Fresh is best

Owners of the brand new Mix on Coventry Cafe and Restaurant Maya and Ian Macpherson have been quick to stamp on their new business a policy of serving only the freshest and highest quality food.

While having both previously made careers as accountants, Maya said she had long dreamt of moving back into hospitality having once run a successful cafe in her native Fiji.

“The reason I wanted to open something like this is because I’ve always wanted to serve food that is fresh and we make everything in house. We don’t buy anything,” she said.

“Our menu isn’t large because if you offer a whole host of things it’s harder to keep the food fresh.”

“It’s a different story if you store it and pull it out of the freezer and you cook it but we’re not buying frozen things, we get deliveries everyday.”

After working hard to transform their new Coventry St destination into a spacious and relaxing venue, Maya and Ian said they were now ready and excited to be able to serve the Southbank community.

With a modern Australian-themed menu, high-quality coffee and an extensive wine and cocktail list, Mix on Coventry caters to all palates, offering all-day breakfast and a variety-driven lunch menu seven days a week.

“We want to have that ability to do that and offer a bit of variety. Otherwise you’re just coming to the same place with the same menu and you’re going to get sick of it,” Ian said

“We’ve also employed a very good barista. We’ve bought really high quality coffee beans and a quality machine because we’ve realised how much of a draw-card that is.”

From Thursday through to Sunday, Mix on Coventry will also be one of very few restaurants in the area that will open for dinner.

As local residents themselves, Ian said the pair hoped opening for dinner would help to fill a gap in that part of Southbank.

“One of the reasons we knew this was a good spot was because we knew there was nothing else around here,” he said.

“If we wanted to go out for a good meal we had to go down to the river. We think we’re trying to fill that gap and we’ll just wait now and see what the response will be.”

“We’re trying to be a place that provides a nice environment with nice dining at night. Overall we’re pretty happy with the outcome.”

And so far, the principles and ideas they have brought to their new business have been well received by the local community following a very busy opening first few weeks.

Ian said having poured a lot of energy into creating a quality cafe and restaurant, he, Maya and all the staff were now looking forward to providing a reliable venue for the local community to enjoy for many years ahead.

“It has been constant so far, which has been good,” he said. “It’s been quite busy so far and has tested a few things right from day one but we’ve handled it very well.”

“It’s going to be a bit of a test of faith but I think we’ve delivered a really solid infrastructure and now it’s just up to the operational side of it to provide the service and the food so people keep coming back.”

Mix on Coventry is located at 41 Coventry St, Southbank. For all enquiries and bookings phone 9498 9065.