The name Exclesior Jones might sound reminiscent of the knights of medieval times but it infact takes its name from the previous names of the streets at the cafe's junction. This is a light filled corner cafe in Ashfield which is a cool spot that feels eclectic with its grid style mod art on the exterior walls and colourful indoor mural. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor space and it's great to hear that the cafe does online reservations so can feel confident you won't need to wait in line for hours. We visited on a weekend and were impressed to see a huge all day dining menu with breakfast and lunch options as well as some weekend specials. Although we don't have kids ourselves, I do note that they've got one of the best little kids menu with food variety, and healthy options too. Kudos to the chef for creating an interesting menu whose scope reaches beyond açai and avo on toast, to an array of creative concoctiona, both savoury and sweet choices. There's healthy bowls, and wonderful baked goods made in house. The meals all look like works of art and we can see the care and passion of this chef in each and very plate. We begin with a cup of campos coffee, herbal tea and a few of their incredible house baked donuts. Undoubtedly some of the best around, for the dough was crispy outside, light and fluffy inside and filled with either lemon curd, caramel or chocolate custard! We tried all of them and it is hard to select our favourite. So we say try them all! The front counter has a range of other treats like health bars, cookies and cake if you're keen for a sweet bite. They also sell loaves of bread and pickled vegetables to go. From the mains, we opt for a fresh broccolini bowl! The blanched and broccoli came with spinach and crispy chickpeas and the pomegranates provided a refreshing component to the dish. Flavoured with herbs, pickles, harissa dressing and a pumpkin hummus. I added a side of poached chicken. Not only beautifully presented, but it tasted amazing! Minus the chicken and it's a vegetarian, vegan and gluten free dish. The winter fritter bowl was also stunning, a plate sized fritter made with pea, corn, halloumi, smoked tomato labnah, winter herbs, pangratatto, pickled radish, poached egg. Light, super tasty and thoroughly recommended. Personally I'm a sucker for a porridge when it's on the menu. So, when I read they had one here, that also had to be selected. And, like the donuts, the porridge is one of the best I've had. Their 6 grain porridge was beautifully creamy, topped with poached rhubarb, crunchy muesli and a dollop of lavender cream. I would certainly order this again. We were also sure to order the weekend special which we had admired from their Instagram feed, the Breakfast Ramen. This was house made Tonkotsu broth which was rich and flavourful, with house made noodles and a lovely charred chashu pork belly, shallots and bamboo shoot. This is a perfect meal for winter and we recommend it remain for while. This is one of my favourite brunches in a long time and we're so keen to return; theirs a momofuku bowl, open omelette, Mexi plate, amazing home made crumpets and waffles, amongst plenty of other choices which we need to try too. The staff here are the loveliest people and go out of their way to make an enjoyable and comfortable dining experience. We will be back soon. read more

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The Excelsior Jones is a cafe I have driven past many times and seen that it has been well patronized, so given the opportunity I decided to stop in for a coffee and see for myself why it appears so popular. In the grips of COVID-19 it has all the appropriate rules in place and I was able to get a table to enjoy my cappuccino and brownie. Both were of a high standard in both taste and presentation. The rest of the menu did seem to be comprehensive and one which I'd like to explore again. Overall the space was bright, roomy and inviting. Service was cheerful and attentive. For a suburban cafe it seemed to have it all. I'll definitely make sure to stop by again. read more

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Inner city living can easily make you forget how peaceful the suburbs are. And make you realise that maybe you are a little more on edge than what you'd like to acknowledge. Quietly on a suburban corner, Excelsior Jones helped me stop and smell the roses. The simple pleasures of suburban life, a well-poured coffee, a smile from a waitress, natural light reflected on wooden floors and honest home cooked food. I think it's safe to say that most the menu will leave you satisfied, but I must give special mention to the mushroom breakfast *insert heart eyes emoji*. read more

What a random location for a cafe! But... so worth going to. And the advantage of its location is the ample parking! I went on a Sunday with two friends at 11am and pleasantly found no queue to get in. I had the smoked salmon hash which was well seasoned with crispy potatoes, and fresh smoked salmon. It's quite a decent serving which I had difficulty finishing. My friend had the lime coconut pancakes with pineapple done three ways which unfortunately would have benefited from syrup or something to make it less dry. We also shared a caramel macadamia cronut which was the best cronut I've had - so so flaky and just the right level of sweetness. Overall, one of the best brunches I've had lately! read more

Excelsior Jones - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ashfield, NSW

Tucked away in the residential area of Ashfield, this cafe was surprisingly busy! The selection of milkshakes alone was enough to make my tummy rumble - finally settling on the gingerbread which tasted like I was drinking a cookie, and was HUGE. Surprisingly, I still managed to get through most of my brunch - ricotta pancakes with maple syrup and bacon. These were tasty but nothing amazingly special. The rest of the menu also looked like an interesting take on some standard fare - burgers, salads, breakfast bowls and more. I'd come here again, but if you're looking for that 'wow' factor I'd suggest hitting up some of the Summer Hill cafes popping up :) read more

