Category Archives: Sydney – Inner West

Sonoma Bakery Café, Glebe – Rating: 17/25

Posted on November 15, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | Leave a comment

Sonoma Bakery Café

Sonoma Bakery Café in Glebe is one of three Sonoma locations. Baking and supplying fresh bread daily they have each become a hub for locals to enjoy a bite to eat when they go to purchase their baked goods. It is essentially a do-it-yourself affair with bottles of water, glasses and cutlery available near the door. Bread, food and drinks are ordered at the counter and then brought to your table. The interior is simple with a handful of tables. The focus here is on food, in particular the range of breads. Mostly priced at $6 or $7 the range is huge including wholemeal smelt sourdough, Jamut sourdough, seeded rye sourdough, fruit spelt, walnut & raisin, country white, soy & linseed, olive, wholemeal polenta and more!

Hot chocolate

The hot chocolate ($3 for regular) was smaller than we expected so we should have ordered the large for an extra 50 cents. It tasted good but it was warm rather than piping hot and wasn’t particular creamy. It’s always nice to visit a café and be surprised by something new but there was nothing extraordinary about this drink.

Soy latte

The soy latte ($3) had been brewed very well. Tasty breads and coffee… things were starting to look good!

Ham breakfast roll

The above shot is a bit misleading as there was more to the ham breakfast roll (approx $8?) than it looks. Beneath the slightly melted Gruyère, ham and rocket was a sweetened tomato and onion relish with a slightly flattened poached egg. The roll was premade but this didn’t detract from the flavour. The bread as to be expected was of phenomenal quality. Soft and thick but quite fluffy, it provided flavour rather than simply serving as something to hold the fillings.

Avocado, lemon, sea salt and olive oil on toast

The avocado, lemon, sea salt and olive oil on toast ($7) kept the fantastic quality going of not only the bread itself but the toppings and other ingredients that compliment it. Everything was fresh and well presented too which made up for the silent, morose waiter who seemed eager to drop our plates and escape.

Pain au chocolat

The pain au chocalat shows that Sonoma knows more than just bread. This item had more than the usual paltry amount of chocolate and the pastry itself literally melted in our mouths.

Almond pastry

This pastry contained a sweet almond cream inside which may be too rich for one person but is perfect to share.

Glebe Park

As you can tell, bread is the obvious star at Sonoma. Other than the surly waiter, we found it hard to fault as it delivers what is expected. The dishes are simple and in some cases premade but of such good quality that you’ll find yourself one of the many returning customers. If you visit the Glebe café, ask for takeaway and enjoy your coffees, bread and pastries on the grass of Glebe Park just across the road.

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Overall Rating: 17/25

Website: http://www.sonoma.com.au/
Phone: 9660 2116
Address: 215 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, 2037

Payment Options: Credit cards, EFTPOS, cash

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Posted in Sydney - CBD, Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Dog friendly, Fresh fruit and vegetable stores close by, Outdoor seating, Parking close by

Kazbah, Balmain – Rating: 20/25

Posted on October 27, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | Leave a comment

: Kazbah

The breakfast banquet at Kazbah came highly recommended from a few friends so we had to give it a try. The venue is so popular that you’ll have to book weeks in advance for a reasonable weekend sitting. We called one week prior and managed to squeeze in a time-limited booking at 1pm. Kazbah was packed when we arrived and we had to wait 15 minutes or so for our table to become available. When we sat down the noise from other patrons was almost unbearable and we could hardly hear each other. We were happy to deal with the noise once we read the mouth watering items on the menu. It contains a mix of Middle Eastern and North African dishes which differentiate Kazbah from many other cafés in the area. Unfortunately we only ended up with a party of 4 so alas no breakfast banquet, however the meals were still pretty impressive.

Peppermint tea

Our guest Theo tried the Moroccan mint tea ($4). Also available as are herbals: peppermint, chamomile, sencha, carcade (Egyptian Hibiscus). Our guest found the tea rather disappointing and not at all as refreshing as he’d hoped. The glass was unique and interesting. At least it was nice to look at. Kazbah also offers a range of the regular teas: English breakfast, Earl Grey, Darjeeling ($3.80).

Freshly squeezed watermelon and ginger

The freshly squeezed juice of the day ($6.50) was watermelon and ginger which was very strong due to too much of the latter. We didn’t find the mix to be a successful one.

Turkish coffee

April tried the Turkish coffee ($4) which was so thick she had to chew it slightly. We were told that the secret is to bring it to a gentle boil 3 times before serving it. It was sweet from the sugar but also retained some bitterness from the coffee. There was no milk to be seen and it was served in the most intriguing coffee pot.

Kazbah also serve the usual coffee fair for around $3.80 each.

Fried eggs with bacon and potato hash

Our guest Vijay tried the well presented fried eggs with Turkish toast ($12) and bacon and potato hash ($3.90 each). The bacon and eggs were cooked perfectly and were a good serving size. The pot hash we found to be firmer and denser than we imagined but they had a delicious and crunchy casing.

Breakfast Mezze

The breakfast Mezze ($17) hommos, labne, olives, kasseri, fresh tomato, mint, dukkah, Za’atar (mixed spices) and Lebanese bread was a dazzling sight. Presented beautifully with the Lebanese bread rolled in the centre and fresh mint and tomatoes, it was a nice change from bacon and eggs. The salty flavours are great after a big night out and the labne and hummus were smooth and fresh. We felt transported away to another time and place.

Lamb mince breakfast tagine

Our guest Theo tried one of two breakfast tagines ($18.50) lamb mince, sucuk, spinach, roast capsicum, roast tomato, caremalised onion, feta, eggs, Turkish toast, Lebanese bread.

His comments:

The best thing about Kazbah, is that they don’t just do Moroccan variations on familiar brunch themes, but fully-fledged Moroccan dishes with a hint of what you’re used to mixed in, just to reverse the entire experience and give you an entry to Moroccan cuisine that perhaps you haven’t had yet. That’s the beauty of their breakfast tajines, served in the clay bowl with the typical conical lid, which keeps the whole dish cooking in its own little private oven. The lamb mince tajine is intensely flavoursome and warming; the main ingredients (tomato, onions, red capsicum and of course lamb mince) are soaked through with gentle aromatic spices, and on top are two eggs, poached just by being cracked into the stew. It’s a neat way to switch your priorities. The lamb has absorbed so many other strong flavours that when you taste it with the eggs it works just as well as bacon, but the longer you stay with the dish, you realise it’s something else entirely. It’s exactly the kind of persistent, subtle combination of tang and tenderness that you find in all kinds of Moroccan cooking, and the eggs are only a small feature. This can be a pleasant surprise both for those who haven’t sampled Moroccan cuisine – it only gets better from here – and for those who are used to it, who may well be amazed that the tajine could be such a refreshing idea at brunch.

