Chalk Espresso Bar — Restaurant in Sydney

I was pleased with the $17.50 price on the menu for salmon eggs Benedict so when in and was shocked when they handed me the bill and we're charging an extra $7 for a small piece of frozen salmon. Coffee was delicious but it was small and not worth $6.10 I can get exactly the same meal for about $24 at Beachside cafe just down the road.

The vinegar in the eggs overpowered the entire meal, the hollandaise sauce was not homemade and the toast tasted like cake it was so sweet. On one of the asparagus ends, they had not chopped off the brown end.

My meal was placed on my table and then instead of the staff waiting a few minutes then coming and asking if everything was okay or if I needed anything they completely ignored me and resumed their conversation behind the counter. I worked as a head waitress for years and was appalled at the service this morning.

The plus side is that it is disabled friendly and I was able to ride my mobility scooter straight into the cafe and the barista who made my coffee kindly allowed me to leave my scooter off to the side of where I was sitting.

Beachside cafe just down the road has better service and better food for 20% less of the price. The only reason I didn't go there today is that they were not open when I arrived but I will be going back there from now on.

I don't understand how Chalk is so busy when the food is mediocre, the service from some of the staff leaves a lot to be desired and they charge an arm and a leg. People should be more fussy about what they spend their hard...

I hate writing bad reviews but I have no idea why this place is so well rated.

Was briefly acknowledged and then given a menu about 5 minutes afterwards. I was then left waiting literally 20 minutes before even having my order taken. Waitress said it was insanely busy even though there were only three other occupied tables inside and outside and one takeaway coffee customer the whole time I waited. One table that got there after I did had their order taken immediately and got their food well before I did which I thought was cool. This was late morning on a weekday, the place was just about empty. I'd hate to see what it's like when it's packed.

I honestly think they wanted me to just leave, but I patiently waited. Finally had my order taken after 25 minutes then waited a while longer for some rock solid poached eggs which I could've cooked better for myself at home in a quarter of the time. I could not be bothered winging about it as I'd already wasted enough time there and I was in a rush at that point. All up I paid over $30 for the worst service and some of the worst food I've ever experienced while eating out.

Credit where credit is due, coffee was slightly...

This café is one of my happy places. The staff are genuinely lovely people - they feel more like family than just a team behind the counter. I come here at least three times a week, and they always greet me by name, just like they do with all the regulars.

I’ve read some of the one-star reviews, and honestly, they don’t reflect what this place is really like. Many seem to come from people who didn’t read the menu properly or expect fine-dining or a red carpet treatment in a relaxed local café. The staff are always fair and kind - the menu clearly shows what extras cost, and they’ve never stopped anyone from using the bathroom.

Some reviews even complain about waiting extra few minutes for a coffee, as if this were a fast-food chain. The truth is, they’re busy making coffee for real people, not rushing orders through a machine or playing in the kitchen.

This is a family-run business that puts heart into what they do. Be kind, be patient, and appreciate their effort. One-star reviews are really unfair.

Come see for yourself - the food is fantastic, the coffee is always spot-on, and the Friday tacos are...