Revolver came to my attention after its inclusion in just about every list of the whos-who in cafes. Top ten, all the time--so, it's no wonder that I finally made my way there.
This Annandale cafe is an institution, just google "Revolver big brekkie" and look at all the pictures of said dish. With its artsy interiors--including old-school library style wall equipped with sliding latter, antique lighting and lone graffiti wall--hip waitstaff and equally creative cafe menu.
Revolver hugs the corner of Annandale and Rose street. Fortunately, this means double the footpath, that is, double the space for cafe-goers to wait in line. And there is a line.
When we--Mother, Mother's Boyfriend and I--arrive, the cosy cafe is packed. Our name gets taken down and we're advised there's four other parties in front of us. So begins the wait and so, the observations.
The staff at Revolver are as friendly as anything. I watch them so carefully help a lady in a wheelchair to a table and generally conduct wide genuine grins in every which direction. When an elderly man turns up with two bouquet's of flowers for his obvious lover, the waiter doesn't hesitate in fetching a vase and placing the beautiful bunch in front of the tiled wall adorned with mermaid mural. Soon enough, we're seated at a crooked table on Rose Street, with it's very own revolver pattern etched into the woodwork.
The menu at Revolver is full of fancy cafe style dishes with a bit of flair. Everything sounds too luscious and I would most certainly have needed god's help to choose a few to mention here (luckily, picking my meal was a decision cut out for me, I just couldn't go past the infamous big breakie).
For drinks, my mum and her boyfriend, Bret, both opt for the Red Dragon organic ginger beer ($4.50) and I, for the mango smoothie ($5.50). Mum and Bret are rapt with their ginger beers and couldn't give more positive reviews. It is from Byron Bay, organic and apparently damn tasty (I can't stand the stuff), so I'd say it's worth the price. The photo does my smoothie no justice, it is most certainly massive. The liquid itself isn't the best I've had. Revolver has an extensive list of teas.
Our meals arrive promptly, on cute, antique (probably op-shopped) plates. Mum couldn't rave anymore about the nine hour roasted lamb bruschetta with housemade hummus, fire roasted capsicum relish, spiced almonds ($15.50). The lamb was tender and the dish had a bit of grunt thanks to the spiced almonds and relish. The toast was perfectly crisp. Really, it couldn't get any better for less than twenty dollars.
My big breakie of two baked eggs in housemade beans, honey cured bacon, roast tomato, mushrooms, honey mustard sausage and toast ($16.50) certainly was ace. The baked eggs were soft and the yolk melted in the mouth. The bacon was spot on with a hint of honey, the honey mustard flavour was definitely present in the sausage and with toast and pesto on the side, the meal was basically impossible to finish; it was certainly very sizeable. I must admit, however, that I'm not a fan of baked beans, and this failed to convert me. The tomato sauce can also get a bit sickening after a while.
Bret wasn't very peckish so opted for something light: the pocketed bacon and egg roll with rocket and awesome sauces ($8). Simple and yet sophisticated; the meal was spot on in terms of flavour, was presented very cleanly and a godsend to the tastebuds with those "awesome sauces."
Revolver certainly lived up to the hype. Everything about the visit was streamlined to perfection: the warm, caring, efficient service; welcoming interiors; convenient and yet secluded location on a residential road and, most of all, creative and damn tasty menu. This cafe really is the centre of its community (a trend the media seems to preach lately) epitomised by the Revolver community noticeboard that greets you at the door. And for once, a cafe is absolutely worth the label.
The only thing I want to know is where I can get a clay pot a la the Revolver big breakie? Let me assure you, it's a great dish to replicate.
Revolver, 291 Annandale Street, Annandale
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