I been going to Bourke street since it was, well, at Bourke street and needless to say they have…read morebeen consistent in their quality and execution! The tarts and pastries are on point and coffee is great! Only problem, they seem to been going up in price higher than inflation by a mile, but which shop isn't these days especially when you're good!

After a friend of mine suggested Bourke Street Bakery in Parramatta to try out their infamous Creme…read moreBrulee, I was eager to have a taste. Unfortunately for me, they had sold out of Creme Brulees (I arrived their at 3pm so i guess they must be pretty popular) However, FORTUNATELY for me, since I was already lured into the bakery and gawking at the delicious tarts, I had the urge to purchase two of the tarts (~$10 together) which I do not regret depositing most of my daily calories into. The furnishing of the interior and exterior of the store is quite retro and the feels of raw-ness, but its just the perfect balance. I will definitely be coming back for a visit,.. until I get my creme brulee ;)

Finally, a pretty decent place to get a feed up on Level 5 foodcourt in Westfield. Great selection…read moreof salads and patient staff (for those of us who just can't decide on what to order). So here's the deal, you select the size of your takeout container, point to the salads you want and off they go. The grilled chicken and the beef salad are both exceptional and surprisingly, a fair amount of that protein is packed into your container. They suggest various dressings (apparently the lime mayo dressing is to-die-for) but the classic evoo and lemon is perfect to coat the luscious greens in the salad. I suspect my server thought he was an extra in Cocktail - spinning and flipping his spoons and tongs - seriously dude, like I get it, its impressive, but I'd rather keep my eye thanks .. ohh and that's a NO to salad stains on my clothes.

Great selection of sandwiches and rolls, awesome coffee and fantastic friendly staff. Quick service…read moreduring busy time too!

I was waiting for this place to open & I am so glad it has…read more Pit stopped here while doing some late night shopping. I have a soft spot for Vietnamese food and this was great. Food was fresh, hot and flavoursome. Spicy chicken ribs were exactly that. Yum! Crispy pork with crackling was super crunchy just as it should be. Service was very friendly and quick. I'll be back for some phô!

They have some great rolls, though I wouldn't classify this as a "sit down restaurant" - the rolls…read moreare great on the go however. They do have a few other things that you can order off the menu too but I've never tried them I tend to get the rice paper rolls whenever I go.

Visiting Australia and I could see this becoming a locomotive go-to if I lived nearby. They worked…read morewith my order (Iced Oatmilk latte stirred with honey) and were very accommodating. Friendly baristas, smiles as I walked up. You need to walk through the barista station to get to the dining area but it made it pretty intimate. Small dining area but very cool "Indie" type vibe. My coffee was good and the people were cool. The only thing I would like to see would be a bit more signage out front. It was a bit hard to locate but when you need your daily coffee fix, you're gonna do whatever it takes. Lol. The parking garage was packed but that's not the coffee shops fault. I would say check them out if you're in the area for sure.

Nice vibe and friendly staff. Choose to sit outdoors if the weather is good. Never had the food…read morehere to be honest however the coffee is always great!

Looking for a brekky spot in Parramatta? Look no further than the Paper Plane Cafe. Fast friendly…read moreservice at this quaint cafe. The menu has a surprising amount of options and the back wall featured some of the top ordered items. We chose the Brunch bowl served with grilled haloumi, avocado, quinoa, grilled tomato, spinach, poached egg, pumpkin seeds topped with roasted sesame dressing, a delight that was delicious from the first bite to the last 5/5. We also ordered the French Toast, two French brioche toasts, vanilla ice cream, custard, berries, compote, crushed pistachios and maple syrup 4/5. A delicious breakfast after a nice walk around Parramatta Park!

It was the best coffee shop in Parramatta especially if you are a coffee lover…read more A good coffee made from good coffee beans, how coffee have roasted and made by good barista. Good barista that balance temperature, milk and treat the coffee with smile. Need a good barista on this coffee shop!

Double waffle drizzled with milk chocolate served with strawberries and 1/2 banana on the side for…read more$20. A trio is $26. A lovely snack in between shopping. Value for $? not quite but definitely a good a treat for kids and a pregnant woman with massive cravings.

Firstly, poor customer service as my friend and I were waiting for our Berrylicious pancakes, for…read morequite some time. The strawberries tasted stale and the pancakes weren't warm. I ordered the 80's milkshake, expecting it to be served in a dine-in coffee cup or such, however I received the milkshake in a take-away cup, not properly filled and no proper explanation as to why the milkshake was not served as a dine-in drink, after asking the staff about the poor drink appeal. I expect better next time, please. If you do not have enough dine-in cups for specific drinks, stock up on extras. It ruins the atmosphere and enjoyment of the place.

