Circa Espresso - Parramatta - Sydney, Australia

It's been a few months since I last posted as life has kept me occupied or should I say I've been rather lazy. Sorry dear readers! Continuing on with the backlog of posts I've yet to go through, next up is Circa Espresso, now one of my favourite brunch places. I've been there twice and on both occasions the food has been consistently good.

Circa Espresso is situated between two buildings in what used to be a laneway, then a garage and then transformed into a fully operational cafe in the greater western suburb of Parramatta. It's located on the quieter side of the train station and away from the hustle and bustle.

Having attempted to go here a few times, I just didn't have any luck as it was either closed or another restaurant took precedence over it. It just wasn't meant to be as one would say. Then the day finally came but it was raining and from the photos we saw online it looked small inside, so once again we were about to cancel and change location. Luckily, my friend was persistent in going to have a look and thankfully we did. Seating is unavailable outside when it rains but once it clears it becomes available.

On our first visit we got a table inside within 15 minutes of waiting, which was much shorter than what we were expecting. The miserable weather  didn't stop customers from getting their coffee and breakfast as it was buzzing with patrons. However, on our second visit, the wait was close to an hour for a table inside. Be prepared to patiently wait on weekends as it's extremely popular.

From the outside it looks very small and narrow, but once you enter it's much bigger than it actually looks with more tables towards the back. Even though there is limited space, they've made use of it very well.

The rustic walls are lined with bricks and brightly painted murals, bringing back memories of the cafe culture in Melbourne.

The cheerful and bubbly waitress brings us to our tables right at the back, alongside shelves of books and encyclopedias, reminiscing to the days when we were younger. While the internal decor is quirky and fun, the lack of light makes photo taking slightly difficult but that's what creates the ambiance.

The menu is presented on pieces of paper on a clipboard, and from initial observation it looks impressive. There is a decent selection of home-style dishes from the basic breakfast items to the much more elaborate and unique, all of which are well-priced and affordable.

The 'Cappuccino (regular size)' is made using a blend of Little Marionette beans. The coffee is potent, robust and full bodied, and is ultra smooth on the palate.

On another visit, I opt for the large size cappuccino and wow it's huge for an additional 50 cents! Well worth the money as it's nearly twice the size of the regular and you'll surely get your full caffeine fix from that single cup.

The 'Baked Eggs' is made with sujuk, Danish feta, diced tomatoes and free range eggs with a hint of chilli, served in a pan. The side of crusty bread makes a good accompaniment for the perfectly cooked runny eggs. The hint of sourness from the juicy tomatoes and the saltiness from the creamy fetta balanced out well . Overall, I really liked the bold tomato based flavours and wish there was more of the bread for scooping up the sauce.

The 'Avocado Smash' looked sensational with shades of greens, reds and yellow from the assortment of vegetables. Suitable for those who prefer a lighter or less heavy breakfast as there isn't any meat. It's made with smashed creamy avocado, feta and lime juice, with a side of boiled eggs. It was fresh, tasty and popping with not only colour but also flavour.

'Baked Squid' appears to be a seasonal item as it wasn't on the menu the second time I was there. It's a shame cause it was very delicious. It resembled the baked eggs with a tomato base sauce but with the addition of chick peas and squid. A hearty and comforting dish that's perfect for this weather.

While seating is limited and the wait may be long, the quality ingredients and delicious food makes up for it. The service staff were welcoming and friendly making it even better. This cafe is definitely worth a visit. Hopefully I can try out one of their delectable desserts on display at the front soon.

Where?
21 Wentworth St
Parramatta NSW 2150
Australia

Phone no: 02 8896 6071

Opening Hour
Tuesday - Friday: 7:00am to 4:00pm
Saturday - Sunday: 8:00am to 3:00pm

Website
www.circaespresso.com.au

Paper Plane Cafe - Parramatta - Sydney, Australia

Paper Plane Cafe 

The weather this weekend has been utterly miserable, with gloomy skies and heavy rainfall. The forecasts for the weekend didn't stop us from going out. We planned a brekkie at a boutique cafe called Paper Plane Cafe in Parramatta. Luckily, we had breakfast on the Saturday morning and the rain held in till the late afternoon.

Parramatta seems to be the new dining destination with a number of eateries opening up lately such as PappaRich, Gelato Messina and the upcoming Bourke Street Bakery. It seems like you can find any type of cuisine there without having to travel far. Unfortunately for me, I live quite a proximity away, so driving there can a pain at times due to the traffic.

Located close to the main street, Church St, Paper Plane's Cafe is on the quieter side of  Horwood Place, but this hasn't detracted people from going there. Having opened not too long ago, since the start of the year to be exact, the food has been highly rated my many including my best friend. I hear it does get extremely busy and since it's not known by many as of yet, you definitely have to try it before the crowds roll in due to its growing popularity.

