Reuben Hills

Cool kicks, yep. Tattoos, yep. Soy chai lattes, nope. If you’re a lover of teas and chai lattes, Reuben Hills isn’t your scene, it’s for the caffeine enthusiasts, or unless a fresh juice or milkshake takes your fancy.

Reuben Hills is an industrial inspired coffee roastery, stripped out bare with back to basics enamel tin mugs, mosaic tables, polished cement floors and lit with both sunlight and neon beams. Don’t forget to look up where there is an amazing cut out to peer into the roastery.

Double Shot Latte

Mint & Lavender Tea

Wishing I practiced what I preach, the mint and lavender tea is sweet smelling, but the taste is definitely much more of the acquired taste. Coffee is clearly king on the table.

Berkshire Ham

The Reuben Hills menu has a Latin American flavour with a great mix of brunching and lunching items. Good ol’ sandwich delights are dished up in retro plastic baskets toasted held together with toothpick pickle.

My fav is the berkshire ham sandwiched between toasted rye and juicy with machego and rocket. Toasty and dripping with tomato and red pepper chutney.

the NOT reuben

Dirty Bird

The others munch on the NOT reuben filled with wagyu salt brisket and the slightly usual suspects of pickled slaw, machego and horseradish. The boys munch on the Dirty Bird; a spiced grilled chicken on fluffy brioche and stacked with plenty of aioli, cheese and pickles.

Give a Dogg a Bone

Doggs Breakfast

The Dirty Birds are on the smaller side for the appetite of hungry boys but only for the better to allow space for sugary delights. A sucker for a ice cream sandwiches, both delights were a hot favourite. Think melting marshmallow fluff, chewy biscuit toasts and incredibly, addictive salty caramel. Both same same but different.

A great addition to the alleyways of Surry Hills. Just don’t forget to BYO a bib for dripping burger juices and the extra stomach for dessert.

Reuben Hills
61 Albion St
Surry Hills, Sydney
http://reubenhills.com.au

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Swell Restaurant

Could you believe that this is Sydney’s beach on a Winter’s day? Even the snow bunny in me stood there for a while admiring the crashing waves and calm waters. After a surprise girls’ date at a horse riding school nearby, we headed to brunch by the gorgeous Bronte Beach.

Swell Restaurant is gorgeously opened up with tons of sunshine and natural light beaming in. Starving from our morning escapades, we order a bottle of Riesling and dig into our tasty morsels.

Angel Hair Pasta

Spinach & Mushroom Risotto

The girls opt for the carb filled mains. The angel pasta is thin and a vermicelli-light tossed amongst crab bites, cherry tomatoes, basil, chili and garlic. Simple, light and reminiscent that Summer is on its way! I constantly pick at the risotto filled with earthy and unami goodness. Flavoursome and cooked to perfection; Swell isn’t scarce on the mushrooms with sprinkles of pine nuts and shaved parmesan.

Panfried Kingfish

Being by the beach, I couldn’t help but choose the kingfish and a delightful choice indeed. Perfectly cooked with its crispy skin, the carrot and ginger puree, green apple salad and mustard vinaigrette rounded all the flavours and textures off. Mmm, absolutely delicious!

Chocolate Terrine

Apple and berry crumble with ice cream

The desserts were a little less exciting than the mains; but actually perfect to top off brunch. The chocolate terrine is melt in your mouth smooth and velvety. I would have enjoyed a lot more crunch with the crumble, but the warm berry filling and cold ice cream was a perfect match.

Soak up the gorgeous view with a guilty-free glass of vino and pasta by walking it off to Bondi…

Swell Restaurant
465 Bronte Rd
Bronte Beach, Sydney
www.swellrestaurant.com.au 

Mission Bar & Restaurant

Swing around the other corner of Chippendale, and there’s another gallery displaying contemporary Australia art. But nestled in the street floor of this old church is Mission Bar & Restaurant. Push through the refurnished french doors is a modern eatery with shiny polished floors, slick wooden furniture, bright orange feature walls and intriguing pieces of hanging art.

