Blackwood Cronulla — Restaurant in Sydney

It's extremely easy to see just why Blackwood Pantry has people travelling from all over Sydney for brunch. Nestled quietly on Surf Road, Cronulla, this little gem has been commanding a steady presence since it opened earlier this year. An unassuming frontage, with modern Scandinavian design, Blackwood Pantry is pure eye-candy in both it's decor & it's food.

Having dined here a few months earlier, my friend & I arrive just after 1pm. Stealthfully we avoid the lunchtime crowds & enthusiastically snatch up a seat in the winter sunshine. We know what we're in for; we know the food here is spectacular. The familiar aroma of the Dukkah Spiced Lamb Shoulder hangs in the air & our anticipation grows, unashamedly rubbernecking meals on the table beside us.

"Specials?!" "Yep!"

Just when I thought I knew what I was going to order, here came the proverbial spanner.

There's no denying it, the specials sound delicious. We leap at the opportunity & order the 'Seared Octopus' (Carrot hummus, fennel salad, paprika oil, Dutch carrots, chickpeas & pumpkin seeds), while also selecting the popular 'Vanilla Poached Salmon' from the menu (Beetroot humus, chickpeas, toasted pumpkin seeds & dill)

The food arrives within 15 minutes & immediately we're captivated by the vivid beauty of each plate. The dishes in front of us are a categorical feast for the eye's - the Seared Octopus, with its rich, earthy tones & the Vanilla Poached Salmon, embellished by it's colourful vibrancy.

As one would expect, each dish here tells a story. The components are brave & the results are courageous & effervescent. The food here is undeniably glorious; everything one would expect to find in one of Sydney's fine dining restaurants, although Blackwood successfully serves it up in a fuss-free setting, with generous portions. Genius.

We finish our food much too soon, quickly finding ourselves in mourning for what once was. Our plates are cleared & we begin eyeballing each other, wondering who will be the first to mention the idea of mid-afternoon desert... It's me. I cave & we order another of the day's specials with little regret for calories.

The Coconut Hotcake, served with passionfruit curd, vanilla, kaffir lime syrup, fresh blueberries, pomegranate & toasted coconut, finds it way to our table quickly & we are in desert heaven. It's warm, moist; the kaffir lime syrup balancing out the sweet notes, with the the pomegranate providing texture & crunch. Stunning.

Today is a good day to be a...

A new treasure was discovered this January at Cronulla & its name is Blackwood Pantry. Clean, airy, beautiful describes the space, people & food. Good vibes is the motto & that's what you get from the moment you are greeted. Food is by previous 3 Michelin starred chef Rob Lechowicz & he has created a perfect menu for clean, tasty beach-side dining. Love the option of the menu all day and if you must catagorise, the Turkish Eggs is a standout for a savoury dish for breakfast / brunch. Perfectly poached eggs on a tumble of mixed mushrooms & a kick in the paprika spiked yogurt. Healthy, hearty & refreshing. Let's not forget the sweets - Fresh Basil yogurt made me apprehensive but it was such a surprising delight. Paired with fresh seasonal fruit - in my case fresh figs & strawberries & with that crunch from candied pecans & add a side of muesli, it was a winner. The balsamic strawberry ricotta on sourdough was so beautiful especially with a side pot of honey to be drizzled on to your own liking, but was a bit hard to eat for my clumsy self. The French toast is out of this world, although to me, it was a perfect dessert with the delightful peppery custard & buttery, crunchy brioche cubes.

Lunch is unbelievable with Vanilla poached salmon melting in your mouth & that beetroot hummus could easily be a dish on its own. Dukkah crusted lamb should is slow cooked into a sticky glazed, pullapart with your fork goodness & perfectly balanced with a crispy, zingy, refreshing salad. And those beer battered fries with a dusting of paprika & accomopanying aioli is fought for at the table for good reason. Another must!

Don't forget the great coffee and a must have drink is their salted caramel and OREO milkshakes. OMG they are OUT...

I had a really great time at this cafe near Cronulla Beach.

I tried their Oat Milk Biscoff Latte, and honestly, it was a genius combo. The sweet, spiced Biscoff with the creamy oat milk was absolutely delicious! I’m definitely going to come back just for that.

For food, I ordered the SCHNITTY SUGO SAMBO, which came with herb and garlic chicken schnitzel, slow-braised tomato sugo, Comté cheese, onions, shredded iceberg lettuce, mayo, and sweet pickles, all in a warm Turkish roll. It also came with Rosemary Fries with Truffle Mayo on the side. The sandwich was super fresh and full of flavors, but I felt like it needed just a bit more seasoning to really take it to the next level. Otherwise, everything was spot on!

I also got a chance to try their Create Plate option. I built mine with sourdough, scrambled eggs, roasted mushrooms with herbs de Pecorino, and falafels. The mushrooms were perfectly roasted, and the falafels were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The only small issue was the scrambled eggs—they were a bit too buttery for my liking, but still enjoyable.

To finish off, I had a cappuccino, which was very well made. The balance of espresso and milk was just right, and it was a nice way to round out the meal.

The only downside for me was the price, which is on the expensive side, but given the vibe, location, and the friendly service, I felt it was worth it. The atmosphere was really relaxed, and it’s a perfect spot to chill near the beach. All in all, a great cafe experience that I’d recommend if you’re looking for a fresh meal and good coffee near...