Lazy Times At T’s Book Cafe

By Em Allen on January 20, 2012 in

It’s a lazy time at T’s Book Café with comfort food and literature perusal on the agenda. Hearty American deli style sandwiches and hotdogs are the specialty around here. In fact, they even do hotdog delivery – who knew such a thing existed?

Previously owned by ex-Masterchef finalist Lucas Parsons, T’s Book Café was opened off the back of the well established T’s Bookshop in 2008. Parsons has since sold the business to a pair of young entrepreneurs, Matt Pettitt and Josh Burrows, who are trying to take the café to the next level.

With polished concrete floors and a bit of graffiti thrown in for good measure, most wall space is, unsurprisingly, lined with books, though one bare brick wall is adorned with a selection of art for purchase.

A regular tells me she likes it here because it’s like Gertrude and Alice in Bondi by way of style, but far more spacious. It really is a hidden gem to while away the hours within the cave like realms of wall-to-wall books. The long wooden tables are serious reading territory and chill out music sets the tone as it flows from digital radio station Buddha.

And what better way to waste time than with a creamy coffee or a cup of brew. The Di Gabriel coffee at T’s is as good as it gets, as is the Calmer-Sutra Chai. And if you’re in a rush, T’s takeaway coffee window is one of the busiest nooks in town.

Hankering for a sauce-laden hotdog? Get a Hemingway, Steinbeck, Twain or Whitman (it’s a bookstore people – get used to the author references). These are the real deal with lots of chilli con carne, peas, cheese, onions, sauerkraut and American mustard options thrown in the mix, depending on your selection. The hot sangas are popular too with everything from corned beef (i.e. The Ruben), pulled pork and chicken breast poached in sake broth on soy and quinoa bread. It really is ‘dude food’ at it’s most delicious.

T’s also serves breakfast, with the chalkboard menu offering all the usual favourites from French toast and fruit bread to eggs how you like them with the usual suspects on the side. The bacon and egg roll with homemade chutney looks like something that fell off Dad’s barbecue. It’s the stuff that camping trip dreams are made of.

Like the whole overall style and theme of the place, the books on offer at T’s are an eclectic mix.

There’s a distinct flair for the soulful and second hand and the classics are mixed with everything from Twilight to the Karma Sutra.

Open until 10pm daily, if you’re lonely I’d suggest getting down to T’s for some comfort food and a flick through an old favourite. Or if you cant be bothered, order your T’s dogs and sangas straight to your door – I don’t think they’ll send a book along though, just a Hemingway hotdog minus the literary prose.

T’s Book Cafe

Address: 136 Avoca Street, Randwick
Phone: (02) 9399 5981
Website: www.tsbookcafe.com.au
Open: Mon–Fri, 6am–10pm; Sat & Sun 8am-10pm
Seats: 30
Price: $5-$19
Cards: Visa, Master, Amex, Eftpos
Licensed/BYO: Neither