Ocahan

Reviews

Cafes, Bakeries, Good for Brunch, Hip and Trendy, Air Conditioning

Overall 4.7 3

5 Average

Food 5 Ambience 5 Service 5 Value 5

I first visited Charlie Lovett Leichhardt on their 6th day of operation after they had opened. I walked in and after never been to a Charlie Lovett had to get my bearings on what was on offer.

I noticed a menu on the wall behind the coffee machine and around five staff members behind the counter chatting. I stared at the menu on the wall for a while and asked one of the staff is it table service and she said I should take a seat and she gave me a menu. I noticed a lot of very low chairs and tables, no real dining chairs and tables which was interesting. This style of seating is quite awkward and uncomfortable when trying to eat and drink but obviously someone out there must like it as surely it must be similar furniture to other Charlie Lovett stores.

After a few minutes waiting at one of the tables there was no sign of someone to take an order despite all the people chatting behind the counter, so I walked up to the counter to order. I believe that you are required to order and pay at the counter and I suggested they should put a sign up so as not to confuse the customers.

At the moment they are only doing simple breakfasts, sandwiches and baked treats but the menu says pasta’s and soups are coming soon. Charlie Lovett’s real claim to fame is their coffee roasting and you can purchase coffee and I think even go to coffee roasting lessons.

I ordered lemonade, a strong flat white and a chicken ciabatta sandwich. The drinks and sandwich came fairly promptly, the coffee was a good strong flavour and was quite good, the sandwich was very fresh and tasty (chicken, avocado, lettuce and cheese) and the ciabatta was delicious.

As it was early days I gave them the benefit of them finding their feet for the poor level of service on my first visit and I have been back twice since. On the second occasion I ordered a peri-peri chicken sandwich on sourdough which was very nice and my third visit I again tried the chicken sandwich on ciabatta but it wasn’t as nice as the first time I had it. I noticed in the display cabinet on my 3rd visit that some of the meat and vegetables used for the sandwiches weren’t as fresh as they could be and it was clearly evident they weren’t sliced up that morning.

I can see they are still trying to find their feet after a couple of weeks, each time I have visited the staff seem awkward and not quite sure what they should be doing. Even though it hasn’t been that busy on my visits the wait staff aren’t as proactive as they could be.

I could see dirty tables nearby, and then I see someone bring out a coffee or sandwich and walk back to the kitchen and walk past the dirty table and leaves the dirty plates etc. and doesn’t wipe the table. There is nothing worse than seeing a dirty table nearby that is left in that state.

I want to keep giving Charlie Lovett a go as it is new and has potential but they really need to step it up a notch with their service, quality and freshness of their food and maybe get a couple of proper dining tables to eat at, good luck.

May 10, 2012

Jamie's Italian, Sydney

Restaurants, Italian, Serves Dinner, Serves Late Dining, Serves Lunch

Overall 7 124

7.8 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 7

I visited Jamie's for the first time on a Wednesday lunch time and arrived for a late lunch at 2pm and found the place half full and plenty of tables. My partner and I were warmly welcomed and taken to our table and introduced to our waiter who I think may have been Italian with a very broad accent.

I was very impressed with the service, our waiter was friendly, courteous and attentive to our needs.

I noticed a lamb leg special on the board but sadly it had run out so I ordered another special which was a twice cooked bream from the mid-north coast of NSW on a tomato sauce. My partner ordered the Ligurian fish stew.

For wine I ordered a glass of Clic Pinot Grigio but sadly they had run out so I tried the Vino Bianco Della Casa house wine which was very light and quite nice.

Our meals were served very promptly and were cooked beautifully, my bream was moist and the flesh broke apart with crispy skin on one side, the fish sat on a rich tomato sauce which was just so delicious.

I tried the Ligurian fish stew which looked wonderful and its taste was just so fresh and flavoursome, I think it was one of the tastiest fish stews I've ever tried.

Sadly we were too full for dessert so we just enjoyed a good piccolo latte after the meal leaving very satisfied. Based on some of the reviews here about the long waits, I might stick to the late lunch as it was a great experience.

May 10, 2012

Berkelouw Cafe, Leichhardt

Cafes

Overall 4.9 17

3 Below Average

Food 1 Ambience 4 Service 3 Value 4

I've been going to Berkelouw Cafe Leichhardt for over 5 years but haven't really been in the last 12 months because of a significant decline in the food and coffee. I am amazed to constantly see the place so busy after my experiences.

I thought I would try them again over the Easter break and was sadly disappointed and don't feel that anything has improved.

We ordered 2 flat white coffee's that certainly didn't taste anything like a Campos original, they were burnt tasting and bitter, very disappointing.

