Keith eatery carves a following on both sides of the border

Leading the charge to reject that notion is Henry & Rose at Keith.

The great coffee is among what makes this cafe/giftware store/flower shop so appealing that regular customers, driving between Adelaide and Melbourne, will plan their trip to stop there.

The popular Upper South East eatery has been owned by farming family James and Lucy Ryan, and their daughter Sophie Ryan, for the past seven years.

After 30 years in dentristry, Lucy decided to try something new.

"This came up for sale and it might have been a bit of a midlife crisis," she said.

"Luckily, we took it on with all the staff and we learnt from them."

The name Henry & Rose comes from the middle names of previous owners, Julia and Russell Davis.

Lucy said they toyed with the idea of changing the name when they bought the building and shop.

"I'm glad we didn't, because everyone knows it," she said.

As well as locals, she said the business had become a regular haunt of people heading between Vic and SA, with her regularly seeing the same faces from as far afield as Stirling or Yorke Peninsula.

"We know people who will plan their trip so they get here in time for breakfast," she said.

She said the brekky brioche was particularly popular, but there were other favourites on the menu.

"The carrot cake is a staple, it's been on the menu for years," she said.

"We also get a lot of people who come in and say they had to stop here - there is a lot of word of mouth."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, along with having a bit of a revamp and refresh of the building, the business introduced an app.

"People can order their coffee and pay on the way and then pick it up," she said.

"We also have a lot of people who have the number in their phone and ring ahead to pre-order."

Lucy said the three businesses in one worked well, with the food and gifts particularly popular.

"People come in to get food and walk past the gift shop and it's a real surprise for them," she said.

She said the giftware section was sourced from a wide range of areas, including sales reps and giftware fairs.

"After seven years, we know what works and what doesn't," she said.

"Or I might see something in shops in Adelaide and look to stock it - I'm always on the lookout.

"Most people are really good at sharing."