The Q On Harris, Ultimo – Rating: 19/25

The Q On Harris

I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Q On Harris. It hadn’t been recommended to me nor had I heard what kind of food they had on offer. Immediately my guest and I were greeted with friendly smiles and the scent of freshly brewed coffee.

TQOH is owned by the very proud Benji Salim Ang. Back in 2010, his love of coffee came to the fore after a barrista course. It became one of his passions and a search for the renowned coffee brand Toarco Toraja in Indonesia followed. He eventually found it and began to foster what would become an enduring partnership. This extends to other Indonesian farmers and producers as well. The produce that Benjo imports brings something special to TQOH as I soon came to discover. In 2014 he opened the doors and the spot is still thriving.

Benji brings parts of his world to the café. Ultimo also holds a special place in his heart as it is where he studied and acquired two degrees. So he employed some local help from the design and architecture department at UTS. Coffee contributes to the colours and mood of the interior. The golden tiles represent the coffee while the white symbolises the milk or crema.

If you prefer to sit outside, there is also a tranquil courtyard at the rear.

Flat white

Golden Bruce juice

I can say without a doubt that Benji’s Indonesian coffee quest was worth it. My coffee was exquisite and definitely memorable.

Kabuki waffle

The Kabuki waffle is a Southern USA classic with an Asian twist. While all other chicken & waffle dishes that I have tried have had sweet tones, this chicken comes with a coating of spice and roars with flavour. The waffles themselves don’t add much to the chicken, they’re more of a plain base, so I feel that there is definitely room to give them something more. The coleslaw and mayonnaise were refreshing and complimented the chicken to a tee. I would definitely order this again next time!

Bibimbap

The Bibimbap ($15) brings together a harmony of crunch, spice and fresh flavours. It’s like a sampling bowl of what the kitchen can offer and it throws into the mix brown rice, a fried egg, kimchi, shiitake mushrooms, spinach, seaweed, carrots, pickled radish and bamboo. A house spicy sauce melds the flavours together and although not a dish that you will typically find in breakfast cafés, my guest appreciated every bite. It is however a dish that showcases Benji’s and chef Taiyo Shima’s passion for Asian flavours.

Courtyard

It’s encouraging for me to meet & greet the owners and chefs that make our Sydney breakfast scene so incredible. Benji and his team show a passion and flair for food and flavours. Almost everything is made inhouse except for the pastries. The bacon, pastrami, salmon and ham are all smoked in house and the cakes are also made onsite.

It’s an evolving menu so you’ll see some seasonal changes but the most popular dishes such as the pastrami sandwich, waffles and salmon tartine aren’t going anywhere! This is good news for you because you can drop in any time for this stunning meals.

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