Writes Anita Bilkey from Brisbane: "I am writing a book on cafe designs in Australia.
I have so far acquired 15 cafes in Brisbane for photo shoots. The cafes need to have funky
designs. Would you be able to point me in the right direction for which cafes I approach?
I already have nine cafes in Sydney in the city, but I am looking for another six if possible.
Some of the cafes so far have robots in them or are from the 1950s decor. They need to be
only cafes if possible and not restaurants. Any assistance in this would be much appreciated.
The photos don't cost the cafes anything, and they will receive a book at the end showing
their cafe off to designers. The name of the cafe and the finishes used in the cafe are the only details
shown in the book, other than the photos." If you're a cafe owner or manager who would like to
be considered for Anita's book, please email us: editor@sydneycafes.com.au and we'll
pass your details on.
Where Did The Dov Fly?
Wondering what became of that fantastic Darlinghurst eatery called Dov Cafe?
Well they've reopened in Potts Point and are our May 2006 "Cafe of the Month".
For the full story click here.
Praise That Could Not Be Higher
An email from someone called Sherridan Tunks: "Good Evening, I do not own this cafe although I eat there
every week: Cafe Agave, Cnr Montgomery Street and Kensington Street, Kogarah. Open Monday - Friday
EARLY EARLY EARLY - MID AFTERNOON AND MOST SATURDAYS. General Meals Cost $6.90 - very generous
meal sizes. Coffee $2.50 (The best I have ever had). This cafe is a very small unique cafe. It has a cosy
outdoor setting amongst lovely greenery. They cater for all tastes including vegetarian and they
have BREKKY ALL DAY LONG. CAFE AGAVE boasts the slogan "THERES NUFFIN' LIKE OUR MUFFINS"
and I must say I laughed when I read their comments but I must admit I think their muffins would
have to be the tastiest most lucious muffins I have ever tasted. Food is freshly prepared every day and most
of the time its cakes & muffins are still hot out of the oven... The staff are the friendliest and most
accomodating in sydney if you ask me and nothing is too hard.
I have been working in the area for just over a month and would go out of my way to buy
my lunch from Agave as the service and food are incomparable to any I have ever experienced and at
dirt cheap prices to boot!!!!! I think this cafe would have to be THE BEST CAFE I HAVE EVER EATEN AT
AND RECOMMEND THAT EVERYBODY IN SYDNEY TRY IT... and the owner has a speciality! His hot
chocolates are massive and to die for!!!!!!!! YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY! please include Cafe Agave on
your site and I hope it encourages many others to taste the best! Because I can't just keep it to myself!
IT MUST BE SHARED WITH THE WORLD! =) Thanks for your time! =) Regards, Sherridan
A Swell Time at Bronte Beach
Swell's winter trading hours have just come into effect – the only change to regular trading
is that Swell is closed for dinner on Sunday & Monday nights. Still open 7 days from 7am, and 5 nights
for dinner. To warm up for winter, on Wednesday nights you can nestle into a cosy inside table
and enjoy the dulcet sounds of Bronte’s very own Rick Falkiner on solo guitar. Bookings recommended.
For more info on Swell check out their website by clicking here.
Going To The Dogs
Reader John Van Gastel loves his dog, and so asks this of us and our readers:
"We are desperately trying to find places that are friendly to dogs and that have good cuisine.
It seems that if you are a dog owner in Sydney, you are either able to have great cuisine but not
able to have the dog with you (outside even) or you can have the dog (outside) but not have options
of good cuisine. Are there any places around inner Sydney or anywhere for that matter in Sydney that
are dog-friendly and have good food and ambience that you know of? Is there a website?" ...
well John, you've probably already see our dog-friendly page http://www.sydneycafes.com.au/dog.html
but maybe readers out there have other suggestions? If so please let us know by emailing the editor:
editor@sydneycafes.com.au - and we'll certainly pass on the info to help Mr Van Gastel's best friend.
Seeking an Angel Place Cafe?
The students and staff of Matthew Flinders Anglican College Music Department are travelling
to Sydney in June for the Australian International Music Festival: "We are looking for a cafe in
close proximity to Angel Place on Wednesday 21 June and Thursday 22 June for an quick, early dinner
(5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.). There are 108 students and 9 staff. Our budget is $15.00 and we would like a
main, dessert and drink. We would be happy to pre-order or maybe have an alternate drop menu.
