tl;dr: instead of falling into being eclectic thus too nebulous for most people, the folks behind plentiful have gotten the best aspects of different vibes and brought them together as such. that is why the name "plentiful" is apt since there is a lot to enjoy here. it has a mixture of generous portions, healthy eating, and an eclectic selection of dishes - it is a saving grace they don't adhere to one specific philosophy. through that means, the sky is the limit to what they can rustle up in the kitchen.
within one of the busiest areas masquerading as suburbia, plentiful is a welcome and relaxing addition to the dining scene not just in its locale but of the city whole. it is open unto the street, inviting any bypassers into the premises - to the extent you can feel the vibes from the other side of the road.
it was around that time of the week - sunday morning - and my housemate had lined up another place for breakfast within the graceville area of town. what this entailed was an alarm in the form of an airhorn, and after getting fresh and ready, it was time to hit the road. for this round, it was a while coming, and overall it was worth the wait. the name is apt since there is a lot in store for everyone, and you will walk away feeling satisfied from a wholesome, filling meal.
for the interior, thorough use has gone into utilising the space. there are two different options - one being a secluded dining room, and the other having influences from modern design. it was the latter where the two of us sat. within this area, the plan was open-planned and utilised minimalism to an extent - the scandinavian frame of mind has been in vogue recently. upon each table, a few small items contribute to the atmosphere - a little flower, the table number, plus some condiments for your orders. it doesn't have to be lavish, but just that small touch will create a difference in the vibe. what i always love seeing - regardless - is when the shopfront is open to the sidewalk outside, not only that but also to utilise the window sill akin to sitting at the bar. lastly, you also get the sense that the designers put thought into the outside's design. fairy lights hang from the ceiling, the restaurant's name calls out any bypassers to walk in for a meal, and the seating is far from the throwaway variety. it honestly looks gorgeous.
while by no means does it dip the score too much, nor is it particularly bad, but where improvement is needed is in customer service. they have the right tempo going, so there is not any outright issue about managing a team between the kitchen and the floor; everything gets prepared straight to order and is hot when it arrives at your table. as i like to point out each time i mention it, the small aspects regarding customer service add up. these are little aspects like asking how clients are enjoying their food - which in turn is an opportunity for upselling, i.e. seeing if they want another coffee. they did deliver the waters at the start, so that is an ideal launching off point. with a little more practice, putting different aspects into gear, this could have a welcoming demeanour and atmosphere to match the aesthetics.
this menu is one that may well change from time to time to keep things interesting in the kitchen. at least for the breakfast menu, when i went, it was elements from here and there. several of the classical breakfast meals out were present - the big breakfast, several "toast and condiment" types et al. - plus a notable sweet presence (in addition to the temptations from the cabinet), and international influences abound. lunchtime adds a few other meals, keeping the creative juices flowing in the meantime.
as for the beverages, tea and coffee are the mainstays. if you want something else, plentiful has also got hot chocolates, juices, and milkshakes among some others. and as always, you can rely on the fridge stocked with all the usual suspects.
the first order of business during these breakfast trips is always coffee. when there is the chance to switch things up - i.e. alternative modes of coffee - i will usually take that opportunity, as it presented itself for this outing. that was the trusty batch brew, in which the beans' origin was burundi for this batch. the roaster in charge of the beans is "five senses", which more often than not do make a reliable brew. for anyone who likes it strong - as i do - it is recommended to get a second shot since this is a smoother more mellow sort of blend. from that profile, it creates more of a chestnut tone with the crema. the flavour was slightly fruity; it even possessed some floral tones. the temperature was reasonable, and the texture went down smoothly. what this entailed was that breakfast was off to a good start.
the breakfast that i got was something that you don't often see on the breakfast menu. its name was "spiced lambo", and what was apparent was how much inspiration it took from middle eastern cuisine. what entailed from this plate was numerous lamb koftas, a salad of kale and quinoa, both labneh and hommous, with several pieces of pita bread. as a drizzle, there was some pomegranate throughout, as well as an olive crumb. what resulted was a fresh, balanced meal that possessed a plethora of different tastes and textures. the pieces of lamb were lightly spiced and tender, falling apart with ease. within the hommous, i detected a big hint of garlic; mix this with the labneh, then utilise the pita bread to mop it up, and you have an agreeable snack. if only there the option to order some more on the pita bread. there was plenty of dip and lamb koftas to go around. albeit for my liking, it was a little heavy on the salads. from the salad, i did like the flavours of pomegranate and the olive crumb. one thing that you can't deny is the meals here are a decent portion - and you aren't paying through the nose either. in counting blessings, there were a few for this day.
my housemate went for the "pop-it chicken croffle benny", a dish that is an amalgam of several breakfast classics from around the world. you get influences from the chicken and waffles, egg's benedict, and slight whispers of pancakes. pieces of fried chicken are on a croissant-waffle hybrid, plus a poached egg, with a medley of garnishes. those are a chipotle hollandaise, jalapeno maple syrup, toffee walnuts, and a fresh finish of some melon. early on, i nicked a piece of popcorn chicken from his plate - and it was delicious. the cooks utilised pieces of breast meat, which ensured that it was tender.
additionally, the batter was light and well-seasoned. i also got to try some of the waffle and a walnut. the actual waffle was solid, yet light as a flower. it soaked up much of the sauce, and within the batter were elements of ginger and cinnamon. that complimented the pieces of chicken very well. plus, the toffee nut was a nice little touch. it is one of those touches you start to like when you cook a lot, how the nuts add their unique brand of aroma, of crunch, and the whole lot. without any question, this was one choice i was eying off from the start. if the country's food is always going to be at its best in the home country, i have high levels of optimism here. the "chicken and waffles" has been delicious each time i have tried it out, so in the deep south, it must be on the next level. with chicken and waffles, i have tried it out enough times to proclaim that it is not going anywhere loudly. not only is it one of the tastiest breakfasts anywhere on this green earth, but it lends itself well to numerous variations. the one we had here was a mixture of the sweet and the spicy.
a final addition to breakfast that i got on the side was a bowl of fries to share. it came with a tub of aioli and arrived in a reasonably big bowl. many times beforehand, i have said this about fries - it is the one way to test if a chef is worth his salt. in cooking them, you have nothing to hide behind - and in saying that, the chefs in plentiful's kitchen pass that test. they were shoestring fries and had a generous lashing of salt throughout; additionally, these fries had a crunch on the outside while the potato inside was still soft. therefore, these guys have proven themselves worthy of the big leagues.
plentiful has much potential to match up to the competition in graceville, particularly on the food alone. what it needs is a few touch-ups, mainly regarding presence and customer service. it would only take having a bit more enthusiasm in delivery, and fundamental aspects within it - a starting point is upselling, asking how the meal is, using that margin to their advantage. they don't have any reason not to, and they have a solid reason to utilise that; virtually everything else is working at a top-level of quality, plus there is a steady flow of clientele walking through the door. give that a bit of tweaking over time, add how delicious, fresh, and generous the meals are, and sooner rather than later - plentiful will be a hotspot for the locals, and it will have earned that distinction.