bangbang Cafe – Surry Hills, Sydney CBD
From turntable to dining table.
Should I be skeptical about the food served at a cafe that is opened by a DJ? Not to mention with a funny name like, “BANG BANG”? I was ready to ignore the invite when it came through to my inbox a couple of weeks ago sent by Alan Thompson, the cafe owner himself. Or should I call him, DJ Alan Thompson? Alan is an award-winning international DJ made fame with his Ministry of Sound Housexy and Clubbers Guide compilations. Other than house music, food is his next greatest passion. Hence, Alan decided to move from UK to Australia, become a citizen and opened bangbang cafe in June 2009.
I did a quick Google search and there aren’t that many reviews of this bangbang cafe, and the ones I found seem to have nice things to say about this cafe. But it was the photos in the article of the stunning decor inside the cafe that had my mind made up to give it a go.
I am supposed to meet up with Simon at 12.30pm for lunch at bangbang cafe, but unfortunately I got held up at the meeting at Single Origin warehouse and only arrive at the cafe almost 2 hours late! Simon is already there waiting for me, feel bad that I am extremely late but also glad that we just missed the lunch hour rush, there is only another patron sitting at the communal table having his lonesome lunch.
Alan’s passion of music is no doubt reflected in the decor throughout the cafe. The white wall is painted with a giant headphones with the cord coiling all the way to the back of the cafe. Two tiny red chairs are hauntingly mesmerising leaning against the wall, but it is the shiny drummer seats that I fell in love with. Thank god chopsticks are not being used here, I can imagine patrons may have the urge to use them as drumsticks to heat a few beats while waiting for food to arrive.
Bangbang’s menu offers some of Alan’s old-school favourites, just like how his mum used to make in Wales. The menu is all about simplicity and using good quality ingredients for simple dishes. The breakfast menu is impressive with a few items catch my attention – Welsh Rarebit and Scottish brekkie with black pudding for instance. But we are here for lunch, and the menu is also never short of choices. We pick a few items on the menu to share.
The latte art on my flat white is mimicking the Campos logo on the porcelain cup. Campos is one of my favourite coffee in Sydney, but I am a little bit surprised to find that they are not using Single Origin, since they are only a few blocks down on Reservoir Street.
Wagyu burger with truss tomato, spanish onion, cos lettuce, aioli and bangbang tomato & chilli relish - 12.90
Our lunch arrives swiftly not long after without delay. The wagyu burger is absolutely bang for the buck with its generous portion size (pun intended). The thick wagyu beef pattie is juicy, tender and big flavour, topped with sweet truss tomato slices, spanish onions, resting on a bed of crunchy cos lettuce, every bite is a bliss with a subtle hint of garlicky aioli, and the bangbang tomato and chilli relish is flirting with my taste buds with a hint of heat punch in the background. Instead of chips, the burger is served with a handful of crisps, the English (or the Welsh) way apparently.
Posh fish finger sarnie - 12.50
Don’t let the unflattering simple looking sandwich fools you. The posh fish finger sandwich, or as they called it, the “sarnie” is composed of fresh breaded flathead fillets on sourdough bread with bangbang coarse tartare sauce. The fish fingers are still piping hot straight out from shallow fry, nice soft flesh on the inside with a crispy golden crumb. Not sure what is it about the “bangbang” bit, but the coarse tartare sauce is quite something else! It makes a huge difference when the tartare sauce is freshly made, it is creamy and rich, the tartness of the sauce really brings out the flavour of the fish. My favourite dish at bangbang.
Bangers & Mash - 15.00
Last dish we share is the good ole bangers and mash. Two big fat hudson’s pork sausages are grilled to perfection, densely stuffed with good quality pork mince only, exactly what a good pork sausage should be. The creamy mashed potato is velvety smooth and onion gravy perhaps a little salty for my palate, but it can be easily rectified with some minty garden peas.
Bangbang’s food are simple affairs but with big flavour, sometimes that’s exactly what I need! Unpretentious good food! I also find the menu is very well priced and reasonable, just look at the wagyu burger, need I say more? Alan just told me after reading about my Masterchef audition that he also actually tried to apply for Masterchef Australia. Obviously this guy is as food mad as I am!
