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Does that entrance look familiar? How about now? We were very disappointed when the hidden gem At Perry Lane closed for business. But the sunny courtyard now plays host to Not Just Coffee. They have made themselves slightly more visible … Continue reading
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One of the three men responsible for Three Blue Ducks also opened Morso, one of our top-reviewed cafés (see here, here and here) and home to my favourite dish of any Sydney establishment. With their well-composed meals, welcoming smiles and long queues … Continue reading
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Mrs Sippy does not serve gumbo, jambalaya or cornbread. Be sure to spell the “mrs” part to those you are inviting so they don’t have this common preconception. Mrs Sippy is a café, bar and restaurant in Double Bay where you … Continue reading
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A gentle sea breeze and morning sun provide perfect conditions for our breakfast outing at Coogee Beach today. People are milling about outside waiting for their take away orders. It’s a large café and the waitstaff are running around trying to … Continue reading
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Tiger Mottle expresso deluxe surely gets an award for being one of the most bustling cafés in Sydney. Despite the many cafés in the area (including La Gerbe D’Or, Eat Thai and Gusto Deli Café), tables and coffee are always at a premium … Continue reading
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Zinc was very busy considering how early we arrived. This didn’t pose a problem though as there is plenty of seating both inside and out. We seated ourselves and were tended to very quickly (multiple times in the first few … Continue reading
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At Perry Lane Facebook page notes that this café has unfortunately shut down. It has not been replaced by Not Just Coffee. …At Perry Lane is one of those cafés that only locals or ‘on-foot’ explorers would find. Tucked away on the … Continue reading
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It has only been a fortnight since our visit to La Gerbe D’Or but after sampling their hot cross buns during that visit, I made the decision that this was where I wanted to buy them for this Easter. So this morning … Continue reading
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La Gerbe D’or is a gorgeous little French patisserie and café near fiveways in Paddington. There was a constant stream of people coming and going with boxes and bags of delicious-looking foods. The locals sure know where to go for top quality … Continue reading
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Centennial Parklands Dining is in the same structure as the kiosk which sells sandwiches and other healthy snacks and drinks. On the eastern side you’ll find the refurbished café which is a lot more refined than we would have expected a … Continue reading
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What do a town in northern Italy, a casino in Las Vegas and a café in Waverley all have in common? They all share the same name – Bellagio. The waitstaff of this establishment proudly wear shirts bearing the café’s name on … Continue reading
Seasalt Café
Imagine a cool breeze on a summer’s morning, rays of sun breaking through the clouds and the calming sound of the sea. We’re awoken from this reverie by splats of rain from the grey sky. Sea Salt is located next to the picturesque Clovelly Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. It seems like a great destination for a fine summer’s day however it was cold and windy on this rainy spring day.
We’re lucky we’re such good friends because this café has our opinions decidedly split! Dane and our guest for this week thoroughly enjoyed their meals while April was left unimpressed. More on that later… Our first impressions of Seasalt were that it didn’t look as impressive as their website. Pictures of lobsters, wine glasses and shining silverware are contrasted on location by the word “kiosk” and the plastic lime green chairs. There is no shortage of seating which is great for the late risers. We were offered a table immediately by the staff whereas other patrons were told they could simply sit anywhere so it’s a nice relaxed atmosphere.
Mango smoothie
We have four words for you: “order the mango smoothie”. The fruit frappes and smoothies ($6.50) are available in mango or mixed berries, all made to order with fresh fruit. The texture of this beverage was part of its allure as you could make out the pieces of real mango. The flavour was out of this world and comes highly recommended.
Large flat white
Our guest Andrew is no stranger to coffee and ordered a large flat white ($3.60). He said the coffee was a bit burnt but provided the necessary caffeine hit.
Piccolo latte
April ordered the Piccolo latte ($3.50). It was tasty and well presented, as usual she was left wanting more.
Potato Rosti
Dane ordered the potato rosti ($14.50) and added a side of bacon ($7.50). Every element of this dish was outstanding. The rosti itself was crispy on the outside but airy and soft inside. The chipotle mayonnaise and rocket took it to another level and when combined with the guacamole and roasted tomato, Dane was in flavour heaven! The bacon… sure there was plenty of it but $7.50 for a side is ridiculous. Why not shrink the portion and price?
