Cedro, Port Macquarie

I am horrendously behind with my posts. The thing is, I have rediscovered reading and once you find a good book, my god is it hard to put down.

After a long time wishing for a visit to Port Macquarie's Cedro, my father and I finally made plans to visit the demure cafe on December 27 (yes, really behind I know!) Prior to our visit, it had always seemed that Cedro was closed whenever we decided to go. I am just glad I didn't give up! When I finally did visit, the service and food was excellent, sealing the cafe's fate as a new go-to.

Being a public holiday and very early in the morning, the cafe was quiet. This was lucky for us because it was blowing a gale outside. While there's a lot of al fresco seating lining the pathways on the corner of Clarence and Short streets, there is limited seating inside - a communal square table for around eight and a handful of others to seat groups of four to be exact.

The waitstaff at the cafe were incredibly friendly and very talkative which was nice. They were very comforting while I waited for my father who was late, and not in the slightest bit pushy. When my father finally arrived, orders were taken swiftly and jovially.

My father, not feeling very peckish, ordered the poached eggs on Turkish toast, adding bacon ($15.50). He had no complaints himself, but personally, I believe $4.50 for an add on (which also includes tomatoes, mushrooms, smoked leg ham, slow baked beans, chorizo, avocado, crisp chat potatoes) is a bit steep. To be honest, every time I see eggs and toasted listed on a cafe menu I cringe. Not because the old eggs and toast combo isn't damn tasty, but because of the absurd prices that are usually attached. 

I opted for the roasted forest mushrooms on brioche with wilted baby spinach, asparagus and gorgonzola, a poached egg and truffle oil ($17), which was absolutely divine and, unlike my father's meal, well worth the price. The poached egg was spot on - the yolk oozed out when I ran my knife through it -, the mushrooms were excellently marinated and the brioche was so sweet, crisp and soft at the same time. I was thrilled with my meal and couldn't have asked for anything better.

The coffee at Cedro was deliciously smooth. I usually don't like Toby's Estate but this was brewed well and presented beautifully. It was also exquisite because it came with a smile!

It really is a wonder why I let the fact that I hadn't visited Cedro slide for so long. But with a delicious sounding menu including such things as goat's cheese, basil and shallot scramble and a breakfast tagine of lamb, pumpkin and minted yoghurt, I will just have to go back - and oh so willingly will I go!

Cedro, 70 Clarence St, Port Macquarie