Cammeray is setting itself up to be one of the busiest hubs on the North Shore. With new eateries like The Farm, and local institutions such as Laneway Cafe, Maggio’s and Wild Sage all fighting for the spotlight, it’s more important now than ever for these suburban eateries to stand out from the crowd with high quality food that’ll keep customers coming back.
Fortunately, Wild Sage is doing exactly that.
Open from sunrise to sunset, Wild Sage is a modern Australian restaurant tucked away in Cammeray Square, and their extensive (and mouth-watering) menu continues to keep locals coming back. With something for everyone, the menu is diverse and boasts flavours that range from the Middle East to Asia.
Co-Owner and Executive Chef, Rasel has designed three unique menus consisting of seasonal ingredients and quality produce, ensuring there is something to satisfy everyone’s tastebuds, “We utilise seasonal fresh produce to enhance the flavour on the palate and ensure each dish is finished with a good balance of colour and texture.”
For breakfast you’ll find everyone’s favourites from smashed avo, fritters and healthy bowls to a brekkie steak burger and French toast, plus their wide-ranging selection of smoothies and fresh fruit juices. Lunch sports a brunch selection for late risers (available till 3pm), and is where things start to get interesting. I’m talking soft tacos with lobster popcorn and grilled pineapple salsa with smoked aioli, compressed watermelon with grilled haloumi and Dukkah, and a classic brisket sandwich with pickles, seeded mayo and fries. The dinner menu is very similar, with the addition of a few other mains including the slow cooked pork ribs and sous vide chicken.
On a drizzly Sunday morning, the restaurant isn’t quite full, but certainly picks during our stay. And not surprising for a brunch spot in the burbs, the clientele is a mix of families, young groups of friends and those nursing a hangover in search of a good feed.
Breakfast Bruschetta at Wild Sage. Image: Vanessa Capito
I order the Breakfast Bruschetta; fresh tomato, grilled haloumi, poached eggs and Dukkah on sourdough ($18). Simple, and not entirely unique, this dish covers all the brekkie essentials, sourdough, eggs, haloumi, and is still great brunch alternative to smashed avo – a dish I’m really starting to grow tired of (does this mean I can afford a house now?).
The Healthy Bowl at Wild Sage, Cammeray. Image: Vanessa Capito
Next up was the Healthy Bowl which consisted of quinoa, chickpeas, spinach, pickles, sweet potato, avocado and two poached eggs ($18.9). Served with a green shot, it’s a healthy eater’s dream and as a harsh critic of health foods that fail to deliver on flavour, I can say this healthy sub is well worth the lack of carbs. The only downside of this dish was the salted and spiced fried chickpeas – they were deliciously good and added a great crunch to contrast the other elements of the bowl, but there just wasn’t enough of them.
To finish I indulged in the French Toast ($15.9), and because I’m all about maintaining a healthy balance between pleasure and pain, I also ordered the Seasonal Fruit Plate ($14.5).
French Toast at Wild Sage, Cammeray. Image: Vanessa Capito
When it comes to the French Toast here, I only have two words for you: order it. So often French toast can end up being a boring bunch of soft, eggy bread with an overly sweet sauce, or dry and flavourless aside from the slight hint of added cinnamon and textureless berries. But at Wild Sage, their brioche French toast is covered with cornflakes for crunch, a mixed berry compote that is still tart enough to cut through the sweetness of the toast, plus a whipped vanilla bean mascarpone cream for something light and creamy. Served with a ramekin of maple syrup on the side means the crunchy flakes won’t go soggy while you savour the bites of this delicious dish.
Great Sunday brunch feed at Wild Sage, Cammeray. Image: Vanessa Capito
The menu is also adaptable with the chefs more than happy to accommodate dietary requirements.
The restaurant is open-plan, airy and welcoming, and conveniently in the shopping plaza – but watch out for the two hour parking limit or you’ll be left slapping another $20 onto your day for parking. The fit out is stylish and chic, and with blond wooden tabletops and chairs, some whitewashed for an almost country-charm-like feel, it pulls off a Hamptons aesthetic.
If you happen to live on the other side of the bridge, you needn’t worry as the team are set to launch a Wild Sage Barangaroo in July this year.
Sum it up: A brunch spot worth coming back to with good ambience and simple, but tasty food.
Must try: French Toast
Price: Breakfast: $15-$19, lunch: $15-29, dinner: $19-$30
Wild Sage Cammeray
Stockland Cammeray Shopping Centre, Shop 17 & 18, 450 Miller Street Cammeray, NSW
Mon-Sun 7am-10pm
wildsage.com.au
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