Echo is certainly envied for its position, sitting right on the Rosevill Marina with glorious views.  It can be reached by short bushwalk from Babbage Road or a daunting series of steps from Normac Street.  An inclinator can be used for stroller or wheelchair access via Normac Street.

As I descended down the stairs, the glorious aroma of bacon, eggs and coffee certainly did a good job of making me hungrier.

Echo shares the waterfront premises with the marina office.  Their true outdoor tables (as opposed to those under cover) spread out onto the deck infront of the marina building.

For special occasions or breakfast with a view, Echo has it all.  Even on an autumn morning, the covered seating area had been enclosed and the heaters ensured that we were kept warm.

If you intend to come on a weekend, booking is a must.  Also be sure to bring AMEX or cash (no, I can’t explain why they don’t accept VISA/MC).

Lavazza coffee (regular $4, large $5) took a while to arrive but tasted great when it did.  Not only did they look superb but they had a good depth without being too strong (which means you can have two!)

One of my guests enjoyed her hot chocolate ($5.50) and relished the fact that there was more chocolate at the bottom of the glass for her to stir up.  While there was nothing outstanding about the drink, it was tasty and most importantly on a cold morning, hot.

I had my eyes on one of the hollandaise breakfasts but when my friend, Ben, ordered the Benedict, I changed mine all for the sake of you SoS readers!  At Echo you have the choice of ham (Benedict), smoked salmon (Atlantic although the menu refers to it as Benedict) or spinach (florentine).  Surprisingly, all three are the same price, $17.20 which is unusual.  The salmon normally costs more.

Regardless, there was very little wrong with this dish.  The hollandaise was a bit  tangy as it should be and also a thicker consistency which helped it to bind the dish together better.  Perfect runny poached eggs and slightly thicker ham top it off and the chives are a nice touch.

For the sweet breakfast lovers, Echo has you covered.  As well as toasted banana bread ($8.50), toasted muesli with poached pear, berry coulis and yoghurt ($13.90) or apple crepes with honeycomb butter and vanilla cream ($17.20) you can also enjoy the French toast ($16.20).

Appearing on our table as the perfect example of “golden brown” this toast tastes as good as it looks.  There was also an abundance of all ingredients promised.  Two large slices of toast, a pile of thinly sliced gorgeous bacon and caramelised pear.  It was all drenched with maple syrup and presented well.

While my above combination of scrambled eggs ($16.90) and side orders of sausages ($6) and bacon ($5) added up to an expensive breakfast, it did taste fantastic.  The sausages were also too good not to share so everyone benefitted!  The scrambled eggs are prepared with feta, spinach and semi-dried tomatoes.  It has become a popular combination amongst Sydney cafés and it definitely works.  I didn’t need to add any seasoning as it tasted great as it was.  As mentioned, the sausages were great.  Breakfast sausages are often quite questionable but these pork examples with a slight spicy kick are worth it.  Again, the thinly sliced bacon shone through with some crispy pieces thrown in for good measure.

A very satisfying dish overall.

While we found the service to be friendly, we have to say that visits to our table were infrequent.  Our party was in no rush but we were waiting for about ten minutes for our menus and then another ten to order food.  The coffees arrived with the food giving us little time to sit back and savour them before they got cold.  Certainly not a deal-breaker though as Echo is worth the revisit.

Taste: 
Presentation
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Value: 

Vinery Foods is a location that is open for breakfast through to dinner.  They are in an area that boasts many other cafés such as Bar Sirocco, Le Comptoir, Clover Café and Gallery Café so you are definitely spoilt for choice if you visit Annandale.

Vinery has a large interior and lots of tables outside so seating was not an issue.  We found the waitstaff to be attentive with water immediately and coffees arriving shortly after.

Our coffees (regular $3.50, large $4) used Di Lorenzo beans.  We enjoyed the flavour although it was slightly weak.

Dane’s hot chocolate (regular $3.50, large $4) tasted good but there was nothing unique about it.

Parker’s iced tea ($4) is available as white tea with elderflower & lemon, white tea with nectarine, green tea with Moroccan mint or black tea with hibiscus & cranberry.  We tried the elderflower version but found it tasted like a lightly flavoured cordial drink and there was very little elderflower flavour.

The free range eggs ($9) with sourdough toast are available any way.  Bacon ($4.50) is optional.  Ours were prepared well and presented cleanly.