Scrambled eggs

Dane ordered the scrambled eggs with Turkish toast ($12) and chose some of the very large selection of sides to accompany it. The eggs had been prepared extremely well – neither too dry nor uncooked. They held their consistency very well and served as a great base to…

Lamb Merguez, pork belly shish kebab, labne and onion marmalade

Clockwise from top-left: lamb Merguez, pork belly shish kebab, labne and onion marmalade ($3.90 each except for pork belly: $5.50). The lamb sausages tasted fantastic. They were quite dry but this suited the consistency of the lamb and the flavours of the herbs. The pork belly did not seem to have anything added to it. There were three pieces on the skewer, all very thick and with a lot of sweet meat. The labne has been a favourite food of Dane’s since trying it at Foureightfive and combined very well in small amounts with the eggs. The onion marmalade was the champion side dish of the lot – it was quite sweet and turned anything it was combined with into a new flavour treat. We would definitely recommend the above combination of sides with your eggs. The kebab was ordered more just to experience a different flavour…

This actually turned into a theme for the morning: the amazing abundance of new flavours that we all experienced. It’s fantastic to have such a unique establishment with so many dishes that are different to what one would normally experience. For this, we’d like to add an extra star this week.

Balmain is always bustling on the weekends. Line up along Darling Street for one of Adriano Zumbo’s sweet creations or stop by the flower stall for a colourful treat. We recommend the Balmain and Rozelle markets, the latter if you’re a treasure seeker or bargain hunter. Don’t expect to have too much energy after a big breakfast at Kazbah. We recommend taking it easy for an hour or two at least.

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Overall Rating: 20/25 (one extra star added for uniqueness)

Website: http://www.kazbah.com.au
Phone: 9555 7067
Address: 379 Darling Street, Balmain, 2041

Payment Options: Credit cards, EFTPOS, cash

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Fresh fruit and vegetable stores close by, Outdoor seating, Parking close by

Deus Café, Camperdown – Rating : 16/25

Posted on August 25, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | Leave a comment

Deus Café

Deus café on Parramatta Road, Camperdown looks hardcore. Rows of motorcycles line the side of the building and leather clad men and women stride inside. While it helps to be a motorcycle enthusiast to shop at the store, the café next door is for everyone. The interior of the café is like a diner. Orders are taken at the counter and then you’re welcome to relax at large communal tables. There’s plenty to look at – display motorcycles are parked around the place, works of art hang from ceiling to floor and the plasma television shows black and white movies. Usually we detest televisions in cafés and restaurants however if they’re playing excellent films then we’ll cut them some slack.

Skim cappuccino

We order a skim cappuccino (price rubbed off blackboard). It satisfies our craving for coffee and as usual we want more. We also help ourselves to the self service water only to discover that they use disposable paper cups which is disappointing. We much prefer the environmentally friendly reusable option.

Strawberry milkshake

The strawberry milkshake ($6.50) has the right consistency and flavours. Served in the mixer as it should meant there’s a lot of milkshake for the price and they definitely don’t skimp on the ice cream!

Smoked trout and kipfler potato salad

The smoked trout and kipfler potato salad ($16) is part of the lunch time menu along with three other salads. Luckily the kitchen allowed us to order a salad seeing as it was already 11:30am. The potato salad consists of well cooked potatos (they are too often underdone) and a delicious mayonaise. The smoked trout is deboned but we found four escapes lurking in the depths of the salad. This is by no way a crime but it lowered our score somewhat. This is all topped with copious amounts of shaved celeriac and a warm poached egg and hollandaise sauce. The egg and hollandaise is prepared nicely and blended well with the trout and potatoes as we cut into it.

2 eggs and toast

Deus delivers the classics well. We ordered two eggs and toast ($8) (scrambled) which comes with plenty of egg, toast and butter. The bread wasn’t a jaw breaker and the eggs were a nice in between, neither runny nor dry.

Starberry crepes with lemon custard and burnt orange syrup

Strawberry crepes with lemon custard and burnt orange syrup

A must try dish is the Strawberry crepes with lemon custard and burnt orange syrup ($13). The syrup was the standout which we finished by licking off the plate at the end. The crepes were soft and delicious however we prefer less custard as it tended to overpower the rest of the flavours. We’d like to see more crepes on the menu. They work well as a brunch treat.

Deus Ex shop

Deus is situated away from the busy cafe strips of King Street, Newtown and Glebe Point Road, Glebe. However this lends the café a certain charm. It is large inside and can accommodate a crowd without being overwhelming. It is wheelchair and pram friendly however it doesn’t seem to attract families with little ones. We also noticed a number of patrons ordering beer with their meals which is perhaps an easier way to ease into Sunday afternoon. The only downside is the dim lighting. We hope the café does well enough to expand and offer an outdoor dining experience (as far away from Parramatta Road as possible of course).

After your meal we recommend strolling around the store and admiring the bikes on display. You’ll soon fall in love with some of them as they are real beauties.

Eggs: Free range

Bread: Nonna’s Bakery

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Overall Rating: 16/25

Website: http://www.deus.com.au
Phone: 9519 3669
Address: 98-104 Parramatta Road, Camperdown, 2050

Payment Options: Credit cards, EFTPOS, cash

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Parking close by

Pub Cha, Annandale Hotel, Annandale – Rating: 19/25

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Dane | Leave a comment

Pub Cha, Annandale Hotel

And now for something completely different… brunch this Sunday was Pub Cha! For the uninitiated, pub cha is yum cha at the Annandale Hotel. For the completely uninitiated, yum cha is a Chinese morning tea which centres around tea and dim sum. Pub cha then seems like an unusual concept but it works extremely well. In the handful of times I’ve been there, the only Chinese face I have seen was in the kitchen so it would seem that this is either Sydney’s best kept secret or frowned upon by yum cha purists. One reason for this could be that the dishes on offer are not only of yum cha origin. There are also Japanese and Thai/Malay delights on offer.

Pub Cha courtyard

Get the image of a dingy bar with yum cha carts peddling around out of your head. The dingy part is in the Annandale Hotel itself while pub cha gets its own courtyard and bar at the rear with ice cold beer on tap. The pub cha phenomenon is catching on fast though so booking is absolutely essential. Despite the sign on the exterior wall, the opening time is now 11am and even though there was only one other table of patrons when we arrived at 11:30am, the entire place was teeming with guests by the time we left.

Yum Cha... with beer!

If you haven’t been before, everything will be explained to you when you arrive. Briefly, you receive a pen and menu that lists every dish with boxes next to each item. Simply write the number of plates you want to order. The number of pieces on each plate is also included so you know how many you’ll receive. There is also a photo of each dish on the wall. Drinks can be ordered from the bar and the entire bill is settled after the meal. You will find green tea at your table almost as soon as you sit and sauces (soy, sweet chilli, chilli and plum) can be gathered by you from the counter in the corner or fetched by your waiter.

I would suggest ordering small amounts (3-4 plates) at first and then more later if you’re still hungry. Once the steam baskets start to arrive, they come very quickly so soon you’ll be bombarded with more food at once than you know what to do with.

