19 April 2016

Weekend cafe hot spot: Italian Continental Bakery, Mawson

22 August 2015 | Sophia Carlini

So many people have told me how wonderful the Italian Continental Bakery is in Mawson, especially for cronuts, Italian donuts and connoli. When I heard that they also serve breakfast and lunch, I thought I would check it out for this week’s hot spot.

You can definitely tell that this bakery is owned by old school Italians. It immediately reminded me of my own Nonna.

The display cabinet is almost as wide as the shop and is filled with all different kind of pastries, from savoury to sweet. Almost everything is filled with custard too. I was like a kid in a candy store. I’ll take one of everything thanks!

I had to remind myself that I was there for breakfast and I should probably eat something substantial before stuffing myself full of goodness.

We picked up some menus off the counter and sat down. Mike decided to have the eggs benny ($17.90) and I just couldn’t go past the mushroom bruschetta ($13.90) , which I was going to add a side of crispy bacon too.

I jumped up and went over to the counter to order. I asked for eggs Benedict with avocado and the mushroom bruschetta with crispy bacon.

When I asked the waitress to add bacon, she said, “Sorry, but we don’t do sides!”

I was confused, she had just allowed me to add avocado to the eggs Benedict but refused to ask the chef to cook up a couple extra pieces of bacon. What? If I can have avocado, then I should be able to have bacon?! Right?! Right!!

I ended up changing my mind completely and went for the big breakfast.

When it came out, however, I’m not sure that I would call it a big breakfast. On a positive note, the mushrooms were salted and the bacon was crispy. Mike didn’t mind his eggs benny but it definitely wasn’t anything special.

We decided to order some pastries to take away – which honestly ended up being the best part of the whole experience. Their pastries are winners – the rest needs a bit of work.

The Italian Continental Bakery & Cafe is located at Shop 1, Mawson Place, Mawson and is open Monday to Friday 7:30am – 5:30pm and on weekends between 08:00am and 3:30pm

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zllauh5:05 pm 07 Sep 15

Italian food looks scary ! But worth a try for sure :p

Maya12311:11 am 26 Aug 15

Ezy said :

I have a story about this place.

A few months ago I set out on my bike from the south of Canberra in the morning for a spot of breakfast at Stand by Me in Lyons with the intention of stopping off at the Italian bakery in Mawson for one of their donuts for a bit of a treat on the way back. I finished up my breakfast and went into Westfield for a bit of grocery shopping, then headed over to the bakery.

I got there, locked my bike up in front, and opened the door for an older lady to let her in (I am a gentleman) only to see a bit of a line up at the counter. I was nervous… very nervous. A few people were served, a donut or two were snapped up, there were three left with three people in line. The lady two in front grabbed two donuts! Only one was left and the lady who I kindly opened up the door for was in front of me.

She started to order “I’ll have a loaf of sourdough, whole grain… etc” she started to rattle off a long list of things so another man behind the counter approached me “What will you have mate?” he asked. “Just that lonely donut there pal” he went over and removed it from the display and was putting it into the white paper bag, I had my money ready to hand over when the lady in front quickly snapped “I WAS GOING TO ORDER THAT”. The guy behind the counter told me that she was indeed in line before me… I returned to my bike without a treat I have now learned never to open the door for older ladies – they will steal your donuts.

Why didn’t you speak up, and say, “But only because I held the door open for you. Technically I was here first.”? And smile sweetly.

rubaiyat2:40 pm 25 Aug 15

Kerryhemsley said :

Those cooked breakfast photos don’t make me hungry.

I thought it but didn’t say it.

Ezy1:52 pm 25 Aug 15

Kerryhemsley said :

Ezy said :

I have a story about this place.

A few months ago I set out on my bike from the south of Canberra in the morning for a spot of breakfast at Stand by Me in Lyons with the intention of stopping off at the Italian bakery in Mawson for one of their donuts for a bit of a treat on the way back. I finished up my breakfast and went into Westfield for a bit of grocery shopping, then headed over to the bakery.

I got there, locked my bike up in front, and opened the door for an older lady to let her in (I am a gentleman) only to see a bit of a line up at the counter. I was nervous… very nervous. A few people were served, a donut or two were snapped up, there were three left with three people in line. The lady two in front grabbed two donuts! Only one was left and the lady who I kindly opened up the door for was in front of me.

She started to order “I’ll have a loaf of sourdough, whole grain… etc” she started to rattle off a long list of things so another man behind the counter approached me “What will you have mate?” he asked. “Just that lonely donut there pal” he went over and removed it from the display and was putting it into the white paper bag, I had my money ready to hand over when the lady in front quickly snapped “I WAS GOING TO ORDER THAT”. The guy behind the counter told me that she was indeed in line before me… I returned to my bike without a treat I have now learned never to open the door for older ladies – they will steal your donuts.