A dish with a bit more flair was the basil infused scrambled eggs with house cured salmon ($18) and a slice of sourdough beneath.  The eggs were herbed and seasoned well but if we had not known basil was in there, we wouldn’t have picked it.  The fennel & rocket added freshness & texture and the salmon was thicker than we are used to and tasted delicious.  Overall a satisfying meal.

The poached free range eggs with asparagus ($16) also has shavings of parmesan mixed through.  Lemon oil is lightly drizzled over the top.  Overall it’s a dish with a lot of fresh flavours but we didn’t find that everything on the plate worked together.

Unfortunately we were disappointed with Vinery for too many reasons.  It receives a pass-mark but there was very little to entice us back.

Taste: 
Presentation
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Value: 

This non-descript building used to be the location of Sweet Infinity Bakery but is now home to Flour and Stone, the shopfront of Cookie Couture and the product of baker Nadine Ingram.  There is neither outdoor seating nor much signage to help you find it so keep your eyes peeled!  The interior is snug with metal stools for seating.  Most of the patrons you’ll find are just passing through, collecting baked goods or (fantastic) coffee.

The menu comprises of a few of their ‘standard’ cakes such as hazelnut torte, family chocolate, wholesome carrot cake with spelt or old fashioned vanilla cake.

Whole cakes are $45, tortes are $50 and slices are $5.  Sandwiches and pies are made fresh daily (just ask for the daily specials).

Ordering is done at the counter but because of the interior size, the staff often venture out to take your order (or they are within talking distance anyway).  We found the staff to be extremely attentive, quick and friendly.

Our coffee was exquisite and at the bargain price of $3 (or $3.50 for large) we had very little to complain about.

Rabbit Hole loose leaf tea is also available (tea for 1 is $4.50, 2 $6, 3 $7.50).

Next to hot chocolate ($3.50) on the menu is scrawled “with real chocolate”.  Sounds good… and it was!  Thick and rich, perfect for an autumn morning, it was like drinking a bar of creamy chocolate.  Not only that but once you finish the cup, there is also a small jug with more hot chocolate to top it up!

 The zucchini, chilli and gruyere combination is available as a tart ($6.50) or on ciabatta ($3.50).  Despite the relatively thin layers of cheese, the flavours are strong and abundant.  The ciabatta is also soft and light.  The chilli is quite faint so you needn’t be worried.

We normally don’t touch our plates before photos but it’s a bit hard to get the idea of a pie simply from the outside.  The pastry of our lamb, potato and rosemary pie ($6) was flaky and light.  The lamb melted in our mouths while we found the potato slightly too soft.  The flavour in the gravy was not heavy, allowing the lamb to do all the talking.  We devoured this quickly before moving onto sweeter things…

For a sugar hit on the run, a jam tart ($2.50) would be perfect.  Crumbly and delicate with a concentrated raspberry hit in the centre.

Now this is a chocolate cake ($5)!  It boasts the tang of buttermilk and more raspberries than you can shake a stick at.  Moist and indulgent it almost has a mousse consistency.  We recommend this as a must-try – it is simply one of the best sweet things we have tried in recent months.

 This week was an enjoyable departure from our usual bacon and egg exploits.  Unfotunately Flour and Stone is closed on Sundays but if you’re in the area from Monday to Saturday, we recommend you duck in for a sweet treat.

Taste: 
Presentation
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Value: 

We previously reviewed The Fern almost a year ago.  The café hardly put a foot wrong resulting in a very high rating.  I returned again today solely to enjoy Fern’s Benedict.  Sadly this time it was missing as The Fern has updated their menu.

The menus are now housed inside record covers so don’t be surprised when you take a seat and it looks like they are placing some vinyls infront of you!  Some of the old dishes remain but overall there has been a nice update which we’ll get to later.

The Fern is open for breakfast through to a late brunch and then reopens in the evening for dinner and cocktails. The evening menus which you can see on The Fern’s website have a decidedly South American and Southern North American flavour with the likes of sliders, empanadas and ceviche.

Everything feels very casual and calm here.  The staff are friendly, the courtyard & interior are both clean & comfortable and the snacks & cocktails menus in the evening look perfect to relax with (we intend to find out for sure soon!)

On with the breakfast though…

The Gravity coffee was superb and one of the best coffees we have had in recent memory.  Our skim cappuccino ($3.50) had been expertly prepared and tasted exquisite.

