Review Contessa Balmain - Balmain

Good food, good vibes, amazing coffee. We ordered eggs Benedict- I’ve had better and Nutella French toast - I expected it to be warm, it was cold when served. Overall it’s a good place, super busy. Might not go here again though.

Located on Darling St, this place is always busy with either people getting takeaway coffee or sitting down to eat. It’s quite a small cafe but very open, tables spill into outside. With a huge mural on the wall, the cafe feels very Balmainy. Service was great, they even offered to deliver our coffees to the Escape Travel i was working from that day. CAESAR SALAD $14.50 Baby cos, crispy trim bacon, free range boiled egg, shaved italian parmesan, traditional caesar dressing & garlic bread. Add grilled marinated chicken / smoked salmon / sauteed prawns $5.00 each - perfectly sized salad, chicken was yummy too!

Coffee was great, food was pretty good (French toast, meatballs, Breakfast burrito) however the wait time was unacceptable. We saw how busy they were at 10am so came back after 11am to receive a table inside and have available tables around us. We finished our drinks, I went for a walk across the road and finally asked how much longer it would take for our food to arrive. Another 5-10minutes and it arrived. While I didn't time it, it would have been close to 50minutes. While waiting we did ask a waitress what the blue lights were that kept flashing. She had no idea but we found out after googling it. A small thing but a bit of local knowledge of a contemporary artwork that holds significance to the area would give the service a little step up. AFTER READING RESPONSE A LITTLE SHOCKED AS I AM IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY! TRUST ME WORKING IN AIRLINES I DEFINITELY KNOW HOW HARD IT HAS BEEN! THOUGHT I WAS OFFERING A LITTLE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND SHOCKED BY THE OWNERS RESPONSE! THAT I DROPPED A STAR

Always great! Love the Iced-chai, the French toast is literally the best, fluffy and well made. Absolutely loved the burger as well.

This is such an awesome spot for brunch! You can never go wrong with the coffee or a "Contessa fry up"! We have been here so many times and the service is always awesome. We'll done guys

I’ve found Eggs Benedict Heaven! Costing under $20, the Hollandaise sauce (the most important part) is made to perfection and clings to the eggs. The eggs are very fresh and not too runny. And the staff are so friendly even when it’s super busy.

Love Contessa's fruity frappes and eggs benedict, and the fry-up brekkie is what all big breakfasts should aim to be. Service is always friendly and now that they have the space next door, there's plenty of seating.

Outstanding cafe! The staff are awesome - incredibly friendly but not too over the top. The service is really good and the food - omg - definitely make sure you go there hungry as the serving sizes are enormous. Our go to is the chicken salad, meatballs or burger. Great coffee too. The owner is just gorgeous. It's out go to place in Balmain. Bravo team Contessa!

Beautiful presentation and great value for money for the tuna salad. Chai latte and banana smoothie were delicious too.

We have been in this place for breakfast and we have eaten The Farmhouse Omelette, Rosa’s Breakfast Bruschetta and coffee. They were ok, with a good presentation, but service was slow.

We ordered the Italian meatballs and eggs. The meatballs were seasoned well and juicy. However, would have preferred more of the delicious pesto to balance out the whole dish.

Contessa meaning countess in latin is authentic to it’s Italian Roots fused with modern Australian cafe culture. Marco has cultivated a symbiotic culture where fresh quality food meets GLORIOUS coffee (which by the way serves the Grounds of Alexandria special blend) and impeccable service. I am so grateful to have walked past your Cafe! I sincerely appreciate the service (because anyone that knows me I change everything I want on a menu) and rustic flavorful food you served. Bon Appetit! 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽 you have a customer for life !<br/><br/>#supportyourlocalcafes <br/>

Nice staff and food and drinks were all very delicious. <br/><br/>1 potato leek soup<br/>2 prawn garlic spaghetti <br/>3 risotto<br/>4 kids egg and soldier toast with bacon <br/>5 earl grey tea <br/>6 kids milk shake<br/>7 soy hot chocolate

We were served by a lovely cheerful host on a busy Sunday and seated for lunch. Coffee was on point 👌 My friend and I both ordered the salad on the specials menu. Chicken Pesto and Haloumi. It was divine! Food and coffee took a while to come out but I could see how busy they were, so it was quite understandable. Overall great little spot for a feed and good food experience!

