Cafe Ella

Best chai in Sydney. I would even say the world, because hey have you tried to get chai in say New Zealand or the USA? Good luck with that. I’m talking the milk-​infused spiced tea blend, not your chai latte nonsense. Oh, and also? BEST CAFE IN SYDNEY. You heard me.
Disclaimer: I’m on first-​name terms with all the staff and have eaten dinner at the owners’ home. But that’s on account of me stopping by Ella virtually every day for the past… five years, ever since I moved into the neighbourhood; it would be weird if I didn’t know those guys by now. And that is how awesome Ella is, that I would consider going there so much. Sunday is the worst day of the week, because that’s when Ella is closed and their chai is unavailable to me. Part of me actually really hates writing this review, because I don’t want to share Ella with the rest of youse.
It’s cheap and comfy and unpretentious, and you can get a bloody big and satisfying meal for what feels like virtually nothing. My go-​to is poached eggs on rye with salad, and with mushrooms and avocado as add-​ons; a chai; and a freshly-​squeezed orange juice all for the low low price of ~$ 20. Come on, you can’t beat that value! (I can’t comment on the coffee ’cause I don’t drink coffee.) There’s a big condiment box on top of the counter so you can help yourself (harissa!), and they play vinyl sometimes. The baked goods are friggin’ out of control; all home-​made. The carrot cake is absolutely the best carrot cake I’ve ever had in my life (dat icing!). Bagels made on the premises! Grab a table, a menu (the chalkboard menu mentioned in earlier reviews is still in use, but there are laminated copies available these days too), and then order at the register. They accept credit and debit cards now. Honestly, there aren’t enough stars for this place. It has my heart forever.

I’ve put lots of things from this place into my mouth and haven’t regretted any of it. Smoothies are silky and fresh. The banana-​coconut bread is lavish and moist. And the brekky bagel (bacon, eggs, greens, mushrooms, peppers, roasted tomato) is immensely satisfying.
Like others, coffee is hit or miss, sometimes tasting a little burnt. And, like others, the chalkboard menu leaves a lot to be desired. There’s probably heaps more good things to eat, but it’d take an egyptologist to decipher what those hieroglyphics say.

I went here this afternoon with the intention of getting lunch. When I first walked in the staff seemed friendly. After taking a look at the menu, I decided that I wanted to try the lentil stew. I am allergic to egg, so I asked if the bread that comes with the stew is made with it before I ordered. The server didn’t know and asked a man who appeared to be in his 50s and either the owner or a manager. His response was «bread is not made with egg». I explained that I know that bread can be made without egg, but it is sometimes made with egg anyway, and that what I was asking is if the bread used in this restaurant is made with egg. One of the servers said that the bread is not made on the premises, and the owner/​manager immediately followed this by saying «bread is not made with egg» again, this time with some condescension is his voice. He then said «but I wouldn’t risk it.» I asked him if he had a list of ingredients that we could check to be certain, and he said «I know how to make bread,» and started listing off the ingredients necessary to make bread, speaking to me as though I am an idiot. I’d had enough by that point and left. I don’t know what his problem was, but he seemed set on having a go at me.

I absolutely love Café Ella. I live around the corner and its my choice for breakfast or lunch in the area. The coffee is reliably good, the bagels baked on premises and generous servings of cream cheese or ricotta (yum). My favourite lunches are the chicken rosetta roll, penne paesano, and the salads. The upstairs room is lovely and light-​filled, full of retro comfy armchairs. Like being in a homely lounge room. There is no attitude from the staff — they always seem to be having a good time and make everyone welcome. I love it.

I read the last review and felt instinctively like I need to defend Café Ella!
Rachel C. is right about the coffee — it’s Vittoria, and not amazing. It’s not bad though, it sort of depends on who the barista is on the day. (Denise is great.)
I will say this for Ella: it’s super friendly, and the chalk-​board menu is iconic (same as its sister café, Café Giulia). The menu is not as extensive as Café Giulia, but given the kitchen is small, they do a good job.
Café Ella’s servings of food are always generous, messily presented, and fresh. The muffins and cakes are rich and delicious, and they do a good blueberry bagel with ricotta. They don’t have Eftpos, but there’s a pub 1 minute away with an ATM.
Café Ella is not as self-​consciously trendy as one of its neighbours, Shortlist, but the staff at Ella make an effort to remember your name (and your coffee order). Café Ella has a lovely, quiet upstairs area and they’re happy for you to sit there and read for hours. It’s a place where you can feel at home.

Café Ella in Darlington has some tough competition in its neighbourhood, and I think it’s going to take a lot of work before it can pose any kind of threat.
As we walked in we were notified by the friendly waitress that there were no menus on the tables. This in itself would be fine, except that the menu written on the chalk board at the front of the café was scrawled almost illegibly, and with no order whatsoever — breakfast items were hidden amongst lunch items, and figuring out exactly what was on offer was an effort in itself. Thwarted by the challenge, we opted instead for one of their cakes, which was nice enough.
The coffee was average, and when we asked if they took Eftpos, we were informed that they did not, and that the nearest ATM was a 15 minute walk away.
The problem with Café Ella lies not only in its haphazard menu, but more so in the fact that it can’t beat its competition. With the bustling Shortlist café only two doors down, any passer-​by would look at the dreary, empty Café Ella and suspect that they must be doing something wrong. Whilst we decided to give them a go in the spirit of trying somewhere new, I know where I will be heading next time I’m in the area and it won’t be to Ella.