BBQ pork bun

A yum cha staple and one of the favourites, the BBQ pork bun ($3). The bun itself was fluffy and light while there was plenty of pork inside. The pork is slow cooked in a mixture of oyster and hoi sin sauces amongst other ingredients and is actually quite sweet. Our first round of food included nine of these (for eight people) and they were enjoyed by all.

Tofu and vegetable satay

I did not take note of the name of the above tofu and vegetable satay dish but the sauce itself was fantastic – thick and peanutty on top, thinner below to dip the vegetables in. The vegetables were fresh and well cooked. Too much heat and they would have lost their colour and flavour but everything was still crunchy.

Chicken curry puff

One of our first signs that this is not all traditionally Chinese is the arrival of the chicken curry puffs ($5.50) (vegetarian also available ($4.50)). They were deliciously crunchy with a creamy chicken curry inside very similar in flavour to the Thai restaurant curry puffs we’re all used to.

Chicken satay

The chicken satay ($5 for 3) was always going to be popular at our table. They tasted better than we could have imagined with tender marinated chicken covered in the same thick satay sauce as the vegetable dish above. This was another crowd pleaser.

Salt and pepper calamari

As we started to realise our eyes may have been too big for our stomachs, the steam baskets kept arriving! The salt and pepper calamari ($7.50) was simply fantastic especially when combined with the sweet chilli sauce. The salt and pepper flavours were both strong but not overpowering.

BBQ beef

The BBQ beef ($7.50) was easily the most popular dish at the table. Tender and cooked medium, it was served with a chilli sauce that wasn’t as dangerous as we thought packing more flavour than heat. The serving was also very generous – many a pair of chopsticks was dipped into the basket before it was finished.

Prawn har gaeu

The prawn har gaeu ($7.00) was not to everyones’ taste but I thought they were fantastic. The prawn inside had been spiced and with a touch of hot chilli and soy sauce poured on top this dumpling tasted great.

Pork comibnation dumpling

The mind boggles as to what the ‘combination’ in the pork combination dumpling ($7) actually is. We hoped it was in reference to the combination of pork and spices which by the way tasted great. The dumplings themselves seemed expertly made and were a fitting finale to our meal.

The service was good during our visit but staff did start to become understandably flustered when the heavens opened and halved the number of available tables. The drinks and their prices were not reviewed this week because of the sheer amount of food to review and the fact that the beer, wine and soft drinks at pub prices don’t need to be critiqued. After our meals we enjoyed hot chocolates but coffee and Paddle Pops ($2) are also available. For something a bit unusual, pub cha is a must-try event. Even if you don’t enjoy yum cha, you’re likely to find something you will enjoy here.

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Overall Rating: 19/25

Website: http://www.annandalehotel.com/anh/content.asp?id=143
Phone: 9565 2334
Address: 17 Parramatta Road, Annandale, 2038

Payment Options: Credit cards, EFTPOS, cash

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Outdoor seating, Parking close by

2042 Café & Deli, Newtown – Rating: 22.5/25

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Dane | 2 Comments

2042 Café & Deli

While April took the healthy route this week and ran in the City2Surf, Dane continued on the SOS café quest. Newtown was the choice this week and I thought it was apt to visit a café that took it upon itself to represent the entire suburb through its name. You need to venture past the central Newtown area to find 2042 Café & Deli. Amongst the vintage, antique and button shops (no we’re not kidding, there’s a button shop) are some fantastic cafés. Seating on the sidewalk is limited but there is plenty of space inside including some very comfortable sofas.

Jams, rubs, chocolates and more...

Cheeses, meats, pastries, biscuits and pasta

For food lovers there’s plenty to look at and buy. From the meats to the jams, everything looked superb and a little bit different to what you’d normally buy in the supermarket. As well as the above, we also saw ice cream, olives, “healthy florentines” and teas.

The waitstaff were amongst the best we’ve met. They were professional, friendly and courteous. Seating us very quickly with a smile, we received menus and cold water almost instantaneously. We were served by a few people but the waiter that was with us the majority of the time was an extremely helpful and genuine soul.

Skim cappuccino

Coffee after my own name. “It better live up to it!” I thought. The mmms after every sip told me that it did. There was high praise from the coffee drinkers at the table as they enjoyed their skim cappuccinos ($3.50).

Lychee, mint and pineapple frappe

Two varieties of freshly squeezed juice are available: apple and orange ($4.50) as well as bottled orange, apple, pineapple, cranberry or grapefruit ($3.90). I chose one of the two frappes on offer: lychee, mint and pineapple ($4.50). This frappe contained less ice than I’m normally used to but the blend of fruit tasted fantastic. The top was frothy but still juicy and thirst quenching and the lychee flavour gave it a real boost. I wish it was more common in fruit drinks.

Fried eggs on toasted Turkish with hommus, parsley salad and smoked paprika

The name of the dish pretty much says it all. The fried eggs on toasted Turkish with hommus, parsley salad and smoked paprika ($11.90), althought not my cup of tea, was just what one of my guests wanted. She praised the combination of the parsley salad with the smoked paprika. The egg yolks were just soft enough to run when cut and unlike many of the cafés of late we could actually cut through the bread easily!

Fried eggs, bacon & cheese with BBQ sauce on Turkish

This was another café that really takes the simplicity of the bacon and egg sandwich and does great things with it. However rather than spicing it up with unusual ingredients as we’ve seen in the past (not that that’s a bad thing), 2042 perfects the flavours of their fried eggs, bacon & cheese with BBQ sauce on Turkish ($9.90). There were generous amounts of egg and bacon which was made even more decadent with melted tasty cheese. We found it hard to fault: filling, tasty, simple and well presented.

Corn & ricotta hotcake with bacon, rocket and green tomato relish

The corn & ricotta hotcake with bacon, rocket and green tomato relish ($14.90) presented a unique twist on the now ubiqitous ‘corn fritters’ and varieties thereof. The hotcake alone was a warm, moist and delicious item. The bacon above went with it very well but it was the rocket and the green tomato relish that gave the dish a whole new flavour. What looked much like a mango chutney can best be described as picalilly but with more of a curry flavour. I found myself using every last piece of food to spread the relish over as it quickly became my favourite taste at the table.

Much like the fried eggs and paprika, the flavours of the hotcake dish were not to everyones’ taste but luckily we all ordered well and according to our own preferences. Based on that, 2042 Café & Deli receives very high marks in all areas. The prices were also remarkebly reasonable which was a welcome change. I’ve never been so happy to hand my credit card over when I was being charged $42 for food of this quality for three people! Enjoying breakfast at 2042 means you have the rest of the day to enjoy the sights and sounds of Newtown. There are shops for all tastes, fashions and hobbies so be sure to soak up as much of the King Street culture as possible.

