Circa Cafe, Parramatta

I first heard about Circa Cafe when the Good Living included it in an article they wrote on great eateries and grocers in the Parramatta area.  Then whenever anyone asked me for good places to eat in Parramatta I'd suggest Circa Cafe, even though I'd not actually been there myself. I just had a sixth sense that this place would be something special...and when I finally made there myself I was glad to see that I was right.

Circa Cafe is a fairly new cafe full of inner-city quirkiness.  Located in a former driveway squished between two buildings this narrow cafe is filled to the brim with eclectic bric-a-brac.  It looks like the sort of cafe that you would be more likely to find in the up and coming areas of Redfern or South Surry Hills, not the CBD of Parramatta. I'm beyond happy to find this little piece of inner-city cool transported and happily doing a roaring trade in ye olde West.

My first visit is for brunch on a Friday and as I sit and soak up the atmosphere I watch a steady steam of office workers come in for toast, coffee or a sweet snack. I decide to have a coffee ($3.00) to get me going for the day as well as a Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Mayo Sandwich ($5.00).  The sandwich is HUGE, with lovely triple smoked ham and is so flavoursome. I'm impressed by how cheap the food is without any compromise on flavour, quality or quantity. 

The very next day I drag The Boy back for breakfast - a cafe this good is worth sharing. As is the brunch routine of most people we start with coffee and a flick through the morning papers.

The Boy ordered Scrambled Eggs on Toast ($5.00) with a side of Portobello Mushrooms ($3.00). In a crime against his food blogging Wife, The Boy scoffs his brunch before I can even get a picture. Quelle Horreur!

I was eying off a tasty sounding sandwich of Portobello Mushrooms, Basil Pesto, Danish Feta and Caramelized Onions ($8.00).  Even though this sandwich is only available at lunch the lovely boys who own the cafe make me one anyway - which means preparing ingredients they weren't using this day...truly great customer service. And if that isn't enough, they felt it was taking too long for my sandwich to be prepared so brought me a little snack of Portobello Mushrooms on Toast with Danish Feta. I mean seriously - how nice is that?  And to top it all off they only charged me $5.00 for both sandwiches. 

Both of my brunches were outstanding - the mushrooms were thick and meaty, and the creamy feta added just the right balance of saltiness. I loved the sweet tasting caramelized onion on my sandwich.  And best of all The Boy had massive food envy - which is something I normally suffer from.

Circa Cafe is at 21 Wentworth Street, Parramatta.  They are only open for brunch on Saturday's til 1pm so don't sleep in and miss out!