Author Archives: sosapril

The Breakwall, Port Macquarie – Rating: 15/25

Posted on January 30, 2011

This gallery contains 8 photos.

Since it’s holiday season in Sydney we decided to take a road trip to Port Macquarie to sample a regional café. It was a warm day in January and we headed for a place close to the beach. There was … Continue reading →

Café Sopra, Waterloo – Rating: 19/25

Posted on July 27, 2010 | Leave a comment

Café Sopra

Housed above the Fratelli Fresh in Danks Street, café Sopra is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. We manage to find the stairwell, dodge the rows of pasta and then the café appears before us. Light floods into the room from the large windows facing the street and there are plenty of seating options. After being seated by the wait staff, it almost feels strange not sitting crammed up against diners next to us. Our orders are taken swiftly and the wait staff seem so calm and in control. Before we know it we’re sipping our drinks and salivating over the thought of our orders.

: Skim Cappuccino

The skim cappuccino ($3.50) arrives and it’s like drinking clouds. They seem creamier than normal and the coffee blend is superb. They don’t come served with chocolate on top however we don’t need the sweetness to balance the coffee.

Arancini & taleggio & mixed herbs

Next came the arancini & taleggio & mixed herbs ($18) which are fried balls of risotto rice. They are crunchy on the outside and soft in the centre. The shaved cheese, lemon and mayonnaise finish the dish perfectly and we are left wanting more. The price seems a bit high for breakfast and a small green salad on the side would’ve been a nice addition.

: Assorted toast

The mixed toast with Tom’s jam ($6) comes with a generous serving of apricot jam and a knob of butter. It was thick, delicious and very filling. We didn’t need a chainsaw to cut it which was a welcome change.

Baked rhubarb with natural yoghurt

The baked rhubarb with natural yoghurt ($9.50) looked amazing but was quite tart and not as enjoyable as we expected. We don’t recommend ordering it as a stand alone dish as there is so much of it. We would’ve welcomed advice on what to order it with.

Overall it was a very satisfying meal and the menu is one that departs from the standard breakfast dishes. We spied a delicious looking frittata on the table next to us and we’ll be trying one next time. Looking around there was a diverse range of diners. Of note was a table of young boys who couldn’t help but giggle at the topless figurines of the statues by the wall.

This is a good café to go to when you’ve got a lazy Sunday on your hands. It takes awhile to find parking in the neighbourhood and if you’re shopping at Fratelli Fresh you’ll wait again at the one register they have servicing the store. However they have some amazing produce and it’s worth taking the time to look around. The area around Danks Street has some interesting design and home furnishing stores. We recommend taking a stroll to have a look and then picking up some Sonoma bread before you head home. Yet another delightful weekend excursion.

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Overall Rating: 19/25

Website: http://www.fratellifresh.com.au
Phone: 02 9699 3174
Address: 7 Danks Street, Waterloo, 2017

Payment Options: Credit cards, EFTPOS, cash

Toast Cafe, Surry Hills – Rating: 19/25

Posted on May 31, 2010 | Leave a comment

: Toast Cafe

Toast Cafe is housed in a converted warehouse a few blocks from central station. This part of town is usually deserted on the weekends but as the sun came up, the sleepy inner city dwellers rolled out of bed and made their way down to the corner of Reservoir and Mary Streets. The outside seating was attractive but the warm and inviting interior soon won us over.

Skim Cappuccino

The wait staff were very friendly and took our drink orders quickly. We ordered two skim cappuccinos ($3.50) which were hot and delicious. We were told that the barista could draw impressive designs on a flat white or latte but we were content with our coffees.

Sweet corn & kaffir lime fritters

Arriving early we couldn’t spy on our neighbours meals for inspiration, so instead we ordered from the descriptions on the menu. Our guest ordered the Sweet corn & kaffir lime fritters ($16.50) and was impressed. They were light, flavoursome and beautifully presented. The dish included a poached egg, grilled halloumi, salsa, avocado and chilli jam. It was innovative for a breakfast dish and wasn’t oily or starchy- a common drawback of corn fritters.

Moroccan breakfast

We also ordered the Moroccan breakfast ($16.50) which consisted of poached eggs, hommus, dukkah, spinach & garlic, coriander potatoes and served with grilled flat bread. It was a departure from the standard breakfast dished and was very filling. The juicy spinach went well with the salty potatoes and dukkah. The hummus hidden underneath was slightly bland but added a good texture to the other ingredients.

Toast Cafe Interior

Toast is hidden away from the main roads but still conveniently located. If you have time to spare before catching a train or bus from central station we recommend dropping into this cosy cafe. As we left it was bustling with life and some amazing dishes were coming out of the kitchen. On our next visit we plan to try the French toast, Eggs benedict and a Frappe (all which looked divine). They also had some interesting cast iron teapots being whisked around to patrons. The menu quotes ‘a selection of teapots available’. We’ll be back to sample the teapots!

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Overall Rating: 19/25

Website: http://www.toastcafe.com.au/
Phone: 9280 2615
Address: 45 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Payment Options: Cash, Cards

Belle Fleur Café, Enfield – Rating 15/25

Posted on March 2, 2010 | 2 comments

Outside Seating, Belle Fleur Cafe

Situated within the gardens of Flower Power nursery in Enfield, this café is a great meeting spot for friends and families. Children can wander around the ponds and fountains and chatter to the birds in the aviary. There is a designated smoking area far from the rest of the tables which is a welcome change. The café was bustling with life when we arrived at 11am on a Sunday. I booked for a party of 12 people and reconfirmed the day before, however we arrived to a table for 8.

We ordered and paid at the counter where the service was rushed and the wait staff were not particularly welcoming. The drinks and dishes came slowly from the kitchen and some later orders came well before those that were ordered first.

Flat White

The drinks were tasty and met our expectations. The vanilla milkshake ($5.00) brought back childhood memories and the coffees hit the spot after a late Saturday night. Coffees came in two sizes, a cup for $3.25 and mug (tall glass) for $4.20. We indulged in a cappuccino, mocha, hot chocolate and flat white. The coffee was well roasted but not presented as well as we are used to.

Mocha, Mug Size

The menu stated that ‘fresh fruit frappes’ were available however when asked what they contained the wait staff were not sure. The waitress then produced a bottle of premade frappe demonstrating that the mixture contained berries. We were disappointed that the frappes were not made fresh and decided against ordering one. In addition there were no freshly made juices which didn’t leave a lot of fresh and healthy options for a hot summer morning.

Mini Orange Cake

The mini orange cake ($4) and caramel cheese cake with ice cream ($7.80) were an impressive sight. Creations made out of toffee impressed all members of our party, children and adults included. The taste didn’t impress as much as the presentation however they were still delicious.

Caramel Cheesecake

Breakfast finished at 11:30am so one member opted for the Linguine with home made meatballs ($19) from the lunch menu. Our guest reported that the meat balls did indeed taste homemade and she was impressed with the fresh herbs used in the dish. She also commented that the prices seemed quite high, ‘…the Fish and Chips were like 22 bucks!’ They also offer a selection of dishes on the Children’s Menu for those under 12 years of age.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Overall, the cafe is a great place to bring children and have a satisfying meal. Being located within the nursery and close to Henley Park it’s a great way to start a leisurely Sunday.

NB: 10% surcharge applies for Sundays and public holidays.

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