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Overall Rating: 22.5/25

Phone: 9550 2500
Address: 403-405 King Street, Newtown, 2042

Payment Options: Credit cards, EFTPOS, cash

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Dog friendly, Organic Options, Outdoor seating

Deckhouse, Woolwich – Rating: 14/25

Posted on July 22, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | Leave a comment

Deckhouse

Deckhouse opened in early July 2010 and it’s evident from the dining experience. The café hasn’t quite grown into its venue, which seems to be a restored boat shed at Woolwich dock. If you do manage to find the café (you have to walk past a boom gate and down the road) the views are stunning. This quiet part of the harbour has glimpses of the Harbour Bridge, parts of the working dock and of luxury yachts cruising by.

The views almost made up for the slow and inattentive wait staff we encountered. We were given glasses of water but waited another 15 minutes for our orders to be taken. The waiter didn’t know what items were on the menu or how much they cost. We hoped that before being allowed to work on the floor the management would check their staff knew what was on offer. The drinks and food arrived almost at the same time, some of the dishes were mixed up and one didn’t arrive at all. However, the prices are very reasonable and we hope that they will work out these problems over time.

Pineapple juice

The juices on offer are orange, apple, pineapple ($3.50 each), cranberry and ruby grapefruit ($4 each). Unfortunately these aren’t fresh so we were disappointed to receive our pineapple juice with preservatives. However you can see that the glass was very nice, a consolation point for that.

Chai vanilla latte and skim cappuccino

We ordered a skim cappuccino ($3.50) but were disappointed by the slightly bitter taste. It wasn’t anything special compared to what we’d had elsewhere. The chai vanilla latte ($3.50) looked very pretty but lacked flavour. We liked their choice of spoons; they had a nice weight to them and a good design.

Deckhouse fried eggs

The Deckhouse fried eggs with slow cooked tomato, basil and pork fennel sausage ($12) should normally look slightly different to the above shot. The bacon arrived with this dish but we had actually ordered it as a side for the next dish (the poached eggs). The tomato was also missing but was delivered to us on request. The pork sausages tasted better than the majority of breakfast sausages of most establishments. They were well spiced and decently sized. The eggs were cooked well – neither too soft nor too hard. We felt though, that to deal with the sourdough, we would have been better equipped with a chainsaw as it was very tough.

Slow cooked tomato

The missing tomato looked lonely when it arrived but was a welcome addition to the plate. The basil is there however there were only two small leaves and they added nothing to the flavour. The tomato was very watery and we’re glad we kept it on the sideplate or our toast and sausages would have been very moist.

Poached eggs on sourdough with sides of avocado and tomato

The poached eggs on sourdough ($8.50) is a simple dish that you can customise with the sides on offer. One nicety is that we were asked whether we wanted the poached eggs hard or soft, an option we’ve never had before. The eggs arrived soft as we requested. We added a side of avodaco and tomato ($4) as well as bacon ($4), the latter of which arrived on the plate above. The avocado and tomato serving was generous & fresh and pre-seasoned with salt and pepper.

Ricotta hotcakes, fresh banana and honeycomb butter

The Ricotta hotcakes, fresh banana and honeycomb butter ($8.50) was the stand out dish. The butter melted nicely over the pancakes and the banana added some needed sustenance. The presentation could be improved but they didn’t last long on the plate anyway.

Sourdough toast with avocado, roma tomato, goats cheese and balsamic

The sourdough toast with avocado, roma tomato, goats cheese and balsamic ($7.50) was fresh and filling. The goats cheese gave it a good depth of flavour and the the balsamic counteracted it with some sweetness. The price was surprising for this dish as we would expect it to cost around $12 at most other venues. The only drawback was the toughness of the sourdough. As mentioned above, it required heavy machinery to cut through it and our jaws had a great challenge of chewing through the crust.

If the fruit salad we ordered arrived, there would be a picture here.

Overall it was a good breakfast but didn’t live up to our expectations. Surely with big breakfast crowds on the weekends, the waiters will refine their performances. The crowd seemed to be mostly locals, consisting of retired couples and families with young children. Breakfast is served daily until 11:30am and is also open for lunch. If you’re planning to go, look it up on our map below first because the signs are very small and you might start to panic from hunger.

As a side note, the location and space of the Deckhouse Restaurant would make an incredible location for a wedding reception.

If you do make the effort to get to Woolwich Dock we recommend taking along a picnic blanket and a book. There is gorgeous parkland around the foreshore and after a big breakfast, all you’ll want to do is nap in the sun.

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Overall Rating: 14/25

Website: http://www.deckhousewoolwich.com.au
Phone: 9817 4394
Address: End of Clark Road, Woolwich Dock, 2110

Payment Options: Credit cards, EFTPOS, cash

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Dog friendly, Outdoor seating, Water views

La Grande Bouffe, Rozelle – Rating: 21/25

Posted on June 6, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | Leave a comment

La Grande Bouffe

Any cafe that serves coffee in bowls and gives blankets to outside diners is a winner in our books. This is a cafe with a sophisticated menu at reasonable prices and Sydney seems to know. The place was bustling when we arrived at 10am and we had to wait a short while for a table. Inside we glimpsed baguettes, french toast with beautifuuly poached fruit and diligent floor staff taking and filling orders. We were given menus while we waited but we were too preoccupied watching the hive of activity to read it properly.

Skim Cappuccino

Cappuccino Bowl

It wasn’t long before we were seated inside (it would be a considerably longer wait for a table outside) and coffees came our way. We ordered the Skim cappuccino($3.20) and Large Coffee/Bowl ($4.00). While we both enjoyed our coffees, our guest preferred her skim cappuccino ordered the week before at Toast Cafe, Surry Hills. The bowl of coffee on the other hand was a huge success and April gazed dreamily into her chocolaty froth for an extended period of time.

Mixed Herb Omelette

We were blown away by the gorgeous mixed herb omelette ($12.00). It was a light and delicate dish. The herbs and salad leaves folded inside the omelette were fresh, colourful and well chosen. This was served with a light salad with vinaigrette and a fresh baguette. We dreamed of eating this dish on a warm spring day in the French countryside (not on a rainy winter’s day in suburban Sydney).

Croque Madame with Fried Duck Egg (ham, cheese and duck egg on toasted brioche)

The Croque Madame with Fried Duck Egg (ham, cheese and duck egg on toasted brioche) ($12.50) also received rave reviews. While initially unsure about the flavour of a duck egg, our guest was happy with the reproduction of a classic dish. The egg yolk flowed out gently when cut with a knife and was mopped up with the thick slices of brioche. The salad helped balance the richness of the dish.

One drawback of La Grande Bouffe was the speed of the service. It took the staff longer than we expected to seat us and then they were scarce throughout much of our meal. At the beginning we noticed that they were playing loud music with a fast tempo. This made it hard for us to hear each other (combined with the chatter from other tables) and detracted from the atmosphere. We noted this to one of the staff and they were kind enough to change it for us.

We recommend getting to this cafe early to secure an outdoor seat. It’s fun to watch the array of people going by and it’s also much quieter. If you have time, stroll down to the walking track in Rozelle which is part of the ‘Bay Run’. If you’re feeling more lethargic the Rozelle Markets make for a fun afternoon with an array of second hand goods, plants and other surprises.