Such amazing food! Everything tasted great and the staff were all so friendly. Definitely recommend the Nutella french toast if you have a sweet tooth!

Tasty brekkie and big portion. Coffee is good too. Staffs are friendly and quick service. It is a bit pricy considering it is in Balmain, the price is reasonable in this area cuz of the taste.

Good luck finding a table here for brunch on Saturday or Sunday! There’s a reason why Contessa is so popular though, the staff are beyond friendly and the Grounds of Alexandria coffee is the best in the area! <br/>I only wish that the hollandaise on my eggs Benedict was homemade but if you’re not as fussy as I am about things like that, then you have to enjoy this gorgeous space in Balmain!

The food and drink was very nice. I ordered Contessa corn cake and seasonal fruit frappe. The corn cake was nicely cooked, with a mixture of sauce and flavour. I especially liked the hickory style bacon (I am a bacon lover :P)<br/>The drink was fantastic. Nice and fresh : )

Contessa is just one of those places that is constantly busy all day. And with good reason. Their selection of brunch dishes is incredible. Possibly their best-known dish is the Nutella French Toast, which is the reason I visited. Thick and fluffy french toast layered with a huge serving of Nutella. The strawberries and coconut rounded everything out and made this so incredibly tasty

Happy mornings begin at Contessa Balmain! There is even an outdoor table for you if you want to bring your furry friend! Dog Lovers, rejoice! This funky café is family owned and operated thus quality is never compromised! Order the frogiccino with your Italian brunch and it will get you grinning so big! Who could resist looking at this cute little drink? Such a crowd-pleaser!

Contessa is a busy cafe but it's worth the wait for a table if it's packed. The place has an indoor and outdoor seating with lots of natural light. Menu consists of light starter, breakfast, lunch, beverages and few alcoholic drinks. Breakfast is served all day and coffee is by the Grounds. For brunch, I ordered the breakfast bruschetta, thick slice of sourdough topped with smashed avocado, tomato, garden greens and a poached egg. Lovely food and very friendly staff, I can't wait to go back!

our favourite "go to" for breakfast. we've been fans now for about 6 months, and i now judge every breakfast place by the standards at Contessa Balmain. the staff is amazing...courteous, knowledgeable and so friendly. you can't go wrong with anything on this menu, but our favourites are the breakfast bruschetta, (extra egg for me, thank you) and the bacon and egg roll on sourdough with a hash brown. coffee is superb. love sitting outside and watching all the doggies walking by. hats off to the owner, chefs, and wait staff. love you guys. Charles and Megs are fans for life. (and yes we were there this morning!!)

Fist time coming to this venue. Even though place was packed with customers when I came, service was quick and friendly. Coffee was awesome, from The Grounds.

✔️ Was blown away by the amazing food & service at Contessa. I came here with my uncle on Sunday, they were packed as always which makes the vibe what it is. The service was impeccable the entire time, attending to us as before we would even look up to get someones attention. Meeting the owner was a privilege as he is so passionate and beautiful with a heart of gold. We ordered the breakfast bruschetta, the B.R.A.T and I got the signature corn cakes. OMG!!! I can’t stress enough how so delicious and faultless everything was. I also love my coffee,and the coffee here is just superb. Would 100% travel an hour to come back 🙌 💯 <br/><br/>❌ Absolutely nothing. <br/><br/>Food: 5/5<br/>Presentation: 4.5/5<br/>Service: 5/5<br/>Location: 5/5 <br/><br/>(One of the highest ratings I’ve given). 😊

A friendly cafe with good portioned and tasty food. Really enjoyed the corn cake with salmon, could have be even better with just a few more drops of balsamic vinegar reduction sauce. The spaghetti was cooked well, however the meatballs were a bit under seasoned.