The menu is dynamic. From the blackboard specials showcasing chef specials for the day, there’s a range of dishes to cater for everyone’s tastes and nibbles. For lunch, there are fulfilling toasted sandwich options, while the menu dives into Mediterranean flavours that packs a punch. Not your everyday lunch spot but perfect for something a little special.

Slow roasted lamb shoulder with green cardamon, chilli & tahini 

Minute steak with caramelised onion, cheddar cheese & capsicum jam

To avoid falling into food coma, I opted for the safe option of the minute steak sandwiched between fresh seeded turkish bread. The steak was slightly overcooked, even for my raw phobia, but the juicy caramelised onions and house made capsicum jam made up for it. I did linger over my colleague’s lamb shoulder with envy, because it was absolutely delicious! Melt in your mouth meat with an abundance of flavours and textures. Delicious!

On a second occasion, I am back and it’s nice to see the feature walls with new pieces of intriguing art. We grab a seat on the casual couches as we’re both opting for some sandwiches that are only available for lunch.

Balsamic braised corn beef w/ provolone, dijon mustard, tomato & pickled coleslaw

Piri-piri roasted chicken w/ roasted corn, watercress & aioli

My lunch companion opts for the corned beef sandwich which sadly I didn’t get to pick at, it did get gobbled down quite quickly. Feeling clucky, I choose the piri-piri roasted chicken but unfortunately it felt like the chef accidently dropped the salt shaker into the mix. Hopefully this was a once off and my chicken isn’t salty next time…

Another great gallery cafe in a little alleyway for a little bit of artsyness and delicious food.

Mission & NG Art Gallery
3 Little Queen St
Chippendale, Sydney
www.missionbar.com.au 

Bitton

French toast a la Bitton with fresh fruit & orange jelly

Bitton has been my latest brunch craze. It’s one of those places where you’re not particularly in the mood to test the waters of something new, and just looking for that quick morning fix of good ol’ favourites.

On my first trip (yep, repeat offender already) I indulged in the french toast which was delicious. I’ve only had another memorable french toast experience which was in Lorca, Melbourne and this was has met the benchmark. Loads of fresh and seasonal fruit always helps cut the guilt of having such  a sugary delight so early in the day.

Poached eggs served with spinach, smoked salmon & hollandaise sauce

On my second trip back, I was in an eggy mood, so we opted for the breakfast staples. My companion’s poached eggs were delicious, one egg was a little overdone but the rest of the dish was flawless. Sitting on a potato hash brown, the creamy hollandaise sauce was just right.

One pan bacon and eggs with wood fired bread & tomato sauce

I opted for the one pan and it was filled with goodness, oozing eggs, bacon and 2 slices of wood fired sourdough bread. One of the things that Bitton is known for are their sauces, so the french toast orange jelly is available in the grocer, as well as the amazing spicy tomato sauce that swung my tastebuds into a dancing sensation.

Gorgeous view opposite a grassy park, delicious food and great service. Perfect way to start a weekend morning!

Bitton
36-37a Copeland St
Alexandria, Sydney
www.bittongourmet.com.au

Baffi & Mo

Ricotta hotcakes with lemon curd, passionfruit & strawberries

Scrambled eggs, chorizo, potato hash & sourdough toast

Waking up from the day after a music festival leaves me feeling nothing more like refueling with good food and resting my poor little soles. Baffi & Mo is a little cafe away from the hustle and bustle of Redfern, with an extensive and delicious brunch menu. Being indecisive, we choose to get a sweet and savoury to share.

The ricotta hotcakes are thick, doughy and filling – drizzled on top is lemon curd, passionfruit, fresh sweet strawberries, a huuuuge dollop of cheese – all dusted with icing sugar to finish. And it all works. The sourness of the lemon curd and passionfruit make it seem not too sweet after all! Our savoury dish is a generous plate of scrambled eggs, sourdough toast, a crunchy potato hash and a spicy chorizo sausage. Simple yet fresh. And do be naughty and give the potato hash ago, particularly if you have a soft spot for the packaged french fries.

Service took a little longer than expected but great food in the end.

Baffi & Mo
97 Redfern Rd
Redfern, Sydney