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This is the reason for visiting Dose Espresso in Willoughby, for the coffee.
Dose

The people at Dose roast their own coffee, and it’s obvious they care about it.

Oh, and you can also buy light meals / snack, too.

The Place

It’s been good to see more eating places open up in the Willoughby area over the last year or so.  Dose is just a small coffee shop at the back of a small strip of shops. It seems to always be full, so many times I’ve resorted to getting coffee to take away, just so I could have a strong coffee.

Dose

Does - inside

The array of coffee paraphernalia along the end wall is facinating, and tempting!

Dose - inside

Dose

The cafe overlooks a tiny car park, which on this occasion held the Dose van!

Dose

Dose

The Menu

The photo quality of this menu is not so good, but hopefully it’s good enough for you to get an idea of what’s on the menu.  As they don’t have a kitchen, all of the food is prepared off premises, ready made, so just needs to be heated or toasted.

Dose

Here’s the vegie sandwich, with roasted capsicum, grilled eggplant, grilled zucchini, tasty cheese and pesto on toasted quinoa and soya sourdough:

Dose

And the poached chicken breast sandwich, with garlic mayo, celery, walnut, tasty cheese and rocket on toasted quinoa and soya sourdough:

Dose

What they call the “bacon and egg roll” is not really a roll, but a bread like focaccia, toasted, with two free range eggs, eye bacon, tomato relish and hollandaise sauce.  The tomato relish helps lift it above being an ordinary egg and bacon combo.

Dose - bacon and egg

They always have a selection of cakes and breads, such as banana bread.  One time I had a scroll with banana and maple syrup which was wonderfully decadent!

And then there’s the coffee.  When I know a place has good coffee I order it black so I can fully taste it.  Dose varies the beans they offer in the cafe, which is a good way of trying them, before ordering the beans to take home.

Dose - coffee

Dose does a very good cold-drip brewed coffee, served in a glass more like a brandy-glass in shape, with a big chunk of ice.  Whenever I’ve had it there, I’m always amazed at how fine, like a fine wine, it is, yet with full flavour.

I’ve been to Dose Espresso countless times, and will continue to return for the coffee, often having something to nibble with it.  I just wish their premises were bigger so I could be sure of always finding a spot to linger.  If there isn’t room, I’ll take the coffee to the park just a few blocks away, enjoying people-watching there.

Details

Here are the details about Dose Espresso at time of posting. Please check their web site for more current details.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dosesydney
Address Shop 6, 191 High St, Willoughby, NSW
Phone (02) 9967 2552
Open 7am-3:30pm daily
Menu Breakfast: $5-10
Lunch: $10-12
Dose Espresso on Urbanspoon

Where is your favourite place with good coffee?

Patonga Beach Hotel

March 31, 2013 — Leave a comment

Patonga has been an escape place for a long time now. I probably best got to know it from the time that my brother built a weekender there, spending many good times there. Invariably one meal at least will be at the Patonga Beach Hotel and one at the fish and chip shop at the front of it.

Patonga

Patonga is a sleepy fishing village at the southernmost part of the Central Coast, overlooking Broken Bay towards Palm Beach looking south-east, and the Hawkesbury River looking south. The village is on a stretch of sand with the sea on one side and Patonga Creek on the other.

Looking across Broken Bay to the cottages at Darks Corner:

Patonga - beach on sunrise

That was taken at sunrise one morning. See all of the fishing boats in the bay. The next photo was taken about the same time, looking across to the Hawkesbury.

Patonga - bay - looking towards Hawkesbury

Patonga - boat, beach and jetty

Fishing boats in Patonga Creek:

Patonga - fishing boats in the creek

Looking along the beach later in the day:

Patonga - beach & boat

And this one’s looking back to the pub on sunset:

Patonga - looking back to the pub

The Fish & Chip Shop

At the front of the Patonga Beach Hotel you can buy fish and chips, lovely thick-cut chips they prepare themselves, and wander over to the beach to eat them. Perfect.

Patonga - fish & chips

The Pub

The Place

The pub was rebuilt something like 6-7 years ago. The new pub has become a busy magnet for visits to Patonga, with people arriving via boat and car.

Patonga - hotel courtyard 2

These photos don’t show the views across to the beach and sea. It’s a picturesque setting to linger.

Patonga - Hotel courtyard 1

The Food

The popularity of the pub has meant that on weekends it’s usually necessary to reserve a table for lunch, and dinner, ahead of time.

The pub serves the usual pub standard fare, but along with that, superb seafood platters with lobsters and fish from local trawlers, and oysters from the oyster farms in Patonga Creek. In the 2012 SMH Good Pub Food Guide, Patonga Beach Hotel was awarded three schooners, top rating, considering it “best in class”. It was awarded “Best Country Pub“.

These photos were taken over time, and don’t really show off the best of the food. On the menu is usually a variety of dishes, from standard pub fare through to salads and excellent steaks and seafood.

Here’s one of their home-made pies:

Patonga - pie

The Mezze Plate:

Patonga - mezze plate 2

Fish and chips (as if you couldn’t have guessed!):

Patonga - fish & chips

Visit Patonga, go for a walk along the beach, or around the village, or around the rocks at Darks Corner, or along the Creek. There’s swimming and fishing in the sea or in the Creek. The Creek is particularly good for children. It’s tidal, so gets quite low in low tide. Kayaking up Patonga Creek has been enjoyable on many occasions (just make sure you know which way the tide is drawing the water, and which way the wind is blowing!). And then have a meal at the pub. A wonderful way to spend a day or a weekend or longer.

Details

Here are the details about Patonga Beach Hotel at time of posting. Please check their web site for more current details.

Web site http://patongahotel.com/
Address 6-8 Patonga Bay Drive, Patonga, NSW 2256
Phone 02 4379 1111
Open Restaurant Hours
Weekdays
Lunch 12.00 – 2.30
Dinner 6.00 – 8.00
Weekends
Lunch 11.30 – 2.30
Dinner 6.00 – 8.00
Menu
Patonga Beach Hotel on Urbanspoon

 

Where do you go for good pub food with a view?