Warren & Holt, Marrickville ‘The Pancake Files’.

[invite] Bianca: Making the most of the sunny October public holiday Monday, we made our way over to Marrickville for a spot of brunch. Warren & Holt is one of those seemingly out of place cafes in suburbia, sleek and minimalistic. They were turning a roaring trade when we visited at 10:30am.

But this isn’t your standard local, with a focus on ‘whole foods’ and a menu made up mostly by local and sustainable produce. Starting with a round of coffees, Alex was particularly impressed by his Soy Cappucino $4.70. Jules going for the Dandy Chai Latte $4.5. While particularly potent and heady with mixed spices, it was served warm and the absence of sugar on the tables meant you couldn’t tailor it to your particular taste buds (though I guess, with an emphasis on health, that may not be by accident).

I immediately locked eyes on the Hotcake but thought I should start with something savoury first. The Warren Smash – on sourdough, goats chevre, house made dukkah, beetroot hummus & lime $7 + nitrate free bacon $6 was an ample portion. Texturally interesting and the small touches of the beetroot hummus and dukkah really elevating the humble avo on toast. Some may baulk at the price tag for the bacon but this was quality

The Bacon & Egg Roll -w/fresh kale & housemade ketchup $12 is your standard B&E roll, perhaps a little dainty for a strapping man first thing in the AM but we had other food to share so this wasn’t a huge issue.

Striking when it hit the table, the Green Omelette -w/ swiss chard, seasonal greens, sourdough & tahini coconut yoghurt $18 is a vegetarian delight. This was perhaps a touch too ‘green’ for our tastes. We like our veggies don’t get us wrong but this lacked flavour and that wow-factor.

And down to business, really one of the main reasons I was drawn to Warren & Holt was the Vanilla Hotcake – One pan buckwheat hotcake w/ seasonal fruits, maple syrup, vanilla lime coconut yoghurt & coconut flakes $19. Pretty as a picture, this is the dish people will travel for. Pancakes, as some people may know, have become my new obsession. These were tasty but lacking the sweetness you may find with your run of the mill cafe pan/hotcakes. Not to say they weren’t enjoyable but if you’re expecting something gluttonous this is not the case. I really enjoyed the fresh fruits, particularly the julienned apple, just adding a whole other dimension texturally.

And finally, the Sweet Coconut Loaf $6.5  we’re going to pretend it was healthy because we didn’t leave a single crumb. With a generous spread of Pepe Saya, this was incredibly moreish.

Some hit and miss dishes but the fact they are a seasonal cafe mean the menu is constantly changing. A strong recommendation if you’re in the Marrickville area.

Bianca

Photos by Alex