Breakfast Dining Manly - Northern Beaches Restaurant Reviews Our Manly

Breakfast Manly - Sugar Lounge Brekky Review

Breakfast is Sweet at Sugar Lounge ♥ ♥ ♥

It's no new experience finding myself nestled amongst the tropical surroundings of Sugar Lounge, clutching a cool cocktail and soaking up the equally cool grooves, sipping the night away while watching the moonlight dance on the Pacific ocean.

where: 42 North Steyne, Manly Beach, Sydney, NSW 2095
when: Brekky Tues-Sunday
why: Arguably The Best Breakfast in Manly
phone: (02) 9977 7135

Reviewer - Danny 'Taste-Bud' Gray

Today however is different, it's Sunday morning, the sun is high and bright and instead of finding a couple of cleaners slowly scrubbing the tiki themed paradise clean from the previous night's trade, Sugar Lounge is a hive of activity once again and they're here to cure the very hangovers they conspired to create.

After finding a seat near the bar and ordering a coffee I pondered how many bars and purveyors of booze offer a breakfast service only a few hours after calling last drinks the night before. It's quite an ambitious undertaking, and one that Sugar Lounge must be applauded for because finally there is a socially responsible venue that understands the importance of a good breakfast after a hard night on the turps.

The breakfast menu reads well and all your morning favourites are there with a few less conventional options like the Potted Eggs and the Pan Fried Calf's Liver. The waitress recommended the Eggs Benedict and the French Toast so I decided that was a good place to start and added a side of the homemade baked beans for good measure.

'Maggie's Farm Free Range Eggs'

All the dishes use 'Maggie's farm free range eggs' as stated on the menu which I felt was a nice touch. The coffee was nice, good flavour and texture, even though it took a little while to make it to the table. The food followed shortly after and the presentation made it clear that they are taking their Breakfast seriously.

French Toast Breakfast, Manly

The French Toast, which consisted of a cinnamon brioche presented elegantly topped with macerated berries, king island double cream and two strips of maple bacon which sat precariously atop the tower of sugary goodness. Don't be perturbed by the maple bacon which basically appears like it's been dipped in toffee, it really adds a new dimension to this dish, I will admit eating bacon as a form of confectionary is indeed a strange experience but wonderful nonetheless.

Everything else in the dish blends together lovely and the soft brioche manages to soak up the maple syrup with ease, the berries are sweet without a hint of sourness. Although I enjoy my french toast with a bit more crunch this dish was very well executed and makes a good alternative to the pancakes which looked every bit as impressive as they sailed past our table to a lucky fellow diner.

Eggs Benedict in Manly?

Ok enough about sweet this and maple that you want to know about the eggs benedict. As soon as I laid eyes on it I could tell that I was in for a treat, the hollandaise was a vivid yellow and a great consistency with no separation. I had ordered the bene in its most traditional form, with ham.

I had the option of bacon or smoked salmon as well and I was hoping I had made the right choice, since some restaurants insist on serving shaved flavourless 'supermarket' style ham, which can let a dish down. It was a sweet surprise to find tucked lovingly under the perfectly poached eggs was the juiciest, thickest cuts of ham I had seen in sometime, bravo Sugar Lounge! The raw baby spinach and toasted sourdough brought the dish together well and was thoroughly enjoyable. The best Bene in a long time!

The Baked Beans while only a side dish, for me were every bit as important as the main dishes. For me beans have become some what of a yard stick for comparing breakfasts across this city, some places can serve amazing homemade beans others can serve tinned beans. It says a lot about a restaurant when they can produce well made baked beans because it highlights an attention to detail and that translates to good food and a great dining experience. The beans here had a great consistency and had that lovely homemade look and taste with a hint of curry to stimulate the palette, a great savoury accompaniment.

Best Breakfast in Manly?

Thoroughly satisfied with my meal I sat back and loosened my belt and drank in the ambience of Sugar Lounge, the ceiling fans slowly span above us and the ocean breeze gently crept in the through completely open restaurant front. I admired the brilliantly painted beach scene on the wall and wondered how I could've missed it the last 20 times I was here, however I was informed it was only recently painted all in the space of a day while the diners and drinkers looked on in wonderment, very cool.

It must have been the rattling of the cocktail shaker behind the bar that led me to question why there was no drinks menu? I asked the waitress and if they did fresh juice, they didn't, (a cardinal sin in the breakfast books) however she said the barman could rustle up a berry mocktail to which I promptly replied 'Giddy Up'.

It took a while to arrive but it was a tasty beverage, sweet and chilled, a great way to top off a breakfast. But I can't understand why a place that is renowned for some of the best cocktails in Manly doesn't have a drinks menu for it's breakfast. Then I saw a tray of bloody mary's speed past on route to a table of dark sunglasses and sore heads. I really would like to see Sugar Lounge capitalise on their mixology expertise and design a breakfast cocktail menu, because then I really feel this could be a contender for the best breakfast spot in Manly.

All in all I left Sugar Lounge stuffed, relaxed and happy, the food is spot on with everything you could want for breaky and a bit more, without spending a fistful of cash.

Morning Cocktails Manly

The drinks are great and a definite potential to expand on that. The ambience is cool island chic with a laid back attitude that is unassuming and warm. So the next time I find myself slumped on a cane couch in Sugar Lounge throwing back flaming passionfruits from their signature Zombie cocktails, dreading the inevitable hangover to follow I can take solace in the fact that I can come straight back tomorrow for a phenomenal breakfast that's sure to cure even the most insidious of hangovers.

The Good - Thoughtfully crafted and well priced breakfast menu, Perfectly cooked dishes utilising good produce. Great beachfront location and cool island vibes.

The Bad - Coffees and Drinks took a little while. No fresh juice. No drinks menu.