We also tried a toasted chicken panini and a chicken burger. The panini was so dry I think it was made a week before and had sat in the cabinet all that time, it was actually inedible. The chicken burger was somewhat fresher but unfortunately the bun was burnt top and bottom so you guessed it that's all I could taste.

This actually was one of the reasons I stopped going in the past because either the burger buns were burnt or the turkish bread was always burnt on the breakfast special. It's quite astounding really it appears that this is the only consistent thing they can do.

I had a brilliant peri-peri sandwich and flat white coffee today at the nearby Charlie Lovett Cafe and it runs rings around Berkelouw, take my tip walk down the road as I certainly won't be back to Berkelouw.

Apr 19, 2012

Well Co, Leichhardt

Cafes, Italian, Modern Australian, Modern European, Family Dining

Overall 6.6 2

7 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 7 Service 7 Value 7

I've been twice to Well Co Leichhardt, tried a chicken wrap the first time and the steak sandwich the second time. This place is clean and fresh, the staff attentive and friendly. The food is simple, fresh and tasty and they do a good coffee.

Apr 12, 2012

Flood Street Carousel, Leichhardt

Cafes

Overall 8.7 4

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 8 Service 10 Value 8

The Inner West Courier has done it again, I'm so glad I read the great review of Flood Street Carousel.

I arrived here for lunch on Friday and the place was packed, its not an overly big cafe by any means, there are a few small tables, a large share table and a nice lounge.

I was shown to a recently vacant table which had a few crumbs which were quickly cleaned up. They have a small simple menu with breakfast, grazing plates, toasted sandwiches and salads along with cakes and things. My order was promptly taken and my drink and food arrived very quickly as well.

I tried the poached chicken tenderloin salad with avocado, tomato, English spinach, corn and roasted capsicum. It was just beautiful, all of the flavours so wonderful, the chicken was moist and tender and just broke apart and retained it's chicken flavour beautifully, the salad components were fantastic, so fresh, crisp and tasty and the roasted capsicum on top was sensational.

It had a sweet, smoky flavour that just blended wonderfully with all the other ingredients. I just loved this salad, I would rate it as one of the best salads I've ever eaten in a cafe/restaurant. I also enjoyed a piccolo latte which was the perfect temperature and it had a good strong bold flavour to it.

The service was excellent with prompt attention to my needs and also I didn't have to ask for water or refills of the water, it just happened! Wow I wish some other Leichhardt cafe's nearby had service like this, they could all take a lesson from this place.

Can't wait to go back and try something else.

Mar 23, 2012

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Member since 2009

Last updated on 1st Jun 2012

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Displaying: 1 - 10 of 64 reviews

Charlie Lovett, Leichhardt

Cafes, Bakeries, Good for Brunch, Hip and Trendy, Air Conditioning

Overall 4.7 3

5 Average

Food 5 Ambience 5 Service 5 Value 5

May 10, 2012

Jamie's Italian, Sydney

Restaurants, Italian, Serves Dinner, Serves Late Dining, Serves Lunch

Overall 7 124

7.8 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 7

May 10, 2012

Berkelouw Cafe, Leichhardt

Cafes

Overall 4.9 17

3 Below Average

Food 1 Ambience 4 Service 3 Value 4

Apr 19, 2012

Well Co, Leichhardt

Cafes, Italian, Modern Australian, Modern European, Family Dining

Overall 6.6 2

7 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 7 Service 7 Value 7

Apr 12, 2012

Flood Street Carousel, Leichhardt

Cafes

Overall 8.7 4

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 8 Service 10 Value 8

Mar 23, 2012

PS Cafe, Dulwich Hill

Cafes, Child Friendly, Outdoor Dining

Overall 7.1 4

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 7 Service 7 Value 7

PS has a simple menu for lunch with some burgers, wraps, sandwiches and salads along with a blackboard special which was more of a breakfast dish. I ordered a piccolo latte and the chicken burger.

The piccolo arrived promptly and I found it quite hot and sadly a little bitter for my liking. It did have a strong flavour which I liked but as mentioned did leave a bitter aftertaste.

The chicken burger also arrived promptly, it had 2 good sized pieces of grilled chicken breast which were well cooked, avocado, cheese, tomato, lettuce and garlic roasted aioli, the menu mentioned sun dried tomatoes as well but these weren't on the burger. Can I say that all of the ingredients were really fresh and tasty and the burger was very nice. My only criticism would be is that the chicken needed to be rested for a short while after grilling because as soon as I lifted the burger my plate was covered in juice from the chicken and I wasn't able to put it down without making it a soggy mess.

