Lox Stock and Barrel, Bondi – Rating: 18.5/25

Blink and you’ll miss it but Lox Stock & Barrel has been making waves on the Sydney breakfast scene for the last ten months or so and it was time to see what all of the fuss was about.  This place is popular but also tiny.  They have tried their best to squeeze lots of seating in (which makes for some intimate maneuvers as you make your way to your table) although you may still find that you need to wait for about ten minutes for a spot.

LSB gets its inspiration from New York delis and with that influence comes lox, Reubens and pastrami by the truckload!

I’m sorry to start on a sour note but our coffee ($3.50) was simply not up to par compared to my other weekly outings.  Weak and too milky, this was a disappointing cup as I was expecting something special from a café with such a strong following.

There is one flavour of smoothie (regular $6, kids $3.50) and that is berry.  The flavour was pleasant but the berries didn’t seem to be fresh which was its major letdown.

The dark chocolate shake ($6) was a winner though with a rich flavour and what’s even better is the fact that the milkshakes are also available as espresso or salted dulce de leche.

LSB offers a great twist on their basic eggs dish thanks to a variety of sides variety and a moreish bowl of chutney-goodness.  The free range eggs & toast ($11) is also priced well which is a contradiction when compared to some of the other dishes.  The two eggs are available poached or scrambled with a large range of bread to choose from: sourdough rye, challah, bagel, gluten free or panini.  The sweet tomato chutney on the side was superb.

It is rare in Sydney to find a Reuben sandwich ($15.50) that is really packed with corned beef.  This version, I’m happy to say, towers high and proud with a big handful or two of wagyu corned beef.  The Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, gherkins and mayonnaise balance it well.  Despite its size, this is a well-constructed sandwich that didn’t fall apart.  Mouth-watering it was!

LSB is worth visiting simply for the Reuben and the brioche French toast ($16).  The toast itself was well soaked, soft and sweet but still retained a thin crunchy exterior.  The vanilla ice cream was top class and the cubes of caramelised apple were delicious (and there’s also just enough of them if you keep a cube for each fork-full)!

Our brioche scroll ($4.50) was unfortunately a disappointing end to the meal as it was too soft, sweet and sticky in the centre.  Almonds also abound and it was just too much.

So we had a mixture of positives and negatives.  I initially was going to award three and a half stars for ‘taste’ as the disappointing coffee weighed on my mind but Lox Stock and Barrel is worth a visit if you know what to order.  A relative at a neighbouring table who I randomly bumped into recommends the avocado smash (fetta, lemon , mint, cherry tomatoes and radish, $17).  Some other dishes worth mentioning include lock n load (hash, smoked lox, lime and creme fraiche dill dressing, $5.50 each), mixed grain porridge with seasonal compotes, almonds and honey or demerara ($17) and the zucchini omelette with almond, spinach, parmesan and jalapenos ($17).