You seem them every weekend. Local cafes spilling over with couples, families and friends, escaping the confinement and drudgery of the house for a leisurely weekend breakast.
The click-click of the coffee machine, the smell of fresh espresso and the magical appearance of breakfast placed in front of you. This is the joy of breakfasting out.
Sideways Deli Cafe in Dulwich Hill is not terribly big and tucked away in a residential area, but locals flock to it every weekend. The three page menu is supplemented by a list of specials on the giant blackboard, and a front counter that groans with biscuits, cakes, tarts and slices. On the walls are brightly coloured artworks, and the white chairs and tables reflect the light of the sun-drenched room.
The kids toy box is one of the most popular attractions for young families, a wise investment in the baby-booming Inner West. Several nearby parks also make this a convenient pit stop for kids and parents post-play. Today I'm having brunch with R & A who have two young kids, and before we've even settled in, a chirpy staff member is dispensing menus, handing a toy to Master Two who is instantly distracted.
Large flat white $4.30
Our coffees arrive with a Tiny Teddy on the side - only a small gesture but always cause for a private celebration. My double shot flat white is robust without being bitter.
Corn fritters served with sauteed spinach, haloumi cheese and tomato relish $15.90
Corn fritters arrive as a double stack, sandwiched with baby spinach leaves and enclosed within an artistic ring of tomato sauce. There's plenty of sweet corn, but the fritters are a little dry, although helped in part by the dollop of tomato relish and two grilled slices of squeaky haloumi cheese.
Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon $15.90
Eggs Benedict comes with undulating ribbons of smoked salmon, baby spinach leaves and two perfectly poached eggs. A request to have the hollandaise sauce served on the side is happily accommodated.
Spanish omelette with chorizo, potato, spanish onion and roasted tomato $15.90
served with woodfire toast
Spanish omelette is a blackboard special, a huge serving of eggs padded with slices of chorizo and potato, and sweet slivers of Spanish onion. Thick slices of woodfire toast make this a hearty breakfast.
The busy dining room does make for high decibel eating, particularly with the coffee machine constantly on the go and a lack of insulation to absorb sound.
Its residential setting means that for many patrons, home is only a stroll away, but who wants to hurry when there are newspapers to be read and another coffee to be ordered.
View Larger Map
37 Constitution Road, Dulwich Hill
Tel: +61 (02) 9560 1425
Opening hours:
Open 7 days 8am-5pm
Related Grab Your Fork posts:
Dulwich Hill - Morris Egyptian Restaurant
Hi Helen! I like that little teddy on the side of your Flat White. The Corn Fritters look tempting! And it's just 5 minutes from where I live. Can't wait 'til breakfast time. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Helen. I miss this place and others like it living in London. Do they still do green eggs and ham at Sideways?
ReplyDeletei remember good things about this cafe when i visited many years ago. good to see it's still going strong :-)
ReplyDeletenow i want a packet of tiny teddys. i always eat their ears first..
ReplyDeleteThis is my local and I always order the corn fritters when we go. I think it's too noisy inside we tend to sit outside. There is also two shifts of customers - couples with young kids early in the morning and then the DINKs roll in a little later.
ReplyDeleteSuch generous serves of food and Hollandaise. Wouldn't mind some chips to dip into that right about now...
ReplyDeleteoooh those fritters look good.
ReplyDeleteOne of my fave cafes. Always reliable.
ReplyDeleteThe food is mostly fab (oh, the cakes!), except for the corn fritters - the tomato relish is always unusually sweet so I don't really get to taste other components of the dish. Now if anyone from Sideways is reading this.....
ReplyDeleteHollandaise on the side - whoever ordered that is a man/woman after my own heart :)
ReplyDeleteI'd rather a tiny teddy than a dodgy chocolate with my coffee anyday!
One of the best cafes I've been to, good food, good coffee and excellent service.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that we tried this spot out after reading the many rave reviews it had received in recent years... while there was nothing particularly wrong with it, we were not that impressed. We have certainly had better elsewhere. The popularity of it, especially with young families, also means that the noise level can make conversation difficult. Its popularity, we think, is perhaps indicative of the relatively few original and excellent cafes in the area. Just our two cents...for what they're worth!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely little cafe! I'm forever hunting for child friendly places and this looks perfect. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHow I wish when Josh was a kid that cafes had toy boxes, is such an appreciated gesture, and I am glad to see more of them around these days. Food looks great, and the tiny teddy is such a cute surprise.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me about this place. I went a few years ago and forgot that it's only five minutes away.
ReplyDeleteI love the tiny teddies with the coffee - so cute! And that eggs benedict looks brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI love it here too - and concur with jess @ fushmush about the corn fritters. Great photos !
ReplyDeletethose Corn fritters reminds me of bill's version! I wonder how these two compare?
ReplyDeleteHmm, those corn fritters look like a great Vegetarian or Gluten Free Burger alternative. This is a little too far away for me to go for breakfast but I'm filing this away for a rainy day! :D
ReplyDeleteYum, that looks delicious!
ReplyDeletehow good are tiny teddies! I received one with a coffee a couple of months ago and forgot how good they were. Those breakfasts look delish!
ReplyDeletewe popped in this afternoon - on a Monday at 4pm and it was quiet - only 1/2 dozen people there. We enjoyed hte lumberjack cake (with apple, date and a crunchy coconut topping) that was still cooling in its baking tin - delish!
ReplyDeleteThe staff were very warm and welcoming.
I can imagine it is a bit noisy when there are lots of families due to the wooden floors but it's a great location being a stone's throw from both Johnson Park and Laxton Reserve.
Hi erinsle - They do still have green eggs and ham :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but I don't enjoy cafes that are designed for People With Children. Even if this was the best cafe in Sydney, I still wouldn't patronise it. So it's a miss for me, sweeties.
ReplyDeleteAww the tiny teedy is a great gesture! Being a local I am yet to get myself here, only because I know I'm never out of bed early enough on the weekend to beat the crowds.
ReplyDeleteThese meals seem so yummy. I especially want to try the corn fritters served with sautéed spinach, haloumi cheese and tomato relish. It looks so delicious and a very complete meal. I just love this for breakfast. Hope to taste it when I get to visit.
ReplyDelete