Eggs Benedict
Our guest ordered the eggs Benedict with spinach, hollandaise and smoked ham ($15.90) or smoked salmon ($17.90). The eggs were cooked to perfection, oozing out yolk when lightly sliced. The sausages were still sizzling when they hit the table and made our mouths water.
Home-made Baked Beans
April ordered the home-made baked beans on sourdough toast with parmesan and rocket ($12.90). It was bland, dry and included a mountain of beans. The beans had no taste at all and the rocket had no dressing. It would be better if the portion was smaller and included avocado or a salad. April was left hoping that next week’s breakfast would be better.
So we walked away with mixed reviews of Seasalt. For Dane, it’s worthy of a return visit if you’re in the area. The waitstaff were responsive and friendly, our food and beverages were delivered promptly and the potato rosti was amazing. April recommends calling in for coffees, or buying an ice cream from the kiosk.
Prices are as reasonable as most other cafés we visit but keep an eye on the prices of the sides (tomato $4, scrambled eggs $5.50, breakfast sausage $6.60, bacon or mushrooms $7.50, toast $6.90). Other dishes that whizzed passed our table looking delicious were the breakfast crumble with poached fruit ($9.90), french toast with berry compote ($14.50) and the Seasalt BLT ($16.80).
Clovelly is a protected beach that is good for families. There is great snorkelling beyond the rocks, just be carefully of the sharp reef. It’s also close to the coastal walk that winds around the cliffs from the Waverly Cemetery to Bondi Beach.
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Overall Rating: 16.5/25
Website: http://www.seasaltcafe.com.au/
Phone: 9664 5344
Address: Corner of Victory Street & Clovelly Road, Clovelly, 2031
Payment Options: Credit cards, EFTPOS, cash. No split bills
Posted in Sydney - Eastern Suburbs
Tagged Outdoor seating, Parking close by, Water views
Jenny's Café
This week Dane was on a mission… a mission to find the best bacon, lettuce, egg, avocado and tomato (BLEAT) he had ever eaten… he failed. Unfortunately we were not able to retrace his steps well enough to find the café that had served him this delicious sandwich so we instead chose one of the other establishments on the Bronte beach strip. Normally bathed in sunlight and situated just across the street from Bronte Park and Bronte Beach, you will find a café here to suit all palates and budgets. Jenny’s has plenty of space both inside and out however most people tend to opt for the latter.
Think Pink, mixed fruit juice and Bronte Berry
If fresh juice is your thing, Jenny’s is the place to go. Basic juices ($5.50) available are orange, apple, celery, pineapple, carrot, beetroot, watermelon, mint and ginger. You are able to choose a combination of up to four of these (five if you include mint or ginger) and Jenny’s makes it easier to choose by including a variety of suggestions.
The Think Pink contained strawberry, apple and watermeleon and tasted fantastic. The person who mixes and juices these drinks knows what they’re doing as the flavour combination was just right.
The mixed fruit juice (beetroot, apple, mint) was a great purple colour and very refreshing. It was very healthy too and gave us a boost of energy.
The Bronte Berry ($6.50) is a berry whip consisting of apple juice, banana and wild berries. We voted this the best of our sampling. We are inclined to think that part of the mixture is frozen as some of the ice and berries were formed in small boulders. This is not an issue, merely an observation.
Bacon egg roll with home made tomato relish
The bacon egg roll ($10.50) is offered with either BBQ sauce or home made tomato relish (which we chose). The photo above does not show much but there were two eggs and plenty of bacon to be found within. The tomato relish lacked any major flavour punch and we think BBQ would have suited the sandwich more however we enjoyed this simple dish for what it was: filling, tasty comfort food.
Fried eggs served with toast and grilled tomato
The fried eggs were satisfactory yet lacked character. They could’ve been more generous with the spinach (you can see it hiding behind the eggs in the photo above) and there was also a piece of tomato under the bread. We don’t like packet butter because it’s a waste of packaging and it was rock hard from the fridge. The bread however was delightful and redeemed the dish.
