Dragonfly Cafe - Eden Gardens (Macquarie Park)

Another day back home in Sydney, another opportunity to catch up with a friend from long ago - in this case, from over 10 years (we think). She's a friend of mine from very long ago, when we first met in primary school and music classes. Unfortunately we've lost touch over the years: barely stayed in contact but never had a proper catch up until now!!

Where, I ask, would two artsy, funny and cheerful people go? My excuse for selecting Eden Gardens is that I used to live in the apartment blocks opposite this place on Fontenoy Rd, so I've always been PAST but never into this nursery. My friend's excuse: don't we all love pretty things - especially from a feminine perspective!! Well, that she's driven past here many times too but never had an excuse to go in...

Situated opposite Fontenoy Rd in Macquarie Park (off Lane Cove Rd/A3 motorway) with traffic light turning pockets, Eden Gardens is built over the site of an old brickworks, with all the excavation cleared and filled, and is now a garden-nursery with display gardens (for exhibitions and events/weddings), conference facilities and a cozy cafe: Dragonfly Cafe (see below). The rooftop layout is quite aesthetic, with the panes deliberate set at a descending angle from vertical to the horizontal!

Food time!

Below are:
Eggs Benedict with Salmon ($16): delightfully filling for the price, with two larger-than-expected hunks of Salmon =)

Hotcakes with vanilla gelato ($11): hot yumminess topped with a runny sweet trickle of vanilla. I put this simply: once I started, I couldn't stop =)

Hot chocolate ($4, cup) and coffee ($4, +1 = $5 for a mug-size)

Food Verdict:

Nothing overly special - would probably rate it a 6/10 for ordinarily nibbles for an acceptable price.

**Plus points: go for the outdoor dining facing the nursery or the courtyard, with an open airy feel overall. Food portions are slightly larger than expected for brunching, but fair for the price.

**Down side: Could have a little more variety, menus hard to find (grab it at the cashier's counter on the way in).

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Dragonfly Cafe @Eden Gardens, Macquarie Park
307 Lane Cove Rd
Macquarie Park, NSW, 2118

Open for brunch, lunch and tea most days - see website for details

To get here: driving only, with onsite and underground parking - easily found as "opposite Fontenoy Rd, 2118" with traffic light control for traffic from both directions. Situated just north of the A2/A3 intersecton.
Public transport: buses-only, that stop at "corner Fontenoy Rd/Lane Cove Rd", with services from Macquarie Centre and Epping, possibly to Gordon and Lindfield.




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Bonus: happy snaps from around the Gardens - enjoy!

Kitchen by Mike (Rosebery)

Another trip home to Sydney, another outing for catchups!

This morning was a long awaited catchup with my bestie... it is surprising how long (or short) 3 months feels like, and how much you can miss someone :( Mebbe I should find a posting back to Sydney soon...

Today began like any other: picked her up, and off to brunch we go - but someone forgot to tell the Grounds of Alexandria that we were coming: Sunday morning, and the place was packed by 8.30am !! :( All we saw from the outside were long queues and no car parking :(

So we relied on our favourite app (Urbanspoon) to look up an organic cafe nearby: Kitchen by Mike, which is only a 3min drive across to the next sector of Rosebury.

Situated within a warehouse on 85 Denning Ave, this is a place easily overlooked at first, with an exception: the numbers are painted on the door, so BOLO: be on the Lookout!!

We found plenty of street parking, and strolled in via the main entrance/ramp:

With a large open-space kitchen and a canteen style atmosphere, it is definitely a warm cosy place to enjoy brekkie with the family, and we watched as young couples, new families with a new bub, or those with a trio in tow all come in to enjoy a lovely Sunday brunch. As for ourselves: we found a cosy corner sofa to watch it all go by, nibbling away and catching up on everything that's happened in the past three months.

The nibbles: not cheap, but what do you expect for organic and speedily served?

Eggs Royale ($13) on smoked salmon: hot, gooey and yummy!

Sourdough pancakes with lemon curd ($14) - my favourite: three slices of hot yumminess with a tarty tang from the curd. Overpriced in my opinion, but I ain't complaining

Granola, yoghurt and stewed fruit ($12): our healthy compromise - and a little on the side for filling us up ;)

Oh, and not to mention my coffee!

Overall: good food, great vibe, cosy atmosphere... with a mild zap to the wallet. Worth the trip once here and there: 8/10 for what it's worth



PS: highlights of their homewares/arts store that opened at 10am...