Zondar! Nerds in Food Land

Would have to be one of the best views in Sydney. I was convinced by the barista to try soy, so that they could label me a ‘Soy Boy’ - weird… A delicious morning in a postcard setting. Is it unusual to find great coffee in a cafe that commands a monopoly..? Perhaps locals who prop up the winter trade demand a particular standard.

A conversation about the ‘best’ soy milk followed. I was informed it is Bonsoy, which most cafe’s unfortunately don’t use. Bonsoy has Kombu which im told makes a big difference.

Its supposed to be a Bondi standard and in many ways it is; hard to get a table, cliquey crowd, haphazard service depends on whimsical waiters , coffee looks OK but was too cold for my liking, prices were fair…

A friend of mine recommended the pancakes, I should have taken his advice cause the beans were not a patch on Barry’s.

A tough mission: Cafe in Hall Street Bondi that’s high on quality and low on attitude. Gertrude and Alice was our first stop but their new and slightly smaller (yet more attractive) premises was packed. We braced ourselves, shuffled down to Le Paris-Go and perched buttocks at a little table outside.

Settling in was mellowing, reggae tunes resonated; busy but under control. Le Paris-Go is not a place to be shy to order a soy piccolo, so we did, along with a couple of cappuccinos. First round of coffees was prompt and strong. Service stayed swift, the big breakfast arrived, no beans, it seems potatoes were preferred. Do the fit & fluffy Bondi set really demand those extra carbs?

‘Frenchness’ may extend beyond the wait staff but it wasn’t overly apparent. Its worth diving into Le Paris-Go, there’s a reason all those people inside look so smug.

Big angry rain finally eased yesterday. I walked down to the Aquabar at Campbell Parade to grab breakfast, so did a thousand other people. Why didn’t I go to Bondi Road for an alternative? x-( Yah. They were polite and tried to squeeze our group in but we didn’t want to wait so just went next door to Bondi Kiosk. Not a grumpy face decision either. Super smiley staff and great beans! My theory: square plates = bad food, went out the door. The bloke at the next table had a Bacon Lettuce Advocado Tomato (BLAT), it was huge, he was a happy boy. Eating like a pig on a public holiday with two creamy coffees and a little tip set me back 25 bucks.

Build your own breakfast from the list of mouthwatering options at Barry’s on Bondi Road… Is there a better way to spend a chunk of a rainy long weekend? The place has an eclectic mix of fonkee furnishings, mmm sweet wait staff and, ooh yeah, delicious food. Tempted throughout breakfast by a display of decadent pastries, the options were tough. Blocks of organic bread abounds coffee, above par… I’m starting to believe in the idea that Bondi’s best places are away from Campbell Parade.