Corner Cafe 26, Indooroopilly

In preparation for a colonoscopy recently, I had a pre-school appointment with the day surgery hospital to be given last minute instructions and pick up the devil's toxic mix Fleet preparation one must drink prior to the procedure to, ahem, empty the stomach area.

As a single Mum, that meant the kids came with me too, which they didn't mind at all since a hot breakfast was on the menu.

Just down the road from the day hospital was a cafe that just looked like it would serve awesome coffee.

I wasn't going to be eating anything decent for the next few days, so we all agreed it was time for a treat.

We were welcomed warmly by staff at the Corner Cafe 26, and given our choice of seating.

Menus were given and orders taken promptly, and our friendly waiter was lovely to the kids, even fetching Fat Straws, all the better to enjoy their hot drinks.

"Mumma, it concentrates the flavour into the straw, so it makes the hot chocolate even more delicious," said Junior Masterchef Mr 10.

I tried it, and he was right!

There were only three option for kids' breakfasts, and although reasonably priced, none of them appealed to the kids.

They are both capable of eating adult serves these days, so I let them order from the grown-up menu.

Mr 10 chose the Big Breakkie and polished off the lot, except for the yummy mushrooms and tomato which he gave to me.

Miss 8 had trouble with hers, mainly because the eggs came scrambled instead of fried. (The menus had been whisked away by now, so I couldn't check and assumed wrongly that I'd been the one to stuff up).

But in all, the service and food (and hot drinks) were delicious and well-priced.

In fact, Mr 10 declared his hot chocolate the best ever, and said his eggs had been poached perfectly.

High praise indeed.

Readers, what turns an eating place into a family favourite?

Mr 10 was happy with his hot chocolate, which came in a huge mug!

Miss 8 loved her babycino, though it 'needed' more sugar. (Note, she has a very sweet tooth!)

My skinny mocha was perhaps the biggest I've ever had and was just the thing for a chilly Brisbane morning.

A spirited discussion

C. ordered the Big Breakkie - bacon, eggs, sausage, hash brown, sauteed mushrooms and grilled tomatoe. He ordered the latter two on the side, because he doesn't like them but knows Mumma loves her veggies!

H. ordered the bacon and eggs, which was supposed to come with two fried eggs, not scrambled. I didn't realise this until later. The dish also usually includes grilled tomato, but she doesn't like that, and I didn't need more tomato, so we left that off.

She tried the egg, but declared it: 'potatoey', and only managed a few mouthfuls.

I also should have thought to ask if they'd serve her a junior version, even though it wasn't on the menu.

I went for the eggs benedict, which was served on rather crusty Turkish bread, but really yummy with perfectly poached eggs and a generous serve of hollandaise.

The kids loved the fish tank near the entrance

I can see you ...

If you go: The Corner Cafe 26, is at the corner of Station Road and Riverview Terrace, Indooroopilly. As well as breakfast, there are a huge variety of western and Asian dishes on the menu. I'm pretty sure it will be a family favourite from now on.

The Elderado Cinemas

It wouldn’t be school holidays without a trip to the movies, and when in Brisbane, I like to take the kids to the Eldorado8 Cinemas at Indooroopilly.

A trip to the Eldorado is not only cheaper than the huge BCC and Hoyts multiplexes, but it’s like stepping back in time.

I always tell the kids the Eldorado experience is a bit like going to the movies when I was a girl.

Brisbane’s largest independently-owned cinema stands on a site that was once a blacksmith shop (apparently the odd horseshoe still turns up occasionally), and is an icon for generations of Brisbane movie-lovers.

As a single Mum, I love that there is free parking right underneath the complex, and that the munchies from the candy bar are reasonably priced. That means I don’t mind splashing out on a treat for the kids rather than smuggling in our own supplies, which everyone knows, is nowhere near as much fun!

(Oh come on, loads of people do it – don’t they?) In any case, customers are allowed to take in snacks and drinks at this cinema, as long as they are the same as the goodies sold inside.

The Eldorado kids’ combo deal includes popcorn, frozen slushie, and a bag of mixed lollies for $6, and since movie tickets are already cheaper than the bigger complexes, it’s really good value for money.

The dinky old-fashioned seats are a bit small – I nearly sat on Mr 9’s slushie, much to his horror – but are perfectly sized for young humans, and a reminder to parents to abstain from the candy bar.

This time around, the kids chose The Spy Next Door. Starring the always-likeable Jackie Chan, the flick is pretty crap by adult standards – the acting is wooden, Chan is an international-spy-turned-hopeless-babysitter, and ‘the Russians’ are the bad guys – but the slapstick comedy got huge laughs from all the kids in the audience. It’s a pleasant enough way to spend a couple of hours in air-conditioned comfort – Autumn weather has yet to hit Brisbane!

If you go:

The Eldorado 8 Multiplex Cinema

141 Coonan Street

Indooroopilly

www.eldoradocinema.com.au

Ph: 07 3378 1566