Social Brew, Pyrmont -‘The Pancake Files’

[invite] Bianca: My continuing mission to eat ‘all the pancakes’ has me all over Sydney. I’ve always been a sweet fiend but this has recently kicked into overdrive. Pancakes for breakfast, lunch or dinner… you name it. If a café has pancakes on the menu I’m automatically swayed.

Social Brew straddles two bustling corridors of Pyrmont, The Star’s waterfront promenade and The Sydney Fish Market. They have your usual café standards with a few standout dishes. Coffees have to happen before any food is considered. My Skim Capp was on the milky side and lukewarm, worth mentioning as it was cold outside.

Instantly standing out was the Mushroom & Parmesan Bruschetta, black truffle oil, poached eggs and Crème Fraiche on sourdough $20. This dish is all about the mushies, very smart having a mixed variety so every bite was different. Eggs were poached perfectly, the runny yolk acting as an additional sauce. The Crème Fraiche probably wasn’t necessary but for pure gluttony, we’ll allow it. Truffle oil does get a bad rap but it was used sparingly here, just giving the hint of truffle.

I never shy away from burgers in the AM but I was feeling like something a little different. The Double Double – w/double smoked black forest ham, double vintage cheddar & Emmental, ale and honey mustard on toasted beer & barley sourdough $11. Slow, slow clap, essentially, the perfect toastie. Good ratios of ingredients in relation to each other, the bread had soaked up the mustard. And the cheese was in abundance.

But what I was looking forward to the most, the Ricotta Hotcakes, maple marinated strawberries, pistachio butter w/bacon $19. Ultimately did this quench my pancake lust? Yes it did. The flavours were pleasant, I liked the addition of the pistachio butter (every pancake should be served with butter) the saltiness is needed to cut through all the sugar. I liked that you could control the amount of maple syrup added, fresh strawberries for some tartness. And crispy bacon to tie it all together. The pancakes themselves were tasty but a little dense and I do mean slightly because I am pedantic about pancakes. Also, excellent layering with a small pat of butter between each pancake!

I don’t really spend too much time in Pyrmont but I do know it’s somewhat of a ‘black hole’ in regards to cafes but this is one I’d file away for future reference.

Bianca

*For Food’s Sake dined as guests of Social Brew café.