All Aboard: Bus Stop

By Dining Dave on October 10, 2013 in Food

Photo: Grant Brooks

“It’s so Randwick” is how my companion described Bus Stop Café as we sat down for our brunch on a sunny Saturday just before noon. Assuming she meant that it’s got an urban edge to it, I had a feeling I’d be enjoying myself for the next hour or so. Only time would tell if Bus Stop would become my Randwick must-stop.

As one may have guessed, the cafe is named after the all-too-obvious bus stop right outside the front door. Located in the café-rich section of Randwick at the intersection of Frenchmans and Clovelly Road, Bus Stop grabs you with its simple spray-painted marquee, which bears its name in white.

Upon entry you’ll immediately feel the welcome of the life-sized mural of a Jesus-like man with out-stretched arms gazing down upon the café. Inside, the black and grey motif is broken up by the multi-coloured stacks of coffee cup saucers alongside the espresso machine, a crate of neatly arranged fresh fruit, and the grab-and-go choices written in electric, neon-coloured chalk on the wall. I suppose the term I’d use to describe Bus Stop’s style is ‘Graffiti Raw’ – raw wood, raw bricks, raw furniture and coffee bean sack pillows, complemented by spray-painted kitsch all over the place.

Immediately greeted by Diogo, one of the co-owners, we started off with a couple of skim cappuccinos, which had a smooth approach and went down better than most caps I’ve had in the east. Getting down to business, we started a bircher with yoghurt and berry coulis to share, and a ‘calypso’ – a fresh orange, pineapple, apple and lemon mix that came in an on-trend jam jar. Served in a military-style metal bowl, the bircher had the right combination of elements to make it satisfying, without being too heavy.

For mains, we went with the symmetrical ‘Bus Stop Brekky’, with smoked salmon, two poached eggs, two slices of roast tomato, field mushrooms and two slices of Iggy’s sourdough toast, as well as a chorizo roll with crisps. You can just tell when ingredients are fresh, and this was certainly the case here – from the sautéed onions on the juicy, spicy sausage and soft Portuguese roll, to the flavoursome salmon and perfectly poached eggs with runny orange yolks. Presentation was also key, and it looked so amazing on arrival it seemed a shame to break it up and eat it.

It turns out that the desserts are all freshly baked in-house, or at least in Diogo’s dad’s bakery, which delivers goodies including delicious Portuguese tarts and decadent mud cake every morning.

An hour had passed and we felt that we could have stayed all afternoon, drinking coffee and listening to 1950s music – it’s just so comfortable. You may love your car or bike, but once in a while, jump on the X39 to this stop – you won’t regret it.

Bus Stop Cafe
Address | 80 Clovelly Road, Randwick
Phone | 0403 798 333
Website | Coming soon
Email | busstop339@gmail.com
Open | Sun – Mon, 7am – 4pm
Prices | Brekky: $9-15; Lunch $12-14
Seats | 22 inside
Cards | All major cards
Licensed/BYO | Not licensed