Does lunching next to a motorbike make me [a] “rev fed”?

Back in the days of MG garage I could never quite get my head around the idea of combining horse power with hors d'oeuvres (or anything else edible), but Deus Café in Camperdown, http://www.deus.com.au/, has won me over. In this case the motor vehicles are motorbikes and the vibe is more casual café than fine dining, which is probably why it works for me where MG Garage didn’t.

Everything about Deus, from the warehouse-style space, large communal tables and blackboard menu to the food itself, is honest and unpretentious. The décor isn’t particularly macho but there are motorbikes of various vintages scattered around and you’re just as likely to find a table of leather-clad bikers grabbing a coffee as the local mothers’ group. Deus Ex Machina (latin for “God from the machine”), the motorcycle shop Deus is attached to, is a mecca for anyone who’s mad about bikes and well-worth a look even if you’re not.

I’ve been to Deus several times in the last few months. It’s not far from where I live and makes a convenient mid-point to meet a friend who lives in Newtown for a weekend brunch or lunch on those days she works from home.

The breakfast menu offers an array of hearty options such as slow-cooked Boston baked beans with an AC butchery pork sausage, spinach and poached eggs but since I can’t seeem to manage to get past the brioche with poached egg, asparagus, roasted tomato, prosciutto with truffle oil, I confess I have no idea what they’re like. The latter however is heavenly – without a doubt one of the best breakfast dishes I’ve ever had.

The lunch menu offers a range of salads, ciabiatta sandwiches and pizza slices, as well as some more substantial dishes. Fronting up for lunch yesterday I ordered a roast pork roll with caramelised vegies and homemade tomato relish and wasn’t disappointed. Generous slices of succulent pork complete with crisp crackling were perfectly complemented by melt-in-mouth sweet potato, a handful of peppery leaves and the sweet yet tangy relish. Sensational.

Previously open during the day only, I was reminded yesterday that Deus has recently started opening for dinner with a menu of affordable, Italian-accented dishes such as house-made gnocchi and duck ragout with green olives and pancetta. Sounds like my kind of food. Anyone want to come with me?