Fresh fruit crêpe - banana
The fresh fruit crêpes ($10.50) are served with either strawberries or banana and with maple syrup on the side. The crêpes had a smooth, melting texture and the banana was slightly fried. The two made for a great flavour combination. The maple syrup was served on the side which was great because the crêpes didn’t go soggy and we could add as much syrup as we liked.
The fresh seasonal fruit salad ($8.50) had enough variety to keep us interested. We had asked for yoghurt on the side although some of the fruit still had remnants of it on top. The yoghurt was presented unmajestically on a side plate which made us avoid it, although it did taste fantastic once we worked up the courage to try. The fruit comprised of apples, strawberries, blueberries, banana, rockmelon and honeydew melon. There was nothing standout as we have come to expect from some establishments but it was sizable, tasted great and the price was just right…
Bronte Beach
The fruit salad summed up the meal… some good variety and decent, tasty food but nothing to necessarily help Jenny’s Café stand out from others. We certainly would recommend it for a quick, tasty, cheap meal when you’re enjoying a trip to Bronte.
When you’re done with your meal, wait at least 30 minutes before swimming. Bronte has a reputation for rough surf and you don’t want to waste a good crêpe. Bring a blanket for a nap on the grass or ride the miniature train by the beach. You can also follow the coastal walk around to Bondi by which time you’ll be ready to eat and drink again. A word of warning, there isn’t much parking close by so be prepared to move your car every hour and feed horrendous fees into the parking meter.
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Overall Rating: 14.5/25
Phone: 9389 7498
Address: 485 Bronte Road, Bronte, 2024
Payment Options: Credit cards, EFTPOS, cash ($20 minimum for cards, 10% surcharge on weekends and public holidays, no split bills)
No. 9
Cafe number 9 stands out as one of Sydney’s best cafes. As we approach we notice the sophisticated set up. Gold plated number nines frame the door and brasserie style chairs beckon from the pavement. It looks like a ritzy hotel but is quite petite inside. The interior is plush and cosy. The lighting is warm and gold gilded landscape paintings hang from the walls. We learn that the owner’s brother is an interior designer and that that the place has only been opened 8 months. It’s early on a Sunday morning and we arrive well before the residents of urban Potts Point.
Skim cappuccino
The staff are relaxed and friendly. We feel like we’re friends already. We order two Skim Cappuccinos ($3.50). The barista says the blend is Genovese, roasted in Melbourne. The coffee is aromatic and the taste is smooth and delicious.
Pancake with banana puree and poached rhubarb
We ask for recommendations and the waiter suggests the Pancake with banana puree and poached rhubarb ($14.50) and No.9 Bruschetta poached eggs with avocado salsa ($14.50). Both dishes are hard to fault. The pancakes are perfect- light, fluffy and dusted with icing sugar. The banana puree is a pleasant surprise, ripe and easy to spread. The rhubarb complements the sweetness of the banana and is a natural choice to serve this time of the year.
No.9 Bruschetta poached eggs with avocado salsa
The No.9 Bruschetta poached eggs with avocado salsa is an explosion of colour. When we break the eggs the yellow of the yolk contrasts with the red tomatoes and green rocket. It tastes pretty good too. Like the other produce, the avocado is ripe and soft with a subtle flavour. It looks massive in the photo however it was a reasonably sized portion and we eat it all.
Interior
We finish our meals and sit in the golden glow of the lamps. This is a cafe you can easily stay at all day drinking coffee, chatting with friends or reading the paper. We imagine lunches spanning hours while the cold wind blows outside or dinners by the glorious glow of the lamps. There is also a gorgeous upstairs balcony area with faux bookcases. A trip to the restroom is highly recommended too as it’s fitted out with great wallpaper.
The brunch crowds begin to stumble in so we drag ourselves away from the cafe. If you have time we suggest a trip to the Potts Point markets just off Ward Avenue. There is a lady who sells fragrant soy candles and there’s plenty of other stalls selling plants, books and clothes. If markets aren’t your thing, stroll down to Rushcutters Bay Park for a gorgeous view of Sydney Harbour (and maybe a bask in the winter’s sun).
