16 February 2011

Red Herring cafe civic (free wi-fi)

| martyo
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the red herring

walked past a new cafe/lounge/free wi-fi spot

searched riot-act – no match

you know this already right?

[ED – I was aware of them and had a look at their Facebook page but haven’t been in yet.

Anyone with an opinion?]

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ThatUniStudent said :

But yes, I hope the business does well. I can’t imagine uni students will be paying much, but then again we do drink LOTS of coffee.

Obviously, they were neither paying enough nor drinking enough.

ThatUniStudent9:38 am 22 Apr 11

Lazy I said :

Can someone explain to me the relevance of the sexual preference of the person serving you that the above review goes out of it’s way to point out?

Should I point out a wait staff’s heterosexuality in my future restaurant reviews for completion?

Yes, of course you should! You mean you havn’t been doing so already?

The woman who owns this business is in one of my classes at uni. Plus she’s a cool chick! But yes, I hope the business does well. I can’t imagine uni students will be paying much, but then again we do drink LOTS of coffee.

LSWCHP said :

Are there really any cheerful smiling lesbians out there?

yes

The Dark said :

Skidbladnir said :

martyo said :

.

Or if anything, is it queer (as in strange) that a lesbian smiled.

I known quite a few gay and lesbian folks and this comment made me appreciate something for the very first time. The gay blokes I’ve known over the last 30-odd years, who have been on the spectrum from “in the closet” to “raging queen” have generally seemed reasonably cheerful, or even, dare I say it, gay.

The lesbians on the other hand, and there have been more than a few of them, have with rare exceptions, seemed like turgidly grim, deadly serious tedious bores who couldn’t crack a smile to save their lives.

It’s obviously not just me, because it’s at least me and Skid who’ve observed this.

Are there really any cheerful smiling lesbians out there?

Holden Caulfield4:34 pm 21 Apr 11

Is the chick in the bow tie hot? And does she have friends?

Lazy I said :

Is there somewhere I can lock up my fixie outside?

No need to lock it up when you’ve wedged it (and yourself) into a wall trying to stop.

gospeedygo said :

Coffee elitism is for wankers but its good that there is a place I can go to be ironic with ease.

True… Well said and i agree. Not to mention, if i am purchasing a product i want the best product available, not the hippest, not the cheapest and most definitely not the queer’est.

Glad to hear that an alternative scene/space is on its way to being developed/formed, though if The Red Herring cafe wishes to continue it must serve its purpose well (which i assume is coffee and food). I myself can’t comment on the coffee, or food… Today.

Skidbladnir said :

martyo said :

…QUEER & ALTERNATIVE CAFE …The Red Herring does things differently: You are greeted by a bow-tied lesbian, who not only takes your order, but does so with a smile.

They sell books of all varieties, its just a bookshop. If they sell primarily or only LGBT books, I’d call it a LGBT\queer bookshop.
Is it the coverage in Fuse that makes it a LGBT\queer bookshop for the purposes of the article?
They sell coffee. Is it a particular kind of coffee that makes it a LGBT\queer cafe?
Is being served by a lesbian, or the woman wearing a bow-tie that was deemed LBGT\queer?
Why is it noteworthy that you are being served by a lesbian?
How is her sexual orientation relvant to the shop, coffee, or quality of service\coffee?
Does nobody else in town hire lesbians?

Or if anything, is it queer (as in strange) that a lesbian smiled.

If its not relvant, don’t use it.

Damn queers, thinking they’re a special breed.

Brilliant.

Coffee elitism is for wankers but its good that there is a place I can go to be ironic with ease.

Hopefully this Cafe picks up as it goes on…And the service was lovely, very friendly and keen. But the coffee was bad, really very bad.
You can see the kind of interior vibe they are going for but it looks a bit put-on, messy rather than eclectic. With all the uni students there it felt a lot like a drop-in centre.
Roasters up on Lonsdale St is a much better option.

Skidbladnir said :

martyo said :

…QUEER & ALTERNATIVE CAFE …The Red Herring does things differently: You are greeted by a bow-tied lesbian, who not only takes your order, but does so with a smile.

They sell books of all varieties, its just a bookshop. If they sell primarily or only LGBT books, I’d call it a LGBT\queer bookshop.
Is it the coverage in Fuse that makes it a LGBT\queer bookshop for the purposes of the article?
They sell coffee. Is it a particular kind of coffee that makes it a LGBT\queer cafe?
Is being served by a lesbian, or the woman wearing a bow-tie that was deemed LBGT\queer?
Why is it noteworthy that you are being served by a lesbian?
How is her sexual orientation relvant to the shop, coffee, or quality of service\coffee?
Does nobody else in town hire lesbians?

