Source Cafe

JaTo and A1 & D2 on Source Cafe...

Source Cafe is on the water in Maryville, Shop 1 74-76 The Lane

Click Me for Google Maps

On COFFEE

Source's coffee is average. I must admit I wasn't expecting awesome coffee but it was nice. Source is more the cafe for nice smoothies, iced drinks, good food and awesome view. But for a coffee fix with breakfast you do get a decent cappuccino with it. Check out the pics of our various drinks below... and yes the smoothies and iced mochas taste as amazing as they look! So we are rating the coffee so we give it 7/10.

On FOOD

Ahhhhh the food! As you all know I do enjoy a breakfast menu and Source Cafe has good breakfast menu. A1 & D2 both got breakfast burritos. When they go to Source they always get this. I understand why after tasting it oh bee gee bee gee! To got a salmon omelette which was also very good, very tasty. I couldn't help it but I got the eggs benedict with ham. The hollandaise sauce was perfection very yummmm, only criticism was the ham was plain shaved ham you buy for sandwiches. I hate to be a snob but I would've expected nice off the bone ham but that's me. Overall we gave Source's breakfast 8/10.

On ATMOSPHERE

You come to Source for the view. It's on the harbour and where ever you sit you can see the harbour and see people walk past, absolutely beautiful. Source doesn't have that hipster vibe that we all know I am obsessed with so trying to give a bit of variety. It's nice inside but being a bit of a snob again they may need table upgrades (not dirty just run down). But I am being critical. Overall atmosphere is 3/5.

BRUNCH BREAKDOWN

I did my first Park Run starting in Carrington which goes past Source Cafe making it a good choice. The nice sized breakfast made it a desirable place to go for post 5km run breakfast! We were all satisfied with great food, delish drinks and beautiful views. Overall we all recommend the amazing breakfast burrito for yourself and give rating 18/20.

Brunch on Newcastle,

Ja and Company xoxo.

Where to Tea in Newcastle?

Ja on TEA...

I must admit I am a bit of a tea drinker at home. I've gotten into that tea frenzy that is taking over! Everyone knows T2 at Charlestown Square and The Tea Centre at Westfield Kotara. All things tea you can get them there.

My afternoon tea with a Dutch mini waffle. Many thanks to guest blogger Dutchy for introducing me to these! The tea makes the waffle warm and sooo delish (get them in the international section in some Coles and sometimes some Woolworths)! Trying this with amazing coconut tea from T2.

But where to go out for tea in Newcastle?

Madame Mo’s Asian Emporium 

106 Maitland Road, Islington

Check out the review from The Herald by clicking on the link below:
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1903286/at-one-with-tea/

For those of you who don't know why the big fuss of tea? Other then it's aromas and yummyness check out the link below for the benefits of tea:
6 Benefits of Tea

Brunch on Newcastle,
Ja and Company xoxo.

Rolador

JaTo on Rolador...

Rolador is on 1 Beaumont St Hamilton next to the car park for the train station.

On COFFEE
I'm sure most of you have tried their coffee and it's good coffee good coffee. This weekend we couldn't fault their coffee. My cappuccino was strong, smooth and amazing. To got an iced latte and a piccalo. Could not fault either! For us we give coffee 9/10.

On FOOD

We decided on Rolador because I've always gone to Rolador for coffee but never thought about trying their breakfast. When we got there it was busy busy! That was our first indication that food was going to be good. Great breakfast style menu with lots of options. I got the Ranch Burrito, it was amazing. It was big, had nice mince with egg, rocket, potatoes and a beautiful hot sauce with just the right amount of heat. I enjoyed it so much I forgot to leave some for To to try. To got the scrambled egg with pesto on bruschetta. To thought it was amazing but had one small problem, she thought it needed more pesto. So overall we give an 8/10 rating.

 

On ATMOSPHERE

I really liked the presentation of the coffee with the retro spoon and the miss match of cup and saucer. Rolador was one of the original hipster cafes in Newcastle and has kept the look up. It was the casual hipster vibe with some tables being on crates around the side near the car park and the old fashion metal chairs. I do have to do a small critique it did feel like we may have been forgotten sitting out the front. It was quite busy however so we can't be too harsh on that. Rating for atmosphere 4/5.

BRUNCH BREAKDOWN

I have to admit I was skeptical going to Rolador because it has been one of the original hipster cafes in Newcastle and I feel a lot of people would've tried it already. I had never be there for breakfast before however so I thought we should give it a go and for some a new review and for some a renewed review. All in all Rolador ticks all the boxes: great coffee, good breakfast and one of Newcastle's original cool casual hipster vibe. The overall rating for Rolador is a solid 21/25.

Brunch on Newcastle,

Ja and Company xoxo.

Cazador

JaTo on Cazador...

Cazador is half way through the mall: 148 Hunter St Newcastle.

On COFFEE

I got my standard cappuccino and To got her usual piccolo. I found the coffee to be quite good. If I were to fault it for anything it was a wee little weak for my liking. To really enjoyed her piccolo, not faults great coffee. We give Cazador coffee a 7/10 rating.

On FOOD

Being more a breakfast person I was very happy when I saw the menu. Nice breakfast style menu, with some of your standard breakfasts (French Toast) and some of your more hipster breakfast menu. I have a bit of a soft spot for French Toast so I couldn't resist. My French Toast was amazing. It had a good amount of maple syrup and enough fruit to have some with each bite of the generous serve of toast. To decided to try something different and got the Kingfish, beetroot, rocket and hollandaise sauce on sourdough. To's something different turned out in her favour. To loved her breakfast, I tried a little bit and it was amazing a great mixtue of flavours. Our rating is 9/10 for food, totally delish.

