The Bean Tree Cafe - Alice Springs

The food is not as fancy as the menu makes out their 'bush tomato relish ' was nice but seemingly still thawing out, the 'rocket basil pesto ' was hiding the pesto extremely well, and the 'oven roasted smoked salmon ' seemed to be normal packaged smoked salmon again served ice cold. But it 's still a good breakfast at a good price and it 's in a beautiful bush setting surrounded by trees and birds, yet within walking distance of the town centre.

Good food in a beautiful location, the Bean Tree sits in the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens. The various big breakfast options are $17. The Chefs Special includes two poached eggs, two big rashers of bacon, two toasted slices of foccaccia, mushrooms, tomatoes, feta and a great Bush Tomato relish. The coffee is also very nice.

Bean Tree is an unpretentious little kiosk the kind you might find attached to many a small tourist garden. You order from a counter, displaying home made quiches and cakes, then you grab your cutlery and choose a seat at one of the many outdoor tables. We both ordered the poached eggs with focaccia and bush tomato chutney, mine with bacon $14 while the Bouy opted for hot smoked salmon $16. Both were perfect in their simplicity. The bush tomato chutney was a lovely touch really bringing the outback onto the plate. The eggs were perfectly execu

This cafe is a first rate coffee stop during the day but at night it is magically transformed into a Thai restaurant. I'll include the menu in photos but the chef went out of his way to feed this vegetarian an excellent dish to my unreasonable demands. A wonderful setting in the botanical garden in balmy evening. Thanks Chef.

Loved the location, the food and the birds that helped themselves to anything left on plates and dishes sitting on tables ...