NQN readers are wonderful people. I’ve said this several times and some comments and emails really make me chuckle. Take for instance Kristy who sent me a photo of a fancy pants foil swan when I queried whether people get doggie bags. Another reader Anne recently sent me recommendation (and thankyou for all of you that do, I will get to all of them one day!) to go to Bitton Gourmet in Alexandria. It’s a place that we pass every time we go to the Inner West or Newtown and one of those places where I always say to Mr NQN “Oh we should really go there!”. Then one day Gina, who is now a lady of leisure, and I were deciding on where to go to lunch and I knew instantly where we should go. The only thing is that Gina and I are both directionally challenged and she doesn’t know her way around the East and Inner West and I just can’t remember the way exactly. We get there by sheer miracle with all of the road signs pointing our way.
We’re seated outside and we get the menus. Our eyes widen and we coo “Oooh all day breakfast!” and we both agree to share an order of the poached eggs and a club sandwich. The menu items that have a Bitton product used in them are bolded.
Latte $3.40
Cappucino $3.40
The Grinders coffee is aromatic and silkily smooth without any bitterness at all. And you can order these in bowls too – how French! Speaking of French, the owner David Bitton comes out from the back and says hello. He uses that famous French charm on people.
Poached Eggs served with Black Forest Ham, Spinach, Potato Roesti and Hollandaise Sauce $18.50
Gina and I divide the poached eggs up and we’re soon nodding at each other eyes wide murmuring “mmthisisyummmygood“. The roesti comes as two discs of soft, shredded fried potato and there is wilted spinach, delicious Black Forest Ham and a sublime Hollandaise that dreams are made of. And whilst they make the Hollandaise sauce, they don’t sell it. I asked. Twice.
Club Sandwich with Chicken, Bacon, Egg, Tomato, Homemade Mayonnaise and Coriander Pesto $16.90
The Club sandwich is spread with a chunky, nutty coriander pesto giving it an unusual Asian-ey flavour. It could do with a bit more mayo on the other side but it’s nice and generously filled. We both wish that it came with French fries though.
Hand cut chips $6.90
We ordered these as you just need chips to go with a club sandwich and these taste and look just like home made hand cut wedges. They’re slightly crispy on the outside and taste more baked than fried. I was more in the mood for skinnier, crispier chips to go with the club sandwich.
Rhubarb Crumble $9.50
We forego the crepes as Gina isn’t a big crepe fan and go for the crumble instead. The rhubarb crumble is quite nice although it’s not as fruity as a lot of the crumbles that I’m used to as it’s more of a crumble pie. It is attractively presented with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, coulis and ice cream.
We go into the store and have a peek at the shop area. There’s an area where you can amuse your kids with toys and a DVD player and our waitress tells us that come the weekend the back area will be full of parents and kids, whilst the people with pooches take the outside area and the centre area is for everyone else. There is a sample item of the day which today is Orange Jelly which is not like jam, it is runnier with an apple juice caramel flavour to it and is said to be good on roasts. There is monkey nut chutney which is full of nuts and they give us a sample of the strawberry and vanilla jam which is light in vanilla and a rather fascinating coconut and milk jam which I’d expect to be like a cross between cococnut kaya jam and dulce de leche but isn’t anything like it. It’s a viscous white jam with grains of coconut and the flavour of sweetened condensed milk.
So tell me Dear Reader, when you got to a cafe, do you prefer to sit inside or outside?
Bitton Gourmet
36-37a Copeland St, Alexandria NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9519 5111 or 1300 BITTON
Monday & Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday: 7am to 5pm
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 7am to 9pm
http://www.bittongourmet.com.au/
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53 Comments | Add your own
I love poached eggs. And you don’t want to buy hollandaise sauce. It won’t taste nearly as good as homemade and homemade only takes a few minutes to make.
And in Southern CA I usually have weather on my side so I sit outside.
great photos!
I like little store/cafes. I prefer to sit outside on a good day. The club sandwich looks great. Btw leaving a comment on your post is always a pleasure. Glad some of the comments make you chuckle. Your post make your readers chuckle too. Ehehee
The food hear looks good. I am happy there are still places that do good eggs as I have had some disappointing ones of late. The coffee looks great too.
I’m usually an inside person. I find that outside tends to be populated by smokers as well and I’m not fond of the idea of smoke with my breakfast.