A GEM, HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT!*…read more The Gatehouse Tea Rooms' gabled gothic architecture, bathed in dappled afternoon sunlight and set within a garden of topiary and roses is a touch of old England framed by beautiful big trees that embody Australiana. Built in 1887, this would have been a perfect synthesis of the old and new worlds in the colony. So what more perfect place could there be to do as the colony's crème-de-la-crème once did and take high tea here? I adored the quaint interior of this recently restored world heritage-listed cottage, looking out a bay window onto the glorious Old Government House across the way with soft jazz playing in the background; it all added to the charm. For only $39 per person** we enjoyed the Gatehouse's star attraction: a high tea full of delectable dainties; fresh sandwiches and quiche, zingy mini lemon meringue tarts, pastries, rich chocolate tarts, and teeny-weeny cupcakes, candy-pink macarons and jam and cream scones. By far, this was the best high tea I've ever had made all the more special, as it was Mothers Day. We enjoyed each and every morsel immensely and, since these were combined with unlimited top-ups to the gorgeous selection of teas we tried -- including Rose Gray (the best!), Goji Acai and Lime and Ginger Green Tea -- we were so satiated we were compelled to ask for a container to take some of our dainties home for later on when we recovered, which was graciously supplied by the lovely, attentive staff here. Evidently, high tea at the Gatehouse is an experience in and of itself, but if you are city-based and need further persuasion to come out to Parramatta to experience it, indulge me for just a moment; I can see you (OK...it's me) donning a velvety, Phryne Fisher-esque devoré cardigan-cum-kimono and enjoying a high tea in this historic gatehouse as a perfectly divine denouement to a day that began with a scenic ferry ride down the Parramatta river followed by a tour of a plethora of Parramatta's heritage sites, most of which are within easy walking distance of the Macquarie Street Gatehouse Tea Rooms. (Be sure to go for a turn around the old convict lumberyard -- now the wondrous Rumsey Rose Garden -- located directly behind the tea rooms. The Gatehouse is positively stunning from that angle!) Of course, if you're just looking for a quiet spot in the area and don't need the pomp and ceremony of a high tea, know that you can get a beautiful cappuccino, try one of their quality teas, milkshakes or iced coffees/chocolates, order a piece of cake or freshly-baked croissants filled with butter and seasonal jam or savoury muffins that come with highly recommended fresh cucumber yoghurt, too. Dropping in for a lovely bite and beverage is a cinch on the weekdays it is open, (Wednesday to Friday), but can be a slightly more considerable feat on the weekend when it gets very busy, so bookings are recommended. 'Twould seem the secret of this hidden gem is getting out, and rightly so! FIVE STARS. * Oft' I wax lyrical about the heritage gems t' be found within the bounds of Parramatta Park, and yet - I am ashamed to admit it - this one escaped my attention until recently. I found this charming little gatehouse cottage nestled in beside the entrance I most frequently use to enter the park - on Macquarie Street. In my defence, it only opened as tearooms in October 2013, but that doesn't explain how I hitherto failed to see this architectural beauty. The poor lass has only been standing there, looking utterly fabulous waiting to be noticed for 127 years! ** $39 per person is a brilliant price for high tea. Note that there is a full gluten-free high tea option for $44 per person as well! *Review originally written and posted 4 June 2014.

My partner and I are always on the hunt for a well made cup of tea in Sydney, better yet in NSW,…read moreand sadly this entire country does not offer up much in the way of tea. Many places boast high tea experiences (and in my opinion, most of these places are cutesy trimmings but lacking in substance, ie the tea), a few boast a broad range (but then can't brew it properly and ruin it anyway), and then you even have a few who think it's a boast to simply be serving loose leaf tea.... so for tea enthusiasts like us, we always feel like we are scraping the bottom of the barrel to find somewhere that not only stocks good tea but who can also brew it correctly. When my partner and I were just out for a scenic cycle through this beautiful area we stumbled across another tea house, expecting the same old same old but wanting to try it all the same. And "WOW. FINALLY", we thought, "A TEAHOUSE DESERVING OF THE NAME!" Absolutely exceptional. Couldn't flaw this place. Exceptional tea, scones that were so delightful we savoured every mouthful (with, what we feel confident in saying was freshly made cream with vanilla bean maybe? Incredible), extremely cheerful service by all staff, as well as prompt (even though we were a walk in no booking!), and what a beautiful setting to boot (it even backs onto a rose garden if you care for a stroll afterwards!). We absolutely can't wait to return and can finally say, "we've found a good teahouse in Sydney!". Love your work guys, thank you!

Sooo I probably shouldn't be reviewing this joint since I did the most sinful of all acts - I…read moreordered the low carb burger bun !! Oh gawd I'm embarrassed for my soul !!! I can't tell you how bad my food envy was the day a workmate and I ordered our burgers - he ordered like any normal burger craving person would - normal bun, with normal filling .. I had to go all 'calorie cutting ninja' on my burger and it ruined it. The filling was great, I have no issues with the filling, but let me try and describe the bun. First and foremost, its flat - its like a pita bread but not as thin. Its slightly thicker, same diameter as a burger bun and the texture of a crumbly gluten free bread - dear lord the crumbs, I couldn't stop it. Second, the taste - what is this? Cardboard laced with honey? At least give us a neutral taste that won't compete with the otherwise delicious flavours from the filling. Ohhh seeeee now I get it, no wonder its called low carb - you flick the bun to the side to get to the good stuff .. no bread = low carb .. makes sense. I will only take the 1 star away from the review for the bun (was my bad, but they could have warned me HA). 4 stars though go to the thorough service and the obviously amazing burgers they're pumping out to a FULL restaurant !! Excellent choice for a quick take-out option for lunch .. and a much better choice than Maccas.

Yay! A Grill'd in Parramatta!…read more I always go to Grill'd when I'm in Darling Harbour, great place to drop in and have a quick, delicious lunch! The burgers always taste so fresh! They're not dripping in grease and do not contain processed foods. The menu is HUGE! I'm a bit of a traditionalist so I always go for the Simply Grill'd - which is your basic burger for $9.50, $10.50 if you want to add cheese. Sound pricey? For what you get, not really! It's massive and if you do want chips, share a regular with your friends for $4.50. They have gluten free buns as well, which I've noticed is an increasing trend in burger places. You can also opt for a panini, white or wholemeal bun. They have something for everyone! Chicken, beef, lamb, salads, vegie burgers, kids menu and a snack menu - everyone leaves happy!