Image credit - Seafarrwide
The city of Sydney has a deeply ingrained cafe culture and our city has a plethora of choices when it comes to where to stop and get the best brew and best eats. If a cafe is to survive, it must deliver a high standard and be creative. Located on the corner of busy Harris street and Pyrmont Bridge road,
Social Brew Cafe offers specialty beverages and exceptional cafe dining.
We arrived on a rain-drenched day and this popular corner cafe was spilling outside with happy patrons. The cafe space is expansive and had has the ability to enlarge by opening its large glass concertina windows and doors to an undercover outdoor area. On sunny days, patrons can even enjoy the small park next to the cafe and receive service picnic style.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
Image credit - Seafarrwide
Social Brew Cafe has been enthusiastically embraced by the locals and this was clearly evident with the crowd waiting for tables. It had just touched midday and all the staff members were under the pump. All manner of creative dishes were teeming out of the bustling kitchen. I spied a few Instagrammers taking the perfect snap for their weekend foodie escapades. The presentation of the food wandering by was making my mouth water.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
The inside of the cafe was full, as was outside but after a short wait, our Host showed us to a nice outdoor table protected from the relentless rain. Coffees were ordered and menus explained. The coffee came presto - hot, with a perfect layer of crema on top. My sugar took a few seconds to fall into the delicious strong flat white denoting a quality brew. The cute coffee artwork was a nice touch.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
Image credit - Seafarrwide
Having the option of choosing from the all day breakfast or the lunch menu made ordering an arduous task.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
We settled on sharing The Brew Deli Plate and Ricotta Hotcakes. As it was already lunch time, we added the Soft Shell Crab Tacos. To wash it down, we also ordered fresh juices and on the waiter's suggestion, they were spiked with a shot of alcohol.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
My favourite juice was the Watermelon, pineapple, strawberries and mint, spiked with Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum.
Watermelon Juice $7 spiked with Rum $12 - image credit: Seafarrwide
There is also a bar menu of other options to enjoy with lunch or an afternoon snack.
Bar menu
Out came our order. Our eyes feasted on a visual masterpiece of food.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
It almost looked too good to eat.
The Brew Deli Plate consisted of a plump glob of porcelain white Burrata cheese, sitting in a tub of
Mushrooms a la Grecque. The Burrata had a delightful stretchy consistency and creamy taste. It paired beautifully with the mushrooms.
The Brew Deli Plate $20.00 - image credit: Seafarrwide
Folds of diaphanous prosciutto slices cascaded next to sweet organic baby truss tomatoes and a soft boiled zatar egg perched on a bed of smashed lemon spritzed avocado. The olive and rosemary sourdough toast slices were the ideal scoops.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
The addition of zatar coating on the egg gave it a mild middle eastern flavour. I had to test the egg to see if it had reached soft-boiled perfection; it didn't disappoint.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
Next, a stack of hot ricotta pancakes with maple marinated strawberries served with pistachio butter and a side of crispy bacon slices. I had heard this was a popular breakfast choice and could see why.
Ricotta Pancakes $15 $4 for bacon - image credit: Seafarrwide
Image credit - Seafarrwide
We were both drooling and savouring every bite. I had to admit my one hour drive from the Northern Beaches of Sydney on a rainy day, had been well worth it.
To top the meals off, the suggestion of the
Soft Shell Crab Tacos was a hit.
Soft Shell Crab Tacos $17.00 - image credit: Seafarrwide
My friend had only just returned from Mexico a few days prior and after consuming tacos almost daily for five weeks, even she had to praise the tacos.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
The two tacos were filled with crispy soft shell crab, homemade harrisa mayo, red carrot slaw and pickled chillis. Easy to hold, plenty of texture, without being drenched in sauce. Thumbs up on the delicious flavours.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
It's not surprising that
Social Brew Cafe is a favourite of the informed city culinary cafe crowd. I was convinced that it wasn't just the excellence of the coffee that has drawn fans far and wide, but their compelling creative menu that is undeniably delicious.
Image credit - Seafarrwide
