Chut and Co.

‘Chut’ means ‘taste’ in Czech, and that’s exactly what this fresh and vibrant café Chut and Co., located in busy Mermaid Plaza is all about. 

The brainchild of once-carpenter and long-time passionate coffee-lover, Joey Vevjoda, Chut and Co. has become the community hub within Mermaid’s revamped lifestyle destination which also houses a supermarket, bottle shop and chemist.

Inside, guests can enjoy aromas and tunes and make themselves comfy on the padded retro mustard seating at sleek round tables or slide onto the olive-cushioned long timber-top tables under the crisp-white arches and scattering of greenery. Those who like to be closer to any passing action while they sip their coffee and enjoy their bites may prefer the simple crisp-white “outside” seating.

Not surprisingly, another big hit drawing customers to Chut and Co. is the wafting aromas of their superb coffee, thanks to Canberra-based brewers Ona Coffee. With aromas from their bold full-bodied Maple blend, giving off flavours of caramel, malt, nut and spices, caffeine-lovers are falling over themselves to get their morning cup. It really is a caffeine unicorn!

On top of the killer coffee, Chut and Co. offer a cleverly curated breakfast menu and you don’t have to be an early riser to enjoy all day classic favourites like the Benny Eggs and the B & E Roll, plus a few with an interesting twist or two, like the Smashed Avo served with feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, radish slices, seasoned toasted seeds and beetroot hummus. Even the Breaky Burger (below) is a bit special with additions of grilled halloumi, spinach, house-made aioli and relish built up on a brioche bun.

Diners are spoilt for choice with the lunch favourites on offer, including the traditional B.L.T and loaded Cheese or Chicken burgers. The cabinet food, like the Oat Cups, the beautiful Berry Danishes, the flaky Almond Croissants, and the toasted chicken Pesto Joe (below) are so tempting you may not even have to pick up a menu. 

Perfectly pair your meal with almost any beverage you can think off on offer—beyond cracking coffee, choose from smoothies, shakes, or cold-pressed juice—and you’re set. 

Chut and Co. definitely has the “chut” right with hearty and healthy dishes for eat-in diners and the grab-and-go crowd. Like Joe says, “it’s all about getting the simple things right!”

By Michaela Lyons