Thelma & Louise, Neutral Bay – Rating 14/25

Thelma & Louise

Thelma & Louise is both out of the way yet very convenient. It is hidden at the end of Hayes Street in Neutral Bay which is the perfect spot for disembarking ferry passengers and local residents. In years gone by this location was inhabited by a very simple café with just the bare essentials of pre-made food and cold drinks. It is now a hive of activity on Sunday mornings and offers a range of fresh and organic options. We found that an early arrival or booking is essential to avoid a wait as there seemed to be people everywhere. If it’s a nice day, request one of the few tables on the balcony directly over the water. We were greeted by a lovely motherly lady reassuring us that she would find us a table. She was true to her word and continued to check on us throughout the morning. The interior consists of nothing but hard surfaces which reflect the sound of chatting diners and clinking plates. This makes it a very loud location on weekends and not recommended if you seek a quiet and relaxed Sunday morning.

Skim decaf cappuccino

Strawberry milkshake

The milkshake flavours offered are chocolate, vanilla, caramel and strawberry. The strawberry milkshake ($5.50) despite its colourful appearance was lacking in flavour and wasn’t much to rave about. The organic gourmet coffee, served with skim, bonsoy or decaf ($3.60) was excellent. The coffee was flavoursome and both the decaf and skim versions pleased our group. The presentation didn’t impress as much as other Sydney establishments but it delivered on taste which is the main thing.

Mixed berry and ricotta crepes

The mixed berry and ricotta crepes ($16) with a side of bacon ($4) was a sweet-tooth’s delight. By the time we managed to tuck in however, the amount of syrup had made most of the ingredients incredibly soggy. It would be better for the syrup to come in a separte dish and added as the customer pleases. The flavours of the dish worked very well together though and the berries (with pieces of stewed apple) were delightful. The bacon was also cooked to our request (well done and crispy) and added a savoury touch to the dish.

Herbed field mushrooms on a garlic bruschetta

A good choice for vegetarians, the Herbed field mushrooms on a garlic bruschetta ($16) combined herbed feta and mushrooms on a bed of garlic bread. It was nice variation of mushrooms on toast and was well presented. Given the size we asked to take some home to enjoy as an afternoon snack.

Ham benedict

The Benedicts are offered in two varieties, either with ham or salmon ($16). The serving was surprisingly generous and would satisfy the hungriest patron. The ham was bountiful and hid two poached eggs underneath. We found the hollandaise slightly thin but were otherwise content with this meal. It would be nice to have a wider selection of breads available (this may be due to the fact we were spoilt for choive last weekend).

The dishes were quite expensive for breakfast options however there were people spilling out of the place suggesting that demand was quite high. The noise was unbearable at one point and we seemed to be shouting across the table in order to be heard. By about midday the crowd had thinned out and it was much more pleasant. For communters we recommend you arrive by ferry for a late brunch, or if you’re a local an early brunch followed by a snooze on your verandah overlooking the harbour.

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