I think the best part of the story is that you rode your bike, had breakfast then stopped off for 1 or 2 donuts. I admire the appetite. Won’t be going to the Italian Bakery in Mawson. Those cooked breakfast photos don’t make me hungry.

20km ride in to breakfast – 5km ride to Mawson – 20km ride home… yeah, that builds the appetite. The donut was for an afternoon treat 😉

If you are on the north side. Barrio in Braddon stock the Italian Donuts from here on Sundays… another pro tip, the Vietnamese bakery in Mawson offers up some pretty good cronuts.

Kerryhemsley1:29 pm 25 Aug 15

Ezy said :

I have a story about this place.

A few months ago I set out on my bike from the south of Canberra in the morning for a spot of breakfast at Stand by Me in Lyons with the intention of stopping off at the Italian bakery in Mawson for one of their donuts for a bit of a treat on the way back. I finished up my breakfast and went into Westfield for a bit of grocery shopping, then headed over to the bakery.

I got there, locked my bike up in front, and opened the door for an older lady to let her in (I am a gentleman) only to see a bit of a line up at the counter. I was nervous… very nervous. A few people were served, a donut or two were snapped up, there were three left with three people in line. The lady two in front grabbed two donuts! Only one was left and the lady who I kindly opened up the door for was in front of me.

She started to order “I’ll have a loaf of sourdough, whole grain… etc” she started to rattle off a long list of things so another man behind the counter approached me “What will you have mate?” he asked. “Just that lonely donut there pal” he went over and removed it from the display and was putting it into the white paper bag, I had my money ready to hand over when the lady in front quickly snapped “I WAS GOING TO ORDER THAT”. The guy behind the counter told me that she was indeed in line before me… I returned to my bike without a treat I have now learned never to open the door for older ladies – they will steal your donuts.

I think the best part of the story is that you rode your bike, had breakfast then stopped off for 1 or 2 donuts. I admire the appetite. Won’t be going to the Italian Bakery in Mawson. Those cooked breakfast photos don’t make me hungry.

rubaiyat12:44 pm 25 Aug 15

Ezy said :

madelini said :

Ezy said :

I even got a pic! Look at that little lonely donut…. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MINE!

http://imgur.com/V2n0uVc

That’s the most devastating story I’ve heard today!

If you’d been 15 minutes later you would have gotten the first one of the new tray as well. Sometimes timing is the worst.

That’s it! One red light changed my donut destiny. I will be find though, I have a great network of friends who have helped me through this terrible time in my life.

Lesson learned.

Next time an elbow to the granny and a fast hand on the cannolli/donut!

Ezy10:27 am 25 Aug 15

madelini said :

Ezy said :

I even got a pic! Look at that little lonely donut…. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MINE!

http://imgur.com/V2n0uVc

That’s the most devastating story I’ve heard today!

If you’d been 15 minutes later you would have gotten the first one of the new tray as well. Sometimes timing is the worst.

That’s it! One red light changed my donut destiny. I will be find though, I have a great network of friends who have helped me through this terrible time in my life.

madelini10:05 am 25 Aug 15

Ezy said :

I even got a pic! Look at that little lonely donut…. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MINE!

http://imgur.com/V2n0uVc

That’s the most devastating story I’ve heard today!

If you’d been 15 minutes later you would have gotten the first one of the new tray as well. Sometimes timing is the worst.

Dame Canberra2:32 pm 24 Aug 15

Ezy said :

She started to order “I’ll have a loaf of sourdough, whole grain… etc” she started to rattle off a long list of things so another man behind the counter approached me “What will you have mate?” he asked. “Just that lonely donut there pal” he went over and removed it from the display and was putting it into the white paper bag, I had my money ready to hand over when the lady in front quickly snapped “I WAS GOING TO ORDER THAT”. The guy behind the counter told me that she was indeed in line before me… I returned to my bike without a treat I have now learned never to open the door for older ladies – they will steal your donuts.

That is the worst! And that’s not how ordering should work. You ordered the donut first, you get the donut. Doesn’t matter about the fact that she’s technically ahead of you – that sh*t would not fly back when I used to work in a bakery.

Also, if that picture is anything to go by the woman didn’t need any more donuts.

Ezy1:36 pm 24 Aug 15

I even got a pic! Look at that little lonely donut…. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MINE!

http://imgur.com/V2n0uVc

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