Really busy on a Saturday morning, but not really a breakfast location. The coffee is great…read more Food options are toast, raisin toast, toasted ham and cheese croissant, ham and cheese toasties plus a few cakes and muffins. As you can see there's a general toasting theme!

Simple done well! Excellent coffee, fast and friendly service. Grab a toastie or a slice to go with…read morethe coffee and you're done. Dairy and gluten free options too and the iced chocolate for kids got a massive double thumbs up from our two little peeps.

Exceptional little local cafe!…read more Nestled near the Gordon station, this little gem has friendly service, nice atmosphere and great food. Their menu is surprisingly extensive, with separate brunch and lunch/dinner options ranging from chorizo omelettes to burgers and pastas. Plenty of seating with a dog friendly outside table too. Try their specialty nitro coffee - creamy and frothy goodness!

They have the best coffee in the area! A nice and cosy cafe…read morewith an interesting menu. The food presentation is great and with interesting options to eat healthy. I looove their cappuccino. The service was so good and friendly. I don't live in the area otherwise I wouldn't get my coffee from anywhere else.

Great coffee and great ambience. During my stay at…read morechatswood, steam engine was my regular morning ritual. They got a dj on Friday which was pretty amazing!! I tried their breakfast set too with avacado toast.

The little engine that could!…read more And this place is little. Constructed on the far left hand corner at the bottom of the escalators at Chatswood Interchange, it's difficult to miss as you can see the steam rising from Barista magic at work. It's busy, in a worker bee sense. People come and go clutching coffee, whilst 3 artisans work their craft. I rolled in here with my two elderly companions on Wednesday post lunch, and we were drawn to the little padded seats at the back, which also opens through to the other side. Ordering, then taking a seat, our talking point became the shelves in front of us with coffee and train paraphernalia. I grabbed the HONY book on display and attempted to explain the concept to the ex-journalist at my right. The book (from 2010) unfortunately contains only the images and captions, not the stories that we have all seen on Facebook, but I think she got what I meant. Soon after, the coffees arrived. Soy Latte. Flat White. Cappuccino. Our cappuccino drinker said the flavour was lovely but she wanted it "hotter". The flat white drinker remarked in earnest tones that it was wonderful. I just drank mine and smiled. Yes it was damn good. One of the best Soy Latte's I've had. No bitterness. A smooth, flavourful brew with some complexity to delight my tastebuds. Isn't "winning your loyalty" an interesting concept. When I stroll through Chatswood next I would find myself hard pressed to try another coffee place, and there are many... If I did try another coffee place, I'd feel like I was cheating on TSE. That's what winning your loyalty is all about.

Was in Willoughby and in need of coffee and so when I saw this place, I ha high hopes…read more Unfortunately, the slownes of the service, and the lack of focus on the coffee didn't really meet my expectations. That said, while paying I overheard the kitchen saying they were getting slammed, and so it could be that either someone didn't show for work, or some other reason kept this rustic cafe from being at it's best, but either way, I am unlikely to go back. One the positive side, the atmosphere in this cafe is great. While some of the chairs appear a bit rickety, they add to the rustic feel inside. The range of food also looked quite nice (though we stuck to the coffees). So.. as for the coffee, from my seat I was able to watch them being made and my expectations dropped with each minute. For me, seeing a dbl mac sitting on the bench burning as 2 babychinos are made is just sad. When it arrived it was bitter and burnt... surprised I was not. My wife also ordered a Turkish coffee which seemed very little like the thick syrupy deliciousness I have had on previous occasions. All in all, I was disappointed with my experience here, but I am pretty sure that this was a once off. At least... I hope so... Cafe Summary ------------------------ Passion for Coffee - 5/10 Coffee beans - Di Gabriel Crema (1=burnt, 10=velvet) - 4/10 Special coffees avail? - Turkish

Located on the quiet end of vict ave @corner of penshurst st, raffi may not get the same exposure…read moreas other food establishments on the retail side of chatswood. Shame really. If our breaky experience here is anything to go by, we would return to try their other offerings either @lunch or dinner. As ones who are unfamiliar with turkish armenian food, we approached this with an open mind. Turned out that it was hardly needed. You know it when you stumble on something good. Must try! Vegetarian breaky 4/5 consisted of grilled mushrooms, tossed spinach, onion, poached eggs, on feta pancake with eggplant dip. Each element was cooked without fault, ermmm the feta pancake 'might' hv been prepared beforehand (not sure), the eggplant dip was a nice surprise, smoky creamy, goes well with the pancake. A nice touch which i realized closer to finishing off the plate was that the pancake has been cut into nice little squares. All the better to soak up the egg yolks. Warm yoghurt with poached eggs garlic n mint named aptly dish from raffi's mom kitchen was enjoyable. A simple well executed dish that any loving mom would cook. 3.75/5 Best order their hot fresh mint tea (see pic on my dineline) to accompany your breaky. Give them a go peeps.