Even on a Wednesday morning, most of the tables were full. There was such a great variety of cafe, Italian and American inspired dishes it was difficult to decide what to order. My friend really enjoyed the Italian eggs with mum's meatballs. It tasted very rich, so it will be most enjoyed by those that like super creamy and cheesy food. Such a huge serving, so it is definitely worth the money! <br/><br/>Meanwhile, I really enjoyed the Contessa corn cakes. A perfect serving size and so tasty. We also shared mum's minestrone soup. It's the epitome of hearty, comfort food, and was especially fulfilling on a cold day. There were also a lot of vegetables in the flavourful soup, making it very filling, and so much value for $14! <br/><br/>Lastly, they have some stunning coffee art here, and their froggicino is adorable. Contessa was an amazing place for brunch, and we were so spoilt by all the wonderful food and drinks. The dishes have so much heart in them and you can tell how much the people at Contessa really try to ensure every customer has an enjoyable experience. I would not hesitate to visit here again, especially to try more dishes on their menu!

From the bare brick walls and large mural, this is one of our favourite Italian/ American cafe. <br/>Not only do they have amazing customer service and plenty of seating (inside or outside) they have delicious food! From healthy options to legendary cheat meals, it’s your one stop shop for a post workout meal, weekend brunch dates; basically anything you can think of (in the day). oh and their food is so photographable as well definitely deserves bonus points for that! <br/><br/>We absolutely loved everything we ate from Contessa Balmain! The Nutella French Toast is just amazing 😱😱😍😍. Perfectly layered with toasted muesli and fresh strawberries and drizzled in honey! If you need a pick up in the morning this will definitely wake you up! <br/><br/>THE DELUXE CHEESBURGER 🤩🍔🍔<br/>100% house made beef pattie, smoked bacon and caramelised onion on toasted brioche bread served with our favourite beer battered thick fries. <br/><br/>Eggs on toast with Italian Meatballs -This dish was amazing! Everything about this dish made us feel like we walked right home! The eggs were scrambled perfectly with the delicious Italian meatballs which were juicy and super tasty.

Great cafe for the locals with friendly staff and chef. Very generous servings of food, loved the spaghetti and corn cakes. Nutella french toast great for those with a sweet tooth

Nice place, tasty food, great espresso martini, and super friendly and lovely service!! We really enjoyed our brunch here and what a fantastic start for our first trip in Sydney!

A good cafe to grab lunch. Service was friendly and efficient. I had the corn cakes with beans which I thought was a good size. It tasted fresh and I enjoyed it but maybe a little on bland side. Didn't really get much spice flavour from the spicy Chipotle beans. My friend had eggs benedict. It was exactly what she was craving and she liked it.

Cafe uses The Grounds Coffee beans, sandwich was nicely toasted sour dough, bacon Avo, and some salad. Interesting add on with pickle Cucumber. Not bad place. Super busy, probably most popular place to eat in Balmain<br/>

