Cafe Sofia

I was in Erskineville at breakfast hour today, and decided to wander down Swanston street to see where was serving bacon and egg rolls. This was literally the first place I came to so I thought as any Unilocaler would that it might be worth walking further to scope the options.
Erskine Villa and Fleetwood Macchiato were doing them for around the $ 12 mark, so I decided to go back to Sofia.
This place looks like nothing special from the front, but wander in and there’s a charming terrace at the back.
$ 6.50 for a delicious made-​to-​order bacon and egg roll, and plus a coffee it came to under $ 10.
I get that they don’t have the same hipster vibe as some of the other places but who really cares when you can have delicious breakfast and still get change from a tenner?
This place is charming and cheap. No need to walk any further.

Simple, delicious, affordable.
This is a wonderful no frills café. The décor isn’t incredible or modern, but feels a little like grandmas kitchen… It’s a little daggy, and that makes it feel cosy.
I recommend the scrambled egg and marinated feta.
Unfortunately they only take cash which is annoying in a PayPass world.

Whenever I have been past this place on a weekend it is always busy and as such peaked my interest given the venue right next door sits with empty tables & chairs whilst people will happily wait for a table at Café Sofia’s. Having been there now I honestly cannot understand why anyone goes here.
The menu’s feel like home print-​outs of paper «laminated» in some school book contact plastic and has a gritty feel which I could only imagine is from years of oil build up from peoples hands which they have never bothered to wipe clean, ever.
This place does not do table service which they don’t really mention to people and the two ladies next to us probably waited 15 minutes before asking us if we knew. Next comes the biggest annoyance, CASH ONLY. The only places that should be cash only in 2015 are NO WHERE. No seriously NO WHERE! So down to the pub a few doors over just to get some cash to then come back and order food. The solo dad and his two little girls on the other side of us ended up having to leave without ordering as he did not carry cash either, because he shouldn’t have to since it is 2015 after all.
Fast forward 20 minutes and we are served our drinks. The weak soy latte was anything but weak and the only reason why it wasn’t returned is because we didn’t want to wait another 20 minutes for a replacement. The banana smoothie was lacking that fresh taste and I would not have been surprised if it was made with a banana essence or syrup rather then actual bananas. Which in itself is, bananas.
For food we ordered a salmon/​eggs/​turkish bread, and a big breakfast. Interestingly the big breakfast doesn’t come with a description and we wondered if it was pot luck as to what the chef might put on there. Fast forward another 20 minutes and the 3 girls who now have joined the table next to us have ordered and received their meals, and finally the big breakfast shows but no sign of our other plate. Another 10 minutes more and the second plate arrives. If a food experience begins with sight, then the plates in front of us looked anything but appetizing.
Some of the lowlights include;
1. Cheap packet salmon cuts.
2. Over cooked eggs (because dry and rubbery seems to be better then light and fluffy).
3. Mushrooms that looked like they were cooked in 1970, found in the back of a freezer, and microwaved to life.
4. Stale bread toasted to make it seem like it wasn’t stale.
5. A sausage that had seen better days and wanted to be put out of its misery.
6. Wet napkins from being wrapped around cutlery before the cutlery was even dry.
The positive with this place is that because you have to pay upfront, you can just leave rather then having to lie when they would normally ask you «was everything ok?». To answer that question for us, the answer is a resounding #not #okay.
I could see people coming here out of loyalty or if it is within walking distance from them, otherwise I would highly recommend venturing out around the area as there is an abundance of new places popping up everywhere that is worth checking out just to compare what food is like when it is fresh and made from love.
We won’t be back but somehow I don’t believe they would notice anyway.

I give this place 2 stars for its coffee, (it’s only redeeming factor) but take 2 stars off for its muffins, which I nearly broke tooth on it was that stale and take a star off after watching a employee use his spit to clean the marks of the cutlery.

Smoothies are so delicious. 100% real fruit.
The breakfast was fresh, delicious, healthy, affordable (for Australia anyway) and fast.

I was just staying in Erskenillville for a couple of nights. The morning I went to Café Sofia I was going on a morning stroll, so on my walk I checked out the items on offer and the prices at the local cafes. When I finished my walk I picked Café Sofia as I had a muesli craving and these guys were the cheapest. The space is less cool looking than some of the other cafes in the area, but the prices reflect that. The menu is pretty large, with lots of breakfast and brunch items. I had the porridge, topped with banana and strawberries and a sprinkle of cinnamon, the cinnamon was a nice touch. A side serving of brown sugar was also much appreciated.

Café Sofia has never failed to deliver for me.
This is one of those places which shines and you don’t have to go in there all shinny. Just turn up in the trakkies you slept in and get a great coffee and tasty breakfast.
… and the staff are good perv to!

Famous for its breakfast, this café is the perfect hangover cure after a big night. Located opposite Erskineville station, pop in for anything from good old beans on toast, to a scrumptious Eggs Benedict, blueberry pancakes or fresh muffins and scones. For lunch, the menu includes a variety of sandwiches and panninis, pasta dishes and salads. The mezze plates are great to share. The coffee is their own unique blend and is a must at least once a week! Enjoy the sunshine in the courtyard or check out the buzz in the brightly-​lit room out the back where I like to hang out.

Good to know it’s here. Highly reliable Café Sofia, always willing to come through with the goods. I stop by for a coffee regularly, I think I may have been bitten by the coffee bug, but it doesn’t hurt. When you buy a coffee at Café Sofia it feels like it lasts longer than just a cup. Although I usually just am walking past there is plenty of room to sit down and the menu offers the lunch regulars with a European influence. Located right near Erskineville train station, the warmth and satisfaction lingers and next time you feel that strange urge for your caffeine hit, don’t be surprised if you think of the last time you were at Café Sofia.