Comments on: Oceanic Cafe, Surry Hills, Sydney (a step back in time)

By: Kent

Kent — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:24:18 +0000

Thanks for the update Peter. I pop in for lunch now and again to order the lamb’s fry but after walking by in the past couple of months I thought that it had closed down. Hopefully the two ladies can reopen.
It’s funny that every time I order the lamb’s fry, the younger lady gives me a funny look and asks me if I know that it’s actually liver! And once she even walked over and pointed to the menu board where it’s written up – ‘Lambs fry (Liver)’ !!!

By: Melting Nutella Cake @Not Quite Nigella

Melting Nutella Cake @Not Quite Nigella — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:01:33 +0000

[...] proving them wrong. Moral of the story, even odd sounding things can sometimes work.Most helpful: Oceanic Cafe http://www.notquitenigella.com/2009/01/13/oceanic-cafe-surry-hills-sydney-a-step-back-in-time/ I [...]

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 11:03:14 +0000

Went to the Oceanic last Friday with the 1915 cook’s grandaughter only to find it closed and very empty looking. We had been promising to go there for years just for the nostalgia of it. Very disappointed as we thought it was one of those things we had put off for too long but a few enquiries in the neighbourhood made us feel less distressed. Sadly the mother is ill and the cafe is closed for a while but they have every intention of reopening when health permits. Although the Oceanic was operating as early as 1915, I think that suppositions that the decor s 1920′s are probably correct.
The Sydney Morning Herald of May 4, 1927 lists for auction “From the Oceanic Cafe – 60 Austrian chairs, 30 tables, glassware, crockeryware, cutlery, hot water heaters, linoleum etc. Cash Register and Ice Chest.
Looks like the current decor may have resulted from a 1927 refurbishment.

By: Peter

Peter — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:07:34 +0000

This place was a cafe as early as 1915. I have a copy of the then cook’s and owners World War I Enlistment application

By: Sydney Outsider » Dining with the Dead

Sydney Outsider » Dining with the Dead — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:18:27 +0000

[...] the history of the Oceanic Cafe in this post on the food blog “Not Quite Nigella.” [...]

By: Mal Gale

Mal Gale — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:46:30 +0000

-My ol’ Man(A Panel Beater) would take Me there for Dinner. In a rare moment of “Dad & Son” he asked me how the food was,I said: “Better than Mums” & we both laughed! I took My Step-daughters & GF in there one day for Lunch. The Daughter there, reckoned she “remembered” me? It’s a real bit of Sydney/Oz Nostalgia that should NOT be allowed to just disappear with the Past.

By: Not Quite Nigella

Not Quite Nigella — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:21:23 +0000

Hi barbara-Thanks veyr much!

Hi Warwick-I definitely agree, there’s nothing quite like it is there. I hope it doesn’t close

By: Warwick

Warwick — Wed, 19 May 2010 00:41:21 +0000

I try to drop in here at least 2-3 times a week. You won’t find anything like it in Sydney. Foods great and cheap. I drag anyone and everyone I know there, for the experience and they all love it. An elderly gent I know can remember going there decades ago when he was young and remembers the daughter (who’s still there) working the tables back then in pigtails. I overheard the mother chatting to some visitors one lunch, that she came from Ceduna in Sth Australia. I’ll greatly miss this place when it closes.

By: barbara

barbara — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:17:47 +0000

Excellent article Lorraine.I lived in Surrey Hills in the seventies. I probably ate there at some point.

By: Not Quite Nigella

Not Quite Nigella — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:39:12 +0000

Hi J-I was the same, went past this practically every day on my way to work without knowing anything about it. That’s wonderful to hear and thankyou for taking the time to comment!