Cafe Mint, Surry Hills

I love finding new spots that just pleasantly leave you walking out full, happy, and regretful that such a nice experience has come to an end. Cafe Mint can be summed up as exactly that sort of cafe. It is small, friendly, vibrant with a delicious modern middle eastern fare to match.

Coffee is done by allpress and it is strong (just how i like it) if a little on the creamy side, i think due to their choice of milk. It is definitely not a "Weak" drop and I found myself considering a second cup to take away with me. We ended up at Mint by accident - a trip to Mecca at Pyrmont was waylaid (closed. on. sundays.) and four ate five was, as usual, way too busy. and this was pre-10am!

According to Cafe Mint's website, it has been recently renovated and it does dinners from Tuesdays to Saturdays. Definitely going into my little black book of places to try!! :)

On a Sunday we were limited to the breakfast menu only (hardly a "limitation") but lunch specials do start from 10.30. Smaller, cheaper meze options are also available and sound deeelicious.

The kuneffa is a clear winner for the table. Sweet ricotta baked in kataifi pastry with poached fruit and yoghurt. I could eat this all day, every day, and it is what a giant baklava would be like when served in dessert form.

Kuneffa, $14.50

breakfast hummus, $13.90

Next up is the breakfast hummus, the type of breakfast that dreams are made of. Spiced lamb mince served on hummus with za'atar spiced turkish toast. This is addictive and completely moreish, a perfect breakfast. I am such an avid egg fan and I didn't even miss it on this dish.


Cafe Mint serve several sweet breakfasts and the daily muffins out front looked perfectly baked and fresh out of the oven. We stupidly thought we would have room for it - luckily we ordered on the side of caution :). The bircher muesli comes with a variety of fresh fruit (and the fruit is super fresh) and yoghurt. It is a little on the sweet side and will fill you up quickly. The breakfast cous cous is served warm and isn't too sweet, perfect for breakfast! It is beautifully spiced with (i think) - rose water, blossom, cardamom and cinnamon and is served with poached dried fruits (turkish figs, peaches, apricots), yoghurt and pistachio. The dish is a hit with the girls, who are generally better inclined to enjoy such a dish, with the boys at the table feigning the need to "adjust" to the flavour.

Bircher muesli, $15.50

breakfast cous cous, $14.90

The merguez sausages are served with chackchouka, an Israeli spiced sauce with a base of red capsicum. It comes on a bed of cous cous and is a large, man eating portion. I think we counted about 8 merguez sausages in there!!
And last but not least, the turkish breakfast (possibly the healthiest plate of the table!). Boiled egg with roast tomato, spinach, olives, haloumi and za'atar toast.

merguez sausages, $15.50

turkish breakfast, $15.90

 The meal draws to a close after plenty of laughter around the table and friendly banter from staff. We will definitely be back to eat up the rest of the menu - lunch, dinner and meze!

Thank you, Cafe Mint, for such a pleasant start to Sunday.

xx emmsy

Cafe Mint
579 Crown St
Surry Hills
http://www.cafemint.com.au/home/

The Commons, Darlinghurst (an uncommon adventure)

Dear internet followers

First off I must apologise for leaving it so long between posts. Especially with my favourite foodie, Jas, travelling the US of A, I really need to be much more diligent because there is no shortage of food in my life!


Believe you me that that is nothing common about The Commons. It is located on the uber trendy Burton St and, following several write ups in SMH's Good Living, it is officially an uber trend. The Commons was my place around town that always served delicious, hearty fare and always had a nice seat for me, either on the sun-drenched courtyard or inside the shadowed sandstone cottage. But no more - upon my arrival on Saturday, I was devastated to see that it was almost entirely booked out. On the plus side - at least they take bookings :)


The Commons do a well-rounded, but short menu and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on certain days (refer to website!). They also do a pretty mean list of daily specials that call out your name.

The pan fried silver dory on mash with caper lemon butter is soft, juicy and rich. The fish is cooked perfectly and just falls away with the fork and the delicious lemon caper butter is well seasoned and smooth. It does get a little rich by the time you find yourself with an empty plate, but isn't that what eating out is all about?

The blue cheese  beef burger comes on fresh sourdough. The blue cheese is very mild and the predominant flavour are the caramelised onions and aioli. It is definitely tasty, and worth picking up and getting your hands dirty, but it really doesn't come close to my recent burger experiences. That said, it is completely unfair of me to evaluate this to the Deus Veal and the LOTUS MY LOVER burgers of late. The hand cut chips are sadly a let down - soggy!

Uncharacteristically, I am full after most of my burger, so i have to walk away before trying the rhubarb crumble - something I already know I would love!!

The Commons also has a private dining room upstairs, and a "Secret garden" that can be booked for approx 12-16 people. Downstairs they  have what I like to call the whisky & beer den - it is underground, a little damp, and filled with pool tables and old armchairs. In the summer time (and perhaps all year round!) you can hire bicycles from the Humble Vintage Cyclists through The Commons, with the option of a "guide to Sydney" and a gourmet picnic hamper. It is one little gem you should check out!

xx emmsy


The Commons Local Eating House
32 Burton St
Darlinghurst