Two smoothies ($8) are available.  I ordered the banana & honey which tasted gorgeous.  The right consistency and plenty of banana with a hint of honey.  As I saw the neighbouring table being delivered a mixed berry smoothie though I became very jealous and asked for some strawberries to be added.  Not only did the staff oblige but my 1/4 drunk smoothie was returned topped up, with fresh blended strawberries and no extra charge on the bill!

We went back to look at our shots of the menu from our last visit but could not see the first version of this dish.  The hangover cure 2 ($17) is obviously highly reliant on The Fern’s proven track record of pork expertise.  Well-seasoned and crispy hash browns serve as the base of this dish.  This is covered with mixed greens including rocket, fresh tomato and a green onion mayonnaise.  Thick, succulent smoked speck above this as well as bacon and two poached eggs.  Neither my guest who ordered this dish nor myself could find anything to fault.  Well presented, perfectly poached eggs and a fantastic mayonnaise to bring it all together.

With Fern’s Benedict MIA, what was I to order?  Being a pulled pork addict, I had surprisingly completely forgotten that a friend had ordered the corn fritter ($18) last time.  Although simply naming this dish “corn fritter” hardly does it justice.  ”Mmm”s and “oh my God”s were frequent as I relished the breakfast.

The corn fritter at the base actually has more egg throughout than I expected which not only gives it more substance but allows it to stand out from the crowd of other corn fritters available at cafés.

The pulled pork itself is not only plentiful but smoky, slightly spicy, immensely tender and simply delicious.  The guacamole is fresh with a nice bite of lemon.  The goat’s cheese proves that it can work well with any dish and added great texture and flavour.  Again, I am without any words of negativity.

While our dishes cost slightly more than our average weekly spend (of about $20 per person whereas this meal was $23), with food of this quality I have no complaints and would gladly pay more.  Knowing how much work can go into the preparation of pulled pork as well as some of the other dishes on the menu and the amazing all-round experience we had, I applaud The Fern once again for an amazing breakfast.

What else can we find on the menu?  Eggs “your way” ($8) with toast can be ordered with sides (smoked pork belly, bacon, pulled pork ($3.50 each), avocado, beans ($2.50 each) or smoked salmon ($4.50)), The Fern salad (peach, tomato, toasted walnuts, Spanish onion and goats cheese, $13), The Pocket (see previous review, $16) and pancakes (with banana and coconut yoghurt, $17).  Is your mouth watering yet?

Visit the website for the full menu but we can only recommend you make tracks to The Fern now!

Taste: 
Presentation
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Value: 

Beach Café at the Warriewood Surf Life Saving Club sits directly on Warriewood Beach with amazing sights and sounds of the surrounding activities.  The café is somewhere between a beach kiosk and a typical Sydney café.

On the weekends it is always buzzing especially as crowds of cyclists refuel in the middle of a training session.  We had a table sorted fairly quickly although we suggest calling ahead to book one.

Orders and payment is organised at the counter.  Only cash is accepted although we were given the gracious offer of eating then leaving a belonging of ours while we went up the road to get some cash.

The atmosphere can get slightly hectic as nippers, dogs, cyclists lifeguards and large families come and go frequently but as we sat facing the rolling waves, all our worries melted away.

The orange juice is freshly squeezed and served ice cold so no complaints here!

 Smoothies available are mixed berry and banana.  My mixed berry smoothie was too milky and could definitely have done with some thickening be it with yoghurt or ice cream.  The berry flavour (mainly strawberry) was great though.

Campos is the bean of choice at Beach Café and our coffees combined with the view were superb.

Hugo’s omelette ($10.50) is a nice sized serving for the price.  Thanks to the thinness and plenty of other ingredients, the amount of egg isn’t as overwhelming as other omelettes we have tried.  Mixed within we found ham, cheese, tomato and mushroom.  Chives throughout and rocket on top freshen the flavours and overall we enjoyed the dish.

 Berry overload this morning as I combined my berry smoothie with French toast with berries ($11.50).  The white bread had been well-soaked which is always a good sign.  Ricotta was served on top and there was enough for the whole dish.  The berries were slightly too soft as they were not fresh but with the maple syrup on the side the flavours worked well.

 Home baked muffins ($4.50) change weekly and this time it was the turn of the raspberry variety.  This was an excellent muffin if I do say so.  Soft and loaded with berries, we would return for these!