Generous serves of good food and friendly service<br/><br/>Contessa Balmain is a cafe/restaurant serving breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. It is small cafe with limited seating available inside and outside. It is located on Darling Street, Balmain. <br/><br/>We came for brunch as it was suggested to us to try and reviews were positive, so we had to give it a go. We were meant to go to Devon on Danks but I'm glad we went to Contessa as it was a nice experience. We found off street parking and were seated immediately. Throughout our time at Contessa, there was a consistent flow of customers. <br/><br/>We ordered the Ultimate bacon and egg roll, Contessa corn cakes with chorizo, and the Contessa fry up. To drink, my child had the Contessa froggicino, I had a large Chai latte and my husband had the seasonal fresh fruit freppe.<br/><br/>The servings of food were generous, we didn't end up finishing everything. The ultimate bacon and egg roll came with hickory smoked bacon, fried eggs, provolone cheese, caramelized onion (we asked for it to be on the side), tomato relish and mayonnaise on a toasted brioche bun. It was a big serving, no way could you get your mouth around it without pressing it down. A bit messy to eat but was nice. The bacon was smokey and plenty of it. I would have preferred a runny egg. Everything tied nicely together. <br/><br/>I tried the Contessa corn cakes as a review suggested to try it. I normally wouldn't order this kind of dish but decided to give it a go and I actually enjoyed it. But one cake was more than enough, the dish came with two corn cakes. It was served with guacamole, baby spinach, tomato salsa, and balsamic reduction with a choice of hickory smoked bacon, chorizo, mushrooms or smoked salmon. I chose chorizo and I'm glad I did as we quickly polished it up. It was yummy, flavours weren't strong, it didn't leave an aftertaste and were cut in nice thick pieces so it wasn't dry. There was plenty of corn in the corn cakes and was a nice sweet and savoury dish, however, eating both cakes would make me feel sick so I left the other one. The fresh element of the avocado, spinach, and tomato helped cut through the oil for me in the dish. <br/> <br/>The Contessa fry up or big breakfast came with x2 fried eggs (you can't change how the eggs are cooked), hickory smoked bacon, mushrooms, grilled tomato, hash brown, house relish and sourdough bread. I prefer my egg runny and because they put the relish on the eggs, I didnt touch much of the egg as the relish was not to my palate. The bacon was smoky and was nice. The mushrooms were good and plenty of it. The hash brown was nice and crunchy. The sourdough bread was nice toasted and buttered.<br/><br/>The froggicino or babycino was a cute and novelty way to put a smile on my child's face. It came with two marshmallows and a face drawn with chocolate sauce. It was thoroughly enjoyed as it was polished up quickly. A definite hit with the kids.<br/><br/>My Chai latte was nice and it came out quite hot as requested. <br/><br/>The seasonal fresh fruit freppe was nice and not overly sweet. Tasted like it had mango in it. <br/><br/>Staff were friendly and a table check was done. <br/><br/>Verdict: If you want good food and have an appetite, this place is worth a try and it won't hurt your wallet either.

Contessa Balmain is a licensed cafe situated in the suburb of Balmain. Their cuisine is inspired by owner Marco’s Italian roots and passion for travel, which he serves up in a mixture of American/ Italian inspired dishes. I had heard great things about this cafe (and seen the signature froggicinos on instagram) and could not wait to drop by and visit this cafe for brunch on a weekend.

Famous for their ‘Froggycinos’ Cafe Contessa seems to have flown under the radar …. But no longer! They are making their presence very clear with their signature Froggycino’s and friendly vibe. Contessa is away from the main hustle and bustle of balmain which makes it a great spot to eat and relax, along the main road. <br/><br/>Marco has done a beautiful job with hi staff unit there that seem more like a little family!<br/><br/>The food was delicious and wholesome! Generous serving sizes and you definitely wont leave feeling hungry.<br/><br/>My favourite were the 'Contessa Corn Cakes' (P.s. ADD BACON for a salty hit) and the omelette was delicious too with melt in the mouth smoked salmon and fluffy eggs. <br/><br/>Loved the coffee here could have easily consumed 3 or 4!<br/><br/>Their Orange and coconut cake was also enjoyable!<br/><br/>FOY MY FULL REVIEW CLICK THE LINK BELOW :)

Contessa Balmain will make my Top 10 Cafe List this year, such a superb venue. A venue that is so incredibly busy but never faulted on service, quality, or attention to detail. And as for Connie, she is the cherry on the cake of this venue, one of the best waitstaff of all time.<br/>Full review is now on Spooning Australia.

