Pâtissez

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Posted 2016-02-27 by Sue W ⇒ follow

In Canberra, when you say the name to someone, they instantly think of the famous FreakShake™. The owners of created these trademarked huge milkshakes, oozing with yumminess and topped with chocolate brownies, salted pretzels or other gooey treats, with calorie-laden toppings dripping down the side. Owners, Anna and Gina Petridis (well known for their time on My Restaurant Rules) and husband and wife pâtissiers Ismael and Astrid Toorawa, opened their Manuka café in early 2015 and created these iconic milkshakes. Customers would queue for hours to try one, which attracted TV show Sydney Weekender to do a segment on the FreakShakes which catapulted them to celebrity status.

Later in the year, in December 2015, then opened up a second store in the Civic (city centre), close to the Australian National University and government agencies. During the week day every table is full, however if you visit on the weekend there are plenty of empty tables to enjoy your shake or meal in this relaxed cafe .

With free parking nearby in Hobart Place, it is much easier to enjoy this café on the weekend - however I did see on the menu there is a 10% surcharge on Sundays. My daughter and I visited at opening time on a Saturday morning and there were only a few other tables occupied. Currently on a health kick, I wasn't sure about ordering a very tempting FreakShake laden with delicious calories, however there is a new FreakShake Menu with a vegetarian fruit option which sounded almost healthy. The ladies behind the counter said the new menu was so new that we were the first ones to try it out that Saturday morning.

Vegan Freak - Lychee coconut shake - raspberry coulis - coconut vanilla bean mousse - coconut chips - lychee, raspberry, coconut icecream pop (holy mother of vegans this doesn't taste vegan)

Ironically, this impressive FreakShake above, is the mini size for $11.90 - $2 cheaper than the regular size in a larger glass. My daughter, aged four, was salivating when she saw it with a popsicle also resting on the top and raspberry coulis dripping down the side. Her eyes also widened in surprise when she drank it and I could see why when I took a sip - it was exceptionally fresh and tasty - in a deliciously healthy way. There are different levels of flavour to sip through, with lychee the standout amongst the flavours as you get close to the bottom. The other favourite part, for both of us, was the coconut vanilla bean mousse that looked like cream that was whipped onto the top. My daughter doesn't like the taste of normal dairy cream, however this beautiful coconut creation had her licking it off the straw.

Other FreakShake flavours include a Black Forest flavoured shake, an Expresso and Salted Caramel shake, Nutella and Pretzels and a Lemon Meringue FreakShake - all sure to be laden with 's signature decadence.

isn't only renowned for its FreakShakes (and Freak Cakes ), but the food as well. With reasonable prices and great tasting meals, the café is popular for its menu items also. On our visit, we also enjoyed the Chia Bircher ($14) from the All Day Breakfast Menu which was:

Chia Bircher - almond milk chia and oat bircher, roast pistachio and cinnamon crumb, orange segments, fresh and freeze dried berries, strawberry reduction.

Equally as tasty as the FreakShake, this Chia Bircher was one of the best that I have tasted, with my daughter enjoying the fresh fruit and honey drizzled over the top also. Other new All Day Breakfast menu items include a Breakfast Burger ($13), Salmon Scramble ($16) and Roasted Wild Mushrooms ($17).

Inside the café there is bar seating along the window to look out and enjoy the views of city life and the outside tables.

There is also a full size mural on the side wall, with a scene from Pulp Fiction and John Travolta and Samual L Jackson each holding a pretzel FreakShake.

My daughter and I enjoyed our Saturday visit to in the Civic and were happy to be able to try a FreakShake, without the queues. According to 's Facebook page, the queues are a thing of the past so they can now be enjoyed without the wait. In such a central location, this Civic café will be just as popular as the Manuka café with its open layout and friendly staff. With families, couples and groups of friends coming to enjoy the FreakShakes and delicious coffee and food on offer, it is a relaxing weekend café to visit for an all day breakfast or lunch. Due to its popularity, is now taking their café and FreakShakes nationwide, so Canberra can be proud to say that we had them here first!