Charnwood Cafe - coffee cake or a spot of lunch perhaps

Charnwood Café      Cnr Esplanade and Bulmer St, 431 Princes Hwy, Lakes Entrance  3909              Phone:  03 5155 2348.

Location:    Set almost in the centre of Lakes Entrance opposite the Coastguard base, and encompassing an antiques/collectables area and next door a flower/plant store, Charnwood could be considered  a three in one experience, could be expensive if you let the credit card loose with you know who too!

From the Roadside

There is parking on the main street and in the side street, and if you are lucky a small car park adjacent.  Access is through the front door via steps which are manageable, but would be a bit tricky for a wheelchair.  Inside seating is country-style old school, wooden tables covered with plastic tablecloths with flower motifs and matching wooden chairs which I found comfortable.  Outside seating is available on the grass which is great (and if you have brought the dog), but be careful after rain the chairs can sink in the soil, especially if like me you are size/weight challenged!  Orders are taken at the counter and providing table service.  A small washroom is available but not full accessible.

Interior in Collectables Area

Inside towards the plant area

Menu:    Charnwood is based around coffee and cakes/biscuits and light meals and lunches, which range from sandwiches, focaccias, toasted open sandwiches, light meals, soups and home-made pies with salads etc.  .  Fresh scones are a regular served warmed with butter, (now you are talking!). There are daily specials which change regularly. Dietary limitations can be managed.

View from the inside to al fresco area

Experience:   An unexpected and late lunch on a quiet day, we popped into Charnwood. Service was quietly efficient and polite, our orders taken at the counter and light meals served to the table almost simultaneously. Coffee’s also appeared in very good time and where of a good standard. I ordered the home made pie with salad and found it to be a very acceptable standard. The pastry was short and light with the top good and crisp. The pie itself had a very generous serve of chunky, tender tasty meat inside, a good temperature, not dangerously hot but hot enough to be properly enjoyed with the tasty tomato based relish on the side. The salad was fresh, well cut and a good mix.  The Boss (wife) had an open toasted sandwich of ham cheese and pineapple served with salad.  Tasty, a perfectly adequate serving size and again served hot, and with another fresh well-presented mixed garden salad. Although we were late and probably close to, if not at closing time we were not hurried in any way.  All round a good, if simple, well- presented light lunch at good value.  We have returned twice more since for coffees etc., and enjoyed both occasions.

Tasty meat pie and garden salad

Open ham cheese and pineapple sandwich

Summary:   Charnwood is what it describes, a Café, but for a light snack /lunch it is ideal, for coffee and cakes or biscuits of your choice it is perfect. It has a quiet old fashioned country kitchen style ambience which is pleasant.  Tables are clean and well presented.  One of the few locations in Lakes Entrance where you can sit in the sun, or alternatively sit inside and watch the world go by.  Take some time to wander through the range of collectables or there are plenty of plants and garden “gifty” items to keep you occupied, then for a second coffee!  If you fancy opening a business like this, I did note this one is currently for sale!