Stellarossa Yarrabilba. Community, at its core.

This is what I believe a good cafe should represent.

The local coffee shop has been a gathering place for generations. Stellarossa at Yarrabilba represents exactly that sentiment. Franchisee,  Aaron Riding has ingratiated himself into the local community since the locations opening just over 2 years ago. Because of this,  the cafe itself has an incredible local feel that can be missing from franchised operations.

From the locally made honey being sold at the counter to the business cards of real estate agents and local businesses available in front of the display case, Aaron and the team at Stellarossa Yarrabilba have gone out of their way to make locals feel welcome and to separate themselves from some of their fellow chain establishments.

The restaurant was very clean and tidy. It is right at the entrance to the Yarrabilba estate and features large near floor to ceiling windows running along the side of the store that supplies beautiful natural lighting to the whole cafe. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with plenty of space between tables so you do not feel overcrowded and can have a conversation in comfort.

The coffee at Stellarossa is from their own roaster Rebel Lion Roasting. The beans are roasted in Brisbane which showed me the tremendous local support. The coffee was perfect for me (not bitter).   There is definitely care and love put into the food, something that some franchise model cafes seem to forget.  I did not find the need to add extra sugar or anything to mask any burnt bean flavoring which is always a positive.

I was there for breakfast but felt myself swaying away from the staples of bacon & eggs etc. I ordered the Slow Cooked Brisket Ragu, a little off the beaten path for the usual breakfast fare. The beef had that beautiful slow-cooked texture in a rich bbq sauce served over sourdough bread with cherry tomatoes and salsa verde. The salsa verde added a sharpness to the flavour profile of the dish that was refreshing. Overall it was a great breakfast dish, filling without being heavy, tasty, and different. The menu is a carbon copy of most Stellarossa locations across Queensland with a few extras thrown in. It does appear that the food is made fresh and when speaking with the chef she spoke at length about the slow cooking process that went into the meal. There is definitely care and love put into the food that I am not sure every franchise model cafe has.

The day I visited Stellarossa, Aaron.  the owner wasn’t in, however for the most part the service was prompt and definitely friendly. There was a slight delay with getting a drink at times, however, they were busy so that was understandable.  I was impressed that the chef took the time to speak with my guest and me which is always positive. The tables around us were cleared and cleaned quickly.

Overall I do recommend a visit to Stellarossa if you are at Yarrabilba. It is a perfect place for a peaceful coffee, meal with friends or even a business lunch. Do not be turned off by the chain name over the door, this really is a local establishment, owned and operated by local people, employing locals.

Joel Hall is a local Logan restaurant and cafe critic. No qualifications, but a strong need to indulge in great food on a regular basis. His article “Lattes of Logan ” appears weekly in My News Feed. If you would like us to review a Logan eatery, contact Joel at joel@mynewsfeed.com.au