Dining review: Ruby Lane on Manly’s northen beaches

Ruby Lane is putting its stamp on the Manly food map with creative, healthy and interesting food.

Ruby Lane’s garden breakfast bowl.

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RUBY Lane is a little gem for organic foodies and latter day hunter-gatherers.

This Manly cafe/organic grocer is a one-stop destination for wholefood fans.

Ruby Lane might have a main road address but this venue is anything but mainstream.

Local owner Phil Dawson has been winning over the cafe set with his brand of ultra-healthy eating since opening in February.

Phil Dawson in his Many cafe, Ruby Lane.

For Dawson, a weekly visit to the Sunday organic markets at Frenchs Forest simply wasn’t enough.

He calls it reconnecting with real food and his mission is to take everyone on that journey.

Thankfully he practises his mantra without being preachy.

Ruby Lane just happens to be a healthy cafe that cares about your body, he says.

Dawson teamed up with like-minded Ben Horne to deliver that message.

With 10 years’ experience at Bondi Icebergs, this yoga-loving nutritionist has come up with a seasonal and sustainable menu.

The deck at Ruby Lane.

The inventive food is worth a visit, we say.

And we’re not alone – the place is busy and buzzy and recently top Sydney chef Peter Gilmore was spotted trying out Horne’s breakfast menu.

Could Horne’s pulled pork and organic egg roll replace the good old bacon and egg roll?

Of course, the update comes with a healthy twist and bags of flavour.

Horne marinates pork neck for 24 hours with limes, turmeric, ginger and lime then it is braised in coconut water.

It’s served with organic eggs and barbecue chutney and comes in bun made with house-sprouted seeds.

Smashed avo is extra.

Rubly Lane is a grocer too.

Ruby Lane’s garden breakfast bowl is brimming with kale massaged in garlic, lemon and chilli, radicchio leaves, avocado, baby cakes, sea kelp, blistered cherry tomatoes, fermented vegies, homemade paleo bread and dukkah-dusted soft egg. It is a welcome change to the fruity superfood breakfast bowl.

Even the kids’ menu swaps refined sugars and other nasties for super healthy ingredients.

Ruby juniors can tuck into delights like mini superfood pancakes topped with coconut syrup, cacao-glazed banana, marinated prunes and whipped coco cream.

Throw in kombucha or a turmeric latte instead of a coffee, and you’ll feel `awesome’ after eating, just as the menu says.

ESSENTIALS

Ruby Lane

200 Pittwater Rd, Manly

Phone: [phone]

Open: Seven days, from 6.30am-4pm. Free Range Sundays start on June 12 with music and wines from Lowe in Mudgee

Go for: Coconut water braised pulled pork and egg roll, $14; sweet potato, kale and quinoa hash with poached eggs, $16; five-hour braised lamb, $26

Coffee: Sacred Grounds

Vibe: Health kicks