After hearing so much about Cafe Ish, it was time I make a trip there myself. I did in fact get the chance to visit during good food month, so there were some Crave Sydney (Sydney International Food Festival) specials. It was a hot Sunday morning and the perfect opportunity for us to grab some brunch.
I opted for the Bush Brekkie Special that was available at the time. There was an option between the Soft Shell Crab Omelette or Emu Eggs, served with a small breakfast Trifle and a Wattle Maccachino for $25 (weekends only).
Instead of the Wattle Maccachino, I asked if I could substitute it for a skinny Latte. I’m not the biggest coffee drinker so I didn’t want to try something so different. I am impressed with the coffee artwork as it almost looks like the one on their website.
As a lover of muesli and yoghurt, I absolutely enjoyed this breakfast trifle. There were 3 distinct layers – yoghurt, a berry compote and house made muesli. I think the compote was a little too sweet but I still enjoyed the trifle very much so. I kept scooping the cup in search for some more.
Without question I opted for the soft shell crab omelette. I first saw it on the chocolatesuze blog and boy was I excited to dig into it. As an omelette, it sure was large, but hey, no complaints from me (or my other half). The egg omlette is almost like a pancake, filled with cripsy kara age soft shell crab, advocado and a garlic, chilli, soy, ginger and lime dressing. I cannot describe to you how delicious that sauce was. I loved how it gave every forkful a party in your mouth. The boy could have licked the plate if it wasn’t inappropriate to do so.
My other half opted for the Big Ish ($24) breakfast – which really was BIG - comprised of two eggs, bacon, tomato, crocodile sausage, mushroom, beans, toast and fried potato mochi. I’ve never seen a plate so full of breakfast foods. Biggie struggled to finish this, but that also may have been because he ate something beforehand. What suprised me the most was the crocodile sausage (not seen in the above image) - it really reminded me of the laos sausages I always eat at laos/thai restaurants. It was a winner for me. I only wish that there was more!
Biggie and I will definitely be making a return for dinner service :)
Cafe Ish
82 Campbell Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: +61 2 9281 1688
I am totally in for that omelette!
Have you tried it? Definitely a must!
I remember reading about a blogger getting shouted at for taking photos at cafe ish. Did you face any resistance?
Yeah there was a whole kerfuffle over it. You’re fine so long as you ask permission, which I always do anyways :)
Really? I never do! Oops. Didn’t realise there was a protocol about taking food pictures?
I guess chefs and restaurants would think they taking a photo of their artwork could mean diners could replicate it at home and claim it as theirs. I would feel the same if roles were reversed though..
I know what you’re saying but the very reason I am there is because I can’t replicate it at home. If i could make something at home it wouldn’t be worth the photo opportunity. I am not having a go at you. Not at all, I just get frustrated when wait staff and chefs assume you will take their ideas when all I really want to do is remember the experience. Everyone does it, even through their Iphones.
I am thinking I should ask now out of courtesy.
Tina, how does one go about asking without them saying no? I don’t want them knowing I am blogging about it either.
As my response to feedmycamera, it is definitely a sensitive topic. As a diner, you definitely want to capture the moment and remember what you are eating whether it be to show to friends or as a reminder to ones self. For whatever reason it may be, if the staff and chef request no photos to be taken, that is absolutely fine. I don’t get upset or offended, I respect what they say.
Restuarants don’t need to know what we do with our photos. As it is our photos we are entitled to use them however we like.
I ask for permission because I want to avoid any misunderstandings with the restuarant – I’m not there to steal ideas, but rather I am there to capture my experience :)
I hate when places do that!
Well, I’ve only asked permission once, and that was at Bilson’s. I don’t see copying as a problem, I think its more when bad photos are taken and the photos uploaded on the internet does not reflect the food served, Were they okay with it though? or was it more like a ‘ If you must….’ kinda response?
I don’t take it personally if they say no to taking photos. It really is a sensitive topic and interpreted differently amongst everyone. For a diner, taking photos is all about remembering the experience and/or for personal/blogging uses. For the restaurant, it could be that they think the diner could be copying their original ideas. It really is all up in the air……
i love the soft shell crab.. ahhh .. needs rice with it tho .. mmhhhh
Yeah the dish would have been complete with a bowl of rice. The sauce definitely would have gone well with it.. mmm