The Hive Berambing — Restaurant in New South Wales

Road food is always a contentious category for me. I simply won’t dine if it means eating mass-produced junk food. Cue me: scouring our planned route to NSW’s Central West for something approximating real food. I scored well with The Hive Berambing, a small grey shed with polished cement flooring and varnished wood details.

While it might be roadside on the Bells Line of Road, the food it produces is honest and inexpensive, plus there’s the opportunity to team your visit with a spot of produce shopping. They’re the home of Bilpin Bush Honey, so there are opportunities to taste creamed, cinnamon creamed, and raw bush honey while you wait for your food. Locally produced products take pride of place in their small range, with Hillbilly Cider and Wirraninna Ridge apple cider vinegar from nearby Bilpin, both standing out on the shelves. Outside you’ll find straw filled wooden crates with fresh produce. Picture perfect oranges, lemons, pink lady apples and pecan nuts were on offer during my recent visit.

Fresh produce is put to good effect in their own range of products, like the house-made Spicy Tomato Relish ($10/400g). You can try it before you buy it with The Hive Sausage Roll ($6) for an extra fifty cents. This pork-mince filled sausage roll is flaky and honest. The sesame seed-studded Vegetarian Roll ($6) is even better against the chunky, round tomato relish.

On the succinct menu, you’ll also find this relish put to good use on the Vegetarian Toastie ($12.50). It's pitted against golden, freshly-grilled haloumi cheese, avocado and a generous helping of tangy sauerkraut on a toasted flat roll. It’s a generous size, big enough to share if you both want to try their baked products too.

Drink options include Remedy’s lovely Lemon, Lime & Mint Organic Kombucha, a range of coffees, including Iced Coffee ($6), and a clever Banana Turmeric Smoothie ($9). Made with a blend of bananas, walnuts, yoghurt, almond milk, honey and LSA mix (linseed, sunflower seeds and almonds); it’s nutty with a nice kick of turmeric - perfect for fuelling your...

Got a table but stood next to it for 10 mins waiting staff to clean table - OK fine. Understood you were busy but at least should have some communication when you knew and watched your customer standing for that long. Very poor customer service.

Then the owner asked only Asian customer to wipe the table after use, with their reason too many staff called in sick - OK FINE. Understand people can have different racial views but be mindful we are in a multicultural country here and you are in a customer serving business.

Also son of the owner couldn't hold too many plates and cups and everything fell to the floor and broke into pieces. Shards jumped into our food and coffee and he didn't even apologise or ask if we/other customer is injured. The lady owner joked how nice to watch free fireworks - ARE YOU OKAY?? THATS TOTALLY NOT FINE!! Luckily kids were not injured in that scenario😡

With this price, pie/food is so so coffee is alright (worse with shards) and very unpleasant...

TOTALLY without a doubt agree 100% with all the five star reviews . This would have to be one of the best cafes in NSW by far! The HIVE ticks all the boxes. Astounding service! Friendly and polite! The food is fresh, tasty and very reasonably priced! The location is excellent and the outdoor seating with its amazing views is simply breathtaking!!

What is even more breathtaking is the homemade sourdough bread they make and sell!! The plain white sourdough served with the pumpkin soup and sandwiches was the best we have ever eaten and believe me I’m Italian so I know all about yummy bread. The fruit sourdough we purchased for take away is hands down the best you will find!!

My wife and I highly, highly recommend The Hive. It’s a must go to cafe when your in the region!

Thanks guys for an amazing experience. Il be in touch to see if you can ship the bread to us:)

Definitely see you in the near future

10/10 in...