Cafe Kentaro

Possessing a definite Japanese aesthetic, Cafe Kentaro offers friendly and thoughtful service and a unique menu with dishes that sets it apart from your everyday brunch fare - there's not an avocado in sight! I'd happily eat every thing on the menu (and probably will work my way through it) and today settled on the Karaage Sambo. My friend's choice of Umami Mushroom Toast may have aroused some food envy - a generous mound of wild mushrooms sautéed with miso and butter with goats cheese was flavoursome and very moreish. The kids polished off their ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches and the brekkie bun was pretty awesome too. There's a small selection of sweets with the obligatory matcha flavoured treats. The matcha cream puff had a lovely choux pastry and with its strongly flavoured matcha cream is definitely one for matcha lovers.

The brother or sister of Café Oratnek, this café can be found on Bourke street in Surry Hills. I went mid week so it wasn't too busy and so I was pretty lucky to be visiting on this day. Similar menu to that of Oratnek, it has lovely Japanese inspired dishes and lots of matcha. The popular dish is the katsu sandwich, but having eaten this before, the linguini took my fancy. It was flavoured with natto, okra, shisho, shallot, sesame, nori, soy and topped with a poached egg. It was absolutely delicious. I enjoyed the flavours. It was a little small possibly and would have loved another spoonful. I also got a matcha lamington which I took home to eat. A lovely flavor and light sponge. Staff were absolutely lovely!