So what happens when a Welsh born Ministry of Sound DJ wants to settle down from life traipsing around the world spinning the decks? Well he opens up a cafe in Surry Hills in Australia apparently! At Bang Bang Espresso Bar and Cafe on Reservoir Street in Surry Hills, there are still traces of owner Alan Thompson’s DJ life. Of course there is good music, which you expect, but there’s also a wall stencil of DJ’s headphones that gives that little tid bit away.
I’m meeting my friend Amanda for lunch at Bang Bang. She’s good friends with Alan and has spent many a brunch sitting at one of the communal tables. And by sitting we mean perched on the silver drummer’s stools. The week day menu is broken up into breakfast which finishes at 12noon and lunch which takes over (although on weekends, the breakfast runs all day). There are a range of sandwiches, burgers and old school items available and we both look at the fish fingers at the same time. Service is very friendly, although when you’re dining with friend of the owner, you’d expect nothing less.
Chai $3.90
I ordered a soy chai made with Bonsoy and it came out with a strainer and loose leaf chai and a little jug of honey. It’s quite naturally sweet without the honey but it’s lovely and aromatic and before I know it, I’ve finished the whole pot.
Fish finger sandwich $12.90
“The fish fingers in the sandwich aren’t the supermarket ones?” we ask, and even as I say it, I know how silly that sounds. Of course they’re not and they’re crumbed fish fillets on Sonoma bread with tartare sauce. I really like the texture of the spongey, soft bread with the crunchy crumbed fish and crunchy lettuce.
Lamb and mint burger $13.50
The lamb and mint burger comes as a fat patty on a lightly toasted sesame bun with tomato, rocket, cucumber and tzaztiki. I would have loved a bit more sauce with the crunchy bun and I left most of the bun behind preferring the filling. It comes with potato chips rather than chips and a part of me likes the potato chip thing but another part of me would have loved hot chips.
Chocolate and caramel slice $4.50
We pondered the home made sweets and cakes display and everything except for the Manna from Heaven lemon polenta cakes are house made. After much umming and aahing over the carrot cake or the chocolate caramel slice, we decided on a good old fashioned caramel slice. It’s rich and thick and sweet with a thick coconutty biscuit base. Just what I needed to power me to the moon and back!
So tell me Dear Reader, when you eat out, does it matter to you whether an item is made in house or bought in?
NQN and Amanda dined as guests of Bang Bang Cafe
Bang Bang Espresso Bar and Cafe
113 Reservoir St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: +61 (02) 9281 0018
Open: Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
Saturday-Sunday 8am-3pm
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41 Comments | Add your own
Oh, yes it matters, a lot! That lemon polenta cake sounds delicious, though…
I’m first!
This looks like my kind of place to eat, the burger looks fantastic! I do like my burgers served with hot chips though. :S I usually find that in-house made things just taste better because it’s fresh, but if it tastes great and not made in-house, then I’m fine with that too..
That one looks like a fun place……….
Your description of the soy chai was so lovely I had to make a cup before I finished reading your post! This looks like nice comfort food–tzatziki, I could eat with anything, and homemade fish sticks (fingers) just sound plain good.
As long as the food is quality, I don’t care if it is made in house or brought from outside. Quality is definitely the key.
Crisps instead of chips, very American! And the classic diner style basket too.
What a complete career change! I prefer to order house made items because I know I can’t get the same elsewhere!
I much prefer dining where the food is homemade – I don’t agree with the whole ‘buying in’. Understand it has to be done to a degree, however if I had been served supermarket fish fingers, I would have been pretty annoyed!
Mmm this cafe has me burger craving big time
Gorgeous looking food! Topped off with a caramel slice, it cannot get more perfect!
I prefer homemade without a doubt at restaurants – if I want to eat from a store, there is no need to go to the cafe!
Cheers
CCU
I prefer everything to be made on the premises because it makes me feel like what you order is unique to that venue. The food here looks very good but I would have preferred hot chips and a side bowl of sauce! xx
As long as it is good does it matter?
I love the look of that fishfinger burger .. and I think that a ‘DJ’s bar in Surry Hills’ can get a way with serving crisps with a burger as very few other places could.
I definitely love home-made … but there are exceptions … at our local cafe Kofi Bean in Croydon, VIC, they buy in their cheese & spinach burek and it’s what I always order because I don’t know how to make my own thin pastry like that … they are delicious.
Perhaps one day you can post a recipe/technique for making one?
