Sydney Eat Street: Ten things to try in Artarmon
ONCE home to colonial hobby farms, this lower north shore suburb is awash with fresh produce found within the plethora of cafes and bakeries.
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ONCE home to colonial hobby farms, this lower north shore suburb is awash with fresh produce found within the plethora of cafes and bakeries.
Take a tour of Lane Cove’s best eateries right here with The Sunday Telegraph’s Eat Street.
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L’ANNAM
A LITTLE bit of Paris has debuted in the heart of Artarmon, where along the footpath you’ll find wicker chairs and cafe tables placed in front of the mint green facade. While that alone appears quintessentially French, so are the shelves of baked goods behind the counter. The glass cabinets are filled with colourful sweet and savoury patisserie favourites, including eclairs and quiches. The standouts are the mini-chocolate croissants, which are a perfect size to satisfy that midmorning sweet craving. Up on the iron racks are rows of fresh breads ranging from sourdough loaves to soft white rolls. And next to that stand tall baguettes ready to be dunked into a flat white or green tea latte. — 68 Hampden Rd
SALVAGE SPECIALTY COFFEE
MANY a good idea has been hatched over a good meal and for three baristas their pivotal moment came over bowls of ramen and a glance across the courtyard to an empty shop for lease. Using repurposed materials, they built up a rustic space intended solely for stellar coffee and then slowly added a couple of bites to the board. Now, nearly five years later, they’ve added a tiny kitchen that puts out a tiny menu that’s big on flavour. The cheese toastie is made with generous slices of five-grain sourdough bread, Black Forest Gypsy ham and alternates between a variety of five cheeses. For the cooler months, there is the half-sandwich and soup combo which co-owner Toby Cutler sees as a great way to stay warm while still enjoying the outdoor tables under a heat lamp. — 5 Wilkes Ave
EVERYDAY CANTEEN
THE welcoming sight of this sun-drenched cafe will bring you in, but it’s the lovely staff, great food and The Little Marionette coffee that make it habit forming. After eight years of running a cafe in Melbourne, husband and wife team Jiah and Jamie Min brought their winning formula to Sydney. Go with the green theme and have a delicious mint, banana, kale and spinach smoothie along with the Canteen Bowl, a healthy dose of vegies, a poached egg and, if you’re feeling decadent, a side of chorizo. — 11 Elizabeth St
BRICKWORKS CAFE
OPENING a cafe on this spot had been in the works for a while, but it was owner Jake Kujian’s love of Artarmon’s rich history of brickmaking that brought it full circle. Further research revealed the spot had once been a Uniting Church, a place where many workers met up. Jake was so inspired he went to Tasmania and undertook a sourdough-baking course. “The hardest thing I’ve ever done,” says Jake, “and I loved it.” He came back set on a wood-fired oven and a plan for great pizzas and pastas. Four years on, he’s doing the neighbourhood proud, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner six days for dine-in and through delivery services. — 2/53 Dickson Ave
WILKES AVENUE PLAZA
IT’S no more than 200m from the train station, but this leafy plaza surrounded by a handful of cafes and speciality grocers is practically unknown except to local residents. Head right from the platform to find a gently sloping walk where diners fill the outdoor tables savouring bowls of ramen from Japanese restaurant Genki and rolls from Sushi-Ya. The mornings are filled with the buzz of commuters and by evening the courtyard is aglow. — Wilkes Avenue Plaza
When in Artarmon, you must try ...
PROSCIUTTO SUNFLOWER ROLL
The destination is in the name, but it’s the queue for early morning coffees and afternoon lunches that you’ll first notice. The prosciutto, ricotta, olive tapenade, rocket and sundried tomatoes on a sunflower roll is a fave. — FOOD@SBS, 14 Herbert St
TAIWANESE SMOKED CHICKEN
With its crispy skin and succulent flavours, the tea-smoked chicken has celebrity status, but do yourself a culinary favour and be guided by the tables around you. IT’s been rumoured that a number of Sydney chefs are big fans of Chef Antonio Kuo’s cooking, particularly his traditional Taiwanese flour paper rolls. — Taipei Chef Restaurant, 1A Broughton Rd
THAI MEATBALL NOODLE SOUP
Cold nights call for warm soup in a hurry. Located right off the highway, call ahead so you can just get it and go. It has the Thai seasonings that you love plus those meatballs and noodles to fill you up. — Holy Basil Thai Takeaway, 349 Pacific Highway
EGGS BENEDICT
Brekkie or lunch. For those that can’t decide which way to go, the Bacon Hash Benedict swings either way. Next decision is whether to add chorizo, salmon, more bacon. — The Wilkes Artarmon, 7 Wilkes Ave
REUBEN SANDWICH
They’ve been dubbed “game-changing sandwiches” and once you taste this pastrami, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on rye icon, you’ll l understand how their specialty meats can transform this sandwich from traditional to tremendous. — Charc Specialty Meats & Coffee, 18 Cleg St
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