Melbourne no longer has a monopoly on laneway culture. There, I said it. Canberra is now able to hold its own on funky, out-of-the-way dining options, if you know where to look. Loading Zone is an open-air laneway cafe, and so isn’t really comfortable to eat at much of the year, given how cold Canberra gets, without seriously rugging up. But even then, when you’re served a steaming hot pan of baked eggs, the cold doesn’t seem so bad. My friends and I popped in to Loading Zone for a pre-flight breakfast on a weekday, and with the stenciled artwork on the walls, changing seasonal menu and low stools to sit on, the vibe is very Melbournesque. I was excited to see an unusual mix of fresh juices on offer – blood orange or mandarin! I picked the mandarin, and was delighted by the tangy freshness of the juice. Being a chilly morning, I ordered the baked eggs, which came out of the kitchen piping hot with crusty toast. The tomato sauce was beautifully spicy and complemented the rich, creamy beans. On a chilly Canberra morning this hit the spot perfectly!
Loading Zone, Odgers Lane, Civic ACT, no website