I'm man enough to admit when I was wrong. I'm also woman enough to admit when I was wrong. And…read moreButterfly, I was wrong about you. I don't like eating in cafes with those plastic drape weather shield things that keep the wind out. I understand why they're there, I just don't like them. So when mum suggested we eat there, I did so under duress. It's lucky I wasn't wearing a hat, because I would have ended up eating it. First off: it's dog-friendly. Yep. There were about 10 dogs chilling out under the tables, one lady even brought her pomeranian's bed along and he was fast asleep, snoring snugly. The menus are on big bits of balsa wood, really nice and solid to hold, and the meals were not only reasonably priced but huge, so huge that I completely ruined the late lunch I was meant to be going to but never ended up doing justice to after my Butterfly brunch feast. The big brekky was bursting with eggs, toast, a sumptuous cheese kransky, bacon and about six other things I forget. Some places have big brekkies build for Liliputians. This one was fit for Gulliver.

This cafe takes the place of what was, once upon a time, Lunch…read more This is a heavily Italian influenced, modern Australian menu- steaks, fish and chips, salmon, salads and then pizza and pasta. No one had a complaint to make about the food or service. We had a table of twenty and we commented at the time how well the kitchen managed to get out all our meals in a very short amount of time, while they were all still piping hot. Highlights for the table included the pasta- HOMEMADE FRESH. I had the spaghetti carbonara (although I would have said it was bosciola), it wasn't overly rich or heavy and the pasta was certainly fresh and perfectly cooked. Another diner had the whitebait and said they were perfect- the right size, right amount of batter and cooked perfectly... They do takeaways too, including the pizzas (no complaints about the pizzas at our table!) Most of the seating is outdoors but with the marque and heaters you don't notice it.

Wow! This place is great! Charming atmosphere, friendly authentic staff and prime food presented…read morevery beautifully. Fresh, natural produce without over-flavouring. And the affogato was just right, well balanced and light

We love venturing to new places for a meal and always count our blessings when it turns out to be…read morean outstanding experience. This is exactly the case with our visit to the Italian restaurant, Via Alta in the village shopping precinct in Willoughby. With their Italian wait staff and authentic dishes, the restaurant makes you feel as though you are holidaying in Italy, which is a great consolation, considering overseas travel is virtually impossible at the moment. Our dining experience at this restaurant was perfect in every way, their service was excellent, the atmosphere was cosy and the food was superb. Our blog aims give you a literary taste for what this restaurant is offering and hopefully will give you an impetus to make a booking and try the restaurant out for yourself. The meals here are quite rustic and very flavoursome. Not only this, the meals are extremely generous servings. We shared a range of the menu and enjoyed everything that we sampled. There is also a tasting menu if that is something you'd prefer and leave the ordering to the staff. To start with was the creamy burrata, which was a light starter with a lovely freshness, seved with orange and grapefruit segments and a bitter leaves sauce that was well seasoned with a unique flavour we very much enjoyed. The little things that this restaurant does really makes it stand out. For instance, their Zucco Arrosto salad is an absolute winner, for the roast pumpkin, baby spinach, thin ricotta slices and toasted almonds demonstrates how each ingredient carefully considered can make the plate pop with texture and taste. We really liked that the pumpkin was served warm, this took this salad to another level, as did the and the crunch and roasted flavour of the toasted almonds. I had a glass of Prosecco with the entree which matched perfectly, and Via Alta have a good drinks list with wine, beer and cocktails. The wild boar parpadelle was a stunning rustic dish and a standout of the dining experience (and the meals we've had in 2020). The fresh house made pasta was perfect in every way and served aldente, tossed with the wild boar ragout, which was beatifully rich and served with Parmesan cheese. It was certainly a very big potion too. The Gamberi grilled king prawns, tomato broth and garlic bruschetta was our other main, and equally tasty in different ways. This seafood dish is full of tomato sauce and the cherry tomatoes themselves. We loved that this was served on a piece of bread soaking up all of the luscious sauce. The flavour of the prawns stood out and they were in abundance. You know it's almost a rite of passage to have dessert at an Italian restaurant. Whilst we ordinarily go for a cannoli, we opted for a tiramisu on this visit since it sounded amazing, and it was. Layers of sponge cake doused in coffee and liquor with marscapone cream and sprinkled with powdered chocolate makes for the perfect end to the meal. We left here feeling completely satisfied with our meal and we look forward to returning for their truffle menu items in July and August.

