Brickfields Bakery
The sourdough specialists. Head to this bakery cafe for fresh bread, flaky pastries, excellent toasties and Mecca coffee.
Overview
There's another bakery-slash-cafe in town and it's causing quite the predicament for the bread and pastry fans amongst us. Not only are we fortunate enough to be blessed with Bourke Street Bakery, Sonoma, Luxe, and Iggy's in Sydney, but now Brickfields has arrived on the scene with some pretty awesome loaves of bread. Brickfields is the brainchild of Simon Cancio (ex Luxe) and Paul Geshos (Mecca Coffee) so you can expect a winning bread/coffee combo.
With a simple fit-out of timber furniture, the high ceilings and big windows help make the space light and airy. Tiled walls are awash with shelves of golden, crusty bread, and jars of the housemade pickles. And behind the front counter, peeking through the big archway, we can catch a glimpse of the dough baking heroes pulling out hot loaves.
The menu on the blackboard is short, thankfully, and not overwhelmingly replete with the usual cafe suspects. Sweet tooths will be pleased to see the glass counter with tempting pastries and baked goods on show. Slices of jam crostata ($4.50) look delish, and the mini Persian love cakes ($4) are to die for; these babies are incredibly moist and flavoursome. Not to mention the croissants ($3). After you've had one, there will be no second-guessing as to why they sell out by lunchtime. And for a dose of liquid sweetness? The "dranks" menu includes homemade "lebonade" ($4) or peachy soda ($4). Both are served in half-litre carafes.
For something more substantial, the breakfast plate with a boiled egg and fried eggplant tahini comes with the spicy zhoug ($12) and the quinoa plate is blended with sunflower seeds, pecans, currants, and topped with a dollop of yogurt and honey ($10.50) — bursting with goodness would be the phrase.
But if it's bread you're here for, then don't look past the simple fig and walnut toast ($5 for toast or loaf); reassuringly dense and packed with fresh figs, this stuff's certainly not your average raisin toast. The beef brisket sandwich ($13) comes with radish, anchovy mayo, chilli, and beef that has been slow roasted for six hours.
Despite being nestled onto busy Cleveland Street, Brickfields is refreshingly peaceful. The staff are friendly and decidedly aware of how good their products are. Be warned though, Brickfields' sourdough will have you scoffing at Tip Top forever more.
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