Cuckoo Callay

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Cuckoo Callay Surry Hills boasts a kitchy-bright interior and a big outdoors seating area, serving a menu of creative, East-meets-West dishes that are what brunch dreams are made of. In the era of covid, the outdoors seating and the in-app ordering are particularly appreciated. There is also a Cuckoo Callay Newtown serving a slightly different menu that I'm yet (but excited) to try. 

Watermelon mimosa, $5

Weekend brunch, of course, starts with mimosa. In addition to the classic version with orange juice, Cuckoo Callay serves a watermelon version. It is a pretty watered-down, weak drink, but at $5 a pop, there is little to complain of. 

Ask a chilli question and you’ll get a chilli answer, $24

The names of the dishes here are all cheeky, fun and punny. I was geniunely torn between a few options, but settled with this gorgeous soft scrambled eggs with fermented chilli, mushroom and eggplant xo, with a roti paratha on top. This rich and savoury dish is flavoured with fried curry leaves, corinander, lime and handfuls of crispy shallots, giving it a richness of texture and wonderfully strong flavours. If I were to nit-pick, it is perhaps a tad on the salty side, but the buttery scrambled eggs and roti are more than capable of rolling with the punches. 

No. 88 okonomiyak, $26

This chilli jam prawns number was also a strong contender. A twist on the classic Japanese okonomiyaki, it is an okonomiyaki waffle made with mi goreng noodle, cabbage and spring onion topped with the prawn, pickled ginger, cucumber and a 63 degrees poached egg. The usual accompaniments of okonomiyaki sauce, kewpie mayonnaise and bonito flakes are accompanied by coriander, giving this dish a Japanese-yet-South-East-Asian flavour. Delicious. 

Eggs on toast with avocado, $20

If you're more of a classics-lover, you'll be happy to know that the options for eggs on toast don't just stop with how you like your eggs cooked - there is a wide range of toppings available. The basic eggs on toast with seasonal relish is $14, then you can order various toppings such as the lemon dukkah avocado pictured; miso mushrooms, chorizo, haloumi... I am particularly impressed with the beautiful way in which the eggs are scrambled: so silky and soft, it is almost a work of art. 


Golden tumeric latte, $5

Of course, how can you go into Surry Hills without having a nice tumeric latte? Definitely on the sweet side, this is a warming, delicious beverage that yields two latte-sized cups. 

Score: 4.5
Cost: approx $35 - $40pp 
Address: 413-415 Crown Street, Surry Hills

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