Say hi to Rise & Set, your new Coombabah café obsession.
Say hi to Rise & Set, your new Coombabah café obsession.
When one door closes, another one opens – preferably one with high ceilings, exposed brick, and timber facades. And obvs, a really REALLY, good menu.
After nearly a decade of delighting Burleigh diners at Willow Dining, Ian “Chef Choi” Banghal has a brand-new and equally fabulous breakfast brunch and lunch-born beauty.
Introducing Rise & Set, another notch in the northside’s (ever expanding) brews, breakfast and beverages belt.
Opening its doors in mid-December, it’s all about fresh starts, good vibes and even better food. If you thought the OG Willow was a masterpiece, wait till you see (and taste) what Ian’s been cooking up. And we mean that quite literally coz there is nothing this man can’t do.
Once an architect, Ian traded blueprints for brûlées, studying culinary arts in Europe and working his way across the world, blending his love for food and design into one glorious gastronomic experience.
Now, with Rise & Set, he’s combined his two passions into a space that’s as visually stunning as it is mouth-wateringly delicious. Think of it as ‘Foodchitecture’ – the perfect marriage of artistic plating, bold flavours, and an interior so now that it deserves its own Pinterest board #WeDo.
Nestled away from the hustle and bustle of Brisbane Road, Rise & Set is so much more than just a café; it’s a place of community, connection, and creativity.
The name itself is symbolic of growth, transformation, and the promise of a good meal – of both the AM and arvo variety. This naturally leads us into the menu and friends, she’s a homerun.
With a gourmet Aussie breakfast and lunch offering that fuses Asian and Mediterranean influences, every dish is a work of art with a whole lotta flair. As for signature standouts – where do we even start?!
You can’t go past the French Toast and Chicken with soaked brioche, southern fried chicken, bacon bits, mixed compote berries and sweet chipotle infused chilli maple sauce.
Perhaps the Asian Breaky is more your vibe with a homemade Asian chorizo patty, adobo rice, roasted tomato, pickled papaya, fried egg, sweet and spicy BBQ, crispy hay, and dried shallots.
Or, how about the Kofta and Croquettes with lamb kofta, potato croquette, buttered spinach, beetroot chutney, poached eggs, bacon bits, and lemon dill hollandaise?
For lunch, tuck into their Cream Garlic Prawn with caramelised onion, cherry
tomato, avocado, and crispy sweet potato served inside a toasted BunBowl, and for those with a sweet tooth – the Red Velvet Cake is basically love in edible form.
But let’s talk drinks, because no great café experience is complete without something equally fabulous to sip on and because, well, drinks.
From the tropical vibes of the Mango Matcha and the berry-loaded goodness of the Very Berry Smoothie to the rev-me-up (in a cuddly way) of the Red Velvet Latte, the beverage lineup is as Instagrammable as it is refreshing.
With both indoor and outdoor seating, private function space for up to 70 guests, and a pro-pet vibe (BYO four-legged brunch buddy), it’s the kinda place that invites you to linger for a little – or a lot longer.
The styling is effortlessly chic, featuring reclaimed timber doors repurposed as tabletops, vintage furniture, lush greenery, and rustic touches that make the whole space feel home.
And just when you think it can’t get any better, Rise & Set is already planning its next big move, with dinner service mid-year thanks to a tapas menu inspired by the flavours that made Willow Dining legend-ary (#SaidLikeBarneyStinson).
So, whether you’re an OG Willow fan craving a fix, or a northerner in search of gold-standard grub – you’ve just found it.
Grab your coffee crew, brunch buds, and of course, your dutiful doggos and head to Rise & Set.
Where: 610 Pine Ridge Road, Coombabah
When: 6:30am – 2:30pm, Monday to Sunday