H2O Café, Narrabeen – Rating: 22/25

I could have picked a better day to visit a waterside café!  Through blustery wind and drenching rain, we huddled within the spacious, elegant interior glad to be inside.  Outdoor seating is available and this would certainly be a prime spot on a day with better weather.

Despite the abundance of signage on Pittwater Road, H2O Café could be easy to miss as its entrance is recessed.  If you’re travelling north it is the last building on the left before the bridge over the Narrabeen lakes.  Inside, the establishment has plenty of space to handle the breakfast rush.  There also always seemed to be staff available which is a plus.  I had decided to review H2O after some friends recommended it.  I also knew exactly what I was going to eat before I even arrived…

The drinks menu has everything you could wish for including freshly squeezed juices in combinations such as pineapple, mint & lime or watermelon, pineapple & raspberry ($6.50) or single fruits ($4.90), milkshakes ($6), traditional, flavoured or herbal teas ($4.20) and hot chocolate ($4.90).

Our coffee ($3.80) was quick and hot but not as bold in flavour as I’ve come to expect from  some of the top cafés in Sydney.  I enjoyed my cup but have tasted better beans.  You can upsize to a mug for $1 or add flavours (caramel, vanilla or hazelnut, 60c).

Two smoothies ($6.90) are available.  The mangolicious boasts mango, pineapple, raspberry, coconut and natural yoghurt sounds superb but  I couldn’t go passed the bananaberry though, flavoured with banana and blueberries.  From the thickness to the fresh flavours, this smoothie was up with the best I have tried.  I can’t and won’t fault it!

After a friend told me about the chorizo and bacon filling of the brekfast buritto [sic] ($17.50), I was sold!  The burrito itself was to die for: generous pieces of crunchy-skinned, juicy chorizo wrapped in bacon, some cheese for extra flavour and sealed in a soft tortilla… this was pure indulgence.  It didn’t stop there though.  I individually tasted both the guacamole and the salsa and was in flavour heaven!  The guacamole is deliciously tangy and very well seasoned.  The chunky tomato salsa with corn and a spicy kick added superb flavours to both the scrambled egg and the tortilla.  Both condiment recipes are the kind that a chef would not reveal to anyone!  Dish of the morning (and the last couple of months for that matter)!

The H2O Benedict ($16.50) is usually served with leg ham and baby spinach but my guest swapped the ham for bacon.  Once more, a dish filled with flavour and a very generous serving for the price.  The hollandaise was plentiful and perfect in consistency.  I would have liked a bit more tangyness though.  My other recommendation would be to use a denser bread as that consistency would have worked better with the dish.  Perfectly poached eggs though and a mountain of bacon!

Reading through the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, I realised that I will have to return a few times to H20.  The composition of their dishes reads like a food-lover’s dream.

Breakfast time examples such as caramelized banana and coconut pancakes served with warm butterscotch sauce and vanilla bean ice cream ($15.50), homemade bircher muesli (fresh fruit juice soaked Swiss muesli served with Greek yoghurt and raspberry drizzle with minted rockmelon & strawberries ($14.90), gourmet bacon and egg roll with Warrnambool cheddar, homemade tomato relish, rocket, slow roasted tomato and balsamic glaze ($15.50) and fresh strawberry pancake stack with sweet marscapone and strawberry coulis served with wild berry sorbet ($15.50).

Incredible flavours and impeccably designed dishes without the pretension that can often come with establishments serving such food.  H2O Café also specialises in weddings, birthdays and special events.  Drop by and be impressed.