In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare's character Helena says of Hermia, "Though she be but little, she is fierce." The same might be said of The Shop, one of Bondi's original small venues. In this pocket-sized 'cafe that sells wine', well off the main drag, great things happen. Like roasted mushies with thyme, lemon, Persian feta and smoked ocean trout on toast. And 'Warm Meatball Goodness'. And Tinja riesling from Lowe Wines' organic vineyard in Mudgee. And 'mystery beers'.
The Shop is a cafe by day, whipping up breakfast from 7am and lunch all afternoon. Come evening, it transforms into a bar, serving share plates and a thoughtful, mostly Australian wine list, with a few European drops thrown in for good measure.
The atmosphere is friendly, which is lucky, given that there's only seating for about twenty or so. Ten people can fit on the red-wallpapered inside and about ten on the pavement outside.