Fresh Espresso & Food Bar

7 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  2      Service  10      Value  7     

The coffee and food at Fresh is always pleasing and the service is always incredibly friendly and efficient. The problem with Fresh Katoomba is the fact that the cafe is too small and noisy. It needs carpet to soak up the echoing sounds of the coffee grinder and customers talking. It is a shame that a cafe with such wonderful staff is compromised because of its overall size and design.

Jul 13, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  8     

Fresh is one of my favourite places to visit in the Blue Mountains. I would go so far to say that I would drive from the Northern Beaches just to have the ricotta hotcakes for breakfast. I am really surprised by the negative reviews, I have been eating here regularly for many years and have never had a bad experience, I am very fussy about coffee and it is always good.

The last time I was in the mountains I ate at the Stockmarket Cafe where I experienced the worst service I have ever come accross at a cafe, when I walked around the corner to buy some coffee beans from Fresh it was like walking out of the darkness into the light, the door was opened for us, we were greeted like old friends and chatted away about the different beans they sell. I will be back next month and can't wait for my Fresh breakfast fix!

Mar 05, 2011 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Second time in Fresh, after giving it another try. First our coffee had off milk, so asked for another to be made (organic milk can go off quickly), and waitress was whispering to coffee maker and very rude.

2 more coffees arrived and they were shoved in front of us. These was luke warm. The 2 pieces of raspberry cheesecake were like eating lumps of philedelphia cheese. For $26 would expect at least a decent coffee and polite waitress. Also table was sticky and smell dirty. Award or not won't go back or recommend.

Mar 02, 2011 

3 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  3      Service  3      Value  1     

Slow service, noisy environment can hardly hear yourself think. Expensive coffee, no thanks!

Feb 26, 2011 

4 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  4     

Having read the mostly positive reviews for this cafe on the web I was looking forward to my inaugural visit to Fresh for breakfast, but am sad to report that it was a lack-lustre experience.

"Not So Fresh":

The service was fairly ordinary. I know it promotes itself as a laid back cafe experience, but its a big mistake to allow the quality of the food and service to be laid back.

"Specifics":

My wife ordered scrambled eggs, grilled haloumi cheese with toasted sourdough. The cheese was very dry and gamey. The eggs were particularly oily, as was the bread.

I ordered the poached eggs, toast and salmon. The salmon was Ok. The poached eggs were watery and flavourless. The sordough was buttered (why can't I butter my own bread the way I like?) and spoilt by the watery eggs sitting on top.

I sampled one of the eggs and was really annoyed that a reputedly good cafe could muck up a relatively straight forward order. Some dressing would have made it a bit more palatable, but none was on offer. The coffee, however, had an interesting flavour, and I would have a take-away cuppa again.

Our child had a babychino which was poorly presented, with very little milk. For this experience I paid $42 which I felt was a complete waste of money.

"Other Niggles":

The kitchen is non transparent (you can only see the cook's head). Personally, I like to be able to see how my food is made and who is making it. The owner should consider opening up the kitchen so that cooking is more of a spectacle and so there is less of a barrier between the kitchen and the customer.

"Looking Ahead":

For me, it's all about first impressions. I know Fresh is not a fine-dining establishment and it would be unfair to measure them against one. But care and respect shown towards the customer is a biggie.

For example, during a visit to Mount Victoria later that day, I ordered a mouth-watering chicken pie from a quaint but unpretentious pastry shop in main street. It was served with a fresh salad, a lovely garnish and a smile (all up $8). Easy! I'll be back there next time.

"Parting Comment on Fresh":

When the female waiter was clearing our plates she could see that we hadn't touched a significant portion of the food, and yet she did not have the courtesy and professional sense to ask if "everything is okay"?

The big elephant in the room was the barely touched breakfast. If the waiter couldn't see that (or didn't want to acknowledge it), then she's in the wrong game, and by association, so is Fresh.

When I'm next in the mountains and am hankering for some good food to kick-start the day in pleasant surrounds, I won't be heading to Fresh in a hurry.

Oct 07, 2010 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  10     

Sensational coffee from friendly staff.

Sep 28, 2010 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Wonderful coffee, tasty and hearty breakfast, fast and friendly service, a very pleasant experience. I too am a little surprised at some of the negative feedback, must have been there on a good day.

The chorizo/feta scrambled eggs were wonderful and filling with a unique taste, while the wife's standard scrambled fare was also well received. Coffee was probably the best I had on a three day weekend and worth another trip back later for a takeaway. Barista and waiter were friendly and the meals arrived within a reasonable amount of time despite the Sunday morning buzz.

Feb 09, 2010 

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Great great coffee. We buy our coffee beans from here. Good basic menu. Ethical business.

Feb 06, 2010 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

I'm surprised to read some of the less favourable reviews, I always find the staff friendly and laid back, but yeah, it gets busy, if you tell 'em you're in a hurry they'll look after you though, the coffee's truly great, the foods fresh and yum, the cakes are wicked and the menu changes. I'm happy to pay for quality and support ethical business, Best muffins!

Nov 05, 2009 

4.3 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  5     

The coffee might be amazing. But is it enough? Fresh needs to be nicer to its customers. Service is slow and often snide. We visit every week for coffee and breakfast, gluttons for punishment. Each week hoping the service will improve. Seeing others treated with the same distant contempt in the cafe there is no surprise that there are other reviews similar to mine on this forum.

Jun 10, 2009