Potential Crowd Pleaser: Cafe of Sydney

From the outside, Cafe of Sydney looks like the kind of “Western” option you might consider a life-saver … if you lived in Datong.

A glance through the catch-all menu of standard East-meets-West cafe fare left first impressions intact. With so many attractive alternatives around Sanlitun, the dinner mains (from RMB 98) seem overpriced, though the burgers, sandwiches and pasta are affordable enough.

Still brimming with smugness, I expected little from the sausage pizza (RMB 48 set includes soft drink or milk tea). However, it was attractively put together, and the fresh, flavorful toppings were an enjoyable surprise. I wasn’t quite knocked from my high horse – the pizza base was obstructively brittle – but had to store contempt away for another day.

There’s potential for a dependable crowd-pleaser here, if they’re conscientious about refining the product. Waiter Andy was excellent, and has just the attitude the place needs. Cafe of Sydney also merits a morning visit – the English-style “big breakfast” is only RMB 35, with simpler egg-and-toast combos averaging RMB 15-20.

Cafe of Sydney, Daily 10am-10pm. Unit 2-316, 3/F, Bldg B, Sanlitun Soho, 8 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (8590 0198)
朝阳区工体北路8号三里屯SohoB座2-316室

Good for: A cheap Western breakfast

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