Sydney Eat Street: 10 things to try on Broadway
IT’S best known for its shopping centre but Broadway offers a thriving food scene which can satisfy every tastebud.
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IT’S best known for its shopping centre but Broadway offers a thriving food scene which can satisfy every tastebud.
Take a tour of the area’s best eateries right here with The Sunday Telegraph’s Eat Street.
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MERCHANTS OF ULTIMO
Halfway up the escalator into Broadway Shopping Centre you catch a sweet glimpse of house-made pastries, a colourful welcome to the bright open space of Merchants of Ultimo. Under a canopy of greenery the selection at this food collective is overseen by head chef Christelle Verger and features table service or takeaway from the five ‘market stalls’, including Neros Brew coffee, The Bakery, The Gardens, Henry’s Block and 1871 Pizza Birra. Things start early here with the pastry chefs arriving at 5am to begin the production of their delicate desserts and savoury selection, while at Henry’s Block, chicken and lamb have begun their slow roasting process. There’s the option of having your meat on a plate, a charcoal bun or their signature rolls. Adding the tasty chimichurri sauce is a delicious must as is a smoothie made from all the fresh produce from The Gardens. Round it all off with a coffee from Neros or a vino from the bar. — Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay St, Ground Level, Shop 12-13
80 BAY
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Staying true to the coffee-centric ethos of what started as one of the original Toby’s Estate cafes, current owner Bradley Tjia is committed to maintaining the same quality cup that made this cafe so popular from the get go. He’s loyal to the Toby’s Estate brand, particularly the full-bodied Broadway Blend which was developed specifically for this cafe at their nearby roasting headquarters in Chippendale. The walls here are still adorned with the black and white photos Toby’s Estate founder Toby Smith had taken while visiting coffee plantations around the world. Frosted mirrors, wood panelling and bentwood chairs reflect the building’s heritage. Enjoy some of their homemade muffins or the breakfast staple, avocado on toast, along with your coffee and you’ll see why this is a local favourite. — 80 Bay St
PEPPER SEEDS BOUTIQUE THAI BITES
Word of mouth — or great tastes — prompted Tom and Jane Sangpoowong into opening their second Pepper Seeds Thai restaurant. The couple were approached by developers asking if they’d be interested in a space in Broadway having been referred to them by one of the managers that had eaten at their small venue in Balmain. From the start, Tom and Jane knew they wanted to avoid creating another takeaway shop, opting instead for something intimate similar to their other restaurant. The menu here is similar to Balmain’s, though they have included more noodle dishes to appeal to the Asian demographic. Pepper Seeds serves up Thai food from different regions, such as kao soi, egg noodles in a curry soup, which is prevalent in Jane’s ancestral home of northern Thailand, and the more seafood-laden dishes such as grilled scallops and the seafood tom yum noodle soup of the southern regions where Tom was born. — Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay St, Ground Level, Shop 12-13
PASSIONTREE VELVET
Worldly travels to countries steeped in culinary traditions inspired husband and wife team Josh and Hannah Kim to expand from a single dessert bar in Brisbane to a regal cafe offering ‘edible luxury’. Impressed by English high teas and Parisian pastries, Josh and Hannah, along with co-founder Christopher Sheldrick sought to replicate the experience with a sister venture, Passiontree Velvet, which would focus on delicate cakes and offer a more unassuming setting to host high tea. Chris notes that “unlike other high tea offers, we are actually a patisserie first so we can offer an amazing range of products that varies week to week” with choices ranging from the extravagant full high tea, The Duchess, to another that focuses on their famous macarons and even one specifically for kids, the Teddy Bear Picnic. While the pastries look undeniably gorgeous, Chris knows it’s their amazing taste that keeps people coming back. — Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay St, Level 2
MR WU
Named after the 1927 silent-movie, Mr Wu, this Chinese restaurant, featuring a popular dumpling bar, is decorated in a way that reflects the eclectic, vibrant and often industrial look of 1930s Shanghai. The film itself is a story about seduction and for many foodies there is nothing more enticing than dumplings and Mr Wu’s doesn’t disappoint. Popular soup dumplings, xiao long bao, are always a favourite but so too are the classic pork buns. Don’t miss their signature item, the crispy skinned spicy fried pork dumplings, an easily sharable portion that goes well with many of their noodle, rice and stir fry dishes including the chilli-laden tofu with pork mince. — Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay St, Level 2
When on Broadway, you must try ...
FLAMING CHEESE WHEEL
When the hollowed-out wheel of Parmesan cheese is brought from the kitchen, be prepared for dinner and show. After warm brandy is poured in, it’s set alight, melting the cheese. Cooked pasta is added, swirled around then dished out with all its ooey-gooey goodness. — Salt Meats Cheese, 68 Bat St, (Cheese Wheel available Wednesday and Thursday)
DIY OMELETTE
Grab an order form and get creative. Start with a choice of eggs — free range, organic or egg whites — then starting ticking off your favourite fixings with ingredients that range from capsicum to kale. Follow that up with some protein. With breakfast sorted, you can move on to lunch where the same ingredients can be combined for your customised salad. — The Gardens at Merchants of Ultimo, Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay St., Ground Level
BURGER
With the promise of food from renowned chef Neil Perry, you could head to his hatted restaurant or you could just head to Broadway for a more casual setting and enjoy a burger inspired by the gourmet creation at Rockpool Bar & Grill. Add seasoned chips and a vanilla shake for the whole experience. — Burger Project, 7/1 Bay St
MARINATED CHARGRILLED LAMB PIZZA
Bondi has headed west to Broadway, bringing with it a beach vibe and authentic thin-pressed pizza. A casual spot with a summery seaside theme, the menu has a wide variety of offering including salads, pastas, wraps and of course, their signature marinated chargrilled lamb pizza made with backstrap fillets, fetta, balsamic onions, Roma tomatoes, rocket, sweet potato crisps and a creamy Caesar sauce. — Bondi Pizza, Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay St, Level 2, Shop 208
DECORATED DONUTS
The icing on the cake may be a winner for some but it’s what goes on top of that which makes it a legend. Start off with a basic doughnut, chose from a selection of warm sauces, including milk or white chocolate, salted caramel and Nutella, then heap on toppings such as M & Ms, crushed Oreos, butterscotch popcorn and much more. — My Donut Box, Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay St, K210
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