They serve the grounds coffee which was nice. Was not really hungry so just tried their muffin by luv. Would like to come back to try their brekky menu, it sounded good.<br/>Partner tried muesli, and was goid. Needed more fruits though

Contessa is one of those cozy cafes in Balmain area that has been around for a long time. The cafe has a very warm ambient and very friendly staff. The cafe also has some outdoor sitting for customers to get some fresh air and sunlight.  . Besides, who doesn't love this painting on this wall? SEXY~~~

Contessa has been a local institution in Balmain for more than two decades with current owner Marco running the business for the last 13 years. It is not by chance that Contessa thrives amongst the growing competition of the ever-changing café scene in Sydney. Like any other successful business, friendly and efficient service is a feature of Contessa. Marco is the front of the house and warmly greets arriving and departing customers. His team is very accommodating and helped us change tables and pack away leftovers.

I haven't ordered chicken parmigiana in years because I've always found it to be a plain and boring dish - schnitzel, tomato and cheese. However, I decided to order it on this occasion and really enjoyed it! It may be a simple dish, but they do it very well. They add ham which adds to the texture and makes the meal more substantial. The bed of chips were fresh and tasty. The meal was well cooked, well presented - well done!

A nice little cafe with friendly staff and great service. When we arrived the place was packed, luckily we didnt have to wait long for a table.<br/><br/>We ordered a few dishes that sounds delicious and it was fair to say it was not bad. <br/><br/>Great place and will revisit again.<br/><br/>Until next time ... Keep eating.

Are you addicted to brunch? Are you looking for your next brunching hit?🍴 @contessabalmain will fill your every brunching fantasy with their gourmet menu and delish breaky beverages🥂There's nothing better than a Sunday morning mimosa or Bloody Mary!😉@mybondisummer #contessabalmain #mybondisummer

Came here on a Sunday for brunch. Was greeted by what seemed to the manager, was very friendly and inviting. Waited about 10minutes for a table on a busy Sunday which we didnt mind. Had the Contessa fry up and deluxe cheeseburger. Both were delicious and filling. Great staff, great service, great food. Strongly recommend

Little busy cafe, was pretty full on a Sunday morning, but we were seated quickly. <br/>My chicken Parmy was good from presentation to taste. They even made an effect to decorate my chai latte which is very sweet because most of the place don't. This is a place I will visit again :)

Came here for breakfast on a Sunday and it was fantastic, the lovely waitress was super friendly and the atmosphere was great, they were super busy and they even gave us the chance to split the bill and pay separately, not many places do that. <br/>My food was great. It wasn't so heavy. <br/>They made me a banana and mixed berry smoothie (that wasn't on the menu) and it was beautiful, nice and creamy and smooth the way a smoothie should be. <br/>I would definately come back to this place for breakfast.

Service at Contessa Balmain was excellent but the food was below expectation. <br/><br/>I have to admit that the food were instagram friendly and they brightened up my day. Who can resist the cute froggoccino? The Nutella French toast looked lovely too. Unfortunately, the French toast was soggy and weighted by Nutella and oil. <br/><br/>The chef could consider putting crumbs around the toast to improve the texture of the toast so that it does not taste so monotonous after a while.

Very busy happening place. Good social media exposure. Had been seeing lots of good updates on my Insta so gave it a try. Staff were awesome. Attentive and good to communicate how long our table would be. <br/>Breakfast menu isn't huge but has enough for all. Corn cakes were generous and fresh. Fry up was good. Coffee was excellent. Will return next time we are in Balmain.

Started off with Bloody Mary's, which got us wanting more!<br/><br/>Great spot for a long catch up with good food and a sneaky cocktail! <br/><br/>The Contessa Salad was to die for!<br/><br/>Staff here are so super friendly which was the cherry on top!

Cutest babycino you will find in any cafe in Sydney, which they have named a frogacino. The cafe has a nice ambience and service is warm and friendly. The ham and cheese croissant we had was on the smaller side for $8.50, otherwise, everything was really enjoyable. Seemingly always busy and for good reason.

