Seachange Cafe is the most unobtrusive dining spot on Dee Why's strand. Its quaint doorway
is barely noticeable and if you're trying to spot it from the car, you simply won't. Park the chariot,
it's much more charming to encounter Seachange's
simple exterior by foot. For isn't it usually the case
that the best restaurants and cafes are always those that are somehow invisible?
- I'd rather
be haunted by the memory of delicious food than the flashiness of a first impression.
And haunted is exactly what this scribe is, because I can't seem to get the flavour of their
sensational Cajun
Kangaroo Fillets out of the blueprint of my palate. Could it be
that
this humble-looking cafe has unlocked the secret of how to do the 'roo ahead of almost all
other Mod-Oz establishments in the land? What really makes this dish is how the honey kumara
& carrot mash melts everything together, so that the herbed asparagus, grilled haloumi and
mustard jus complement the exquisitely tender cuts of meat. Felt very sure as I tucked into
this generous mains that here were the best kangaroo fillets I'd ever tasted.
My dining partner was determined to have only fish and chips, but my howls of derision
worked for a change - no-one reviews Big Macs and some meals belong in this forbidden
zone. Instead she was coerced into the Dill-rubbed
Salmon Steak, a decent chunk of the
Atlantic's finest with grilled asparagus & green beans, garlic mash, hollandaise and
barbequed lemon. It was another plate that received our 100%-wiped-clean seal of approval.
Seachange
Cafe has, within its limited space, plenty to enjoy. You can sit
al fresco out the
front and admire the tireless ocean with its ever-changing moods. Or you can squeeze into the
tightly-knit but terrific tables from two to eight diners still within eyeshot of the beach. Or finally
you may find yourself in the solitary red booth at the back of the cafe where you can catch
the buzz of the kitchen and feel decidedly part of it all.
We
loved this booth spot because we saw something which made us want to
elevate
this cafe into our own little northern beaches secret. The staff are
totally a bunch of the best
people
you could imagine working together. They glow with joy and enthusiasm,
and you can tell
they love the camaraderie and the professionalism of the dishes flowing
out of the kitchen.
Seeing the wonderful sparkle in the eyes of everyone who works there,
it's no
surprise that despite the tight fit involved, the place was packed.
And
if the two
dishes we selected are anything to go by, Seachange
has a lot more to offer.
Including the appealing prospect of walking off the consumption with
one of the
best views our beloved city has to offer.
www.seachangecafe.com.au
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