A short walk from Parramatta station lies one of the best cafe experiences I’ve had thus far, lunch at Circa Espresso.
This cafe oozes a cool, trendy vibe, complete with dishes so unique and delicious, you’ll be raving about them for days afterward – at least, that’s what I was doing.
Circa Espresso was established in 2010, taking inspiration from the quirky laneway cafes in Melbourne, and hoping to provide a unique dining experience for the community of Parramatta. Housed in a re-purposed terraced building with a side lane used for takeaways, this vision has certainly been achieved.
The cafe has a distinctly European feel, with a relaxed vibe and quaint seating options both inside and out. Nestled underneath pink Paper Flower trees and surrounded by the happy chatter of other diners, Circa should be top of the list for your next brunch outing.
Circa has an extremely unique menu with bold flavours and twists on your favourite cafe classics. Their menu is a thoughtful collection of flavours, masterfully blended to create a taste sensation in every sip or bite.
I was overwhelmed by their range of speciality lattes and teas, and was spoilt for choice when it came to lunch.
Being an Iced Chai lover myself, I had to try their signature blend. It was sweet, spicy and aromatic, everything you’d want a chai to be. It was smooth, and paired expertly with oat milk to create a delicious start to the meal.
To eat, I chose the Ottoman Eggs. To say I was excited by this dish would be an understatement.
Two poached eggs atop crumbed eggplant slices, sitting on a bed of garlic labne and burnt chilli and sage butter, topped with fried leeks and paired with two thick slices of house-made foccacia.
This dish was unlike anything I’ve ever had before, and was simply fantastic.
The eggs were expertly poached, which sent delicious yoke oozing down the side of the eggplant when cut open. The eggplant was thick and covered in a crunchy, golden brown crumb, which was fried to perfection. The bed of garlic labne provided a rich, creamy layer to the dish, and combined with the burnt chilli and sage butter, was absolutely mouthwatering. The crispy fried leeks on top added some extra crunch to each mouthful, creating an amazing taste at every bite.
Amazing as it was on its own, paired with the house-made foccacia, this dish was taken to another level. The foccacia was deliciously seasoned with salt flakes and rosemary, and when dipped in the combination of yoke, labne and butter, I simply couldn’t get enough.
Needless to say, I left with a very full stomach. In fact, I wasn’t able to finish it all.
Circa Espresso has crafted an unforgettable experience for each of its customers, beginning with their friendly and helpful staff, and ending with the smile on your face as you walk out the door. I can’t recommend Circa enough, as it was truly a unique taste sensation.
Circa Espresso is at 21 Wentworth Street, Parramatta.
Madeline Dantier is the author of the Experience Parramatta series, hosted by Parra News.