New Brisbane

Barang: Asia Cafe Culture

5/8 Station Road, Indooroopilly

3720 0169

Open Wednesday to Sunday, Closed Public Holidays

I AM frustrated no end by the lack of chill-out places around Indooroopilly. One would think a suburb with a major, three-storey shopping centre would be rife with coffee culture. Apparently not.

Some might argue in favour of the Coffee Club, Gloria Jeans, Six Degrees and all those “wahnderful little cafes in Indro dahling’’. I would not. I want somewhere that serves caffeine so good you want it by intravenous drip; somewhere with (cliché I know) ambience, somewhere that doesn’t emit burnt coffee and milk odours; somewhere without mass-produced cake; somewhere individual.

To my great doubt and (presumptive) distain my friend recommended we go to Barang for food and coffee. “If that’s in Indooroopilly it must be pretty bad,’’ I say. I’m assured that no, no I’ll be surprised.

Barang is a new addition to the high turnover of cafes in the Indro Hotel precinct on Station Road. Balinese-style cane curtains drop in long ringlets, secluding cushy tete-a-tete style couches. Beyond lies the hectic Station Road and Indro Hotel which is somehow muted once we enter the open-air spread that is the café. The sign welcomes us to Barang: Retail Store, Café and Bistro, Asian Eatery.

Wooden shelves with oriental-influenced trinkets and wares are integrated around the shop - perfectly positioned for wandering eyes and chattering mouths. The café is finished in an array of rich colours and, combined with the curtains, we are lulled into a sense of privacy. We opt for an intimate wooden couch with coffee table and proceed to expound on all matter of juicy topics, happily under the impression that the flimsy cane curtains are hiding our conversation.

Ordering and paying is conducted at the front counter where we peruse the asian-influenced menu. Mains specialise in curries – coconut-flavoured curry, dry beef curry, crispy chicken, soya sauce chicken rice. Each dish is accompanied by a personable blurb.

My companion orders a Nasi Ayam Curry (or chicken curry) ($10.90) which is backgrounded with “The sheer variety of Southeast Asian curries is daunting enough, let alone the plethora of spices that make up the curry paste…this is what we grew up with…’’ We also order the requisite latte (approximately $3.50), thai fish cakes ($5.50) and spring roles ($4.50).

Coffee slips past the taste test with a thick coat of froth – just the way I like it. Service is congenial and friendly and any hiccups are quickly compensated for by the amiable staff. Our meals appear on black squared plates with slanted corners flicking upwards. The fish cakes and spring rolls are good fillers but not outstanding in taste or consistency. The curry is aromatic and succulent to the eye, a flavoursome zap to the tastebuds, cooled by rice and vegetables- both of which are tactfully displayed and well matched to the coconut flavoured curry. This is by far the better dish of the day.

We sit and chat for a few hours before a surprised glance at our watches reveals the time. How on EARTH did we sit in central Indooroopilly without getting bored, uncomfortable and sick of the uninspired, pub ‘n’ traffic-dominated surrounds?

In retrospect it was probably the discreet staff, comfortable furniture and inviting atmosphere with plushly-coloured décor (the latter makes all the difference!). Barang is a fairly new addition to the area and hopefully will stick around long enough for those locals starved of coffee culture to discover it. Worth closer investigation!

By Alice B.