Feeling cheeky? Make your way over to Perth’s newest cafe in Applecross which is making a statement as the new kid on the block by bringing experience, quick coffee service, homestyle Italian food and full of flavour specialty coffee to the table.
Anna and Trevor Watts are no strangers to the foodies of Perth. They’ve been involved in some of Perth’s most loved establishments over the years including Beluga, Encontro and even Pizza Bella Roma. It’s this wealth of experience and love of hospitality that lead them to opening Cheeky Boy Espresso in Applecross.
When asked where the name of the cafe came from, Anna and Trevor explained that when their grandparents came over from Italy they only new a few phrases in English. One of which was ‘cheeky boy’. They would call all the grandkids Cheeky Boy and squeeze their cheeks. So it’s named in honour of their grandparents.
The Watts are locals. They have lived in the area for many years and made the decision to open on Ardross Street, as they felt the suburban strip hadn’t evolved much during that time. Trevor says “I’ve actually bought the same muffin for eight years and even had to travel out of the area to get a good coffee”. It was time to change that.
The cafe has been designed by former chef Brendan Ellis and utilises the slightly odd triangular shape perfectly. The first thing on the brief was a take away window, and the front of the building had to be rebuilt and the door moved to accommodate this. It was very important to Anna and Trevor that they had a connection between the inside and the good sized al fresco seating out the front.
Anna brings her Sicilian background to the table with a modernised, homestyle Italian menu. The current breakfast favourite with the regulars is Fatto Tomato. Simple, well executed and full of flavour. Trevor says “This is the food we eat at home with the family”. Another crowd favourite are the Bombolinis that literally walk out the door!
On the coffee bar, Cheeky Boy has a beautifully customised La Marzocco Linea PB and two Mythos grinders running Forza for the majority of milk based drinks, and Estate for black and piccolo lattes. They are also in the process of setting up a filter coffee program using a Moccamaster batch brewer.
Both Anna and Trevor love their coffee and the key to their plan, is putting as much emphasis on the coffee program as the food, which is a rarity in Perth. They chose Veneziano because in Trevor’s words “We wanted full flavour”.
Cheeky Boy has only been open since July and has been crazy busy since day one, well exceeding their expectations. Trevor says the best compliment they have had so far is one of the locals told them they’ve brought the community spirit back to Ardross Street. Nice.
Location: 31F Ardross Street, Applecross WA
Hours: Breakfast and Lunch 7 days a week from 6:30am to 5pm
Coffee: Veneziano Coffee Roasters – Forza Blend
Facebook: @cheekyboyespresso
Instagram: @cheekyboyespresso
