Efendy
Efendy is a bit of a Sydney institution. The restaurant is well known for its Turkish experience and offers a traditional theme inside with contemporary courtyard dining at the entrance. Bookings are recommended but despite having one and the restaurant being fairly empty when we arrived, it took a while to get seated. This wasn’t an issue though as the staff were friendly and every establishment needs to hire some new staff at some point (which was the case on this day).
The Van breakfast feast ($32 per adult, $15 per child up to 12 years old) is the only breakfast option available and it features a board laden with Turkish delicacies, a coffee, unlimited tea and some hot dishes.
Apple tea
Turkish tea
The unlimited apple or Turkish tea sounded fantastic when we arrived but I was disappointed in both. The apple tea is essentially very sweet, warmed apple juice with some fragrance from the cinnamon stick. The Turkish tea is more pleasant but I wasn’t happy with the beverage options included in the breakfast. I didn’t sample the coffee this morning so perhaps some readers can let me know what they think of it.
Van breakfast feast
The breakfast board itself is really special. Cold meats, fruit, cheese, olives, sesame spread, jams, olives, mozzarella, pastes, breads and cakes abound. The quality of ingredients was high and there is enough variety to keep things interesting. That being said, one guest did think that there was a lot of sameness to the meal. You definitely have to enjoy cheese for example to make the most of this board. But who doesn’t like cheese?! A bowl of chorizo and a few other hot dishes also made their way to us and the waitstaff were always quick and available.
The courtyard is light and airy (especially compared to inside) so you’ll definitely enjoy this communal style, sharing breakfast with whoever joins you at Efendy. While the breakfast isn’t cheap, it’s a rewarding experience that is best enjoyed between at least three people.
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Overall Rating: 23/25
Website: http://efendy.com.au and https://www.facebook.com/EfendyRestaurant
Phone: 9810 5466
Address: 79 Elliott Street, Balmain
Payment Options: Credit card, EFTPOS, cash
Sydney on Sunday 