We did find the service to be a bit erratic with some near-drops and plates being plopped down on the table, sometimes infront of the wrong person.  However Beach Café is a friendly and perfectly situated establishment which is punching above it’s weight and landing some blows.

Next time we intend to try the bacon and eggs special (served with herbed tomato salsa, aioli, rocket and Turkish bread, $12.50), croque monsieur/madame ($6/8.50), pancakes (with maple syrup/ice cream & berries/ice cream and chocolate or caramel sauce/bacon, egg and maple syrup, $9.50/$12.50/$11.50/$15.50) or the beef or chicken burger ($15.50).

Taste: 
Presentation
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Value: 

The Wolf & Honeybee is a newcomer to the Sydney café scene.  They have retained the previous “milk bar” signage but have transformed the interior into a clean dining area with a retro influence.  They are currently seeking artists’ submissions for their walls so if you’re looking for a space to hang and sell your works, contact them.

The menu is limited and only cash is accepted however on the plus side this is not only a Campos coffee establishment but they also serve baked goods from Brasserie Bread.

And thankfully the coffee (regular $3.50, large $4) did impress.   It was served quickly and with a smile.  Cold drip coffee (regular $3.50, large $4) is also available.

My hot chocolate (regular $3.50, large $4) looked like a work of art and tasted as good.  It was smooth, hot and had the right amount of chocolate.

Their tea of choice is  Tea Craft tea ($4).

Toast ($4.50) is available as sourdough, quinoa & soy sourdough or schiaccata (Turkish) with spreads.  Your other options are to add avocado and lemon as we did or goats cheese and tomato (for a total of $7.50 for each dish).  As with most items on the menu, this is a simple meal but the ingredients do all the talking.  Perfectly ripe avocado, faultless Brasserie Bread toast and olive oil on the side won us over.  We added plenty of salt and pepper too and this tasted delicious.

 The smashed egg roll ($6.50) can be ordered lightly toasted (as I requested).  The sandwich is made up of egg, rocket and fresh tomato.  A lot of the flavour came from the bread but we think the dish could be improved by adding something to bring the flavours together such as a herbed mayonnaise.

The banana bread ($4.50) can also be ordered with ricotta and honey (extra $2) which we would recommend.  The bread was lightly toasted, moist and full of flavour.  The ricotta and honey are a perfect match.

Currently the sandwiches available include chicken, avocado, aioli, Spanish onion & rocket, rare roast beef, cheese, tomato & mustard pickles and pesto, rocket, tomato and provolone ($9.50 each).  These all sound very tasty and if they’re made and presented with the care our dishes were shown, we’d love to try them.

For such a young café, we expect some menu changes and more artists to jump on board so keep an eye on The Wolf and Honeybee’s Facebook page.

Taste: 
Presentation
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Value: 

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 to the Oxford Street crowd by placing signs there and we can only hope it works for them.

The specials board is constantly changing so you are always in for a treat.  The current slow cooked pork and bean burger ($14) has been so popular though, that is has remained a special for almost two months.  There’s a shot of it on their Facebook page.

As you can see above, they are still very dog friendly.  Hugo was treated to a dog biscuit and a bowl of water when we visited.

We found the waitstaff to be extremely attentive and friendly throughout our visit.  Coffee (regular $3.50, large $4) was first on the agenda and it came fast and hot.  Both our large and regular skim cappuccinos tasted terrific.  Di Lorenzo is the bean of choice.

 As well as fresh juices (orange, apple, whatever is in season, $6), Devil’s Lake iced chocolate ($6.50), milkshakes (regular $6.50, kid’s size $3.50) and the Super Duper Fiber Blend (chia seed, bran, low fat milk, mixed berries and honey, $6.50) amongst others, smoothies are available with whatever fruit is available on the day.

My mixed berry smoothie ($7) was full of berries and very thick.  The thickness was because it was a little too yoghurt-based.

The menu is quite varied and unusual.  You’ll recognise a lot of dishes but NJC has added their own twist to all of them which is refreshing to see.

The good ol’ bacon & egg wrap ($10) is served in a soft toasted tortilla with plenty of filling and therefore plenty of flavour.  The twist comes with the in-house relish which is sweet and delicious.  The friend who ordered always picks the breakfast roll or wrap on the menu and even he was impressed!

Prepare yourself for indulgent flavour!  The 3 musketeers grilled cheese ($9, or $10 for the jalapeño version) is the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich.  Oozing out of that delicious centre is Swiss, provolone and cheddar.  Just to be extra greedy, this was ordered with a side of bacon ($2.50)!

