Rural eats @ Black Cockatoo Cafe, Kojonup (Western Australia)

On our way down to Albany, I had driven for about three hours before we had to stop for a toilet break and stretch in a country town called Kojonup. I was hoping to lunch in Albany (a 5-hour drive), but nature called. It is worth noting that there is a large children's playground near the public toilets, which our 4-year-old would've enjoyed if he weren't so bothered by the flies. We decided that since we'd already stopped, we may as well grab some lunch since it was so close to midday. The Black Cockatoo Cafe is located next to the Kojonup Visitor Centre and the Rose Maze (and opposite the road from the public toilets and playground), so it is hard not to notice it. It's a casual setting, where food orders are placed at the cash register, and cutlery and water is self-served. There's a variety of focaccia and sandwiches on the lunch menu, as well as burger and fish and chips. The food is pricey, but we wouldn't expect otherwise for a place that serves mainly travellers to/from Albany from/to Perth.

The boy wanted the Fish and Chips (around AU$7) from the Kids' Menu. Obviously he liked the chips more than the fish:

Hubby and my mum ordered Chicken and Bacon Focaccia (AU$9.95) - roasted chicken breast, grilled bacon, tomato, baby spinach with a toasted macadamia nut mayonnaise. Yummy combination in a sandwich:

My dad ordered the Fish and Chips (AU$17.50) - grilled at my request, and served with chips, salad and tartare sauce. The fish looked overcooked and dry, but I heard no complaint from my dad:

I ordered the Salt and Pepper Squid Salad (around AU$16) from the daily specials board, and I quite enjoyed this one. The battered squid was crispy on the outside but moist and tender on the inside, and the semi-dried tomato was a nice touch. The peri-peri sauce was delicious:

Overall it was a pleasant lunch and I was rejuvenated for the remaining drive (my mum and hubby offered to takeover driving, but I wasn't ready to relinquish the driving duty just yet). Hubby and my mum did the right thing to order focaccia and not fish nor seafood because Kojonup is not a coastal town, but hindsight is 20/20. Still, Black Cockatoo Cafe is a decent spot for a bite to eat, and it has a decent range of focaccia and sandwiches.

Black Cockatoo Cafe
143 Albany Hwy
Kojonup, WA 6395
Australia
Tel. +61 8 9831 1606