Follow my insta @burgernsbikinis<br/><br/>Brunch at Contessa is such a hidden gem! Balmain is not an area I frequent often as a foodie, but after hitting Contessa I think I'll have to give it more of a look. <br/><br/>If you want to know the must have dish at Contessa it's gotta be the Nutella French toast. Your life will change. I hope you're ready. Layers of brioche suitably smothered in warm Nutella, topped with coconut and muesli for a little crunch, and strawberries for some freshness. An absolute can't fault dish. <br/><br/>Also on the menu we're corn fritters. This was the first time I'd ever tried corn fritters and it was the place where my love affair with them began. Crispy yet soft served with a good whack of guac and balsamic. <br/><br/>Coz we're fatties we also ordered the avo on toast complete with a poached eggy. A nice fresh OJ, a coffee and a froggacino which is like the cutest thing to ever happen. See pics for reference. <br/><br/>The staff are also amazing, the food is tops and there's parking down the street. Put it on your brunch list now. <br/><br/>Saz - burgersnbikinis xx

I've been to Contessa twice now and definitely recommend it. Friendly staff always makes us feel like a regular and the food is fantastic. <br/><br/>Loved the corncakes & chicken parmigiana, also make sure you leave room dessert and order the nutella french toast. <br/><br/>They make an adorable froggicino (babycino) for the kiddies and is licensed, if the adults are after something a little stronger than caffeine. Fantastic place to hang out.

It’s absolutely no surprise how a place that is something of an icon in the Balmain cafe scene has outlasted so many Prime Ministers these past 14 years! <br/><br/>You’re greeted by Connie, who’s like the big mama of the premises, every guest that steps in whether she knows you or not is welcomed like family with her cheery disposition. Coupled with the meticulous detail from manager, Andrea - it’s a formula for success.<br/><br/>The casual cafe / restaurant “brings a slice of New York" to the urbanites of Balmain, full of life as it hosts a mix of local area workers, students and families. The menu is inspired by owner, Marco’s Italian roots and passion for travel.<br/><br/><br/>SPICTY CHIPOTLE BEANS & CHORIZO - on toasted organic sourdough with fried free range eggs, guacamole and fresh tomato salsa. So filling and a larger portion than I thought it would be. I liked the Bean:Chorizo ratio in this. <br/><br/>SEASONAL FRUIT SALAD was great. The fresh bursts of juicy orange, apple, strawberry, rock melon, orange bound together by dollops of natural yoghurt, topped with berry compote and drizzles of coconut shreds! <br/><br/>SHORT BLACK & SEASONAL FRESH FRUIT FRAPPE beautiful intermission drinks of hot and cold weaved in throughout the two stunning dishes.<br/><br/>I was not expecting it to be so busy on a Monday and there was a constant stream of people couples, groups, takeaway offers with people hanging out the verb waiting for their orders! That speaks volume and says to me that this is definitely a must-see if you’re ever in the area!

Contessa Balmain is a funky and very stylish cafe. Boasting indoor and outdoor seating combined with friendly staff and great service  creates an awesome dining experience.<br/><br/>We were lucky enough to be invited out to try the menu and let us tell you, it did not disappoint. We had the opportunity to try 3 dishes during our visit. The chicken parmy, the chicken tortilla and the nutella French toast.<br/><br/>The chicken parmy was cooked to perfection and served on a bed of crunchy golden beer battered chips. The sauce was full of flavor and not too overpowering. The grilled chicken tortilla was cooked perfectly, topped with the blend of fresh tomato and guacamole and a hint of spice, it was enough to keep the flavors interesting. Finally we had the Nutella French toast. Perfectly cooked using brioche bread, it was not heavy at all and topped with just the right amount nutella, it left us feeling satisfied rather than feeling sick.<br/><br/>All in all the dishes were well presented and very cute. As well as having the flavor to match the presentation. We can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu.<br/>