So simple yet well executed.  If you enjoy your grilled cheese, you can’t go passed this!

 The breakfast croissant ($6.50) is currently joined by a smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, cheese and avocado version ($10) which is on the specials menu and looked delectable as it was delivered to a neighbouring table.

The standard version which we enjoyed comes with ham, cheddar cheese and tomato.  Again a simple dish but done well with a buttery, fluffy croissant and stacks of ingredients.  The price also can’t be faulted.

 The two ‘egg breakfasts’ available are the Egyptian eggs flair (poached eggs, spiced cannellini beans and dukkah, $13) and the creamy baked ricotta ($15) which is what I ordered.

The ricotta  is served on toast and topped with two poached eggs (in my case one with a hard centre, another soft).  The ricotta was well herbed but overall I found the flavour lacking a bit.  The mashed carrot on the side was an unusual match which felt slightly out of place.  I added bacon on the side which was nice and crisp as I had asked for.

The cranberry scones ($4.50 each) are another current special.  Served either with honey & apricot or passionfruit butter, they were of a shape we have never see scones in before.  Beneath the crispy interior though was the familiar fluffy scone we recognised.  There certainly were plenty of cranberries and a hint of citrus throughout.  Both of the butters tasted delicious but the honey & apricot was unanimously the preferred!

Other breakfast dishes include red robust bircher muesli with fresh fruit ($12), wholesome yoghurt parfait ($10), 21st century chicken sandwich (lemon pepper chicken, cheddar, avocado and herb aioli ($12), Tower of Pisa (prosciutto, avocado, rocket, bocconcini and sweet pepper relish, $13) and Sakura noodle toss salad ($14).

Mothers with children also have the ability to order any sandwich with another half of that sandwich for an extra $3.50 which is a thoughtful offer.

NJC are being very clever with their promotions.  Facebook, Twitter and their own homepage are helping to spread the word.  Facebook is updated with specials and shots of some patrons of the four legged kind.  All of this combined with the friendliness evident from the staff makes Not Just Coffee a fantastic and relaxed breakfast retreat before you indulge in a Paddington shopping spree.

Taste: 
Presentation
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Value: 

Now and again I visit a café that I simply can’t wait to get home and write the review for.  I found one today in the form of Twig located on the premises of Garden Life, a gardening and landscape design shop.

The seating available varies from the sun-soaked sidewalk to the calm interior, to the lush courtyard, to the terrace with table suitable for larger groups.  We snatched a sidewalk table where we enjoyed the company of two pairs of couples as they came and went, sharing coffees and hot cross buns amongst themselves.  We were enjoying ourselves too much to be in such a rush!  Water, menus and a smile soon presented themselves thanks to the professional and friendly staff.  Even though it’s close to the corner of Cleveland Street, our surroundings were very calm and relaxed.  And our visit was about to get better…

Gorgeous organic fair trade hot chocolate ($4) (mocha is also available).  Rich and creamy, it was a treat.  Had it not been so good, I would have kicked myself as I now review the menu and notice at the top: heavenly hot chocolates – hot hazel (with hazelnuts) and bounty (with roasted coconut) ($5.50 each).  Next time.

Some other different additions to the menu include Marco Polo iced tea ($5) with strawberry & lime and Moroccan mint ice tea ($4).  Twig also squeezes their own juices including old faithful (orange juice), citrus blush (ruby grapefruit), going troppo (orange, pineapple and mint) and pick me up (apple, carrot and ginger) ($5.50 each).

Single Origin’s Mostro is the coffee of choice here and boy does it taste fantastic.  Our skim cappuccino (short $3, regular $3.50, large $4) was rich and full of flavour.  It was also served promptly which is what we needed.

The seasonal fruit salad ($11.50) is served with plain Country Valley yoghurt.  Our bowl included strawberries, watermelon, melon, pineapple, blueberries and apple.  The yoghurt was great and most of the fruit very tasty however some were not as in-season as we had hoped.  This can obviously change from time to time.

The most popular dish at Twig is the egg in the basket ($12.65).  The Berrima Ridge organic free range egg is panfried in the centre of rye bread and topped with spinach and feta.  On the side is Dicky’s spicy tomato relish.  I do not know who Dicky is, but I love his relish!

