Wednesday, January 03, 2007

The Barn Cafe


Since my last Rozelle outing, watching loads of people enjoying themselves here, I'd wanted to give this place a try. So when my old friend from overseas came to visit, I wanted to show her the real Sydney, with a day tour of the best food places in Sydney!

Food

We arrived when the lunch crowd was in full swing. The menu was oh so more-ish, but I finally settled on the Char Grilled Sirloin Sandwich - grain fed sirloin steak, chilli jam, beetroot relish, cos lettuce and tomato and basil salsa on grilled ciabatta ($17.50) and the Atlantic Salmon - dukkah crusted salmon on a spiced sweet potato, rocket, asparagus and char grilled orange and lemon ($22.50).

The food took awhile to arrive - no wonder with the huge crowd - but it was definitely worth the wait. The salmon was cooked to medium, fresh and melt in the mouth, with a nicely crisped skin. The dish was presented with a half orange and lemon. The sweet potato has been lightly fried and was very crunchy. The asparagus was obviously very fresh.

The steak sandwich was served on good bread, which always score points in my book. The steak was juicy and tender, well rested, paired with an awesome chilli jam. I couldn't put it all in my mouth at once, but apart from that, it was a classic simple dish made very well.

Rating - 8.5

Atmosphere

This place is like one huge barnyard. Chunky wooden tables set with chunky cutlery nestle among piles of hay and scarecrows. There are family groups celebrating birthdays and some early Christmas gift exchange, as well as local couples, friends and family. There is also an outside area which would be very pleasant on a sunny day. Even with the huge space, they are still struggling for tables. Luckily the space is wide and open, with a very high ceiling, so it can accommodate the number of people without feeling cramped.

There are some special touches. The bathroom for one, has a wok as the wash basin, very cool.

Rating - 2.5

Service

The staff are efficient with bringing water and menu, but otherwise I didn't see much of them. You go to the counter to pay your bill, it's that sort of place.

Rating - 3

C-factor

We used the e-book and got 25% off ,so our bill came to $46.88 for 3. I also saw a guy from work, dining with his mates. After our meal, we browsed their extensive organic section. Next time I want to try their desserts and coffee. They also do catering. I will be back.

Rating - 1.5

Brownie Points - 15.5

Info

731-735 Darling Street
Rozelle
NSW 2039
Phone (02) 9810 1633
Website

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