The Roost @ 53

The Roost @ 53 is a concept café in Southport, Gold Coast, offering a broad all-day-style menu alongside coffee, fresh drinks and cabinet treats. It caters for customers grabbing something on the go as well as those wanting to sit down for a quieter afternoon in the shaded dining area. The venue describes itself as a cosy space, so it is worth keeping that in mind when planning a visit with a larger group.

Breakfast covers familiar café options and more substantial plates, including bacon and egg rolls, breakfast burritos, eggs with house toast, pancakes, smashed avocado and a big breakfast. The menu also includes a quinoa avocado bowl with spinach, pesto, boiled egg, beetroot, cherry tomato, sauerkraut and seeds, plus a breakfast sandwich combining grilled scotch fillet, bacon, tomato relish, spinach, fried egg, hash brown and pesto. On weekends, the breakfast selection changes slightly, with bagels available according to the day's board and other brunch choices.

For lunch, The Roost lists house salads, souvlakis, burgers, pizzas and sandwiches. The souvlaki range includes chicken, lamb, chicken and lamb, falafel, and a combination of chicken, lamb and falafel. Burgers include the Roost cheeseburger, hamburger, veggie burger, chicken burger and steak burger, while the pizza selection includes margherita, Hawaiian, meat lovers, Greek chicken and roast pumpkin. Sides such as house chips, onion rings and salad are also available, and the counter has a daily selection of sandwiches and self-service sweets and treats. The website notes that daily specials and the salad of the week are displayed on the board, so the cabinet offering may vary.

Drinks include the café's own Roost Roast coffee blend, iced coffee, iced frappes, smoothies, thick shakes and fresh juices, with juice combinations chosen from a list of fruit and vegetables. The café is licensed, adding another option for a relaxed visit. Families are catered for with children's choices such as bacon and egg on toast and Mickey pancakes, while the shaded seating and extensive menu make the venue suitable for solo coffee stops, casual lunches or a low-key catch-up. The website does not provide a detailed story about the people behind the café, but it presents The Roost as a neighbourhood escape from the everyday, with food and drinks served in a compact Southport setting.