Even without the addition of the relish, this dish is simply outstanding.  The bread was flavoursome and chewy and the eggs still slightly runny.  The spinach was smooth in texture and had been quickly fried in some marvellously-tasty olive oil.  The feta melted in your mouth and the relish (which by the way we found more sweet than spicy) was a perfect match.  We added bacon ($5) which was nice and crispy but frankly, we need not have.  It was not needed!

As I was reading the description of this dish, I thought it sounded needlessly complex.  Look at this list: corn and mushroom risotto fritter, roasted tomatoes, pork and fennel chipolatas with Dicky’s new roast eggplant, caramelised apple and rosemary relish ($18.50).  What a mouthful, so many flavours!  Would they all work?  The red “yum” near the price of this dish on the menu sounded promising.

How unique it was.  Again like the Basket, this dish was about textures.  The risotto fritter had been rolled in polenta before frying to give it a golden crispy exterior.  Smooth inside with some ‘chewance’ added to the rice on the outside thanks to the frying.  The spinach and roasted tomato worked wonders and the thick, snappy, juicy chipolatas were also full of flavour.  Dicky obviously knows what he is doing with his relishes.  The rosemary was very faint but the sweetness of the apple was evident and complimented the savoury fritter very well.

Our neighbouring table recommended we return for the house cured ocean trout with avocado on rye with sauce vierge ($15).  I agree.  The buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries and crisp pancetta ($16) also looked delicious.  Do yourself a favour and visit soon!

Taste: 
Presentation
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Value: 

Considering Copo Café and Diner is located just off a major road overlooking a car park, business is doing very well.  It has two levels with the ground floor containing the barrista and plenty of tables.  Internal stairs lead to the kitchen and a sunbathed terrace with more seating.

The terrace also plays host to several plant beds which contain herbs and other leaves & flowers for dressing Copo’s dishes.  We thought this was a fantastic personal touch.

The tables and benches are mismatched and there are a few old school chairs thrown in.  There are pots of succulents on the tables which compliments the natural tones of the benches.  We even spot a vice on one of tables, a nice throwback to its former life. Drummoyne is an area which is crying out for more cafés so be prepared to wait if you arrive at a peak time on a weekend.

Upon arrival we were greeted by a line of about six seatings deep which meant Copo was either very popular or very slow.  It’s a bit of both – we waited for about fifteen minutes for a table and later on our food was a good twenty minute wait.  At one stage, looking around the interior, we couldn’t see one table with food on it.

The coffee is from Campos (regular $3.50, large $4.40) which is usually synonymous with quality.  Today’s feelings were mixed.  Some thought that it wasn’t anything special.  However one of our guests found her soy flat white smooth and creamy.  It didn’t have the bitter taste that some soy coffees have.  Another said that although not quite hot enough, the flavour of his cappuccino was lovely and it was presented nicely.

Smoothies ($6.50) on offer include banana, blueberry, mango, raspberry or strawberry.  We were impressed with our banana and strawberry version which had loads of fresh fruit and was served in a much-admired glass.

Frappes ($6), milkshakes ($5.50), thickshakes ($6.50) and a huge assortment of Nudie and other cold drinks mean that Copo have the cold basics covered!

The presentation of the Moroccan eggplant baked eggs ($18.90) was very impressive.  Look at those fresh herbs on top thanks to the herb garden!  Overall the dish was tasty but slightly dry, perhaps a little overcooked.  It was a perfectly sized serving and none was left on the plate at the end.

The bruschetta on miche with zucchini, mint and parmesan ($10.90) was also beautifully presented.  We liked that it was a unique dish and also came with purple flowers/leaves scattered on top.  The combination of fried garlic, bread crumbs and soft zucchini was a winner!

The other bruschetta on miche featured mushroom and chevre ($10.90).  It was very light, and the goats cheese added a tangy accompaniment to the herbed mushrooms.  A dish that had been prepared with care.

The South American style baked beans ($15.90) were a taste sensation.  The mixture of herbs combined with the assortment of different beans and bacon was an amazing combination.  There was a bit of bite to them as well thanks to the chorizo and other spices.  The serving was very large but the side order of egg ($3.50) did a lot of to break up the flavours and accompanied the beans perfectly.

As with a few other menu items bubble and squeak ($15.90) is something we don’t see often in our exploits.  Copo’s version is served with speck, cabbage, peas, potato and a slice of toast.  The potatoes were dressed up with herbs and this was a great dish filled with some gorgeous textures.  The egg was slightly overcooked for our liking – it would have been nice if it oozed over the rest of the dish but overall for the price, Dane was happy.