PS is new and I think they are finding their feet, it has a clean, modern airy feel about it and I'm sure will improve with time and experience. The staff were all smiling and friendly, I would definitely give them another go as it looks like the locals already are.

Mar 16, 2012

Cornersmith, Marrickville

Cafes

Overall 8.1 13

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 9 Service 8 Value 8

Went here for lunch on Thursday around 2pm and found the place still full, only had to wait a couple of minutes and I was offered a bench seat and had a view of the chef's preparing the meals behind the glass partition. The staff were smiling, friendly and attentive.

The menu is small and simple with a couple of specials which I found perfect, I chose the lamb kofta sandwich and a piccolo latte.

My piccolo was exceptional, perfect temperature, crema and flavour! They are going to give my favourite coffee friends at Alchemy a run for their money.

The lamb kofta sandwich was delicious, it was simple but just so flavoursome. I think the panini was from Bourke Street Bakery (one of my favourites), the lamb kofta were moist, tender and just so tasty. The mixed salad which contained fetta and fennel and also the dukkah and rocket on top was equally delicious.

It was just the right size and was so delicious I almost ordered a second one but that would have been too greedy.

Mar 16, 2012

Petty Cash Cafe, Marrickville

Cafes

Overall 7.4 18

7 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 7 Service 7 Value 7

Tried this place mid week after recently reading a good review in the local rag. The place was half full and I sat at a share table inside. I tried the home made pink lemonade, the tandoori chicken salad and a piccolo latte.

The pink lemonade was fresh and tasty but very sweet. The tandoori chicken salad was huge and full of yummy fresh crisp salad, lavished in yoghurt and lots of tandoori chicken thigh fillet pieces. The salad was very tasty and had a right mix of yoghurt and tandoori. The only downside was that the chicken pieces were a little on the tough side, but still very tasty anyway.

The piccolo looked a little on the weak side when it appeared but it actually had a good strong flavour. People around me were all raving about their rosti so I might give it a go on my next visit.

Mar 14, 2012

Xanthi, Sydney

Restaurants, Greek, Banquet, Has Bar, Serves Breakfast

Overall 7.5 25

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 6 Value 7

After having a fabulous meal at Perama, we thought we would give Xanthi a go. We went on a Friday night and as the restaurant was booked out we could only get a seat at the Bar outside. We were shown to 2 seats at the tiled bar and were surrounded by small tables. The bar area is quite dark in comparison to the restaurant and may not suit everyone, but we found it ok.

The shopping centre experience is interesting with lots of people walking by and also lining up at other nearby restaurants. There was lots of hustle and bustle going on around us.

After one of the small tables behind us became available the owner offered for us to move to one of these but we were happy to stay at the bar as we had settled in. The service was ok, it did take a little while for our order to be taken as the staff didn't seem to come outside that often and trying to order more wine was a little slow. The owner also said we were lucky to be outside because the air-conditioning had been out of action for a week and they had been fighting with Westfield to get it fixed.

After previously enjoying the banquet at Perama we again chose the $55 banquet at Xanthi. We also tried some nice Greek wine which was a little pricey at $10 per glass.

We loved the Greek salad and dips which were very fresh and tasty. For some of our other selections we chose the BBQ haloumi, fried school prawns and the Prawn and scallop Apo tin plastira. The haloumi and school prawns were delicious but the prawn and scallop wasn't the tastiest, it was nice just didn't have any great flavour to it. The lamb skaras was moist tender and flavoursome, just beautiful! The dessert of Caramel Baklava Ice Cream and Sweet Bougatsa was delicious.

Overall we had a very nice meal, maybe not as good an atmosphere as Perama but the food was great, maybe service could have been a little better. I’m sure we will return.

Mar 14, 2012

Sucre, Balmain

Cafes

Overall 7.3 10

7.5 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 7 Service 8 Value 7

Just popped in for a quick bite to eat after seeing an ad in the local paper. Wasn't looking for a heavy lunch so I ordered a chicken baguette on Sonoma, the owner suggested I try the ham baguette as his wife does something special with the ham.

Wow it was sensational, possibly the most flavoursome, moist and tender ham I've eaten apart from some my Dad used to cook. The Sonoma baguette was great as well and the salad fresh and beautiful tomatoes.

I tried a piccolo latte (they use Coffee Alchemy coffee) and it was as good as any coffee I've had at Coffee Alchemy in Marrickville.

I can't wait to try the New Orleans Gumbo and Jambalaya when I'm up for it or one of the fantastic looking sweet treats in the display cabinet.

Feb 09, 2012