[invite] Bianca: Another day, another set of pancakes. We’re going hardcore and making no apologies! The latest on our hit-list is the new Redfern cafe, Gibbons Street Cafe. I’ve worked in the Redfern area for almost 10 years now and it’s great to see the suburb really lifting the game in terms of recent openings. Cafe stalwart Three Williams pretty much has the monopoly in the area. But with Gibbons Street Cafe’s premium location just opposite Redfern station, that may change.
With floor to ceiling windows and light caramel wooden tones, the space is sun filled and very aesthetically ‘clean’. We sidled on up, early one Friday morning. Beginning our meal with a round of coffees. Our Cappucino’s needing 1/2 a teaspoon of sucre to minimise the bitterness.
There is a comprehensive all-day breakfast menu, a few lunch items, and a sizeable takeaway menu. It was 9:30 am when we visited so we stuck to the breakfast side of things.
Making the rounds on social media are the Gibbons St Hotcakes $18. There is a lot to like about this dish. With the striking honeycomb sticking out immediately, adding a deep caramelised note and texturally breaking up the pancake. The pancakes themselves were tasty. Airy and light but with no discernable evidence of ricotta anywhere. But maybe the biggest detractor was the rhubarb & strawberry compote. Its placement at the top of the pancakes made them particularly soggy and it was such an overwhelming flavour, that any evidence of the creaminess of the ricotta was overshadowed. A salted caramel sauce might be more fitting, to keep it in line with the deep notes of the honeycomb.
The French Toast $18 was one of our favourites. The brioche well soaked, absorbing the eggy/cinnamon(y) mixture. With the outer edges retaining a bit of crispiness. Also served with a summer fruit compote but tasted exactly like the rhubarb & strawberry compote in the pancake dish. So maybe a different flavour profile would help differentiate the two sweet dishes.
Perhaps a slight case of misordering, the No Mortgage for You $16.50 is your basic avo on toast. Poor Bernard is the butt of jokes everywhere. I appreciate a quick and easy avocado on toast occasionally but I was expecting something a little more exciting than what hit the table. I liked the fact the avocado came smashed and seasoned in an easy to eat guac form. But it definitely needed some oomph to really stand out. It’s such a common dish that if you’re going to do one, it really needs to sing.
And the one dish you NEED to order. The Pumpkin & Sweetcorn Fritters $18.50. I feel like this could be one of those signature cafe dishes. Every element incredibly tasty in their own right, to join forces and make a super killer dish. With a sweetness from the sweetcorn, the pumpkin was a nice change of pace. Texturally there was a lot to like here, crispy, creamy… And best of all, a high five to whoever thought it would be great to deep fry halloumi. I have a place for you forever in my heart.
A really strong recommendation in the Redfern area, I’d definitely be interested in returning to try more of the menu.
Bianca
Photos by Alex
*For Food’s Sake dined as guests of Gibbons Street Cafe.
My friend lives around the corner from here and I think he was trying to tell me about this place but he couldn’t remember the name. He told me about the pretty pancakes with flowers and I’m pretty sure this is the place!
You’ll have to go Lorraine! The deep fried haloumi!!!!!
The pancakes looks so pretty and omg deep fried haloumi!!!
You guys are tremendous..!! Your food taste and presentation both is just mind blowing. Can I pick something for home delivery for three people on my way back home?