As northern suburb slickers are well aware, Carseldine Central is a convenient drop-in for when you need to stock up on the necessities, but if you’re yet to savour the tastes of Carseldine’s eateries, then you’ve been missing out. To load up on brunch bites and plenty of caffeine before your shopping spree, make tracks to cosy eatery Ramekins Cafe and ogle its salivation-worthy menu of eats that spans breakfast, brunch and lunch. Must-try dishes include a vegan potato rosti loaded with beetroot relish, baby spinach, corn, tomato and red onion and finished with balsamic glaze, and the mouth-watering eggs Benny with poached eggs, potato rosti, pulled pork and spinach crowned with hollandaise sauce and a scattering of sriracha. If you’re looking to sleep in before you indulge in some sipping and snacking, dig in to a lunchtime feast at Mo Charcoal Alley, a hidden gem that serves up delectable authentic Chinese cuisine. Flavoursome menu heroes include the likes of sizzling satay chicken with vegetables, stir-fried kung po chicken with cashew nuts, deep-fried beef lathered with special Peking sauce, battered duck served with plum sauce, and crispy pork topped with orange Cointreau sauce.

For a feast that would please the carb gods, we suggest perching yourself in the breezy Tuscan-inspired courtyard at Tantulli’s Italian. Indulge in tastebud-tempting lunch picks like salt-and-pepper calamari served with rocket salad and pecorino cheese, linguine marinara made with calamari, prawns, scallops and mussels in a rich napoli sauce and the Diavola pizza – a woodfired New York-style creation with a tomato base, topped with pepperoni and mozzarella. Sate your sweet-tooth cravings at nearby waffle and pancake parlour Rofl Wafl, which boasts a decadent menu of all-day breakfast fare, gourmet waffles, pancakes, crepes and decadent thickshakes. Treat your senses to the cafe’s signature confection – a waffle sandwich filled with two scoops of vanilla-bean ice-cream, Nutella, cookie dough, sprinkles, crushed Clinkers, popping candy, melted milk chocolate, sour straps, marshmallows and whipped cream. Those looking to wash down their meal with a flavourful drink can sip on one of the dessert destination’s ‘Freak Shakes’, with the Unicorn Freak Shake – a strawberry concoction topped with a doughnut, sour straps, marshmallows, musk sticks, whipped cream, sprinkles and popping candy – being the winning choice among the rugrats. It’s also sure to keep them happy while you shop up a storm.

This article was written with our friends at Carseldine Central. To learn more about the different retailers and restaurants you can visit at Carseldine Central, head here.