Cafe 63 Willows

If a sandwich could tell a story, this one would be a family saga. We ventured to Café 63 at The Willows in hopes of redemption after our underwhelming Castletown experience.

First, the good news: the filling. Generous layers of ham, cheese, and tomato gave the toastie some substance - noticeably more than its Castletown cousin. The fiery orange and red chilli garnish returned like a sequel character no one asked for, but at least it added consistency across the franchise.

Now the bread. Dry. Unbuttered. A sad canvas that desperately needed some love.
This time, however, we came prepared - margarine to the rescue. A little DIY intervention turned cardboard crust into something halfway respectable.

Our toddler companion took matters into her own hands with a "deconstructed tasting menu" approach. She nibbled her way through the components, then decided the bread was really just a platform for condiments. Jam, marmalade, Vegemite, and honey were all liberally trialled. Let's just say the chefs at Café 63 won't be stealing her recipes any time soon.
The staff? Friendly as ever. But did Café 63 redeem itself? Sadly, no. The Willows may have provided more filling, but the overall experience still left us with that dry-bread déjà vu.
Verdict: Better than Castletown, but only just. If you come, bring your own butter — or a toddler with a wild imagination.Read more