Chik and Kent venue manager Chris Littler.
Camera IconChik and Kent venue manager Chris Littler. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie, Andrew Ritchie www.communitypix.com.au d415158

Java spiced with taste of India

Staff ReporterEastern Reporter

Having launched in November, the cafe-cum-bar-cum-restaurant started up initially as a pop-up coffee store and, according to venue manager Chris Littler, it seems to be on the path to success.

Previously running the Cheeky Sparrow, the 27-year-old said he had wanted to try something different and create a new brand that would be recognised as a destination for quality, food, beverage, coffee and service.

‘Chik and Kent is named after an Indian coffee brand and was inspired by the increasing demand for high-quality coffee,’ he said.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

‘We are focusing on delivering a quality product every time and a ‘back to basics’ approach has been adopted, offering three styles of coffee – white, black or filter.’

As well as being known for their coffee, Littler said he and his team headed by chef Prabhakar Rao, formerly of the Boatshed Cottesloe, were all striving to create a brand that Perth could depend on for quality.

‘To quote our Rao ‘every dish is a masterpiece’ and we continuously look to challenge the ideal of Indian food, sourcing ingredients that the more basic curry houses forget,’ he said.

‘We are a modern Australian restaurant and we just use influence from our Indian heritage.’

Speaking of food, Littler recommends the prawn and mango salad as a must-try for lunch while the Noorani which features coal-roasted chicken, sat on a bed of cumin potato, saffron rice with a cashew finish gets his nod for supper.

‘We aren’t just a Monday to Friday operation servicing the city coffee crowd,’ he said.

‘We are open for weekend breakfast and offer a cool option for after work drinks.

‘When the sun goes down we transform into our true guise, a bar-restaurant and being open until 2am on Friday and Saturday night ” we are redefining how Perth eats and drinks on Murray Street.’

Littler said he also hoped the brand would become a part of the Cinnamon Club family in Leederville and Victoria Park.