I look forward to hearing any suggestions. Thank you, Kay Jackson."
Are you a cafe owner who can help, and gain an extra 117 customers in the process?
If so please email us via editor@sydneycafes.com.au and we'll pass on your details.
More Reader Queries - Can You Help?
"hi guys, i am looking for clubs/pubs around sydney cbd that play a good mix of old and new
rock & roll...i've looked everywhere i can think of but they seem non-existent!!!!
maybe you guys can help!!!! jason.
To assist Jason please email: editor@sydneycafes.com.au
Hello,
Would you know of any bars you'd recommend around Liverpool or Goulburn Streets?
Kind regards, Carla Dei-Rossi
To assist Carla please email: editor@sydneycafes.com.au
CAFE NEWS APRIL 2006
Peronis in Parramatta
Our April 2006 Restaurant of the Month is Peronis Italian Restaurant,
which is the love-child of Bill Nikoloudis, ex-Sabatinis owner.
To check out just some of its delightful vibe click here.
Bondi Chai
A big welcome to Bondi Chai who've become a sponsor of Sydneycafes.com.au
If you're interested in trying Bondi Chai in your cafe or restaurant,
you can contact them by clicking on their website.
Panzerotti Cafe
Also fresh on our listings pages is Panzerotti Cafe, home to those rare Italian
delicacies and located at 42 Margaret St, Sydney City, ph: (02) 9290 1119.
Where the Kids Get The Best
Since the emergence of the "new baby-boomers", we've been getting a lot
of emails from parents wanting to know the best places to take their children.
We've had a Kid-Friendly Cafes page for some years now, but after some
recent legwork, have just uploaded a stack of new listings.
To check out Sydney's best child-friendly dining-spots click here.
Bronte Bliss
As the weather cools, there's still some summery beachside vibe to
be had, and the north-facing sun-saturated Swell Restaurant in
Bronte has just extended their outdoor seating to include the space
in front of the cafe next door. The ambient luxury extends across the menu, with the
particularly popular
panfried kingfish with spiced eggplant, coriander salad
and
lime yoghurt doing brisk business at lunchtime! Totally protected from the
wind by their backside-hillside plus some transparent yet very solid perspex
awnings, Swell's windows are permanently wide open, so that their
al fresco experience extends right to their kitchen. For more details on
Swell Restaurant check out their website by clicking here.
Our Websites are Going Hard Copy
If we've been a little slow responding to your emails lately, we apologise, ok?
(Please don't shoot us, we're only the messengers). We've been a little
distracted due to the development of a new print project called MENU MAGAZINE.
First edition is coming out in Western Australia and is an extension of our
website over there known as westcoastcafes.com.au ... if you're interested in
advertising your coffee, booze, cafe equipment or anything else you want to
put before a Perth-based cafe-fanatic audience, there are a last few spots available,
just call Scott Arnold-Eyers on 0403 344 143 (remember they're two hours behind
the East so don't ring him at 6am!) or email Scott via eyersrocket@dodo.com.au
CAFE NEWS MARCH 2006
Best New Italian in Little Italy
We're receiving great feedback from diners about the very new Galleria Lounge, which was our
Restaurant of the Month for March 2006. Chef/owner Dusan Vuckovic is a
natural perfectionist putting his heart into the food while delivering hearty servings
at very comfortable prices. Check it out before the mob finds out about it!
Galleria Lounge, Open Seven Days & Nights, Shop 20, 21-23 Norton St (park in
the Italian Forum carpark), Leichhardt, ph (02) 9568 1255.
The Wisdom of the Sage
When you've endured the olde-world charms of Sydney's Inner East a thousand times,
you may just be ready to dine somewhere which is not only new and modern,
but actually looks out on a futuristic vista - the fountainised plaza that contemporary architects
have hewn out of numbers 417-455 Bourke Street in Surry Hills.
How refreshing it is then, based on this anti-historical premise, that the sharply schmick
Sage Restaurant has appeared - offering the best of all that's quality and cool about the
Inner East of Sydney, with suave wait-staff delivering stunning cuisine - yet at prices which
are more Inner West than Inner East.
