Cafe Belle Fleur, Enfield

Chargrilled eye fillet steak sandwich with caramelised onions,
aioli, tomato chilli jam and side fries $18.80

Forget chicken soup. Sometimes a steak sandwich is just what the doctor ordered.

A recent stomach virus had left me feeling lethargic, listless and, even more mortifyingly, lacking in appetite. After three days of gastronomic disinterest (a soul-destroying pointless existence, I soon came to realise), a steak sandwich with chips seemed the most logical option on the Cafe Belle Fleur menu.

A meal in a cafe in a Flower Power courtyard doesn't sound inspiring, but it is surprisingly appealing. There's plenty of greenery, a fountain, a squawking cockatoo in the corner and apart from occasional squeals from children, it’s relatively quiet and peaceful and refreshingly suburban.

All three of us order steak sandwiches. I am assured by my lunch partners, Belle Fleur regulars, that the steak sandwich is a work of art. It is.



Although I'm not usually one to have aioli on my steak, the drizzle effect on the thick slabs of toast are prettily effective. The steak is fairly thick, a little chewy in parts, but seared nicely. The caramelised onions are sweet and sticky, the chilli jam is tasty although moderate in heat.

Steak fries are golden brown perfection. Crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. I polish everything on my plate with gusto. It's the first proper meal I've had in days. I'm back. And back with a vengeance.

There's quite a selection of tempting lunch options on offer: the carmaelised onion, brie and tomato tartlet sounds good. So too does the salad of asparagus, rocket, crisp prosciutto and pear wafers on a goats cheese crouton with hazelnut vinaigrette. Fish and chips are battered with a sesame and dill tempura; house-smoked chicken breast is accompanied by roasted pumpkin, fresh beetroot, feta and cashews.

The huge customer car park makes access a breeze, and the giant fruit and vegetable barn, The Fresh Fruit Palace is a treasure trove of Italian goodies. There's a huge range of pastas--both fresh and dried, gelatos in the freezer, biscotti in the aisles and a mouthwatering selection of cheeses and olives await in the deli. Sicilian green olives are spotted—my favourite!



Cafe Belle Fleur
Flower Power Nursery
27 Mitchell Street Enfield, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9744 6449

Lunch 7 Days: 11.30am – 3pm