[Competition is now closed.]
Drool no more, Alan has kindly offer one of ATFT’s reader to win a meal at bangbang cafe up to the value of $50! All you have to do is simply by leaving a comment on this post and tell us:
- What is your favourite food for breakfast/lunch?
Terms & Conditions 1. Entry will be judged on creativity or entertainment value. 2. Readers may submit one entry per day before closing date. 3. The competition closes on Tue 4 May 2010 at 5.30pm AEST. The winner will be announced on Wednesday 5 May 2010. 4. Winner will be notified via email. The winner will need to give me name and date when you want to go for a meal. GOOD LUCK!
bangbang cafe
113 Reservoir St
Surry Hills
NSW 2010
P: (02) 9281 0018
Opening hours:
Weekdays 8am-4pm; Sat 8am-2pm
[The meal was unexpectedly paid for by Alan Thompson himself]
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
This cafe sounds close to heaven for a Welsh born Englishman like myself.
It feels like a very long time that I’ve had a proper breakfast of Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Beans, Mushrooms, Hash Brown, Fat White Toast, and some seriously good Black Pudding… but I think my favourite breakfast dish is something more luxurious yet no less unhealthy.
Eggs Benedict. Not a meagre portion but a full, fresh, heavily buttered muffin, with two or even three gorgeously soft poached eggs, several rashers of crispy, salty, streaky bacon, and a luscious, thick, rich hollandaise to top it all off. I could eat this dish every day for the rest of my life and love it more every time. Although my life would undoubtedly be shortened by the experience.
When I make this at home (Home being England, rather than here in Sydney), I’d treat myself to the best Black Pudding I can find, from Bury. A thickish, pan-fried slice on top of the bacon just gives the dish that extra bit of Northern English grunt, and brings a smile to my overstuffed face as it delivers a knockout punch to the otherwise refined flavours of this classic breakfast dish.
I love the decor!
Favourite food for breakfast/lunch would definitely have to be scrambled eggs on buttered sourdough toast, yum
The crisps are Weird.
I love a good fresh fruit salad
.-= Fiona´s last blog ..Darby Street Eats =-.
Favourite breakfast?
Two thick slices of round black pudding fried with a poached egg on top and a little black pepper.
When you break the yolk and it runs into the black pudding a great day begins.
Ah Resevoir st – one of my favourite streets to eat in Surry Hills.
I love any breakfast involving a poached egg and bacon..
.-= JT´s last blog ..Monday Night M&M’s – Rosewater Meringues and Masterchef =-.
Love the look of that fish sarnie! And that wagyu burger looks so delish too! Definitely worth a look!
I love scrambled eggs garnished with herbs, crispy bacon and thick slices of sourdough bread, with a warm skim latte!
As Eggs Benedict is taken..
I’d say.. left-overs from dinner always hits a sweet spot (usually, after the second bite.. haha).
HEHE REMINDS ME OF THE SONG BY NANCY SINATRA!
i love a chunky tartare sauce as well mm, i used to make fish fingers inbetween two buttered toasts with lashings of tartare sauce.. so good
.-= betty´s last blog ..Red Velvet babycakes with cream cheese frosting =-.
Sounds good. Though I had come to expect white pudding along with my black pudding when having breakfast. Maybe that is more of an irish thing.
.-= yewenyi´s last blog ..MSG at the Mado Cafe =-.
english muffin , heaps of butter , poached egg , mushrooms ( in butter sauce ) , smoked salmon with horseradish dressing . yumo !
I’ve walked past this cafe and I remember thinking what an awesome interior it had. I have been wanting to visit this sometime soon, thanks for the review Billy. These pictures have definitely made me more eager to try. Wagyu burger…yuuuummmm!!!
I’m from the Philippines, so my favourite breakfast is longganisa, a type of Filipino sausage, served with rice and some fried eggs. Since I’m in Sydney, I would say a big breakfast is also my favourite, I’m talking scrambled eggs, sausages, mushrooms, bacon and hash. AND if I have room for more, some pancakes with maple syrup.
Great….now I’m hungry….
It certainly looks like a cafe owned by a Ministry of Sound DJ! I love the red chairs contrasted with the steel barstools. Food looks great too, I love good heart unpretentious food too!
My favourite food for breakfast is toast with feta and spinach, grilled, then topped with caramelised onion. Served with sweet ham is the best
.-= tangerine eats´s last blog ..Raspberry Sorbet, Toffee and Lime =-.
What a great looking venue! My brekkie of choice would probably be good ol’ bacon and egg – crispy and fried, respectively, with a load of vegie sides (tomato, spinach, avocado, mushrooms) and lovely sourdough toast…
.-= Tina´s last blog ..Ageing appeal =-.
One of favourite cafes in Surry Hills, and just downstairs from my work! Great vibe about the place, and the staff are fantastic.
I highly recommend their corn fritters with bacon, rocket and tomato for breakie. Delicious!
Ooh I like the look and sound of this place, esp that wagyu burger! I would have to say a nice thick slab of good quality wagyu with a bernaise sauce and side of thick cut chips mmmm
fluffy scrambled eggs and fresh golden hash browns ^^ need i say more?
It has to be French Toast with Crispy Bacons then drenched with Maple Syrup…oh and a side of Caramelized Banana wouldn’t hurt ^_^
….. for breakfast my favourites would have to be….
Vegemite & Avocado on iggy’s bread
or soft boiled eggs with toast soldiers dripping in butter or
an omlette made by my boyfriend…. he is not the best cook…. but his omlettes are made with love…. and anything else that it lying around.
but….bangbang’s breakfast looks pretty ace!
I am definitely trying Bangbang cafe next week (:
I’ve been on a breakfast trawl this year and my current favourite (current, meaning I discovered it this morning) is chicken, avocado, tomato & mayo on turkish bread with a campos coffee mocha at Latticini in Rozelle
I wonder what music he plays in the cafe?
My favorite breakfast/brunch is… a healthy portion of avocado, smoked salmon with dill on sourdough. followed by expresso and an almond and carrot muffin.
Yum!
I went here for lunch today! A fave of mine near work. Lamb burger is delic but only if you like bubbaganoush. Very cool spot. Carrot cake looked great too, must try.
I’ve been here for breakfast! Twice already – actually two weekends in a row. I feel bad you wrote about this place – I thought it was my little secret! ahah! But seriously, the breakfast is fantastic. You should try it too!
I love a big breakie of bacon, poached eggs and garlic-buttery, sauteed mushies. I call that heaven. A good pork snork and a tasty coffee would top it all off!
The breakfast I cook for mum on Mother’s Day and her b’day which is full of her favourites – sauteed mushrooms (in butter), avocado, smoked salmon (and bacon for dad), toasted fresh bread (with some more butter).
I went to bangbang today but was bitterly disappointed that they only offer this food for their weekday lunch menu and I didn’t feel like breakfast in the middle of the day.
We had coffee instead.
Mmmmm.. now that does look really tasty. I feel like having a burger now!
Favourite food? I can’t go pass scrambled egges, mushies and toast for breaky (I normally don’t have breakfast because I’m always in a rush and can’t be bothered to get out of bed earlier). And for lunch..? It’s hard because it depends what my mood is. Sometimes a burger with beer battered chips really does hit the sweet spot for me.
.-= Phuoc’n Delicious´s last blog ..Taking some time out =-.
My favourite breakfast is a toss up between:
1. Banana mashed with maple syrup and cinnamon on a warm blueberry muffin, with a side of ricotta cheese – yum!
2. Homemade peanut and cashew nut butter with mashed banana and crunchy nut cornflakes between two slices of french toast – definitely alot of bangbang in this concoction.
pan fried haloumi cheese, asparagus, roasted eggplant & tomato relish on a seeded roll <3
or
broken chunks of weetbix with gipsland yoghurt!!
Gorgeously, droolsome photos. I can’t resist the temptation of a good breakfast-brunch but flying over to Aust sounds out of the question.
Yet, I like nasi lemak, roti canai, and dim sum. Rings a bell?