It was hard to leave without sampling some of the delights on the counter.  The jaffa torte ($5.50) was sweet and moist.  There were strong notes of citrus which went well with the dark chocolate ganache.

The chocolate, macadami and ricotta cake ($5.50) was a little bit disappointing. We expected it to be more nutty and chocolately, however there was no dominant flavour nor a blending of what was promised.

The interior of Copo is great to look at.  The chandelier (pictured above) made of old glass bottles and a winch, the Copo typewriter at the entrance, pre-loved tables and custom made herb garden all present a unique and exciting café surrounding.

If you’re in the area we recommend a stroll (beware it’s 7km in length) around the Bay Run, a swim at Drummoyne Pool or if you feel like a spot of shopping try the newly developed Birkenhead Point.

Taste: 
Presentation
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Value: 

Gallery Café is a spacious establishment stretching to the very end of the building it inhabits with comfortable seating throughout.  Outside tables at the front are limited and there is also seating for the numerous people lining up for the Campos coffee.  After initially being seated, we found service to be very slow (which I was prepared for after reading comments on various social media).  I eventually went to call a waiter over who begrudgingly took our order.  The wait for drinks and food was slightly longer than we’re used to but not horrendous.

The gallery muffins are baked daily and one of the main attractions of the café.  Despite best intentions, I could not manage another bite after breakfast today so you will have to visit and try them yourself!

The only freshly squeezed juice is orange (small $4.80, large $6.50).  The small we ordered was a good size for the price and was chilled with ice which was a nice touch.  Milkshakes (chocolate, strawberry or vanialla, $5.50), frappes (orange juice with ice and raspberry, strawberry or blueberry, $5.50), iced coffee and iced chocolate ($5.20 each) are also available.

Apparently the menu we had was old so the banana that was mentioned under smoothies is no longer available (huh?).  The flavours available are strawberry, raspberry or blueberry.  I chose the strawberry smoothie ($6) and found that even though fresh strawberries were used, there were too few of them.  The flavour overall was very milky and infact when I used the straw to drink from the bottom of the mixer, it tasted like slightly flavoured milk.  Disappointing overall.

Don’t think that just because a café serves Campos coffee that it serves good coffee.  We have had badly prepared Campos before!  Luckily Gallery Café’s barristas know what they are doing.  Our skim cappuccino ($3.50) tasted fantastic.

The quesadilla ($12) exists on the breakfast specials menu alongside the toasted ham, cheese and tomato croissant ($9), one pan breakfast (bacon, chorizo, semi dried tomato and eggs, $13) and smoked salmon breakfast (avocado, sour cream, poached egg and rocket on sourdough miche, $16).

They all sound good – there seemed to be something on the menu for all palates.  The verdict on the quesadilla was split between myself and my guest.  Other versions I have tried have always been delightfully crisp with plenty of cheese and a spicy kick inside.  I found this tortilla to be much softer (probably due to the dressing and tomato on top or it was left too long before serving).  Spices were absent, more relying on the chorizo, ham and manchego cheese to provide the flavours.  Which they did and as I said my guest truly enjoyed the meal.  She was fond of the dressing on top as well as the roasted cherry tomato salsa.

The guacamole was filled with some great flavours and a nice touch but for me there were was too much on the plate and it needs to be simplified with the salad served on the side.

On the other hand I did really enjoy my chorizo eggs ($15.50) which was an incredibly filling serving of creamy scrambled eggs with potato, red onion, chorizo and herbs on Sonoma toast.  The potato and eggs were herbed and spiced to perfection and there was also a decent amount of chorizo.  The toast was soft and delicious but cut slightly too thick.

Other dishes on the breakfast menu that sound worth a try include free range eggs ($9) with a large amount of sides available, spinach feta eggs ($14.50), pesto feta eggs ($14.50), apple and ricotta pancakes ($13) and French toast ($13.50).  The last two are available with any of fresh banana ($2), sweetened yoghurt ($3), bacon ($3), triple berry compote ($4) or rhubarb and pears ($4).

Despite the service, we enjoyed our visit to Gallery Café; the food was tasty.  There are some areas that deserve improvement and if we aren’t in a rush, we will return to try some of the other dishes.

Taste: 
Presentation
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Value: