Don’t eat like a tourist.
Sure it’s a tourist town, but noodlies, Sydney food blog reckons you shouldn’t be fleeced for bad food.
A visit to the mountains is always fun, especially if you have interstate or overseas visitors. We might take our environment for granted but overseas visitors are always a great reminder of how good we have it.
Sadly, food at tourist attractions like the Blue Mountains can often be rubbish and rubbishly expensive. To make things worse, you have to queue for the privilege.
Many visitors stop by villagey Leura before hitting the Three Sisters in Katoomba and noodlies, Sydney food blog recommends a stop at Leura Gourmet for breakfast. At the front is a deli with an interesting array of produce that you don’t find at your local grocery or supermarket. One half of the front is devoted to scrummy sauces, pickles, jams and chutneys.
Go further in and you’ll come to their restaurant, with uninterrupted views of Leura below thanks to floor to ceiling glass panels. This morning it’s a postcard perfect picture of a lush, green countryside with a layer of fog floating like clouds above it.
Breakfast is a choice of café-style desserts from simple toast, fruit & muesli, through to more heavier options like bacon, free range eggs and omelette.
The long drive has me famished and I hail the full breakfast; free range eggs, bacon, tomato, sausage, sauteed mushrooms and toasted sourdough. It’s hearty for sure, but it’s no overkill of fatty protein. The juicy tomato does a lovely job of balancing my egg, bacon and sausage. Though sadly my eggs have gone puritanical – over-cooked so there’s no oozy food porn goodness. The whole plate could have benefited with an additional pinch or two of salt and I remain ambivalent about toasted sourdough. But these are minor quibbles which are easily rectified (as I reach for the salt shaker). At $17.90 it’s a bargain for a touristy area.
Walter has the Turkish bread that comes with fried eggs and bacon. It’s a more moderate order that’s still satisfying. More so if it was seasoned with more salt. For less than $15, the plate is perfectly reasonable.
My latte is on the creamier side but still hits the spot. If you want a bit more jolt, maybe order a strong latte.
It’s 9.30am, we’re here early to nab a window table, gosh that view! The place is half full but fills quickly. Come after 11am and you’ll need to wait. The staff are friendly, warm and efficient to boot.
After a visit to Leura Gourmet you won’t feel like some tourist that’s paid too much for crap food and fake service.
Leura Gourmet Cafe & Deli
159 Leura Mall, Katoomba, NSW
(02) 4784 1438
