Monday 24 November 2014

summing up sydney's lower north shore in one cafe

If I could sum up Sydney's Lower North Shore in a cafe, this would be it. The Incinerator has old world art deco charm infused with modern interiors, style and standards. A heritage listed building, the cafe occupies the ground floor of the 1930's Walter Burley Griffin designed Willoughby Incinerator building.

Owner/manager Jonathan Slingo has done an incredible job in preserving the integrity of the building, its history and surrounds. Opening early 2014, The Incinerator draws upon the skills of Acme Design Studio (those clever people who designed the award winning The Grounds of Alexandria) and prides itself on the seasonal and sustainable menu.



The cafe is constantly buzzing, with people coming to dine in as well as ordering take-away. There's seating both inside and out (perfect for a summers day), however I was slightly confused as to whether we should wait to be seated - and it appeared the confusion was shared amongst their staff. Some told us to sit whilst others told us to wait. After a couple of minutes, we were soon asked to be seated...



Some staff were friendly whilst others appeared stressed. Regardless of their manner, the service was prompt and orders taken swiftly. We ordered  the bircher museli, "have it your way" eggs with avocado, and the tapioca with coconut yoghurt and fresh fruit. Special mention goes to The Grounds Roasters being used for their coffee. One of my faves! The tapioca was so simple yet so delicious, eggs were cooked to perfection, and unfortunately the bircher muesli (normally one of my favourite dishes) was just... bland. I actually didn't know where the muesli was - all I could taste was yoghurt, toasted nuts and blood orange juices. Not a fan.



Chef Adrian Borg has done a great job with the varied ingredients, presentation and textures, although one of the stand out features which doesn't happen often these days, is that Jonathan makes a point to personally go to each table and ask whether everything is OK. He's happy to take some time out to chat, about anything, and is extremely personable. He also talked us into a cronut and a red velvet lamington as a 'birthday cake'!

Cafe: The Incinerator
Total price: Approx. $60 (for 3ppl)
Hours: 7am-4pm
Must order: Tapioca, coconut yoghurt, strawberries, lychees and chia seeds
Coffee: The Grounds Roasters



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