A short walk from Ocean Blue – East Ballina Holiday Rental, the Belle General Café is open for breakfast and lunch seven days. Located at 12 Shelly Beach Rd in East Ballina, this fine restaurant is open daily from 8.00AM to 3PM, serving breakfast from 8.00 – 11.45 and lunch from 12 – 2.30.
The service is warm and the space is fun, with rustic furniture and unique decorations. Or you can sit outside at a table under an umbrella and people watch. Wondering what they serve? Read on…
Support local farmers by eating local produce
From the restaurant’s website: “We are passionate about sharing delicious, fresh & healthy options, as well as quality classics.”
They practice this mantra daily, serving up local produce every day. The bananas in their smoothies are sourced from Uralba Valley Bananas in Uralba. Many foods come from the Byron Bay farmers market—Coopers Shoot Tomatoes, local blueberries & flowers, Nimbin Valley brown rice, other seasonal treats. Their free range eggs come from Scrubby Gully farm in Doubtful Creek and their bacon and lamb is 100% organic, grass fed and free range. Their steaks come from a farm in Kyogle.
By focusing on quality ingredients, interesting recipes, and complex textures, the Belle General Café creates healthy dishes that are flavourful and sumptuous without excess sugars and salts.
Menu favourites
Just a few of the menu items at the Belle General: breakfast salad (tahini whip, sliced avocado, salad leaves, roasted cherry tomatoes and pumpkin chunks, cucumber, radish, cress, crispy bacon pieces and a poached egg, toasted seeds and nuts); steamed chicken dumplings in coconut broth; Ranchero Taco dish (with house made soft blue corn tortillas, poached eggs, sliced avocado, roasted cherry tomatoes, house-made aioli, jalapenos, coriander, cress, dukkah and lime); salt and pepper squid; Paleo vegetable lasagne (with kale and cashews); really good beef burgers.
There are interesting condiments and sides—aioli, relish, hot chilli, sweet chilli, onion jam, beetroot tzatziki, pesto, tartare & hummus. For dessert: house made cakes and sweets.
The best coffee in East Ballina
You’re going to love the coffee at The Belle General. It’s strong, rich, flavourful, and you can’t stop at one.
You can order a strong coffee or a house made decaf chai, dandy, or golden milk. For tea drinkers, the café serves organic Byron Bay Teas and their own in-house blends. Their smoothies and cold press juices are a great pleasure in summer.
There’s a kids breakfast menu, lots of gluten free and dairy free options, and ample parking outside. Call ahead and take away anything on the menu.
Take some house-made products home with you
Besides its tasty fare, The Belle General also sells house-made products and carefully selected homewares for you to purchase online (and some in the store too). Their high-quality handmade jewellery is the work of Jacqueline (one of the 3 women co-owners).
If you’re planning on going for breakfast (or lunch), arrive early if you can—the Belle General Café fills up fast, it’s popular with locals and tourists alike.
One note: there are no beach views from the café (which is actually an asset, if you like a quiet meal before heading out to the beach), but don’t let that stop you from going. This cafe is an absolute gem and you’re going to be proud to call it your local.
The café’s phone is 0411 361 453, email is hello@bellegeneral.com, or visit their website here.
Do you want to experience a luxury coastal holiday?
Ocean Blue holiday rental is only a 5-minute walk from the beach and has gorgeous river and coastal views. Located only a short drive from Ballina Airport and 30 minutes from Byron Bay, this is the perfect location for your next beach holiday. Visit our contact page to make an inquiry or booking.