If you get of the train at Killara the first thought you are likely to have is.... now what. If you…read moreare after a coffee you have but one option (that is not getting back on the train and going somewhere else. Head up the stairs from the platform, turn right, then left then right. If you have followed these directions correctly, you'll have a park on your left, and in front of you, a nice little cafe filled with locals. Now I am not saying this is a cafe I would travel hours to try, but they do make a damm good cup of coffee. Having had A LOT of coffee over the past few weeks, I have grown to appreciate even more than before cafes that are proud of their coffee. These guys are well within their rights to be. Perfect amount of milk. Perfect amount of froth. But more than then, they also got a really nice crema. *Thumbs up* So if you are in the area, and are in need of a coffee, jump off the train (no ticket gates here so you can jump back on once you are done), find this cafe, and chill out. Nice little gem. Cafe Summary ------------------------ Passion for Coffee - 8/10 Coffee beans - Belaroma coffee Crema (1=burnt, 10=velvet) - 7/10 Special coffees avail? - N/A

In comparison to the first reviewer i would have to say this 'little gem' has today provided me…read morewith some of the most confronting, incompetent and worst of all rude and abusive customer service I think I have ever experienced! Popped across from Marion Street Theatre where my three kids and I were enjoying a 5th bday party and stage play at interval, simple order... young counter attendant unable to remember then pulls face when i correct him to the right order. received 'toasted' banana bread to the aroma of burnt toast. Returned it and asked for one not burnt only to be told that i should have asked for lightly toasted!! I put forward my complaint of poor service only to be yelled at by the Asian lady out back, mind you who has burnt the bread, that I was a BAD customer... albeit a paying one none the less hey lady!! Concluding the short but not pleasant visit the older male whoppeared to be in charge of the place,that I was in a hurry and that was the problem... so much of a hurry I was that I was willing to wait around for another piece to be cooked properly!! This business gives customer service workers as I am, a bad name and would recommend to anyone attending Marion Street Theatre that u give it a wide berth. jo

Sometimes you need a good bakery to rely on, for when the times are tough and you need a pick me…read moreup. THIS is the place. I'm telling you, the bread is awesome, not too sweet but just enough to comfort you after a long morning. Pick up a coffee whilst you're at it, and you've got a smashing deal of $4.99. Full tummy, caffeine in and you're ready to power through the whole day. What I love about them is their cleanliness, their freshness (all bread is made fresh daily) and their friendly service. Conveniently located next to Coles in Chatswood Chase, there's plenty of parking and no excuse not to get yourself down here for some excellent pastries and baked goods.

Such good iced coffee. And I'm not talking about the delicious, creamy atrocity Aussies call iced…read morecoffee, I'm talking about coffee. With ice in it. It's an art, people! (They also have an 8-hour cold drip should you so desire.) The shop is tiny, but if you're lucky enough to snag a stump you'll be privy to some of the most amusing customer conversations. Hungry? They were whipping up waffles last time I was there. But don't get your tastebuds in too much of a tizzy, it's just waffles, so if that's what you want, consider yourself a winner. If not, well, tough luck. But let's be honest, you're heading here for the coffee because it's undoubtably Manly's best, whether hot or cold. And hey, I'm sure they'll even put the ice cream in there if you ask nicely. Just don't ask for decaf. Or larges.

These guys are serious about coffee. Whether it's a doppio espresso or cold drip, you can always…read morecount on a great coffee. The menu is simple: Coffee in one size. No large. No decaf. Waffles with optional chocolate. Because they do it simple, they do it well. The waffles are freshly made as you order. The chocolate is freshly melted Belgian chocolate. The coffee is either their standard blend, or a single origin that rotates every few days - and they are fastidious about how they make it. The actual café is just a hole in the wall with a few boxes & logs that serve as stools. The popularity of this spot ensures an intimate buzz and more often than not, a friendly conversation with the locals. Well worth a visit.