Sydney Weekender - Eating Out - Parramatta

Eating Out – Parramatta

Reporter: Ada Nicodemou

Circa Espresso

Parramatta has become a fabulous cultural mixing pot and that always means one thing - great food. What was once just a laneway between two large buildings is now Circa Espresso, a funky café serving up a tasty menu with Middle Eastern influences.

With graffiti and mural artwork covering the walls this quirky café is a favourite with anyone who takes their coffee very seriously, it is their specialty after all. Stick around though because the menu here is equally enticing and will go perfectly with your cuppa. For breakfast chow down on some delicious baked eggs served with Turkish sausage, Danish feta, tomato and a hint of chilli. There’s the Portobello mushroom stuffed with ricotta, walnuts, basil pesto and served on tasty sourdough, or the scrambled eggs with Tasmanian smoked salmon, fresh ricotta and toasted brioche.

Other stand out dishes include the perfectly poached free range eggs with caramelised onion, spinach and smoked ham, stacked on a potato roesti and then smothered with hollandaise sauce. If you’ve got a sweet tooth then the French toast (with a Middle Eastern twist) is for you! It comes with rhubarb compote, pistachios and a generous dollop of yogurt called labneh. After one meal here it’s easy to see why this little café is making such a big impression.

Prices correct as at 04/08/12

Kouzina Greco

Still in Parramatta, once you’re finished your Middle Eastern feast why not head to Greece? Kouzina Greco is a family owned and run restaurant serving up delicious home-style Greek food with a bit of a twist.

Bring your appetite and begin your Greek feast with pan seared scallops wrapped in zucchini and pancetta and served on grilled haloumi cheese, or there’s the stuffed baby octopus with prawn and calamari pilaf and a fresh vegetable salsa. For mains the slow-roasted lamb shoulder with lemon, olive oil and roasted potatoes is truly scrumptious and the hearty beef stifado with caramelised baby onions, red wine vinaigrette and chat potatoes will really hit the spot.

Just when you thought you couldn’t possibly fit another thing in your stomach you’ll find the desserts here are hard to resist. The ‘Loukoumades’, a favourite with the locals, consists of traditional Greek honey donuts topped with cinnamon and icing sugar. There’s also a mouth-watering baklava ice-cream with walnuts, vanilla bean ice-cream, cinnamon and crispy filo pastry, yum!

Prices correct as at 04/08/12