The oddest thing about
The Little Fig is that it does not serve any dishes containing figs.
The Little Fig has served the Melrose Park community for four years, but a change in ownership last year has let the origins of its name slide into history. Wondering about the relevance of the café name, I came across quite a number of similarities between the café and it's fruit namesake.
Small but BigFigs are small in size yet the roots of a fig tree go deep into the ground and can support immense braches.
The Little Fig café is small in size and yet big in community impact.
Commuters stop for take away coffee on their way to work. Dog owners make use of the neighbouring Skitch Reserve to let their dogs off the lead while they stop for cuppa and a bite to eat.
ModestFigs lent their leaves to preserve Adam's and Eve's modesty way back in Biblical times. Modest prices are a feature of the
The Little Fig.
Sweet
Figs are known for adding a burst of sweetness to any dish.
The Little Fig has introduced a weekend treat: pancakes! They serve plain or blueberry pancakes with strawberries and ice cream for only $5.50. (I told you the prices are modest!)
Weekend pancakes © The Little Fig
They also do savoury. Our lunch consisted of the Brekky Roll and Chicken and Mushroom Filo.
Drinks are charmingly labelled as 'Something from the Beans', 'Something Brewed', 'Something Cold' and 'Something with Bubbles'. We chose refreshing ice chocolate and iced mocha (something a bit different with chocolate ice cream).
ColourfulFigs can be brown, purple, green, yellow or black. The walls of
The Little Fig are adorned in bright zings of colourful artwork. Everyone is welcome at
The Little Fig, whatever colour your skin.
Uniqueness
Figs are unique in that they have an 'ostiole', an opening not connected to the tree, but which aids the fruit's development by increasing its communication with the environment.
The Little Fig is nestled between
Creative Mosaics and
Totally Wrapped - intriguing craft and gift shops that call out for a return visit when open. Its setting in a row of shops that include two other eateries,
Rice Bar and the ever-popular
Beck's Bakehouse, might lead one to expect that the competition for customer support would be fierce.
The Middle Store, yet another café, is just down the road. In a pleasing twist, the staff of
The Little Fig note that there is a very supportive environment in the Winston Avenue shops.
The Little Fig may not serve any fig dishes, but it is cute and quirky and worth a visit.
Photographs by JA Rossiter.