Great story! I don’t think I would have been too impressed by potato chips on the side of my burger?
I like to see everything homemade on the menu because I like each place I eat at to be an experience unique to that establishment, not a catered menu which you can buy anywhere.
Interesting re the burger – I would much prefer hot chips, particularly given this crazy weather!
House made is very important to me because I like knowing the chef is in control of what I’m eating.
It wouldn’t be a deal breaker but that would always be my preference.
I would have preferred hot chips with that sandwich too.
Fun place it seems for a light meal! Must say I much prefer everything made on the premises: why else go to that specific place
?
It all depends where the “brought in” is brought in from.
♥♥♥
Sue
Lorraine, your restaurant, grill, bar, bistro etc etc, reviews are so fantastic. The photos are absolutely killing me, I want the burger and the caramel slice, desperately! It would be a lot of $$$ and a long trip to get some LOL If I’m in ever near your area in Oz (knock wood)…of course I can refer to your blog for great places to eat
You had me at fish finger sandwich looks awesome. I prefer made on premises (or “home made” as the cafes often like to say).
Chocolate caramel slice! So many childhood memories. In Canberra, I’m really wary of cakes that aren’t made in-house, because here that generally means they’ve all come from the same wholesale company and aren’t very good. I get so disappointed when I go somewhere for a cakespedition and the items on offer are identical to a dozen other cafes nearby!
End rant.
If the food is more expensive then my preference is that it’s made in house, hubby says add a pickle to your burger and you would be in Canada
I like the adventure of going to a restaurant/cafe to try their unique dishes, hence not a fan of outsourced food. Would not be pleased to have crisps served ,for me fries are a happy marriage with burgers!
Having said that if I’m ever in that neck of the woods,I’d go to Bang Bang because it gives me the impression of a happy, relaxed ambience.
I just mind whether it’s great quality! I admire some for bringing in quality bread & bacon. LOVE the idea of the fish finger s/w!
Heidi xo
Fish finger sandwich – oh my lordy, I’m so there! I like housemade things generally speaking…I like the rustic feel it adds to a cafe. That said I eat anywhere really…as long as the produce is ethically raised & produced I’m happy.
Looks like Surry Hills has no shortage of lovely cafes! I love the little lamb burger with crisps – cute!
The fish finger sandwich is quite fun. I don’t mind if they bring things in from outside – it’s the quality that counts.
I generally prefer things that are made in-house, but I willingly make an exception for anything from Manna from heaven. Those lemon polenta cakes are legend. I would also make an exception for their Chocolate raspberry brownies!
Ah, the ‘crisps’ with lunch thing. That is very British. I’ve been in the UK 20 yrs and I still leave them on the plate! They are always plain salted too. I prefer house made, but if it’s a good product I don’t mind. Pieminister pies over here are amazing and whenever I see them on a pub menu here I’m very happy
I prefer that things are made in house or if not then it’s best if it’s from somewhere local.
I have had the fish finger sandwich at Bang Bang and it’s fabulous!
That fish finger sandwich looks fantastic, and even better now I know they aren’t supermarket ones
What a cute little café, and the sandwiches do look lovely.
The burger and chocolate caramel slice both look delish! I like the idea of a coconuty biscuit base!
–I will have the lamb & mint burger, please. MMmmmmm.
Lorraine, have you traveled to New York to sample any of the food or restaurants yet?
What has been one of your FAVORITE places to travel to?
Just curious. Xxx Love.
omg – i am drooooling for that fish finger sandwich right now!!!
i want, i want!!
Yeah I don’t think that fish finger question is so silly….better to be sure
I really do not mind whether food is brought in or made in store as long as it is good, but I do despair of the ‘sameness’ of all the cakes in cafes around here.
Delicious sandwiches – I love the rustic bread sandwiches.
Doesn’t matter to me a jot – as long as it’s fresh & tastes good!!
i love saucy burgers so I’ll be asking for extra tzaztiki sauce
I would have preferred hot chips too!
you’ve inspired me to put fish burgers on the dinner menu for next week
I love things made in house, but i understand when they bring items in that are made so well that they possibly couldn’t do it better themselves…we can’t all be experts at everything 
Everything looked amazing … especially the chai tea
My daughter Dominique would love the chai late as her chai is always accompanied with honey.
The fish finger sandwich reminds me of Jamie Oliver’s fish finger sarnie which was a staple for my son during his first year of Uni.
I always check out the sweet window which score serious ‘brownie points’ if they are home – made. I loathe mass produced products.
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