The Tor

The Tor is a perfect example of what a café should be — delicious food, friendly service, and, of course, great coffee!
The one place that my fiancée and I can always agree upon when weekend brunch is the topic — all day breakfast or a wide variety of lunch options always brings me back to try something new.
My favourite meals so far are the Eggs Benedict (or rather the Eggs Bene-​brick, as the meal is prepared with poached eggs atop a cube of pork belly and potato) or the braised lamb sandwich (with lamb that closely resembles butter in texture, the crunchiest ciabatta, and a delicious aioli).
As for drinks, the coffee is nothing short of spectacular. If coffee isn’t to your taste, however, the Tors offers up a selection of juices/​smoothies to satisfy any and all!
The owner, George, is a regular friendly face — we no longer say «let’s go to the Tors», we now say «let’s go see George» — and the staff are always helpful.
Definitely the best café in the ‘Crag!

I feel like sometimes I am a harsh critic when it comes to coffee shops. So take that as you will.
This place is lacking in something. I can’t quite put my finger on it, it’s as if they have tried but missed the mark. It is a different style to any other café around the area. Thank god for that by the way. But the prices are jacked up and the service is meh (first visit took over 15 mins to get a coffee).
I love coffee, my drink of choice is an iced latte. The barista asked if I wanted ice cream. No sir, an iced latte does not have ice cream in it. do lattes have ice cream in them? Nope. The resulting drink was tasteless and milky. and for $ 6, I would expect at least a double shot of espresso. It also needed more ice and less milk.
I have not tried the food, but it sure did look good! I would like to go back for brunch and see how it goes. But I wouldn’t hold my breath for a good iced latte. For that, I recommend Dose on High St. They make a killer iced latte!
Also, I love taking my dog (a staffy x) up to Castlecrag shops, and watch as she scares the pants off all the pretentious locals. Note: she is the friendliest dog ever.

Hipsters have finally invaded the pensioner-​held fortress that is Castlecrag. Sorrel! Nose rings! Buckwheat! Beards! Will the old people, and the ironically named Castlecrag Progress Association, fight back with strongly worded letters to their local councilmen and/​or women? Who’s to say!
The Tor is a new café that’s just opened on Edinburgh Rd after months of «It’s coming!» signs plastered over the window. Hype like that just doesn’t happen in The ‘Crag, and boy howdy if this place doesn’t live up to the hype and bring a little schmear of Surry Hills to the north shore. The fitout is long, dark and trendy, all clean lines and polished concrete. And the food. Have mercy, the food. Their take on an Eggs Benedict is perfectly poached eggs on a brick of potato rosti with thick cut bacon (that more resembles chunks of pork belly) splashed with hollandaise and sprinkled with wood sorrel. The smashed avo on toast is dusted with al dente split peas, cherry tomatos and a cheek of lemon. And the ricotta buckwheat pancakes come with more berries than you’ve seen outside of a, i don’t know, a berry farm I guess.
I need to try everything. Oh yeah the coffee is super great, too. It’s at Castlecrag prices, but then, you’d pay the same thing in Alexandria, this is the way the world is going.