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Overall Rating: 21/25

Phone: 9818 4333
Address: Shops 1 & 2, 778 Darling Street, Rozelle, 2039

http://www.lagrandebouffe.com.au/Payment Options: Cash, Cards

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Dog friendly, Outdoor seating, Parking close by

Clover Cafe, Annandale – Rating: 19/25

Posted on May 25, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | Leave a comment

Clover Café

You’ll be forgiven for regressing back to your childhood when you visit Clover Café. From the aeroplane mobile to the bowl of free balloons at the counter, there are touches of young innocence everywhere. The seating inside consists of a long communal table and several tables against the wall which themselves are quite long. This encourages strangers to sit together and hopefully realise that interesting conversations are just a shared table away. We seated ourselves on this cold and rainy Sunday and our drink orders were quickly taken. We had to wait a while before our food order was taken and the food and drinks seemed to take longer to arrive than we’re used to.

Skim decaf cappuccino

Flat white

The Skim decaf cappuccino ($3) and flat white ($3) had mixed reviews. The former was slightly cold and didn’t live up to our expectations. However the latter impressed our guest who decided to order another. It also looked more appetising as you can see in the delicious photo above.

Watermelon and orange juice

The drinks menu is small but contains what we believe to be the essential breakfast beverages. As well as the selection of coffees and teas, there are cold drinks such as iced coffee ($4.50), iced chocolate ($4.50 or small for $3), iced mocha, affogato or Virgin Mary ($4.50 each). For Dane, the fresh juices are where it gets interesting with offerings such as apple, carrot & ginger, carrot, celery, ginger & orange, watermeleon & orange and plain orange ($4.50 per glass). The watermelon and orange juice was a great combination: freshly squeezed and cold it is highly recommended.

Fruit toast

The fruit toast ($3.50) is served with butter and jammies. It lived up to it’s name and was bursting with fruit including apricots and sultanas. We would have liked a bit of extra butter as it quickly melted over the thick first piece.

Rabbit toast

Can you see an animal shape in the toast above? We had a hard time time deciphering it too. The Rabbit toast ($3.50) again with butter and jammies was reasonably priced but was cut too thin and lacked the texture of gourmet bread we have come to expect in Sydney. There also lacked a choice of jam flavours. We were given a jar of Hanks Mixed Berry Jam almost as an afterthought.

Poached eggs on toast, prosciutto, tomato relish and Pecorino

The cooked dishes made up for any disappointment with the toast. We relished every bite of the poached eggs on toast, prosciutto, tomato relish and Pecorino ($12.50). The dish is made even more flavoursome by adding slices of fresh tomato, spinach and balsamic. The flavours worked superbly together and made this a meal that we would definitely order again.

At the end of the meal the owner came around to personally check on our table and the charm of Clover grew on us. It you’re keen to try this cafe we recommend the cooked dishes. Leave the toast and jam for a lazy Sunday at home.

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Overall Rating: 19/25 Phone: 0433 258 252
Address: 78 Booth Street, Annandale, 2038 Payment Options: Cash

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=-33.881234,151.169871&num=1&t=h&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=38.161973,47.373047&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.881209,151.169877&spn=0.001476,0.00284&z=19

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Outdoor seating

The Cove At Drummoyne, Drummoyne – Rating: 19/25

Posted on May 16, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | 1 Comment

The Cove At Drummoyne

Having just done a lap of the ‘bay run’ in Canada Bay we felt slightly out of place as the well-dressed waiter greeted us in our running shorts and T-shirts. We were soon at ease though as we realised that clothes like this are the norm for a café situated along one of the more popular running circuits of Sydney. The Cove At Drummoyne is a larger establishment than most we visit consisting of a deck, a long hall of tables (all with waterviews) and more space around the corner as the hall opens to another dining area. The waitstaff were quick & attentive and water bottles & glasses are readily available on the counter. Breakfast is available until 12pm when the lunch menu starts. They are also open for dinner on Saturdays & Sundays and are able to host functions too. The lunch and dinner specials menu was enough to entice us back for more with items such as grilled prawn & blue cheese salad with red apples, roma tomato, watercress spinach, walnuts and balsamic reduction and crispy skin duck breast with kifler potato, buk choy, spinach, asparagus and orange & honey glaze.

Sunrise smoothie and Bay berry crush

Other than the two drinks we chose, the beverage menu offers freshly squeezed orange juice ($5), San Pellegrino varieties ($4), soft drinks ($4), Dane’s coffee ($3.50), hot chocolate, Chai ($3.50 each) and lemon, lime and bitters ($4.50). The sunrise smoothie ($5) with banana and low fat milk was a great taste of what was to come. Hints of honey mixed with ripe banana produced a truly satisfying drink. The frothy light milk prevents it from being too heavy but you have to pace yourself or you’ll run out of room for your meal. We imagine the drink transcends seasons and can be enjoyed year round. We couldn’t resist the ingredients of the Bay berry crush ($5.50). Made up of raspberries, blueberries, apple juice and lemon sorbet, it’s a very refreshing drink. Tasting mainly of raspberries, the other ingredients complement very well, the lemon offering a delectable ZING at the end of every sip!

Panini with fried egg, bacon, onion jam, rocket and aioli

Consider this the Bay equivalent of the ubiquitous bacon and egg roll. The panini fried egg, bacon, onion jam, rocket and aioli ($12.50) was more filling than it looked and very hard to fault. The bacon has not been trimmed which some patrons would not like however Dane enjoyed the flavour the rind had to offer. The panini itself was toasted but still soft and had a strong fresh taste. The egg had been cooked perfectly while the other ingredients blended in the background to give some great overall flavours. Nothing was added in excess nor just for the sake of it which was a welcome surprise as often chefs can be too clever for their experience level.

House loaf topped with ripe avocado, lemon & pepper

We noticed plates of the house loaf topped with avocado, lemon and pepper ($14.50) leaving the kitchen in vast numbers. It seemed to be a very popular dish. It was nice to see a simple yet delicious dish on the menu and it was the prefect size after a lap around the bay. The fresh lemon juice and cracked pepper on the side was a nice touch allowing us to add them just as we liked them. The Cove won us over with soft ripe avocado and thick, fresh slices of toast. A superb breakfast all round.

We recommend an early breakfast at The Cove followed by a leisurely stroll around the bay. Alternatively, you can earn your breakfast with a good run then relax over breakfast. We’re interested to see how the construction of the new bridge over the bay will influence the trade of this cafe. We expect that strong local support and enthusiastic walkers will keep them busy despite the changes.

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Overall Rating: 19/25

Website: http://www.thecoveatdrummoyne.com.au
Phone: 9719 3022
Address: 1 Henley Marine Drive, Drummoyne, 2047

Payment Options: CC, EFTPOS, cash, 10% surcharge on Sundays and public holidays, no split bills

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Outdoor seating, Parking close by, Water views

Le Comptoir, Annandale – Rating 15.5/25

Posted on May 9, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | 1 Comment

If you’re hungry and live locally this is a great place to eat. The waiter was friendly and took our orders quickly to ensure our rumbling stomachs were filled promptly. He also took time to talk to as and provided some fun conversations. The tables out the front are located in a draft so we recommend bringing a jumper to keep warm or sit inside during cooler weather.