For mains, as of early March 2006 there's no dish over $25.50 ... and here's a couple we
can report on first-hand: Pork Belly on Roast Apricots, Sage & Lemon Burnt Butter with
Curly Iceberg & Celery Salad ($21.50) and Harissa Yoghurt Marinated Lamb Backstrap with
Spiced Cous Cous & Roast Beetroot ($24.50).
My God they were good, following on sublimely from the luxurious presentation
of the Tasting Plate for Two: where all six entrees appear in abridged versions on the one page
- edited to perfection. The pick of the spread: mouth-watering Tuna Carpaccio, although
the Nambucca Oysters deserve a nomination.
Sage restaurant is fully licensed, so we got stuck into two of the best cocktails on
their list: "The Outlawed", given rave overtones by my dining partner DJ Brynstar, constituting
Mandarin Vodka, equal Peach and Ginger liqueur, Muddled Fresh Lime, Ginger & Pink
Grapefruit Juice ... and the Elderflower Collins, a smooth blend of Bombay Gin, Elderflower
Cordial and Fresh Lemon Juice topped with Soda. Could have drank ten of both and taken a
taxi, they were that easy on the tongue, but made the sensible decision to switch to the
Bridgewater Mill Viognier thanks to the wise advice of Ross Laurence, maestro of the
night in a team of debonair professionals.
Our refusal of dessert (due to digestive overcrowding) was taken as an insult by
Mr Laurence, so we surrendered to his soft force and shared one of the greatest ecstacies
of our relatively short lives, a Pumpkin Cheesecake that transcended pumpkinism and
transcended cheesi-cakism ... two hetero guys, two spoons, one dish, taking a bit of
the cheesecake, combining it with a bit of accompanying ice-cream, and achieving palatial
(as in off the palate) paradise - did my dining pal and me encounter a moment of blokey bliss?
With desserts only ten bucks, the truth was ... er, maybe-just, in a Brokeback Mountain
kind-of way? Naaa ... though we sure were in the right suburb for it.
After 18 months out of the restaurant game, foodie fans will be delighted to
hear that Bill Nikoloudis is back, having pegged out a Parramatta location to resume
trading under his almost ancient Peronis banner.
The old Peronis dated back to 1989-1993, after that Bill operated under the name of
Ziggys Cafe/Restaurant, from 1996-1999 he ran Sabatinis in Crows Nest
which he sold to Steve and Jackie Walker,
and then from 1999 to 2004 he ran a
second Sabatinis in Parramatta.
If you've dined at any of the above restaurants during the years mentioned, you'll
likely be well aware that Bill makes the words hospitality and quality almost his own,
with loving grace he treats everyone as though they were his own family.
Simply divine Italian food with a Mod-Oz touch is what Bill is all about, from the melt-in-the-mouth
Duck Confit to Veal Scallopini diners can expect generous servings, and even the entree
Bruscetta is superbly marinated - "it's got a bit of a bite to it" Bill says matter-of-factly,
the truth is it's far better than his typically humble description.
In a large underground cellar, Bill has 180 wine varieties ready to go, but what
makes this fact even more compelling is that the cellar caters for quick diners happy to
throw back a decent quality $25 Italian red, through to Penfolds Grange 1992 for $800, or even
a magnum of 1994 Penfolds range for $2000!!! Bill is not elitist about wine at all,
for him it's about the enjoyment factor - people taking delight in good or great wines
whatever the budget.
Peronis also has a 30-person function room, and while they're currently not open on Sundays,
he will open for a function. Of course the entire restaurant of around 140 seats could
be booked for a single function if enough notice is given.
Our further recommendations: sit out on the alfresco verandah area - it's got a lovely garden vibe -
and also allow yourself a bit longer than usual to enjoy your lunch or dinner - it's so much
the right place to kick back and soak up what good restaurants are all about.
Peronis Restaurant, Open Lunch Mon-Fri, Dinner Mon-Sat, 48 Station St, East Parramatta/
Harris Park, ph (02) 9633 2889. www.peronisrestaurant.com.au
Thankyou For The Music : )
Looking for a great party venue in the Inner East? Bobbie Jewell and Carrie Booth run
the very enjoyable Tharen Restaurant, where it's "fabulous hats and great music"
all night long - and designed for groups or full functions who really want to let
their hair down. For more info click here.
