The Good Guide lead me to this little gem; with a basic yet inviting description of ‘glorious views over the hillside cottages of Paddington and a ruby red ceiling’, I was pretty much sold and put breakfast at Ruby Cafe on the to-do list over my Christmas break.
Not knowing just how popular or roomy it was, I booked a table for my party of 6, which in hindsight was a great idea – although the cafe was empty when we arrived, the people of Paddington took very little time in descending upon and filling the small venue.
The long narrow venue has been converted to (or perhaps already was) your typical QLD workers cottage dining area with high ceilings (ruby red in fact), VJ walls, noisy wooden floors and as promised, sweeping views of the Paddington hillside.
The staff were looking a little tired and perhaps reluctant…it was only two days into the new year after all…but they were pleasant, and mostly attentive.
The breakfast menu was a bit like torture – it all sounded so good, and the thought of missing out on something was painstaking.
In the end, I opted for the bubble and squeak hash cakes, wilted spinach and beetroot leaves, poached eggs and basil hollandaise sauce ($15), with a side of bacon ($4).
This truly was a taste sensation. The hash cakes were full of chunky, soft potato and sweet potato, shallots, corn and goodness knows what else – they were insanely good. The bacon was crispy, the eggs poached to my liking and the hollandaise sauce added a nice, subtle tang to the dish.
MM had his standard of scrambled eggs ($9.00); a really creamy, generous pile of eggs atop Ruby Cafe’s peasant sourdough.
T had the chorizo, braised leek and shallot, manchego baked eggs with tomato raisin chutney and ciabatta ($16.00). Another generous, flavoursome serve and a spicy, creative combination from the Ruby Cafe chef.
The more standard menu items of poached eggs and bacon ($13) were also a hit around the table, with perfectly cooked eggs and crispy, lean bacon.
The coffees were a bit hit and miss, but overall pretty good and they do a mean hot chocolate. Word on the street is that Ruby Cafe’s blueberry buttermilk pancakes are the bomb, but if you’re a not-so-sweet-tooth like me, do yourself a favour and have the hash cakes.
- Ruby Cafe – 233 Given Terrace, Paddington +61 7 3367 2274
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