Skim cappuccino

Flat white

A drinks menu was missing at Le Comptoir however upon asking we were told that we could have anything! We tried the skim cappucino ($?) and flat white ($?) which were made with a Toby’s Estate blend. Both were impressive. The coffee tasted great and was presented well with a friendly smile.

Berry smoothie

Freshly squeezed juices are available but we opted for a berry smoothie ($?). It was pleasing but didn’t blow our socks off. Some more fresh berries would have been good and some strawberries would have complemented the raspberry flavour well. Extra points for the cool glass!

Fruit salad

Le Comptoir is a no frills restaurant that serves the regular breakfast fair. Our table shared a fruit salad ($9) which was served with a side of plain yoghurt. The fruit tasted good, comprising of pear, kiwi fruit, rockmelon and apple. Smaller pieces would have helped us feel less clumsy though as we either had to manouvre them into our mouths or bite them in half first.

Halloumi melt

Halloumi melt with bacon

Two people at our table ordered the halloumi melt ($11), one with a side of bacon ($4). We’re not sure where the ‘melt’ part of the dish comes into play as there wasn’t anything melted on the plate. It was more like an open sandwich with tomato, halloumi, rocket and balasamic vinegar. Three of us ordered halloumi as part of our dishes and we felt it was too salty and overpowered the dish. One guest pointed out that with the variety of halloumi they are using, it should be washed or soaked prior to cooking - this would remove the excess salt. The turkish bread was okay but nowhere near the high standard we are coming to expect of cafes in Sydney. There were good reports of the side order of bacon; non-greasy and tasty the way bacon should be.

Free range poached eggs

Free range eggs ($9) are available poached, scrambled or fried. We opted for sides of spinach and halloumi ($4 each). Another slighly disappointing dish. The presentation was uninspiring and the eggs weren’t cooked quite as well as they could’ve been.

Eggs benedict

The egg benedict ($15) was reasonable but the small amount of hollandaise was disappointing. The eggs needed to be cooked a bit more and we’re unsure whether the tomato was served cold or became cold while it sat on the plate (it was eaten last).

The Annandale village has a thriving cafe culture with many more cafés along Booth Street. This includes one of our old favourites – Bar Sirrocco. We noticed a small garden centre, book store and excellent video store. So no matter what the weather is like, we recommend a stroll around the surrounding streets to help digest that Sunday brunch. Annandale, we’ll be back in the future with our stomachs rumbling!

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Overall Rating: 15.5/25

Phone: 9692 9121
Address: 109a Johnstone Street, Annandale, 2038

Payment Options: C ash only

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Dog friendly, Outdoor seating, Parking close by

Big Brekky, Petersham – Rating: 17.5/25

Posted on May 2, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | 2 Comments

Big Brekky

Hopes are high when you’re heading out for breakfast to a café named Big Brekky. The café located on busy Stanmore Road, Petersham is larger than it looks. The main eating area is connected to a smaller room before spilling out into a garden at the back (the latter of which is a very casual affair – you almost feel as though you’re intruding on the neighbours). The staff were attentive from the beginning and let us know it would be a short wait for our table. It wasn’t long before we were seated outside in the garden area.

Orange and pineapple juice

There are numerous freshly squeezed juices available: orange, pineapple, apple, watermelon, carrot, celery, beetroot, ginger and mint. We enjoyed a glass of half orange, half pineapple ($6) which came in a decently sized glass and was well blended. In this case, Big Brekky gets away with not adding ice because it was a crisp autumn morning.

Flat white

The flat white ($3.30) was made from Campos coffee so we expected the best. It was so good our guest ordered a second however it never arrived. Although it was a busy place we expected better service. When paying the bill they gave us our drinks for free to make up for this.

Chai tea

The soy Chai ($5.50) was served with honey and not as flavoursome as expected. We guessed that there wasn’t enough tea and spice in the large teapot to infuse the milk. We also questioned whether the soy was actually full cream milk…

Benedict

Although we had a few issues with the drinks, the food made up for them. The Benedict ($13) was delightful. The thick brioche was not as menacing as it first looked. Soft and rich, it was almost one of the best flavours on the plate. Almost… the thick ham, fresh spinach and hollandaise were fantastic and the eggs cooked perfectly. Highly recommended for any fans of eggs Benedict.

Voluptuous Veg

The Voluptuous Veg ($14) included two poached eggs on a base of green beans & sweet potato and zucchini fritters with horseradish cream. It was one of many choices for the vegetarians among us and did not disappoint on flavour. The unusual horseradish cream added a new spin to vegetable fritters that were light and well cooked.

Big Brekky (vegetarian version)

The café’s signature dish the Big Brekky ($18) was an overwhelming plate of food. It included eggs (how you like em), Eumundi Smokehouse bacon & fresh chorizo sausage, potato gratin, garlic mushrooms, roasted tomatoes and homemade pear chutney. Although April is a vegetarian, they had her at ‘pear chutney’ so she ordered the dish. The waitstaff offered to substitute spinach and avocado for the meat which all made a delicious dish. The bread was thick and crusty and the poached eggs were cooked to perfection. When cut open they drizzled over the bread and softened the bread slightly. The potato added nice variety to the dish, however the pear chutney seemed to get lost in the mountain of food. It all tasted great, however we will have to return to sample a simpler dish to thouroughly enjoy the pear chutney.

While sitting outside we encountered the occasional jumbo flying overhead however breakfast in the garden is highly recommended especially at this time of year (Autumn) when the mornings are crisp and the sun is nourishing and warm on your back. It is also very child friendly with a childrens’ table setting complete with toys. There is also plenty of room for prams and crawling babies on the grassy lot adjacent to the café.

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Overall Rating: 17.5/25

Phone: 9569 8588
Address: 336 Stanmore Rd, Petersham, 2049

Payment Options: CC, EFTPOS, cash

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Dog friendly, Outdoor seating

Cafe Sofia, Erskineville – Rating: 16.5/25

Posted on March 30, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | Leave a comment

Cafe Sofia

April: “Cafe Sofia was recommended to me years ago by some local Erkinites. I have memories of pancakes and coffee and inappropriate jokes over breakfast at 2pm. Everyone seems quite accepting in Erskinville so you won’t feel embarrassed if your friends do tell bad jokes rather loudly. Cafe Sophia remained in the back of my mind until last weekend when we were milling over which cafe to sample.”

It’s a deceptively large cafe. There are a small number of tables on the sidewalk and all you can see when you look inside is the kitchen. As you enter the cafe there is a multitude of tables and even a covered courtyard beyond this. The staff are friendly, rushing orders around the place and customers mill around the counter reading the menu on a sizable blackboard.

