La Repubblica, Balmoral – Rating: 21.5/25

La Repubblica

La Repubblica opened four years ago and continues to offer a large variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner options to an ever-expanding customer base. Moses and Joseph Nader, together with head chef Roja Siva and manager Andrea Dazzi have brought together French, Italian and Australian influences which can not only be seen in the interior design but also tasted in their dishes.

A Mosman interior designer was responsible for the decor. It’s fine dining meets vintage timber and shows that Moses and Jospeh want to offer elements of French and Italian cafés, set right on the foreshore of one of Australia’s most iconic beaches. Bookings are available for breakfast but not only are there plenty of tables outside and inside but also upstairs where you’ll also have fantastic ocean views.

Service was spot on from the moment we entered until we left; professional throughout.

Mocha

Cappuccino

Flat white

Hot chocolate

Marrakesh mint tea

Moses and Joseph went through a rigorous (and I’m sure torturous) coffee selection process before they chose 6 Beans. I hadn’t tasted this offering before which is a pity because the flavours were rich and deep and LR certainly knows how to get the most from these beans. So there were nothing but rave reviews from around the table for our strong coffees ($3.90). From the flat white to the hot chocolate, they were all presented well and served quickly without fuss. Organic teas are $4.50 and come in a variety of flavours to suit most tastes.

Chocolate milkshake

Only chocolate or vanilla milkshakes ($7) are available but LR does them exceptionally well. My chocolate shake was bursting with flavour and lots of ice cream.

Freshly squeezed juice ($7) is also available as orange, apple, carrot or celery.

Fresh corn fritters

The fresh corn fritters ($22) was served in a manner that I haven’t experienced before. Instead of deep fried or dense, molded fritters, these were made of pure corn meal. “Our greatest focus is on taste” proclaims Moses. They aimed for simple flavours and a light overall feeling with this dish and they hit that mark. With spinach below, the corn fritter, crispy bacon, two poached eggs, fresh herbs and shaved parmesan, the kitchen allows the main ingredients to speak for themselves. The flavours aren’t as intense as what I was expecting but it’s a refreshing change.

Balmoral Caprese waffle

“The use of waffles in savoury dishes is a popular practice in European countries” Moses says. He and his team took the traditional Caprese ingredients of fresh tomato, basil, olive oil and added bocconcini (as opposed to mozzarella) and seasoned mashed avocado. These ingredients with a waffle below is something that I haven’t come across before on a Sydney breakfast table but my guest would definitely have ordered this again. LR make their own waffle batter and it compliments the toppings well.

Clay pot Sicilian eggs

I’ve eaten a lot of baked egg dishes. This clay pot Sicilian eggs ($19) is one of the best I have tried. The menu says that it’s spicy and it is! There’s some fire in this mixture and one of my guests and I couldn’t get enough of it. The eggs broke apart nicely with a still-runny yolk and the toast did a great job of soaking up the chilli-laden capsicum salsa. We added bacon because… well why wouldn’t you. This has to be one of my favourite dishes in recent memory. It’s also vegan and gluten free!

Ricotta & mixed berry pancakes

The ricotta & mixed berry pancakes ($19) continued to please. Just like the waffles, the pancake mixture is made in-house. And for that matter so is the jam! Ricotta and Canadian maple is served on the side. Overall one of the best pancake dishes I’ve tried in the last few months. LR, you blow me away!

It’s the menu that just keeps on giving. You’ll also find quinoa bircher muesli (organic fruit & nut muesli with yoghurt & poached rhubarb, $18), vegetarian omelette (fresh tomatoes, baby spinach, fetta cheese, sauteed mushrooms, sourdough, $19) and Balmoral eggs Benedict on milky bap rolls (avocado & sauteed spinach $21, double smoked ham $21, smoked salmon $23).

As well as some more sweet dishes, there is also a huge selection of house-made baked goods as well as cakes sourced from Italian and French patisseries that Moses and Joseph have developed a relationship with. To be honest, the prices come with the location but it’s well worth it so I recommend that you pay La Repubblica a visit soon!

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