childhood memories with one of my faves

When I was younger I used to come to Shelley Beach every weekend with my family, so it always sparks up special memories every time I go back. This weekend I decided to go back to my roots, and tried The Boathouse Shelley Beach, which opened three weeks ago.

We all know my love and affiliation for The Boathouse cafes (see my review on Palm Beach and Balmoral Beach), so to try the Shelley Beach cafe was absolutely on the cards. My husband and I got there at about 8.30am on Saturday and were lucky enough to score a table out the front, and in the sun. Best seat in the house in my opinion.

The Boathouse Shelley Beach is surprisingly big, and I would guess is their new flagship. As you would imagine the interiors, menu and vibe are on par with its sister cafes, but it feels much more spacious, with a variety of areas where you can sit - by the beach, on the side amongst the garden, the large open plan inside, by the coffee bar or on more intimate tables. It's also perfect for people watching!

We ordered the obligatory coffees - double shot skim cap and a skim latte. As the coffee beans are from Single Origin, there were obviously no complaints. And as silly as it sounds, I love the chocolate anchor that comes on the cappuccino. The best looking cap in town...

For breakfast we ordered the Coconut bowl, nut crunch, coconut panna cotta, coconut chia pudding, with dates, apple & fresh berries and the Avocado, tomato and poached eggs on charred toast with goats curd and basil. I am obsessed with anything coconut so I was in my element and scoffed the coconut bowl down fairly quickly. It was exquisite, but could have done with more nut crunch to fill me up more. The avocado and poached eggs were nice, but we probably wouldn't order it again. The bread was a little too thick (too hard to cut/chew), the avocado was too 'lemony', and too much goat curd for my husbands liking.

I'm still perplexed as to the fact that you need to line up for a good 20 minutes to order and there is barely any service needed, yet we pay premium prices. But... it works. And I loved it. And I shall be back.

Cafe: The Boathouse Shelley Beach
Price (for 2ppl): Food $36; Beverages $8.50
Hours: 7am - 4pm; 6pm - l0pm (Tue - Sat)
Must order: Coconut Bowl
Coffee: Single Origin Coffee Roasters

hidden paradise

Unless you're aware that this little beauty exists, you would drive straight past it... The Boathouse Palm Beach is a charming cafe with breathtaking views over Pittwater and Palm Beach. Fresh flowers, quality Australian produce, and alfresco dining draw the crowds every day - and I highly suggest you get in early to avoid excruciating waiting periods for both seating and your food.

We went on a Friday (so didn't have any problems with crowding) and ordered Raw muesli with coconut yoghurt, almond milk and fruit; Eugalo Farm breakfast - scrambled eggs, potato, minute steak, tomato, asparagus & foccacia and Poached eggs with bacon, roast tomatoes, avocado & sourdough. I don't normally order muesli when I'm eating out (it's so easy to make it at home!?), but this dish came highly recommended from one of my colleagues, so I felt I should try it - even at $18! I do have to admit though, that it was seriously delicious. I'm glad I tried it, but I wouldn't order it again purely due to the price. The poached eggs and bacon are a staple and were cooked to perfection, while the Eugalo farm breakfast was a surprisingly large, and super tasty.

We also ordered a cappuccino, latte, green tea, and a coconut. There's nothing better than a fresh coconut, but at $7 a pop I won't be going back for seconds...

The food was delicious and atmosphere relaxed, but I honestly cannot get over the prices. The staff were really friendly, but apart from taking your order and delivering the food I struggle to see why the price tags are so high... Apart from that, I did really enjoy the entire experience.

Cafe: The Boathouse Palm Beach
Price (for 4ppl): Food $90; Beverages $
Hours: 7am - 4pm
Must order: Eugalo Farm breakfast
Coffee: Single Origin Coffee Roasters

weekend summer haunt

There are a number of cafes in Balmoral, but in my opinion it wasn't until The Boathouse entered the scene did I consider going out of my way to eat there... unless of course I was going to the beach! Opening in March 2013, The Boathouse Balmoral Beach brings rustic beach-side dining, local produce and a game-changing cafe to one of my favourite beaches.

If you don't mind lining up to order your food (I'm talking 30 minutes when it's busy) and acting like a seagull to get a seat (at the ridiculously tiny and hard-to-come-by tables), then you're in for a treat. The sun-bathed wharf gets the best of both worlds - the beautiful ocean view and the gorgeous beach.

We ordered the Quinoa bircher with greek yoghurt, apple, dates & nuts and a Bacon & Egg roll with BBQ sauce, tomato relish and tomato chill jam. I am ob-sessed with bircher muesli. Like seriously obsessed. And to combine the bircher technique with quinoa... I thought I'd be in heaven. But honestly, it was tasteless and I was so disappointed. The bacon and egg roll on the otherhand, was delicious. The relish and chilli jam really make it, and the egg was cooked just enough for the yolk to run (but not too much).

Would I go back...? I already have. It's definitely my favourite cafe in Balmoral, and is my weekend haunt during the summer.

Cafe: The Boathouse Balmoral Beach
Hours: 7am - 4pm
Price (for 2ppl): Food $30; Beverages $8.50
Must order: Bacon & Egg Roll
Coffee: Single Origin Coffee Roasters