Little Cafe Critic Comes to Campus!

Here is our video - we hope you like it! Adam, Alex and Sonia

Barcino Bar, 18-19 The Strand, Dee Why, NSW 2099

Barcino Bar

A small family run cafe, which is a favourite of mine that has amazing coffee and food with other frequent customers much like myself whom are always coming back from a surf or a walk on the beach, who just want to read the paper in the sun with a good coffee and fresh organic food. 

Also if you are keen to spoil yourself, their small treats such as coffee cakes and lemon tarts made by them on the day are highly recommended!

Being a well known customer they it makes for a really friendly and comfortable experience and even if you aren't a frequent customer you are treated like family. With amazing staff and location, on the whole makes for one of my favourite cafes. Can't go wrong with this place, Adam :)

The Boatshed, 11 Narrabeen Street, Narrabeen, NSW 2101

The Boatshed Cafe

Located right on Narrabeen lake, this cafe and restaurant (Limani Seafood Restaurant) is a fantastic location for anyone who loves good food, service and an amazing view. It is a well laid out cafe with laid back staff and vibe, and in addition right next door, you can hire out kayaks and pair-paddle boats if you wanted to enjoy the lake.

With the lake so close this makes for a perfect cafe on a day that is hot or cold, windy or quiet. Whatever the weather. There is a function room on the top floor for those who wish to have something a little more special.

The Boatshed also has takeaway, which for those who wish to walk the track around Narrabeen lake with a coffee this is the place for you.

It also has a bar and the food that is made freshly either on the day or when you order. The eggs benedict with salmon, on a english muffin with two hash browns on the side are to die for.

With amazing service and interesting and helpful staff the Boatshed is family friendly and you will always be pleased with what you ordered and leave you wanting to come back. Adam :)

The Beach Shed, South End of Dee Why Beach, Monash Parade, Dee Why, NSW 2099

The Beach Shed Cafe

After hearing the hype about a small well known family run cafe on the end of Dee Why beach I had to see it for myself. Not expecting much, and with such a small location I was doubtful about the cafe at first. Until experiencing it for myself this cafe has quickly become one of my favourites.

 As it is family run, you already feel at home with this small cafe and the 'beachy' vibe compliments the cafe well considering it is right on the beach.

They also sell bags of coffee and local art making it an amazing place to admire and maybe even inspire!

 The sounds of the waves and the salt in the air compliments the company and coffee.

With welcoming staff and amazing coffee its easy to see why the cafe is getting all the attention it is. It blew my mind having the beach right there as you enjoyed your food and or coffee. Definitely coming back here again, next time to spoil the family! Adam :)

Sandi's, 13-15 Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island, Queensland 4819

Sandi's

If you are looking for any holiday ideas then I highly recommend Magnetic Island, just off Townsville, tropical north Queensland. With a good setting and cheap food combos for the tourists (such as myself) Sandi's was a fantastic place for lunch. The staff were all locals and their company was enjoyable as they helped us make a decision for lunch.

With a rump steak and a beer of my choice for $20 along with chips and a salad for a side you can't go wrong!

Horseshoe Bay is easily accessible via ferry to Magnetic (Maggie) Island and then a 10 min bus ride to the bay. Which had along the strip, multiple clothing shops, a pub and my personal favourite a gelato bar!

With the water just across the strip, which was already around 24 degrees, it was such a good place to be. Shame that I wasn't there for long, but I would head there again in a heartbeat! Adam :)

The Bakehouse Adaminaby, Adaminaby, Snowy Mountains, New South Wales

Hi. From Japan and Sydney to the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales! My family visit Adaminaby several times a year and we have been buying our bread from The Bakehouse for many years. As well as being the town's bakery, The Bakehouse is also a popular place for coffee and meals, for locals and visitors alike. On our recent family holiday we stopped in for lunch at The Bakehouse (and bought bread too!).

The Bakehouse is typical of most country town bakery/cafes/milk bars that I have visited over the years.  There is a blackboard menu containing burgers, fish and chips, pies, milkshakes, and other take away style food, we ordered and paid at the counter and grabbed the last table - it was busy!

 I ordered the steak sandwich, my sister in law had a potato pie (homemade at the bakery with chunks of steak inside!) and Master 3 had chicken nuggets and a chocolate milkshake and we shared a huge bowl of chips!

                              

The food was delicious and reasonably priced, the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. As it was a busy day the food took a bit longer to be served (well, long by the standards of an impatient, busy 3 year old) so we ordered our coffee and homemade carrot cake as take away and enjoyed some excellent coffee and moist yummy cake at the local playground - the cake didn't last long enough to get photographed! Sonia xo

Pendolino, 412-414 George St, Sydney

Hey guys! I got back from Japan and my cousin and I felt like some Italian food so we went to the City. We wanted to try out a restaurant that received great reviews. It was this little cosy and dimmed lighted Italian restaurant up in the Strand. The servers were attentive and punctual. Within 10 minutes, we received complimentary bread which consisted of a mixture of sourdough, bread sticks,  rustic white bread and rye bread and came with three types of olive oil described as robust, fruity and garlic flavoured. 20 minutes later, we received our main course.

Top right: Traditional Hand Made Ravioli with Spinach, Ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, Gruyere, Mozzarella, Burnt Butter and Sage

Bottom left: Fresh Made Chantarelle Pappardelle with Wild Mushroom Sauce, Truffled  organic egg yolk and salt

Bottom center: Warm Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding, Gold Leaf  

Bottom right: Nougat, Ligurian Honey and Almond Milk Semifreddo with Candied Almonds

Overall, it was a memorable experience and some of the best food I've ever had. Although, it was $170 for the complete meal (as seen above,) it was definitely worth it. 

Till next time. Alex :)