This cafe looks absolutely adorable! It’s a little sad that they wouldn’t sell you their Hollandaise sauce but I guess that just means you definitely need to go back for that again now.
I prefer outside, but that’s not always warm enough in canberra!
Bitton Gourmet is right down the road from where my sister lives and we go there all the time. I love their crepes with spinach, cheese and sundried tomato. David is hillarious too. He always says “hello teenagers!” (in a French accent) when we visit.
yum! my fav breakfast of all time, is poached eggs with hollandaise sauce! hehe Will never not order it unless I crave pancakes!
I too have driven by but am now inspired to try – particuarly as it sounds like I can practice my french. I most definitely prefer to eat outside – it reminds me of my years in Provence ( sigh)
I am a new subscriber to your blog, and I just love it!!
I love sitting outside, esp on a lovely day. I think it stems mostly from when we were in France and we just sat and people watched! I love the fresh air and most of the time, NO SMOKE!!!
That all looks quite yum. My bf put in a request to make rhubarb crumble soon when it comes into season. Do you have a good recipe for it??
As for cafes – it all depends on the weather and how cool/warm it inside. Being Melbourne, more often than not the outside temperature needs tempering (heh) and so we sit inside.
What a cute place, and everything looks fantastic, Lorraine! I’ve been wanting to make Hollandaise lately…I’ve been dying for good Eggs Benedict!
Hand cut chips. Goooood! I love sitting outdoors but sometimes that means sharing with smokers (boo hiss) so I usually end up an indoor person.
oooh! I used to live near there and strangely never ate there! I should have, it seems. I will be sure to check it out soon, possibly even today!
I like to sit outside, but that is often tainted by cigarette smoke forcing me inside. I hate smelling smoke while tasting delicious food!
Thanks Lorraine!
inside, so i can watch all the action!
I have to agree with the comments above that smokers have ruined the Al Fresco experience for all of us that like to sit in the sun and enjoy the world go by. It’s a great experience but not when choking on clouds of carcinogenic smoke
Bitton Gourmet looks great,must try soon.
Wherever it’s warmest! And I’m with Gina, not a crepe person. But I am a poached egg person – yum!
What an adorable store. You’re right, though — that crumble sure looks like mostly dough, and not fruit. But looks like they made up for it with the fresh berries for the garnish.
Ooh, those poached eggs with roestis and hollandaise sauce – I’m there next weekend. And the club sandwich looks delish as well. I’ve had breakfast there a long time ago and I’m not sure if they still do it, but it’s bacon and eggs all cooked and served up in 1 cute little fry pan and I love how David comes around and has a chat to everyone. Mmm mmm that accent…
Anyhoo! I prefer to sit outside or by the window inside so I can people watch
The breakfast looks heavenly.
and I agree… fries with a club sandwich always!
Outside is definitely the place but…. smokers apparently rule! I read yesterday in Oz ‘you can’t smoke inside and you can’t breathe outside!’ – so true!
Outside as long as there are no smokers.
The eggs look delicious & i’d love to try the orange jelly on roast pork. Yum.
I normally sit inside because I am a big grinch who hates this hot weather and summer dragging on, so with air conditioning I can pretend the seasons are behaving themselves.
That is a very yummy looking poached egg but I do agree that club sandwiches need skinny crunchy french fries
Awww I love drooling over eggs benedict. I also love cafes that double as a fresh market, thanks for sharing!
Great photos Lorraine. They all look mouth watering! H loves the spanish sausages..
Hi Lorraine!
I did end up going today – inspired by your recommendation. The scrambled eggs weren’t quite creamy enough but the coffee and the service was wonderful! A lovely morning – cheers!
We love Bitton – a favourite with our my mother’s group.
Looking forward to dinner with you next week! 
Wow, that food looks fantastic… *drools* I agree with you, club sandwiches should always be served with skinny fries, they just seem to go together so well!
When it comes to cafe’s, I’m an outside person, watching the world go by is one of the best ways to enjoy good food and company =)
I’m so thrilled with all the anti-smoking campaigners saying their piece today! My husband and I recently stayed in Sydney and were forever avoiding the smoke as we made our way around. Many restaurants and cafe’s no longer allow it even in their outdoor areas which is a great relief. I’m an outdoor diner all the way especially in Cockle Bay where you can sit on the water and see our gorgeous city!
I think A is going to insist we go there after seeing the black forest ham and eggs and hollandaise. That’s his idea of heaven I’m sure!