Or if anything, is it queer (as in strange) that a lesbian smiled.

If its not relvant, don’t use it.

Damn queers, thinking they’re a special breed.

Look, whether you realise it or not, obvious sexual preference is a big ‘in’ thing these days, that’s just what’s ‘cool’ these days,

oh, and yes, a lesbian smiling is a strange thing if we’re talking about some of the lesbians I’m friends with around the city, seriously though, deal, its just a review and it is relevant as it works positively for the patrons they are looking to attract, e.g hipsters and such

martyo said :

…QUEER & ALTERNATIVE CAFE …The Red Herring does things differently: You are greeted by a bow-tied lesbian, who not only takes your order, but does so with a smile.

They sell books of all varieties, its just a bookshop. If they sell primarily or only LGBT books, I’d call it a LGBT\queer bookshop.
Is it the coverage in Fuse that makes it a LGBT\queer bookshop for the purposes of the article?
They sell coffee. Is it a particular kind of coffee that makes it a LGBT\queer cafe?
Is being served by a lesbian, or the woman wearing a bow-tie that was deemed LBGT\queer?
Why is it noteworthy that you are being served by a lesbian?
How is her sexual orientation relvant to the shop, coffee, or quality of service\coffee?
Does nobody else in town hire lesbians?

Or if anything, is it queer (as in strange) that a lesbian smiled.

If its not relvant, don’t use it.

Damn queers, thinking they’re a special breed.

Must be an attempt to generate King St.

Lazy I said :

Can someone explain to me the relevance of the sexual preference of the person serving you that the above review goes out of it’s way to point out?

Should I point out a wait staff’s heterosexuality in my future restaurant reviews for completion?

Well no, its just that the review you have just read is from a Gay and Lesbian Magazine, FUSE.
So promotion of the fact you will be served by a lesbian wearing a bow tie should be good for business 🙂

Looks like a share house

Can someone explain to me the relevance of the sexual preference of the person serving you that the above review goes out of it’s way to point out?

Should I point out a wait staff’s heterosexuality in my future restaurant reviews for completion?

Hipster central but it’s a nice enough spot. The low prices on food and lack of a liquor licence suggest that something will have to change before too long if the place is to survive financially – which I hope it does.

Is there somewhere I can lock up my fixie outside?

Relaxed place, friendly if slightly vague staff, and shitty coffee, alas. Better beans (I vote for Veneziano) and an attempt to make a latte not look like dirty dish suds would be appreciated!

bit more info – http://www.fusemagazine.com.au/index.php/whats-on/canberra/1490-the-red-herring-cafe

NEW QUEER & ALTERNATIVE CAFE OPENS IN CANBERRA CBD

You start the day at an un-named cafe. The seats are stock-standard metal contraptions that dig into your body. The person behind you reaches up and hits you in the head. Awkward apologies are exchanged and you go back to reading the menu. The waitress arrives, grunts recognition at your order and wanders away. Fifteen minutes later she returns and silently places the coffee on your table. It is average, at best.

Perplexed, you exclaim, ‘The un-named cafe is dead! No longer shall we suffer from bad service, cramped quarters and awful coffee!’ The next morning you walk through the city, hoping that you can make good on your promise to never return to the un-named cafe.

You happen upon a red herring — or rather, The Red Herring — a café that deliberately aims to challenge Canberra cafe culture. Situated in the heart of Civic, The Red Herring does things differently: You are greeted by a bow-tied lesbian, who not only takes your order, but does so with a smile. The furniture consists of a collection of cobbled together couches and armchairs arranged in a series of ‘rooms’ — a study, lounge room, bedroom and even a kid’s play area.

The coffee is a rainforest certified blend, which is expertly made by a trained barista. The Red Herring serves inexpensive, fresh, and delicious food that is made daily by the owner of the cafe. Make sure to try the roast pumpkin and ricotta cannelloni and the French custard and nectarine-baked cheesecake. Gluten free and vegan options are also available.

The Red Herring is located at 83 Petrie Plaza, between Cotton On Kids and Onya Bike. It is open 10.00am – 7.pm, Monday to Saturday. They have live music on Friday nights.

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