Head across the water to the north side of the Harbour Bridge and you will come across North Sydney, a thriving business hub during the working week, full of a professional workforce constantly on the go. Home to an eclectic mix of casual cafes, bustling pubs, new restaurants and tantalising eateries, it can be pretty difficult to know where to get a bite of lunch. However, one of our favourites is The Roots, perfectly placed within the heart of North Sydney and this is exactly where I headed today.
It’s best to get to The Roots early as it does fill up pretty fast and you cannot make a booking. I arrived with my work colleagues just after midday and we managed to find a seat in a cosy corner, tucked away in a section of the cool cafe. The Roots is split into two halves with indoor and outdoor eating areas and has a relaxed vibe.
Arrive before 11.30am and you can grab some breakfast including tasty banana bread with house made espresso butter, bacon egg roll, or the legendary grain and chia bircher with rhubarb seasonal fruits, nuts and sesame snaps.
However, arrive after 12pm and you can treat your palate to some sensational dishes. Luckily for me, the menu is quite small helping me choose quickly and today I went for the Poached Chicken Sandwich with chilli mayo, rocket and tomato with a side of house pickled salad for $15. Other sandwiches include Roast Pork with fennel slaw, apple sauce and that must-have crackling, or how about the Haloumi with wild mushrooms, babaganoush roasted red peppers and rocket – I think I will try that one next time!
Salads are also a must try here and the Lamb Shoulder with pearl barley salad, roasted cherry tomatoes, zucchini, mint, pine nuts, currants and tzatziki for $17.50 is delicious! If you’re extra hungry I would also recommend the truffle fries here – plenty of truffle oil, quite simply puts me in truffle heaven!
Even though The Roots was bustling when we arrived, our food came out pretty quickly. My Poached Chicken Sandwich came out toasted and there was plenty of it. The chicken was super tender, coated with plenty of mayo which had a good kick of chilli. The pickled salad on the side was a nice touch.
Tap water is provided on arrival, but there are soft drinks, wine and beer as well as freshly ground coffee if you need an afternoon pick-me-up.
Overall, the food at The Roots is well presented, a good portion size and is full of flavour. So if you’re struggling to find a good place for lunch in North Sydney, or fancy somewhere new then make sure you give The Roots a try! Open Monday to Friday from 7am to 4pm, I will certainly be heading back in the not so distant future for that Haloumi Sandwich!