All day breakfasts usually make me smile too
This is such a coincidence. A few hours ago we checked out Bitten after having lunch at the cafe a few doors down from it. Bitton was heaving!Your coffee looks much better than the bland mess we were given
I generally prefer outside but I hate when I have to share it with smokers. Bitton does a great spiced chicken that you can have with their green salad, delicious.
Little places like this are a treasure. we sit outside when we have our dogs with us, inside without. Western Australia has laws about smoking in alfresco areas and most people are happy to oblige. Makes for a pleasant outdoor dining experience. Around Fremantle the council is trying to keep the dogs out of alfresco areas. This does not seem to be supported by patrons nor cafe owners. The cafe owners are still providing drinking bowls for the pooches.
Those poached eggs look amazing! I love hollandaise sauce with a passion!
As for sitting inside or out, I tend to prefer the inside, unless the view is gorgeous, or I’m just having drinks.
I admit it: I swooned at the poached eggs pic. I’m craving for the stuff at the moment – but it’s six in the evening and I’ve a long commute home!
Oh yum! breakfast, I haven’t eaten breakfast out in yonks!
*puts it onto my to do list and arrows it to Kazbah!!* – ever since you wrote a poste on it
Must. Try. It. ASAP. =]
anyplace serving all-day breakfast is okay by me! i don’t think i’ve ever seen a straight rhubarb dessert–it’s always paired with something else. yes, i can tell that particular treat is lacking in the fruit area.
Thank you NQN for this post. I was just looking for a nice place to take my friends for breakfast. It’s always yum cha for us and it’t time for a change!
I love Bitton, their corn fritters are devine, although I’m not sure if they’re still on the menu.
And on indoor V outdoor dining, I think it depends on the place really.
Hi Lorraine, I’m so glad you made it! Hope you enjoyed the experience… I’m half way between NYC and vegas. Been on an eating adventure…
do let me know if you head to NYC. Will pass you some food tips! esp if you like a good burger. Back in Sydney in 10 days….boo…
Eating lunch and totally craving breakfast now…I’m so easily swayed.
I wouldn’t sit outside or inside of a place that charges $18.50 for a poached egg on toast with some sauce!!! wow. Sydney’s cafe owners really are going nuts… If I bought all these ingredients, I am guessing the total would come to around $3, plus labour of around 15 mins, say at $25 an hour… Oh well, I guess then there are also the rent costs… In any case, you can get the same meal in many Newtown places for around $7-8, I think.
Yeah – this place rocks. I’m lucky enough to have it as my local and it is the perfect local (it even does t/a dinners).
Cafe Ism on Wilson st is fabulously gallic as well.
Sounds good! Sitting inside or outside depends on where it is though and the weather too but for a gorgeous sunny warm Autumn day outside is perfect. We were lunching yesterday and were seated inside but all the windows were open and the sun was on my back (and bum), it was lovely! =)
It depends on the weather, if it’s especially sunny or windy I prefer to sit indoors. But if it’s a balmy evening I definitely prefer to be outside.
So glad you made it to Bitton! It is just fabulous for brunch – I usually get crepes with Bitton’s amazing strawberry and vanilla jam and some ice cream on the side… (who says ice cream isn’t breakfast food!?)
Now that I’ve quit smoking I’m an indoors person, unless the weather is perfect and beckons me outdoors… though I’m thinking about getting a puppy to give me more reaons to hang at Bitton
prefer sitting outside bcos of fresh natural ventilation
Okay, just revisiting the poached eggs in pics and thinking I have to head back soon. And for the coffee – yum. Definitely outside for cafes, but I am a Canuck and we take the sun where we can get it. BTW, if einna wants to impart wisdom on NYC good eats, I would be happy to make notes for my upcoming trip!
Ahh nice one!
I’ve never eaten at the cafe there, but loved thier chilli oil
Hi Lorraine!
I’ve been a long time follower of your blog..first time comment =)
The hollandaise sounds amazing…I must go back and try it. If you go again, try their famous Moroccan spiced chicken sandwich..it’s sooooo good… =9.. I’ve bought myself a jar to make at home.
I love the food here but haven’t managed to make the return trip for a while. This post has definitely piqued my interest again!
i went there the other day with my husband’s cousin and gf!
i had the most fantastic granola with fresh berries and mango ,
the crepes who were ordered by my cousin were also a big hit and apparently are a speciality dish!
would go again for sure!
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