It's a full house when we arrive at 11am, with patrons enjoying their breakfast dishes as lunch isn't available yet to my disappointment. We manage to get an outside table close to the heater in a matter of minutes. I really wanted to have something from their lunch menu, specifically the raved about burger and chips, as I'm not very big on my Aussie breakfast but I guess that means I have to return again another time.

The cafe is nicely furnished with a vibrant decor, filled with wooden tables and chairs, blackboards and mini pot plants or fresh flowers placed on every table. It's not only hip but cool. This is the type of setting I like most as there is heaps of light and lots of air.  You don't feel squished into one place and you can find yourself sitting there for many hours with good company.

Their menu is broad with a number of selections to choose from over the numerous paper pages. All items on the menu are reasonably priced and won't hurt your wallet. That even includes the lunch dishes! Service is prompt and their wait staff are very friendly, attending to our needs within a matter of minutes.

The 'Cappuccino ($3.50)' is made from a Picasso blend. It's described as having a 'strong honey fragrance, flavours of dark chocolate, coconut & coffee blossom, bright acidity of green apple & orange'. I must admit their coffee was a nice blend and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It would have been better if they made the milk warmer as it was leaning towards cold-warm.

'Chai Latte($3.50)' is the preferred choice of drink for Jj. She isn't a fan of coffee so she opts for the chai tea with milk. The tea holds a strong flavour due to the combination of aromatic herbs and spices.

'Soy Latte ($3.50+$0.50)' also uses the Picasso blend.

We should have ordered the larger size drinks as we finished our coffees before our breakfast arrived. The food took a long time to reach our table. We didn't count the minutes but I would say between 20 to 30 minutes.

The 'Big Breakfast ($16.95)' was huge and at the sight of it we got an initial shock at the sheer size. It's a generous serving and can even be shared between two. On a wooden board there were two large sized eggs cooked sunny side up, chorizo, crispy bacon, sauteed mushrooms, a hash brown, juicy tomatoes and a rocket salad, served on toasted sourdough bread.  A fresh selection, making a complete meal.

I did enjoy the mix of flavours, especially the well-cooked, plump chorizo sausages with a hint of spiciness.

The sourdough bread was extremely crispy and the sides could barely be eaten. Also, the eggs were under-cooked as parts of the white were still clear. I struggled to finish it given its generous serving but my friend with a bigger appetite polished it all off.

'Truffle Eggs ($11.00)' was more normal in terms of portion size and more suited for one. Consisting of scrambled eggs cooked with a hint of truffle oil, tomatoes & mushrooms, on a sourdough bread with a side of rocket salad. The eggs were fluffy and creamy, but once again the sourdough crust was hard to eat. This is a great dish for you truffle lovers out there.

Its quirky restaurant feel and good value menu will definitely bring me back. The coffee was great but their breakfast was mediocre. However, I still want to try out their lunch menu as it looks superb. Please note breakfast is available all day.

Where?
2 Horwood Pl
Parramatta NSW 2150
Australia

Phone no: 0400 888 772

Opening Hours
Open 7 Days a Week
Monday - Friday - 8:00am to 3:00pm
Saturday - Sunday - 9:00am to 3:00pm

Website
https://www.facebook.com/cafepaperplane

Chilli Jam - Parramatta - Sydney, Australia

Chilli Jam

If you haven't been to Chill Jam, then you definitely have to go! It's got to be one of the best Thai restaurants that I have been to by far. Not only is the food authentic, great tasting and decent priced but the portions are huge compared to the standard.

The original Chilli Jam in Concord has got to be one of the best Thai restaurants in Sydney. We've have been many times and they have never failed to satisfy our Thai cravings. It is extremely busy on Friday nights and the weekend so book ahead if you plan on going.



Today, we're at Chilli Jam Parramatta for lunch which is located at the end of Church St. It's not too busy at lunch and thats how we like it. The interior is very modern and the music is soothing to the ears.
 

 





We start off with the drinks. J has the 'Thai Milk Tea ($3.50)' and says its a must have. W has a 'Pepsi ($3.50) and I go with the usual 'Lemon Lime Bitters ($3.50)'.




W has her usual 'Pad See Eww Chicken ($15.90)' which is again a very large serve which terrifies her at first but manages to finish at the end.



J and I order from the lunch specials and opt for option B. ' Chilli Jam Chicken Box Set ($15.90)' which is ginormous with a money bag, two spring rolls, dipping sauce, stir-fried chilli jam chicken, salad and rice'. I'm extremely full after the satisfying meal.

 

It's a bit far for me to get to now days but will be dropping by very soon for lunch or dinner if in the area.

However, I hear that the food is not always very consistent here and depends on which day of the week you go.

Where?
325 Church St
Parramatta NSW 2150
Australia

Phone no: 02 9687 3300

Opening Hours
Refer to website

Website
http://www.chillijam.com.au/index.php