Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore. — Restaurant in Sydney

Lovely bookshop on the surface - poorly managed cafe and overly priced with hidden secret charges on your bill !

1. When ordering their custom chai tea in a pot, I stated that I would like it extra hot. The cashier (the shift manager) pulled me up for asking for Extra hot: 'our tea is always hot!' To which I explained, that my tea has at times arrived lukewarm. It was only after justifying my preference did she add it to the order. I also ordered an almond croissant. The bill totaled $11; but after handing the money, the owner asked for another 50 cents, as my request for a teaspoon of honey for the chai would include a surcharge of 50 cents. This seemed petty but also odd that the amount was adjusted after payment.
2. After 15 minutes, my food order hadn't arrived. I revisited the counter and found another cashier. The cashier had no ticket for my order at all. The cafe at this stage was not busy at all in mid-afternoon, so having missing tickets on food indicates sloppy organisation.
3. When the croissant arrived at the table, it was served on a tea saucer which was smaller than the croissant itself. (see picture) Croissant seemed a bit chewy.
4. When a cafe is $$$ more pricey than fellow cafes in the area (yet offers the same food as others), and still charges each dine-in customer $2 per head for eating in; charges customer a credit card fee; and ignores customer feedback - you have to ask yourself why are they charging customers with these hidden costs? [there is no signage about the extra costs except a micro slip of paper stuck down to the counter near the till.]

Note to manager: Please tighten your customer service skills across your staff to ensure there is consistency over serving styles on food handling, through to interacting with customers at the cashier on last minute charging petty items, and managing food tickets on orders. Customers should not have to remind staff of their missing order. One off little incidences is minor, but for a customer to experience several in one visit is a turn-off. I have been a patron to this cafe for 12 years and seen management change hands a few times over the years, but lately the service is really poor. This cafe used to win awards on customer service, but now It is turning away your long term loyal customers. **Stop overcharging customers - stop the hidden extra costs. You are the most expensive cafe in the area for serving basic food. Over charging people does not make your cafe...

As you walk down Oxford St, Sydney in Paddington, you’ll find yourself passing by Ampersand cafe & bookstore.

Downstairs, it looks like a familiar cafe, with indoor and outdoor seating, but make sure you head upstairs in one of the three levels and find a seat amongst the floor to ceiling bookshelves.

Set into three rooms, consisting of books aplenty, organised into their themes with comfortable seating, this is somewhere you could absolutely sit for hours. Order your food at the front, and it will be delivered to you as you immerse yourself in the books.

Whilst it is only a small menu, the food is interesting and they also have some daily salads, sandwiches and pastry goods.

A couple of options using black rice, we chose the brekky bowl with Bircher and sticky black rice with figs, cinnamon and fresh fruits. We really liked this as it was quite different to your normal Bircher.

French toast is an option, baked or poached eggs and smoked salmon is on the menu but we opted for a familiar favourite - the eggs Benedict with crispy bacon and creamy hollandaise.

We were hungry so we also shared one of the fresh Reuben Bagels. It was filled with a super flavoursome pastrami, cheese and sauerkraut and this was the winner on the day.

For those wanting lunch, there’s a burger, steak sandwich and even a black risotto or polenta chips. Coffee is by Little Marionette and the mocha was a good drop, complete with Lindt chocolate. We also had a cold drip which we certainly enjoyed. Smoothies and teas are also available.

Pop in for a nice meal and...

Absolutely gorgeous little nook. Tranquil in nature and gorgeous in appearance. Though a little pricey on food, it was worth it to be whisped away into my journalling as if I was writing some grand memoir on life that this homely, unique cafe made me feel.

Long review: I was looking for a peaceful and solitary place to journal and reflect on life after scouring through pages of "where is a quiet place to both have a drink and to write in peace." Which to my suprise, there was a list! But the "Ampersand" was not on it.

I found this place after I gave up on that list and decided to go old-fashioned and google "Rustic Cafes to read alone." And thanks to time out magazine, i found this homely, yet thought-provoking, little cut away in Sydneys hustling concreate jungles.

Even more to my suprise! They served beer! So whoever did that first list needs to replace their editor asap. Because what a perfect combination for your local watering hole connoisseur and passive journalist to discover!

Funnily enough, I was too caught up in the atmosphere that I was instead transported to the underbelly of this surreal cafe that I ended up trying their coffees instead. Which with the mossy smell of a concrete basement, mixed with the mouth watering aromas of the kitchen, combined with a lavish little room that made one feel like you were sitting in the spot of a great author long passed... well, I really didn't feel the need to drink away...