Lox Stock & Barrel

Overview

Bondi locals don't muck around when it comes to brunch. You get one chance, maybe two, to hit it out of the park with brekkie bowls, solid coffee and a damn good Bloody Mary. Not every joint passes the test, but one Bondi mainstay is enjoying lines out the door every Saturday and Sunday without fail, dominating the brunch game lock, stock and barrel.

Lox Stock & Barrel is one of Bondi's best brunch spots, hands down. A bright little deli diner sitting on Glenayr Avenue, Lox spills out onto the French Bulldog-frequented pavement with tall wooden bar tables and an inevitably long line of happy-to-wait brunchers. The Lox crew know what they're doing, making an insanely busy breakfast period seem like water off a duck's back.

Lox specialise in breakfast, brunch and lunch, and if you roll with vegans, vegos or enemies of gluten, this is your jam. The food is Jewish in origin, but inspired by Bondi's local produce and farm-to-plate philosophy. There's some serious homemade goodness afoot here; Lox make their own almond and cashew milk, their own Bloody Mary spice mix (vegan friendly, no Worcestershire, topped with jalapenos and so damn good), and their own rye, challah, gluten-free, sprouted quinoa bread, bagels and panini, available all day.

Here for some solid brekkie that'll make you grow tall and strong? Try the beloved Bowlarama ($18), with sprouted quinoa toast, poached eggs, avocado, hommus, kale and seaweed, miso dressing and homemade fermented veggies. Or the top notch avo smash (a highly competitive dish in Bondi) with feta, lemon, mint, cherry toms and radish ($17). For something heartier, go for the zucchini omelette with almond, spinach, parmesan and jalapenos ($17).

But this joint's called Lox, and their smoked lox — featured in the eatery's sangas, the little Lock 'n' Load portions (hash, smoked lox, lime and creme fraiche dill dressing, $5.50 each), and brekkie toast set-ups — is wonderfully salty and smooth; a must for salmon fiends. Chuck some big ol' tart capers on there and you're home and hosed.

Drinks-wise, we highly recommend the Bloody Mary, regardless of what state of night-before regret you're in. There's a solid cocktail list for the brunch traditionalists, a blackboard selection of wines and Aussie beers on offer. Looking for something a little less boozy? The 'Rebel Blend' coffee is seriously smooth, as are the Rabbit Hole organic teas — we like the Ginger Snap with spicy ginger and cinnamon ($4.50).

There are larger portions on offer for dinner — slow roasted eggplant with quinoa, spiced nuts, herb and haloumi stuffing, Turkish-style tomato sauce ($28); pan-fried barramundi with chickpea puree, brussels sprout and buckwheat salad ($29) — so we'll be back after a swim in that postcard perfect beach to check 'em out. There might be less of a line then.