Gold Creek always reminds me of scene out of the soap opera Neighbours. This is not just because it has a resort named Lassiters: the touristy facades also make me feels I am on a soapie set. But while Gold Creek may be aimed at tourists, there are some reliable longstanding businesses that provide good value for tourists and local Canberrans alike. And one of them is Café Injoy.
I haven’t been to Café Injoy in seven years almost to the day. I know it was that long because I arranged a memorable family-friendly birthday get together there. And I returned for another birthday party, an informal lunch after a fun-filled visit to the National Dinosaur Museum.
Being frugal, I hate the cry of ‘let’s all go out for lunch’. You don’t have control over the venue, and usually there is pressure to order to match what everyone else is having (especially if people split the bill). But Café Injoy is an easy group dining experience. You pay as you order, the meals are cheap, the serves are generous, and service is fast and cheerful. Not much seems to have changed in seven years and that is an inherently good thing as it has kept its high standards, large serves and low pricing. I hope this institution stays in business for many years to come.
I splurged on the $11 kids menu for each of my kids. My eldest ordered pancakes (two medium large fluffy cakes plus ice-cream) and my three-year old opted for a bowl of fish and chips. Their meals came with a medium sized milkshake each (or a pop-up juice if they had preferred). Feeling I needed to demonstrate I was providing them with a more nutritional option, I asked for less chips in favour of a green salad. This went largely untouched by the kidlets as they gulped down most of their milkshake and finished three quarters of their meals. For my kids this was a record.
Having learnt that I invariably end up finishing off the kids’ leftovers, I didn’t order my own meal. There was not as much to mop up as I had expected, but that was fine as I had had a big meal the night before and wanted a light lunch. Had I had a megasaurous-like appetite, I could have indulged in the popular table choice, in an Injoy burger ($15), which came with pretty much the lot: egg, bacon, cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion, beetroot and pineapple. There are now many trendy burger joints in Canberra, but I defy any of them to beat Café Injoy for the size and value of its burger.
Once full my kiddies got bored and wanted to roam. Here, too, Café Injoy shines as it has a small onsite playground and a fenced koi pond. My kids could have stayed there forever beholden to the multi-coloured fish, but alas, before too long it was time to head home.
What: Café Injoy
Where: 17 O’Hanlon Pl, Gold Cree, Nicholls
Opening hours: 8.30am to 4.00pm daily
Phone: (02) 6255 5550
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