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Overall Rating: 23/25
Phone: (02) 9331 1399
Address: Shop 2, 9 Ward Avenue, Potts Point, ,2011
Genovese coffee: http://www.genovese.com.au/
The Book Kitchen
We’ve sampled some amazing cafes in the past few weeks and The Book Kitchen, Surry Hills continued the trend. We were welcomed by wide open doors and casual yet friendly wait staff. We opted to sit outside on a gorgeous winter’s day although the cafe does offer a cosy interior. Large bookcases line the walls and offer new and secondhand books for light reading.
Skim Cappuccino
The drink menu offers the standard tea and coffee selection as well as fresh orange juice. We chose two skim cappuccinos ($3.50) which looked and tasted amazing. We liked the design on top and the blend lived up to the Single Origin reputation.
Soft boiled bio dynamic egg with vegemite soldiers
We wanted to start the day with a light meal and the Soft boiled bio dynamic egg with vegemite soldiers ($7) was perfect. The egg was still soft and runny inside and we delighted in dipping the Vegemite soldiers in it. The bread was thick and fresh, a gourmet version of the standard sliced bread soldiers we ate as children. This is a great meal if you don’t have much cash to spend or don’t have a huge appetite.
Spanish baked eggs with tomato confit, capsicum and oregano
Our guest raved about the Spanish baked eggs with tomato confit, capsicum and oregano $14, w chorizo $2.50. The tomato confit was the highlight with soft, ripe tomatoes. It certainly looked superb with the sourdough triangles balancing on the top.
Pear date and walnut loaf w passion fruit butter
As the previous dishes were quite light, we shared a Pear date and walnut loaf 5 w passion fruit butter ($1.5). They had us at ‘passion fruit butter’. The bread was quite thick and a little bit drier than we expected but the butter offset this. You can also buy passion fruit butter by the jar which is made on the premises.
Interior
The Book Kitchen is located in a busy part of Sydney just off Crown Street. When the residents know something good they support it and The Book Kitchen is no exception. We arrived around 9:15am and by 10am there were swarms of people hanging around outside for a spare table or takeaway coffees. We watched in interest (full to the brim by this stage) at the queue of people forming over the road outside the Bourke Street Bakery. We’ve put it on our list to visit soon.
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Overall Rating: 21/25
Phone: (02) 9310 1003
Address: 255 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Website: http://www.thebookkitchen.com.au/
Ruby's Diner
This café is perfectly situated for a quick tasty bite on the way through to Sydney’s eastern suburbs beaches. There’s plenty of parking on Bronte Road and down small side streets on the weekend. Weekdays may be another matter. There are almost an equal number of tables inside and out. Small stools are the main seats as well as a bench along the wall on the inside. The waitstaff were quick, friendly and attentive.
Belgian chocolate milkshake
We cannot recommend the belgian chocolate milkshake highly enough. Thick and amazingly flavoured you’ll find yourself wanting even more straws to indulge in this. One of our favourite milkshakes in Sydney!
Skim cappuccino
Big points too for the coffee at Ruby’s Diner. The two cups, skim cappuccino and decaf skim cappuccino we ordered were both great. The locals definitely know where to go as there was a queue forming outside while we had ours.
Free range eggs with toast
Free range eggs ($10) are available poached or scrambled. They were light, fluffy and included an unusual ingredients which we worked out to be lemon rind and shallot. It was a satisfying dish on a warm sunny morning. The avocado was a great side ($4) and April spread it on the extra slice of bread hidden underneath the thick layer of bread and eggs.
Scrambled eggs
The deceptively named scrambled eggs ($16) contains more of the spectacularly flavoured eggs. Dane thoroughly enjoyed the flavours of the chives and spring onion. He didn’t know scrambled eggs could taste this good! The dish is served with a fried chorizo sausage, roast tomato and rocket. Everything was fresh and blended well together. The tomatoes alone were a masterpiece – perfectly cooked and seasoned.