Excelsior Jones - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ashfield, NSW

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This isn't bad for a local find. The wait is sometimes a bit trying but the food here is on point. Pulled pork and potato hash has to be my favorite dish here, worth a try. read more

Excelsior Jones - Pulled pork hash & Bircher muesli - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ashfield, NSW

For a quiet, suburban street, this corner cafe is abuzz with activity every weekend morning. My ricotta hotcakes were a bit more doughy and dense than I expected... Butterscotch malt milkshake was a delicious treat! read more

Excelsior Jones - Ricotta hotcakes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ashfield, NSW

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I really like this place. The staff are so friendly and accommodating. I had crutches and my friend had her baby in a pram. They helped me with a stool to elevate my leg as well as a table with more space. They even warmed up her baby's food (in boiling water as they don't have a microwave on site!) The food - fabulous as always. I recommend the hash with salmon or pork (salmon is my favourite). I also like the mushrooms on toast, the minted smashed peas, the granola and the coffee. I want to come back at lunch for the cheeseburger. You never feel rushed and they even keep coming to refill the table water. 5 stars :) and thank you. read more

Hello? How has this been kept a secret from me? I almost don't want to post a good review, as I don't want to have to wait an hour for a table like other certain cafe's..... We went here on the weekend, and granted it was raining, we hardly had to wait long at all. I had the pork hash. YUM!!! Perfectly poached egg on top. I also had a lime and coconut shake, which was uh-maz-ing! My partner had the beans, which were also delicious. Only little gripe, was the temperature of the coffee. The flavour/strength was perfect, but the temperature was too cool, and required drinking it fast to prevent having a cold coffee. read more

The staff are so nice and the food is amazing. The hot cake and smoked salmon are so delicious. The iced mocha is the best I have ever had in Sydney! I will come and try other food next time. read more

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Came back recently and had the cheeseburger with fried smashed potatoes. The potatoes were amazingly flavoursome - kind of like a fluffy, hot-chip version of light & tangy crisps. But the cheeseburger was let down by the raw and rubbery beef patty. I couldn't finish it because it tasted so weird. If it had been cooked through, with a bit more seasoning, the burger would have been perfect, because the brioche bun was lovely and the gruyere cheese was excellent. Also had a butterscotch milkshake and a chocolate brownie. Both were nice, although the brownie was so dense it was more like mud cake than a brownie. My boyfriend ordered a latte and said it was very good. read more

My son and I sometimes drop in after school. Me for the great coffee, he for the excellent milkshakes, both of us for the excellent cakes. It's quiet at 3 p.m. but at lunchtime on a Saturday it was pandemonium, and today there were four of us, including a baby in a pushchair. The staff were rushed off their feet but couldn't have been more efficient and helpful. Three of us had the butterscotch milkshake, and I can see why Mr 15 is a fan. And I'll be back for the coconut tea cake as soon as possible. I'm also intrigued by the idea of the cherry ripe milkshake. This might end up being the only cafe in Sydney where I'm not drinking a long black. read more

Finally had the chance to try out this cafe today. I thought the calm, cool, chill-laxing atmosphere was so pleasing, as opposed to the busy, loud and typical scene that you get generally. I ordered the Broad Beans on sourdough and my partner had the Cheeseburger, my dish was quite average in terms of taste. I also tried some of the cheeseburger, the patty was juicy and nicely cooked (they only do medium-rare). Coffee was good and service was friendly. Would we return? Sure. The prices were competitive however the menu is limited. read more

Excelsior Jones - Broad Beans; Peas, Edamame, Poached Eggs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ashfield, NSW

Beautiful premises and perfect food on what seems to be a seasonal (and delicious) menu. The breakfast options are a particular treat.

Great cafe in Ashfield. Friendly staff and plenty of tables. Went for breakfast on a lazy Sunday. The coffee is great. I tried the salmon hash which I read so much about- I wasn't a huge fan, a bit greasy for me, but I will be back to try their eggs benedict! read more

This place is great! It is in a quite area in Ashfield. But worth the visit. First and foremost we need to start with the coffee. The coffee here is great - honestly not the best, but great. They have different beans and suggestions for which you should try to depending on how you like your coffee. Let's just say I tried multiple cups in multiple styles. Each came out good. While I was here I decided to try to the food - I had the eggs benerdict, and it was quite good. If you are starving, I'll warn you the portions here are not big. But the quietly is not lacking in the slightest. Also the place is a bit small, so be prepared that you might have to wait for a seat. But on the plus the staff here are extremely friendly, and as always you can get coffee while you wait. And with a good cup of coffee waiting doesn't see so bad. So yes, I'll come to this place again. You should, try it if you get a chance. read more

