Brett Waslin is the owner of Hide and Seek cafe in North Lyneham. Photo: Amanda Aldred.
Residents of North Lyneham have a new local cafe, with Hide and Seek opening its doors in early April.
The new cafe is run by co-owners Brett Waslin and partner Caitlin Meany, with chef Josh Sargent – formerly of The Plot at Pialligo Estate – in the kitchen.
Brett says they’re hoping to be the new local for residents of Lyneham and the surrounding area. He’s passionate about creating a hub for people to gather, and he wants to show people that there’s plenty happening in this little corner of the Inner North.
“When people think of Lyneham, they think of Tilley’s, but there are all these amazing local businesses that have created an awesome little atmosphere around North Lyneham that nobody really knows about. Even though it’s just off a busy road, it’s a bit hidden,” he told Region.
“That’s why we called it Hide and Seek.”
The zucchini fritters at Hide and Seek are a tasty seasonal treat. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The menu focuses on breakfast classics and more substantial lunch meals like the house-made spinach and ricotta tortellini and kimchi fried chicken burger. They are sourcing some of their fresh produce from neighbouring local grocer Choku Bai Jo and plan to change the menu regularly based on what fruits and vegetables are available.
Brett has worked as a chef since starting as an apprentice at Aubergine over 15 years ago. During his career, he has also worked in Sydney, London and, closer to home, at Parlour and The Knox. Brett will take a break from cooking to make coffees and serve customers while chef Josh Sargent runs the kitchen.
Hide and Seek is Brett’s first business and he said they were incredibly lucky to find a space that satisfied the criteria he was looking for.
“The last tenants were here for 22 years, so it was a big step for them to let it go,” said Brett.
“I always knew I wanted something on the corner at a suburban shopping centre, so this was just perfect.”
The cake cabinet is full of house-made treats. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The cafe is spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a shaded outdoor seating area under deciduous trees that are already turning a brilliant Autumn orange. Brett’s dad repainted the (previously very colourful) inside walls to a crisp white which amplifies the brightness of the space. In fact, the whole renovation was a “labour of love”, with family and friends all pitching in to update the space.
The hard surfaces make the space a little noisy when it fills up, but Brett says there are already plans underway to improve the acoustics.
Hide and Seek opened in early April in North Lyneham. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The zucchini and corn fritters make a very satisfying breakfast. The tomato relish has a slight chilli kick, and there’s a generous salad topping the dish with snow pea sprouts and ribbons of pickled zucchini. The cake cabinet is full of tempting treats – they’re all made in-house and are perfect with a coffee. There is also a selection of toasties available for quick lunches if you’re in a hurry.
The North Lyneham community is already rallying around their new local, with a steady stream of locals dropping in for a cuppa and a meal.
Hide and Seek is located at the North Lyneham Shops, 4/2 Colville St, Lyneham. It’s open from 6:30 am to 3 pm on weekdays, and from 7 am to 3 pm on weekends. Follow Hide and Seek on Facebook or Instagram.
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