Croque Monsieur
The Croque Monsieur ($11) for the uninitiated is a ham and cheese (typically gruyère) grilled sandwich. That’s the played-down explanation. Expect a croque monsieur to be delivered to your table with ample cheese and butter on both sides. Ruby’s Diner did not disappoint. We were impressed by their representation of a classic. We added avocado on the side ($4) which we’d recommend as this is a very rich dish. The leg ham was thick & tasty and there was plenty of gruyère. The toast was not too hard to cut through which is a problem for a lot of cafés.
During the warmer months in Sydney we recommend a lazy breakfast at Ruby’s Diner followed by a dip at Bronte Beach (or perhaps a nap in the shade first!)
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Overall Rating: 18.5/25
Phone: 9386 5964
Address: 173 Bronte Road, Queens Park, 2022
Payment Options: Cash only
Posted in Sydney - Eastern Suburbs
Tagged Dog friendly, Outdoor seating, Parking close by
Gusto Deli Cafe
There are numerous choices of cafés at Paddington’s Five Way intersection. The locals however seem to flock towards Gusto in droves and it looked to be one of the more welcoming establishments. There is limited window counter seating inside but lots of space outside. As seems to be customary at Sydney cafés nowadays, pets are welome with bowls of water available at the entrance.
Breakfast rolls, quiches, cakes, fruit salad, beef wraps and more...
A lot of food is available fast as it is premade but extremely fresh. The beef wraps (roast beef, lettuce, tomato, carrot, chutney, cucumber, beetroot $9) and breakfast rolls (poached egg, leg ham, tomato, cheese and hollandaise sauce on a toasted onion roll $9) looked very good. The bowls of seasonal fruit salad with passion fruit ($10.50) are made daily. There were also many more cakes, pastries and cookies.
Patrons order and pay at the counter then take a number for their table.
Being a slave to the berry smoothie I couldn’t resist when I looked at the drinks menu and saw the berry smoothie (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries & low fat yoghurt). It was thick and very yoghurty but full of fresh berries – I’m all berried out but loving it!
The other two members of our table could not stop raving about the skim cappuccinos. “One of the best coffees I’ve had in a long time”… enough said!
Eggs Benedict with bacon
Barely five minutes passed after ordering before our food arrived. The eggs benedict (served on a toasted muffin with Hollandaise Sauce) and bacon ($12) as opposed to the options of ham or salmon arrived first. All ingredients bar the eggs (with a little too much water spilling out on cutting) were cooked well. The Hollandaise was good but there was nothing extraordinary about this benedict compared to that of every other café in Sydney.
B.L.A.T. (bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato, aioli on Turkish bread)
I chose the affectionately named BLAT. I wasn’t expecting anything very exciting but like to see how various cafés try to add some flash to classic dishes. From the first bite I regretted that there wasn’t more of this sandwich on my plate! The powerful garlic of the aioli was astounding. Thankfully the cooks had been liberal with its use as it worked so well with all of the ingredients. The Turkish bread was delightfully soft. All in all a finger-licking dish.
Goats cheese & tomato quiche
It seems to be rare in our reviews that there is more than one standout dish. Gusto changes all that with the goats cheese & tomato quiche ($8). I was not expecting much when my sister ordered a quiche. This however was a dish to go back for! The flavour combination was fantastic. If you’re a fan of goats cheese, order this and if you’re not a fan of goats cheese… change your thinking and order this! The salad was topped with a reduced balsamic dressing. Altogether a light but winning experience.
Chocolate brownie
Unfortunately the lure of this chocolate brownie ($?) was too much for one companion to resist and a bite was stolen before it was allowed to pose for the camera. Dense and full of chocolate chunks, another high recommendation. Can Gusto do anything wrong?
The uplifting beats of the music inside aren’t overpowering and don’t reach outside. Instead you’re left to enjoy the chatter of the patrons – a mix of all types and ages. The surrounding residential streets are thankfully quiet and make this café stand out at Five Ways.
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Overall Rating: 20/25
Phone: 9361 5640
Address: Broughton St (cnr Heeley St), Paddington, NSW, 2021
Payment Options: CC, EFTPOS, cash