On ATMOSPHERE

Love love the hipsterness of Cazador. Inside and out the front feeling of cool hipster. Cazador also does the night scene of hipster bar. We felt Cazador fit both the brunch/breakfast hipster scene and the cool hipster night scene inside and out funk. We loved what they did inside right down the back... you all will have to go check it out ;) One small thing we couldn't let slide was the fake flowers. There are so many cafe's who do the beautiful flowers thing and it does add that something special. No flowers would've been better than fake flowers. Cazadors fake flowers just don't cut it. So for atmosphere we give Cazador a 4/5.

BRUNCH BREAKDOWN

All in all we did really enjoy the Cazador hipster breakfast experience. Decent coffee, great food and good atmosphere. A good combination for a lovely breakfast out with friends, your other half or even by yourself with the paper. The breakfast will leave you so satisfied that you'll want to come back the next day. Overall rating for Cazador is a 20/25.

Brunch on Newcastle,

Ja and Company xoxo.

Ground Floor

Ja and Dutchy on Ground Floor...

Ground Floor is at 103 Hunter St Newcastle, corner of Hunter St and Newcomen St!

On COFFEE
Ahhhh Ground Floor coffee. If you see a lot of cyclists at a coffee place you know the coffee is going to be good! Ground floor never disappoints with coffee. I must admit I am a bit of a frequent at Ground floor their coffee and they haven't disappointed yet! Always smooth and nice and strong perfect perk me up, especially if it's with a little sweet something something on the side. Double trouble with two cappuccinos for Dutchy and myself. Our coffee rating 9/10.

On FOOD

Again I must admit I have had breakfast at Ground Floor before and it fails to disappoint. A little pricey but this is what your expect from quality hipster food. I got the big breakfast, I was quite hungry and pleased to say I was extremely satisfied. Dutchy got the eggs benedict with ham. She was also happy with her breakfast. Another awesome thing about Ground floor... with any breakfast on the menu (with bread) you have a choice of 5 different breads. Dutchy and I both choose Turkish. Ah nom nom! Of course we stayed for a small sweet something something on the side. Their sizable selection made the decision hard but we choose an amazing cherry Danish. Overall 9/10 on food.

On ATMOSPHERE

Ground floor atmosphere is as good as all the hipster cafes we've reviewed already. Of course they have their own flair with beautiful pots of flowers or herbs on the tables outside under the big trees in the mall. Inside they have the funky lights and awesome functioning piano. We always love coming back to Ground Floor. Atmosphere rating 5/5.

The BRUNCH BREAKDOWN

All in all you can't say much bad about Ground Floor. Definitely a fav with us. If you're just looking for having some brunch, breakfast or a coffee with a small something something we always enjoy going to Ground Floor. Overall rating 23/25.

Brunch on Newcastle,

Ja and Company xoxo.

The Edwards Night Scene

Ja on the Edwards Night Scene...

Remember our side note on The Edwards hipster night life?

Check out the Newcastle Herald's article on The Edwards:

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2165040/warm-glow-welcomes-at-edwards/?cs=2373

The Edwards is Newcastle's most pumping hipster new bar in town!

The best thing after a night out... is brunch. Don't forget The Edwards also does a great brunch!

Brunch on Newcastle,
Ja and Company xoxo.

Bank Corner

JaTo on Bank Corner...

Bank Corner is on 2 Bellevue St Newcastle West across Hunter Street opposite Spotlight.

On COFFEE
I hadn't heard much about Bank Corner so I wasn't sure what to expect from my coffee. To be honest it wasn't the best cappuccino I've had, not the worst either. It was a fairly bitter cappuccino for me. It was odd because To's soy piccolo latte was up there, To rating it a 9. I wanted to get another coffee and check it wasn't a mistake so I got a single origin espresso (offered by the lovely staff might I add). Again disappointed, wee too bitter. To also got another soy piccolo this time hers was good but not as amazing as the first one. We're going to conclude the coffee bean works well with their soy milk. Hate to do it but we give 6/10 rating for coffee.




On FOOD
Being slightly disappointed by the coffee we were very pleased with our awesome breakfast. On the brunch style menu Ja got the fried egg on brown sourdough with ham and avocado. To got the scrambled eggs on brown sourdough with mushroom and spinach. Both simple breakfasts both amazingly done!! Tickling our taste buds we really enjoyed our breakfast we put them up there! 8/10 for our breakfast.

On ATMOSPHERE
Driving down the road when I saw it I really loved the look of it. Beautiful old school building with a green shop shade with a sign that says 'Espresso Bar' on top. The whole decor was beautifully done in true to form hipster fashion all the way out into the courtyard. Even the bathroom was hipstered up, in a Harry Potter staircase cabinet. Yes yes it's a 5/5 on atmosphere for us.

The BRUNCH BREAKDOWN
All in all even though I was not impressed with the coffee I still enjoyed going to Bank Corner. I would give them another chance for coffee because I really enjoyed the brunch, lovely staff and the atmosphere but I'm thinking they may need to change their coffee bean for my tastes. All in all the Bank Corner has our overall rating of 19/25.

Brunch on Newcastle,
Ja and Company xoxo.