Banana, guava and passionfruit fruit whip

There is a large selection of fruit whips and smoothies. The banana, guava and passionfruit fruit whip ($5.50) caught my eye and was a nice departure from the standard mixed berry and pineapple/orange options. The passionfruit seeds were crunchy and April enjoyed having to chew my fruit whip. The banana and guava was thick and delicious, making her very happy.

Apricot and raspberry smoothie

While it looked impressive, opinions were divided over the apricot and raspberry smoothie ($5.50). While the majority enjoyed the flavours, we could all agree that we could not taste the apricot. Where was it? The drink was thick and cold, the dairy to fruit ratio was well maintained.

Pineapple, strawberry and mint fruit whip

Yet another fruity concoction graced our table in the form of a pineapple, strawberry and mint fruit whip ($5.50). The mint added a fresh bite to the drink and the pineapple and strawberry proved a good marriage. It was a great drink for a warm autumn morning. We hope winter holds off so we can continue to enjoy these chilled fruit whips!

Skim cappuccino

The coffee was average. The skim cappuccino ($2.90) arrived quickly and looked promising but our advice is to stick to the smoothies and fruit whips.

French toast with bacon and banana

The French toast with bacon and banana ($10.50) looked simple and tasted fantastic. The white bread had been cooked very well and was delicious with the maple syrup that is served on the side. The only complaint is that the dish is too small. Had the orderer known, he would have ordered a double portion. Instead, he ordered the bacon and egg roll for round 2…

Bacon and egg roll with cheese

We had to open the roll up to reveal just how good it was. The bacon and egg roll with cheese ($5.90) is served with your choice of sauce and was observed to be an extremely popular takeaway choice for other patrons. The BBQ sauce our breakfast guest chose tasted great. The roll was toasted but soft and fluffy and was served with a small balsamic-dressed salad. One disappointment was the relatively small amount of bacon. Luckily there was some spare at our table!

Homemade baked beans with poached egg and sourdough toast

How great it is to find homemade eggs as opposed to the canned variety. Two people at our table enjoyed their homemade baked beans with poached egg and sourdough toast ($9.50). However beware if you don’t enjoy dill as it was on top of and throughout this dish. One of the people eating the beans sat picking the fresh dill off the dish and kept asking ”Dill on beans, why???? Dill on eggs? Why?” We’re not entirely sure why, but they probably should have mentioned the ingredient on the menu. The beans were hearty and the poached egg soft and runny on the inside. April loves eggs like this and enjoyed dipping her sourdough into the yolk. She doesn’t mind dill either so was pretty happy. The dish itself was a reasonable size – the two servings at our table went back to the kitchen unfinished.

Eggs, toast, spinach and tomato

The dish on the board reads eggs, toast, mushrooms & tomato ($7.90) but we requested that the mushrooms be swapped for spinach. They obliged and served a good vegetarian-optioned meal. The poached eggs were very malformed and cooked slightly longer than usual. Although it doesn’t look like much, we were impressed with the staff’s willingness to cater to personal requests. They didn’t complain and they had one very satisfied customer as a result.

Erskinville is an interesting area of Sydney. We recommend checking out the local deli and florist. If you’re lucky you can buy stainless steel tea pots out of a cardboard box by the side of the road for the low price of $8. If you’ve got time we recommend a late brunch followed by people watching on the sidewalk. When you’re done, jump on a train to the city or stroll up to Newtown for some cosmopolitan window shopping.

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Overall Rating: 16.5/25

Phone: 9386 5964
Address: 7 Swanson Street, Erskineville, 2043

Payment Options: Cash

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Dog friendly, Outdoor seating

Digi.Kaf, Glebe – Rating: 19/25

Posted on February 28, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | 1 Comment

Digi.Kaf

You’d be forgiven for walking past Digi.Kaf without noticing it – one of us did while the others were waiting inside! It’s a very understated and unassuming location not marked by the outdoor seating you see at most cafés. Inside there is plenty of space. We visited late morning on a week day so were seated and served promptly.

Digi.Kaf interior

The first room is made up of benches, tables and chairs along one wall, with barista and cash register on the other. The interior is sunny and open, the styling definitely has an air of industrialism with construction toys and a large fabricated coffee cup logo.

Digi.Kaf interior

Up some stairs and the second room of Digi.Kaf contains four internet-capable computers (this is an internet café after all) and plenty of comfortable seating. Arrive too late on a busy weekend and this is where you’ll find yourself sipping a coffee while you wait for a table to become available.

Strawberry smoothie

The strawberry smoothie ($6) with ice cream, honey and yoghurt was fantastic. Very thick but full of flavour and definitely passed Dane’s smoothie test! The skim cappuccino ($3.50 for regular, $4 and $4.50 for larger sizes) received rave reviews from those who ordered.

Benedict

The benedict with ham ($13.50) (also available with salmon and dill pesto hollandaise, $15.50) takes a departure from the usual English muffin and is served with wholemeal toast. The eggs were cooked extremely well and the hollandaise was as good as any we have tasted in Sydney. However the person who ordered this dish personally prefers thicker cuts of leg ham to the shaved grilled ham that arrived.

Sourdough stack

The sourdough stack ($13.90) (also available as a half stack, $7.90) is a sight to behold. Towering on the plate, it comprises of crispy sourdough with two poached eggs. On top of this is is fresh rocket, and shaved parmesan. This is all topped off with a decent amount of prosciutto with more cheese and cracked pepper. We added avocado on the side ($3). The prosciutto was a nice deviation from bacon. It was crispy and complemented the dish yo a tee.

Quesadilla (single)

The inclusion of Mexican inspired dishes added variety to the menu. It was great to try something different and it didn’t disappoint. The quesadilla (single serve, $12.50) was light and fluffy and oozed cheese and refried beans. The dish is complemented with a bowl of spicy tomato jam and sour cream. The combination went surprisingly well with scrambled eggs and is recommended for a late lazy breakfast. We’ll be back for this dish.

Overall the staff were friendly and the food was exceptional, a great local staple. The pricing we found to be a mixed bag though. Some dishes seemed reasonable, while others were way above their equivalents at other cafés.

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Overall Rating: 19/25
Website: http://www.digikaf.com.au
Phone: 9660 3509
Address: 174 St. Johns Road, Glebe, 2037

Payment Options: CC, EFTPOS, cash

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Posted in Sydney - CBD, Sydney - Inner West

Bump N Grind Central Café, Newtown – Rating: 13.5/25

Posted on January 4, 2010 by sydneyonsunday | Leave a comment

Bump N Grind Central Cafe

NOTE: Bump N Grind has now closed and has been replaced by The Organic Pomegranate

Bright, clean and vibrant were our initial thoughts on entering Bump N Grind Central Cafe in Newtown. The music is courtesy of V on an LCD television, the waitresses were quick and attentive. Luckily we made it just in time before the 11:30 rush hour. Most patrons were young couples and our hopes were high as we watched their hot breakfasts coming out of the kitchen.