Warm toasted banana bread with a skim Campos flat white at the side. Pinch bits and pieces of the banana bread and simply immerse it in the all glorious coffee!
Perfect morning = perfect day
Singapore’s Yakun Kaya style kaya and butter toast with a runny egg at the side. Beat the egg until yolk mixes well with the eggwhite. Put a dollop of this on the kaya and butter toast.
SINK IN!
Crunching noises and finger licking ensue!
This is my idea of heaven.
Literally ;D
French Toast w/ Bacon. Best for breakfast or lunch. Speaking of which I may head to 3 spoons for some shortly.
Looks like great value for money. I’ve been meaning to check this place out too
My friend moved to London and she was telling me about the whole ‘crisp’ thing, where they have them with every meal! Quite funny! Hmm… it would largely depend on my mood at the time, but in general my fave breakfast item would be scrambled eggs with toast 
.-= Betty @ The Hungry Girl´s last blog ..Anzac Biscuits =-.
mm my favourite way to start the day is to have perfectly poached eggs on good crusty bread with smoked salmon, a bit of butterleaf lettuce (if we have any) and finished off with some of Tetsuya’s black truffle salsa on top.
SO GOOD.
Eggs benedict with smoked salmon – up there with the most perfect of perfect combinations, like dark chocolate and mint, potatoes and gravy and mojitos and summer! Wash it down with a strong campos coffee and I’m in heaven…
No doubt, my fav breakfast is poached eggs on English muffin with smoked salmon. But no Hollandaise sauce please…
Looks like a great cafe, and you gotta love the value in that burger!
My favourite breakfast? Leftover spaghetti bolognaise on toast with plenty of grated Parmesan on top. Breakfast of champions.
.-= Forager´s last blog ..Milestones, family and the ultimate potato salad =-.
Bangbang is a great little Sydney cafe, congrats to Alan and his team.
Love a good bircher museli!
grilled halloumi! with poached eggs and rocket leaves. with butter avocado
lovely blueberry pancakes with cut strawberries and bananas in top, drizzled in glorious golden maple. a dollop of cream if its your birthday! ;D
The best Brekky imaginable is a pancake stack, drizzled with warm caramel sauce, pecans and a generous dollop of icecream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YUM!
Oh honey, nothing beats a good Malaysian brekkie! Soft-boiled eggs with soya sauce, kaya toast, warm crunchy yu char kway to dip in Malaysian black coffee and little treats that my Grandma would buy from the morning markets such as loh mai chee and ban jian kway. And yes… I can eat all of these in one meal!
You can take the girl out of Malaysia, but you def can’t take the Malaysian out of the girl
.-= Karen | Citrus and Candy´s last blog ..Sydney Food Bloggers’ Battle Royale =-.
I’m assuming the music at this cafe would be awesome
My favourite breakfast is definitely french toast made with thick brioche, drizzled with pure maple syrup and served with a side of smoky bacon and some strawberries and mint. The sweet, smoky, salty and herbaceous flavours combine in such a way that you always forget how big the night before was (and how bad any hangover might be!)
A fresh and healthy wrap for lunch, the more exotic the better
oh yum. these simple and tasty dishes look good. looks like the wagyu beef burger might be a good contender against the Plan B burger. my favourite food for breakfast would have to be crispy bacon with scrambled eggs although bangbang’s wagyu beef burger looks like a great contender for my favourite lunch food
.-= Simon Food Favourites´s last blog ..Seven days of eating in Melbourne: Snapshot Summary (2 May 2010) =-.
There’s nothing better than a massive fry up when I’m a little fried up!
Came to Bangbang, as saw reviews online on timeout website! Loved it, came with my sister who is living in qld. We just made it for breakfast & we both loved the simple but tasty looking menu. Pork sausages are out of this world! Chai tea same, friendly service. Will def be back! Thankyou!
we love the welsh rarfebit at Bar Mattino (Abercrombie St, Chippendale), so we decided to give it a shot at BangBang. To be honest, we were disappointed…. very disappointed. Your food there does look really good though, so maybe we will give it a shot for lunch one day.
Buggles and Squeak´s last [type] ..Review – Firefly Tapas and Wine Bar