Adelaide’s food scene is on fire. Diners are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out in the city (and the suburbs), and good baristas are making their mark across SA. That trend is set to continue, with the launch of Likuid Espresso cafe, which is tucked away just off Waymouth Street, at the entrance to Topham Mall. Formerly the site for the Kang Kong asian fusion restaurant, this offering is much better suited to the thoroughfare, which is always busy with city office workers, travelling to and from the surrounding business hubs.
On the surface, the cafe ticks all the boxes. A massive coffee station showcases their dedication to their caffeine driven artform. A packed glass display case, has plenty of options for the person on the hop, who just needs to grab a coffee and some lunch before flying out the door. Pastries by Abbott & Kinney, house-made coconut yoghurt parfait (with the lightest, most wonderful coconut yoghurt we’ve tried), focaccias, toasties, frittatas and muffins are all easy, quick options.
Have more time? Then we recommend trying out their dine-in menu by chef Luke Carmody who has recently relocated to Adelaide from the Gold Coast. Heavy with breakfast options, the prices range from $10 for simple Free Range Eggs (your way) on Toasted Sourdough or the Sous Vide Eggs with Toasted Soldiers – to the Likuid Big Breaky with thick cut bacon, chorizo, mushroom stroganoff, fried eggs, hash brown, charred peppers and sourdough for $23. The dine-in version of Coconut Yoghurt Parfait is amazing. There are waffles three ways, a breaky burger, smashed avo and even a spiced chickpea rosti.
Coconut Yoghurt Parfait with gluten-free museli, chia seeds, freeze dried fruit, strawberry coulis
Coconut Yoghurt Parfait with gluten-free museli, chia seeds, freeze dried fruit, strawberry coulis
Sous Vide Eggs with toasted soldiers
Coconut Yoghurt Parfait with gluten-free museli, chia seeds, freeze dried fruit, strawberry coulis
House hash browns with spinach, mushroom stroganoff and blistered cherry tomato
House hash browns with spinach, mushroom stroganoff and blistered cherry tomato
House hash browns with spinach, mushroom stroganoff and blistered cherry tomato
Lunch also offers up some great options, with a Salt & Vinegar SA Calamari dish, 3 different burgers (including a vegetarian, gluten free black bean burger which sounds amazing), and some healthier choices with a choice of protein (grilled black bean patty, seared tuna steak, chargrilled flank steak medium rare or the chargrilled moroccan chicken) with salad and polenta chips.
Seared tuna steak with salad and polenta chips
Seared tuna steak with salad and polenta chips
The fish & chips with mushie peas
As you may have guessed by their name, Likuid Espresso is also all about the coffee. It’s a serious business here. Business owner Pius Steiner started as a butcher in Switzerland, went on to open restaurants, and finally found his niche in cafes and espresso bars. As the man who drove Kikko Pirie Street and Kikko Glenelg to become the successful businesses they are today, he’s all about giving people the best possible coffee experience they can have. The coffee beans have to be just right – which is why Steiner is still using the great blends developed at Kikko.
Lessons Steiner learnt over his years working in successful businesses, have actually given another dimension to Likuid Espresso – with a software system he developed, becoming the backbone for the venture. Viability.io is the driving force behind Likuid – allowing the business to track operations on a weekly basis, to ensure everything is running smoothly. As a program developed by a hospitality expert for hospitality, it differs greatly from the other systems on the market which were developed by accountants and the like. It certainly makes the future look bright for this punchy inner-city venue.
Likuid is open from 6:30am till 5pm, and the lunch menu runs till late on Fridays. With a liquor license on horizon it’s also set to become a place for knock off drinks and a nibble. We’ll drink to that.
Likuid Espresso, 44 Waymouth Adelaide, South Australia
Photography by Kelly Noble and Vlad Sopotsko
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