English Breakfast tea

Our first disappointment was the tea. Being from T2 we knew that we could expect some good quality tea however it’s preparation was poor. The over steeped leaves made it bitter and undrinkable. Both the green and English Breakfast teas ($4 each) were served in Bodum coffee plungers that may have been left on the order counter for too long. This is pure sacrilidge for tea drinkers and the tea cups remained untouched on the table. At the end of our visit we spoke to the manager on duty about this but he seemed disinterested in our points saying that no-one else ever pointed this out and he hadn’t experienced this problem before (implying we didn’t know what we were talking about).

Strawberry smoothie

The strawberry smoothie ($6) was very thick… almost like a milkshake in that it contained too much milk and ice-cream for our liking.

Brunch platter

The brunch platter ($10.50) is described as being “served with grilled cheese, tomato, croissant and a fresh fruit salad”. We found out that this translates to a grilled cheese and tomato croissant with a fresh fruit salad. The resulting ‘platter’ was a bit barren but points for creativity. It is nice to have a unique dish with well paired ingredients.

Breakfast wrap

The breakfast wrap ($11.50) contains all of the ingredients of a hot breakfast. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and “inhouse BBQ sauce” in a tortilla. The result was an easy to eat (with hands or cutlery), filling meal that was cooked very well. The sausages were a bit plain and reminded us of ‘snags’ that would be thrown onto a BBQ. Something a bit more unique would be an improvement.

Vegetarian breakfast

The vegetarian breakfast ($9.50) was overall very well cooked. It consisted of baked beans, grilled tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms and wholemeal toast. This dish and the breakfast wrap helped us to conclude that Bump N Grind Central Cafe prepares their hot dishes a lot better than their cold ones as we found out with the next two dishes…

Tiger prawn, avocado and mango salad

The person ordering the tiger prawn, avocado and mango salad ($16.50) chose this dish because she does not like mayonnaise or creamy dressings and it is described as having a “tangy mango dressing”. The dressing did not match it’s description in the slightest. It turned out to be plain mayonnaise. Not even a dressing; plain mayonnaise. Not even a secret sauce mayonnaise; just plain mayonnaise. Upon reaching the end of the dish we also found that it had also been too liberally added. This also required a follow up with the wait staff where we were told that this was the chef’s first day and the ‘dressing’ had been a mistake. We spotted the same dish coming from the kitchen later again with mayonnaise. We were offered a 10% discount but the disappointing mayonnaise/mango combination and the great tea debacle spoiled the visit for some of us.

Grilled Halloumi and tomato salad

The next salad was grilled halloumi and tomato ($14) which comprised of rocket, roasted tomato, kallamata olives and a lemon herb dressing. Although fantastically presented it became a contentious point. Half of our table liked the tanginess of the dressing, the other half found it too flavourless and oily. We could all agree however that there was too much of it. The salad was drowned and the rocket below the outer layer of the salad was limp and unappetising.

We came away from this café with mixed reactions. The lack of interest from the manager to his customers’ questions was off-putting. What can be positively said is that the hot dishes were well prepared. The eggs benedict on other tables looked stunning and upon questioning other patrons, they were enjoying their hot breakfasts. May we suggest staying away from the tea. Cold drinks on offer included fresh squeezed orange, apple, pineapple, carrot, celery watermelon or ginger ($6), frappes (peach, strawberry or tropical, $5) freezoccinos and many more.

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Overall Rating: 13.5/25

Phone: 9516 2888
Address: 534 King St, Newtown, 2042

Payment Options: CC (minimum $10), EFTPOS (minimum $10), cash

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Posted in Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Outdoor seating

Glebe Deli Café, Glebe – Rating: 13/25

Posted on December 29, 2009 by sydneyonsunday | Leave a comment

Glebe Deli Cafe

Another “deli cafe”! A conincidence we promise! This family run café is a popular spot for locals. All of the breakfast dishes on offer were quite basic and reasonably priced. The atmosphere is calm and subdued – the patrons seem to be a quiet crowd. The wait staff were friendly yet seemed unsure of who ordered what and which table it should be taken to.

Breakfast menu

Fruit whip

The Fruit Whip ($4.90) was almost all made of berries, tasting very similar to a raspberry compote. It was obviously thinner though, chilled and full of flavour.

Skim cappuccino

The skim cappuccino ($3) was average. This didn’t say much for the Grinders blend of coffee and the freshness of the beans left something to be desired.

Scrambled eggs with toast and bacon

The scrambled eggs on toast ($6) with bacon ($?) was a simple dish presented simply. The ingredients were all cooked well and delivered what one would expect from such a dish. The eggs, thankfully, were fluffy and… eggy Unfortunately there isn’t much more we can say.

Toasted croissant with Hank's jam & butter

The croissant with Hanks Jam ($4) looked unappetising as it was served flattened by the grill yet the pastry was surprisingly crunchy and tasted buttery.

Overall, the Glebe Deli Café was a good value, local experience. Compared to our recent exploits the dishes lacked flair but it would make for a welcoming quick stop for cakes, pastries, pies or a salad for lunch.

At the risk of sounding like snobs, when will cafes become smoke free inside and out? Outdoor dining in Sydney is a pleasure, except when the person next to you blows their second hand smoke over your coffee and eggs. If I wanted a side of nicotine I would’ve asked for it.

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Overall Rating: 13/25

Phone: 9566 4219
Address: 339 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, 2037

Payment Options: CC, EFTPOS, cash

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Posted in Sydney - CBD, Sydney - Inner West

Tagged Dog friendly, Outdoor seating

Bar Sirocco, Annandale – Rating: 19.5/25

Posted on November 17, 2009 by sydneyonsunday

This gallery contains 7 photos.

The aroma of fresh coffee and turkish toast greeted us as we sat at the last free outdoor table at Bar Sirocco. The reputed genius of the establishment’s chef, Aston Grasse, promised a morning of fantastic flavours. Booth Street is … Continue reading →

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Category Archives: Sydney – Inner West

Sonoma Bakery Café, Glebe – Rating: 17/25

Kazbah, Balmain – Rating: 20/25

Deus Café, Camperdown – Rating : 16/25

Pub Cha, Annandale Hotel, Annandale – Rating: 19/25

2042 Café & Deli, Newtown – Rating: 22.5/25

Deckhouse, Woolwich – Rating: 14/25

La Grande Bouffe, Rozelle – Rating: 21/25

Clover Cafe, Annandale – Rating: 19/25

The Cove At Drummoyne, Drummoyne – Rating: 19/25

Le Comptoir, Annandale – Rating 15.5/25

Big Brekky, Petersham – Rating: 17.5/25

Cafe Sofia, Erskineville – Rating: 16.5/25

Digi.Kaf, Glebe – Rating: 19/25

Bump N Grind Central Café, Newtown – Rating: 13.5/25

Glebe Deli Café, Glebe – Rating: 13/25

Bar Sirocco, Annandale – Rating: 19.5/25

Exploring Sydney’s Breakfast Cafés each Sunday

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