The Paramount Coffee Project - Surry Hills

Crab Po Boy $18

I finally made it to The Paramount Coffee Project, the much talked about cafe serving up small batch coffees and an American influenced menu. After a short stroll from Central station, K and I headed into the cafe, the layout is very open and modern, it reminded me of Manchester Press in Melbourne.

Menu 

The menu carries a nice range of mains, sides and drinks. After having seen several Instagram and Facebook posts of the Crab Po Boy, I was set on the delicious burger. However choosing my coffee took a longer time, due to the unique espressos and filters, I eventually settled on the Kapsokisio by Tim Wendelboe sourced from Mt Elgon, Kenya. I honestly had no idea what that meant but I'm always up for something new. 

K chose the Open Cuban and a Malt milkshake, which seemed to be a safer option, but nothing is ordinary at the Paramount Coffee Project. The Open Cuban featured pork, kimchi, swiss cheese, onion rings and kewpie mayo. Talk about an eclectic combination. 

Kapsokisio $7

When my coffee arrived, I was pleasantly suprised, it came it a small ceramic container and cup. After my first sip, I was confused, it tasted like coffee but very different. I could only describe it as interesting. K tried some and said it "tasted like American coffee", if you've been to America you would know their coffee is watered down and not so great. Maybe it's an acquired taste, next time I'll stick to a normal coffee haha.

The Crab Po Boy was amazing, the soft shell crab was crunchy, the milk bun really soft.

Malt Milkshake $8

The Malt Milkshake was smooth, creamy and not too sweet.

Open Cuban $19

The Open Cuban managed to combine a very diverse range of ingredients into an interesting dish, the only minor setback was that the pork was tough.

The service was impeccable, our waitress was very attentive, something that's not common for cafes in Sydney.

Will I return?
Yes, definitely. Delicious food, interesting drinks and great service.

Le Depot Coffee House - Sydney CBD

Le Depot Coffee House

Le Depot Coffee House is a boutique cafe and patisserie located on Harris Street in Ultimo. They carry a breakfast and lunch menu, with baguettes as their specialties.

Menu

On my first trip to Le Depot I chose the Lamb Baguette ($7.50), which is slow cooked with fresh and semi-dried tomato and pesto. The baguette had a nice crust to it and was soft on the inside. The lamb, tomato and pesto worked well together.

Lamb Baguette ($7.50)

Will I return?

Yes. Appetising food and great service. 

Bona Fides Cafe Restaurant - Sydney CBD

I've passed Bona Fides quite a few times on my daily commute and finally decided to have brunch on a lazy Saturday. Walking in, I found the place fairly empty as most of the customers opted to enjoy their meals in the outside seating. 

Cappuccino $4.20

After a quick look of the menu, I ordered a cappuccino and Eggs Benedict on Ciabatta with salmon. I've always used eggs Benedict as a test dish for any cafe, especially at brunch. When my meal came, I noticed it seemed a bit sparse, the three curled up slivers of salmon and the quarter of a tomato seemed very lacking for a dish of above $15.  

Eggs Benedict on ciabatta $16.90

I sliced the eggs, expecting the yolk to ooze out but it didn't, the eggs were on the firmer side. The salmon did not taste fresh and untangling them from their curled position took some effort. The tomato and rocket couldn't salvage this meal for me.

But this magazine featuring Andrew Lark, the former CMO of CBA, did catch my eye. After finishing my brunch and cup of coffee, I paid and left.

Will I return?

No. A cafe that lists Eggs Benedict on their menu should be able to execute a proper dish.

Cloudy Bay Fish Co - Westfield Sydney

So I had found myself wandering the food court of Westfield Sydney after some Christmas shopping. I stumbled upon Cloudy Bay Fish Co, tucked away in a corner. After perusing the menu I decided on the tasting plate, which promised an array of seafood with a salad to complete. 

When I received my meal, I was disappointed. 

The first thing I noticed was the portions, man were they small. For $19.50 you'd expect a little bit more than just 3 prawns, 3 parcels of fish, half a bread roll and some salad. Yes, I understand you pay for the quality of the food not just the quantity. The tasting plate didn't deliver on either for me. The prawns were average while the fish had similar taste and texture. 

Will I return?
No, especially with so many other attractive options at the Westfield Sydney food court.

Coco Cubano - UNSW

First thing you notice about Coco Cubano is the decor. It's hip Cuban revolutionary. Photos of Che, odd bric-a-brac and plush sofas. The menu is extensive, covering breakfast, mains, tapas, cocktails and cigars. Yes. Cigars. Imagine studying for finals with a Cuban in one hand haha.

I went with the Scotch Fillet steak with chips and garlic sauce, the steak was okay bordering on tough. But the chips were good. They were thick, crunchy and salted well.  

My friend opted for the calamari, which came with chips and salad. The calamari was well crumbed and chewy! Like a good chewy not the rubbery chewy.

I was quite fascinated by the array of photos that hung on the walls of the restaurant. The photo above with the old lady smoking a cigar caught my eye, no matter how cool or hipster you are you have nothing on her haha.

Will I return? 
Yes. Coco Cubano is a nice addition to the UNSW food scene, although it's pricier than most places on campus, the decent food and quirky decor will bring me back.

Pinocchio Sushi - Kingsford

$12 for all this. Say what?!

A sushi & sashimi platter, teriyaki chicken, rice, miso soup and tea for $12. That's right you can get all that for $12 at Pinocchio Sushi in Kingsford. So if you go to UNSW ditch the Quad pasta and get some Japanese food that isn't expensive.

But since it is only $12, don't expect super high quality food. The sashimi and sushi I had were okay, the fish wasn't the freshest it could have been.  

So if you want no frills value for money Japanese food then head over to Pinocchio Sushi!

Hurricane's - Top Ryde City

I'm a big fan of ribs, so I was really excited to try the full rack with chips from Hurricanes at Top Ryde City. One word: disappointed.

Pork Ribs Full Rack $44.9

Compared to other ribs I've had, these were seriously skinny and lacking in meat. Like fashion model skinny. Oh and instead of smoky flavoursome burnt ends, I got scorched ends.

Sorry Hurricane's Grill & Bar at Top Ryde City, I won't be back.