Café, 4/2 Benedict, which comes with salmon, ham or Frencham Place, Downer, bacon ($18), and avo and feta smash on toasted open Monday to Sunday sourdough ($14). (7am to 8pm).

Both inside and outside dining areas are quite large and Gang Gang Café is dog friendly. You order at the counter and food is served at your table. The coffee is good.

Covid-style, Gang Gang’s full menu is now available for pick up and delivery. A new pizza menu has been introduced, with delivery available from 3pm to 8pm. Open seven days. Free wifi.

Gang Gang Café, 4/2 Frencham Place, Downer, open Monday to Sunday (7am to 8pm).