Walking in to Excelsior , I was a little annoyed as they had a lot of patrons. I thought that we would be waiting a long time and would be ignored as they were busy. Completely not true. A waitress approached me within a minute and had us seated at a recently vacated table. A waiter constantly kept checking on us, giving us every opportunity to talk to him if we needed something. Food was very artistic. I ordered a salmon hash off the lunch menu and was extremely happy with the taste. Salmon was cooked perfectly. The buckey wheat added a great crunch to the dish. I thought it wouldn't be filling but I stand corrected. I entered the restaurant with certain notions and all were overturned by this quaint place. read more

Milkbun Ribwich is the bomb. Great taste and combination although the cheese is kind of overpowering. I finished the whole burger though so that is a good sign. read more

Excelsior Jones - Milkbun Ribwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ashfield, NSW

Not great for such an out of the way place, average coffee, mediocre service and the food was ok but missing something. Not a standout place for the inner west, given the competition it needs to get better to succeed. read more

Great having such a cafe in the 'burbs'. The staff have always done an awesome job since day one and the coffee that they pump out is excellent. The food is always spot on but wished that the menu changed a bit more frequently read more

With all the hype I came twice just to make sure but I just don't think it's that great! Sure it's better than your average cafe but nothing I tried blew me away. I was expecting more but maybe that was the problem read more

It's a great little cafe for a yummy breakfast. It's a little over priced for eggs and bacon though; even if the poached eggs are perfect. It's often crazy busy which means you wait for a tiny table. Still though, the servers seem friendly enough and you can split the bill so I'll definitely return. read more

I've not even finished my meal and I'm already raving about Excelsior Jones. Relaxed atmosphere- witness patrons kicking off their shoes and sitting cross legged on the bench seating, mums with bubs and plenty of lone diners kicking back - helped by the cafes position in the quieter streets of Ashfield. Lovely long windows too. Great service- my waitresses knowledge of the teas available, and friendly accomodation of my requests for extra milk with my tea, tomato sauce and menu requests were really appreciated. And the food was great. Initially I was despairing of the breakfast items as the standout dishes all had poached eggs, and I don't like runny eggs, but the waitress and cooks accommodated my request for a hard boiled poached one ( they don't do substitutions for scrambled). It was well done and tasted great. Definitely recommended. I came around 11 of a Friday and no queues. Plenty of reading material for lone diners as well. Love it! read more

Excelsior Jones - Endgame Beans, Peas and hard poached eggs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ashfield, NSW

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We've been twice - so it gets two stars. On both occasions we were shocked by the blandness of the food. In all 10 individual mouths were left literally and figuratively questioning why they bothered with this place. The atmosphere is good, it's spacious and well laid out. The staff are wonderful and attentive. But dat food doe. It's honestly for alcoholics and big smokers i.e. Those who can no longer taste anything so feel the need to insist that everything is delicious when it's patently not. Avoid unless your insistent hipster friends make you go. read more

An excellent Eggs Benedict with perfectly poached eggs and tasty tasty bacon. An above average black coffee. Friendly staff. Would go back if I lived in Ashfield. read more

I have really tried to like this place. but i generally feel disappointed every time I go. I've had very slow service twice, an inedible amount of butter heaped on a piece of toast once and I've been ignored on several occasion so staff members upon arrival or when trying to pay the bill. Today, the cafe showed its stingey side. My partner ordered peas and edamame on toast but without the poached eggs that would usually accompany it. We are aware the cafe very clearly states that alterations to the menu may not be granted in peak times, but considering this was an omission, not an alteration, and it was after the peak morning period, we figured all would be well. The dish was served without the eggs, as requested, but without any kind of substitute or even extra spoonful of the other ingredients. When it came time to pay the bill, my partner asked if there would be any price adjustment considering a major part of the dish was omitted - two poached eggs. The response was "that's actually against cafe policy". We paid the full bill, it's not a big deal, but I just question what kind of cafe would have a policy in place that really doesn't have the customer in mind at all. Our order did not cause any extra inconvenience - quite the opposite, in fact. Surely it's good will and service to recognise the savings they made in products and preparation time? It's a principle thing. Also, the brown water jars are just pretentious. read more

I love this place! I've been there a few times and it's such a good find! Hidden in the back of Ashfield, it's become a bit of a Mecca for locals. It's packed on weekends and you might have to wait to get a table, especially if you have a group of 3 or more. Protip: If you go by yourself and don't mind sitting on a stool, they might be able to find you a seat at the bar near the kitchen. I've had a few of the meals and never been disappointed. The burger is insanely good and is served with crunchy smashed potatoes. I think it's a brioche bun and the burger itself is served medium rare but if you hate perfection (my words) they'll cook it well-done for you. Other highlights: Pork hock hash with buckwheat and poached egg (salty but delicious), eggs benedict (Hollandaise the right way! And the microherbs on top are super cute), bacon and egg sandwich (runny egg mixes with the capsicum relish and aioli - best combination ever). The place can get a bit noisy when it's full cause the noise bounces off all the hard surfaces, but it calms down during the week. Everyone working there is really nice and helpful, the service is fast and attentive. I know they shy away from the 'hipster' label, but they serve water in a brown glass jars...if the shoe fits... read more