“FLAT out like a lizard drinking.” Never a more appropriate phrase came to mind as we sat in the glorious sunshine at the Surfing Lizard, in Munster.

We’d stumbled across this little eatery by accident after taking a wrong turn, but this won’t be our last visit to this hidden treasure, sitting in the shadow of the very glitzy Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, on Poore Grove.

The welcome was as warm as the weather, and we were invited to check out the various delights in the display cabinet, a selection of fresh, homemade goodies that changes regularly.

We kicked off with a couple of delicious juices ($7), a liquid vitamin pill of kale, spirulina and apple, for me and a mouth-puckeringly tart orange and apple juice for the other half, just as he likes it.

Sticking to the menu rather than the cabinet selection D’Angerous Dave couldn’t go past a fish burger ($16).

This one took the old staple to new heights: grilled, not battered, fillets were delicately crisp and retained moist deliciousness.

A fantastic home-made aioli really made this classic burger sing.

Carnivores will be tempted by the high-tide full breakfast ($19) but I was torn between the pancakes ($14), with poached pear, mascarpone and berry coulis and a drizzle of maple syrup or the vegie burger ($16).

I will be eternally grateful I went with the burger—without a doubt it was the best I’ve ever eaten.

The home-made pattie was chock full of vegie chunks including fresh beetroot and a magnificent mix of herbs and spices and served on a crisp bun: that great aioli ensured this was a burger to remember. A generous serve of piping hot, crisp shoe-string chips was the icing on the cake.

Not in a coffee mood I checked with a couple of patrons as to the quality of the Lizard’s brew.

“The best I’ve had in Fremantle,” a geographically challenged pom said—though if the border changes go through he may well end up having the last laugh. He added he’d had the full brekky and declared it “fantastic”.

My one niggle is directed at the designers of the surf club and whatever land department bureaucrats decide these things: with stunning ocean views, sweeping up to Fremantle and the port, why oh why is this cafe in a dip, its only view metres of barred railings around the club’s grassed area, the back end of Coogee caravan park’s toilet block, car parking, and a token slice of Woodman Point bush? It could have been shifted a little and I could have been enjoying truly world-class vistas, alongside that wonderful vegie burger!

Surfing Lizard
20 Poore Grove, Munster
Open Tue–Sun 8am–4pm