Totally heart this cafe in Balmain! I can see why it's jam packed on the weekends especially. The food here is flavoursome and hearty, the thing is... It is filling without that sluggish feeling, and a good portion size.<br/>The service was slow and the cafe inside echoes quite badly. So trying to compete with the music and other diners can be a challenge if you are trying to hold a conversation, especially if there happens to be a screaming child. That aside, it's still worth the visit, and if you're lucky enough to get one of the tables outside and it's a sunny day, then you've hit a winner.<br/>We came here today for lunch. I ordered the spaghetti con gambari and my lunch buddy got the spicy Italian meat ball melt. We tried eaxh others meal and they were both quite delicious.<br/>The menu was simple and not too crowded with choice, which made choosing easy. This is a noteworthy cafe in Sydney.

Had a Bloody Mary and the mushroom risotto. They were kind enough to accommodate my request to add chicken. The food was delicious. Would definitely come again

Love this place! As a local this is our go-to cafe and we never leave disappointed. Food is great (chicken tortilla is delicious) and service is even better (staff are very friendly and relaxed). Highly recommend!!

Great little neighbourhood cafe in Balmain serving up a wide selection of breakfast and lunch items along with good coffee. Contessa is licensed so they also offer up a boozy breakfast option for those looking for something with a bit more a kick. It's a busy venue on weekends and for good reason too!

Bianca: Happy 2017 folks! I’ve been an admirer of Contessa Balmain for a little while now. Granted this has all been through some social media stalking, thanks to their rather photogenic cheeseburger. I’m not your typical Saturday morning active-wear type of girl. You won’t find me slurping freshly squeezed juices or lapping out of an acai bowl. I’ll leave that to Alex.

Went to sus out this qaint coffee shop in Balmain. I Had a Nutella donut $5 plus lge coffee. Atmosphere was nice. Their food looks amazing and I wanted to try a burger but i am mega full! Next time..

Along the bustling Darling Street in Balmain is a not so hidden gem, but one that has been shining bright for over a decade under Marco’s ownership. From the moment you walk in, you can instantly tell you're in for a treat. The cool and unpretentious New York-esque decor is striking and stylish and the openness of Contessa gives it a really relaxed vibe.

Contessa Balmain has been in Balmain for 24 years and 13 years under the current owner. What I notice first is the incredible friendliness and hospitable nature of the owner and staff. Truly felt welcome and had a fun time! That really makes for a great atmosphere. I'm a rarity at giving a 5 for a cafe, but this deserves it. The place has had a recent reno and styled much like the city cafes with the bronze pipes and hanging lights and little green flowers in vases on the table.<br/>The menu is extensive and has 4 icons to highlight the menu, cocktails, good, coffee. Starting with a cocktail (we are on holidays :), ordering a bloody mary and a bellini mimosa, what an awesome start to the day! Sort of feel like we're in NYC! In regards to food, We took some advice from the staff and went for the nutella brioche, corn fritters and breakfast burrito. Though you could order eggs, burgers, pastas and more if that takes your fancy.<br/>The breakfast burrito was a huge wrap filled with scrambled egg, chorizo, cheese, sauce and topped with guacamole, this was great! Also shared the corn fritters, which were less doughy than most places, which is a GOOD thing. You can actually taste the corn kernels. We chose bacon to accompany it, though you could get salmon or chorizo if you like. Then the mother of all sweet things, brioche french toast with nutella, toasted oats, coconut and this was insanely amazing. I'm not normally a fan of French toast as it's too eggy, but this was just right. Although I might need to run around the block a few times to work it off, it was worth eating! I then also got a little 'froggacino'. What is this, you may ask?? But a baby cino that looks like a frog! I loved it, even as an adult. All round top place and thanks for great service!

We are kindly invited to contessa balmain. We popped in on a saturday lunch time and the cafe was pumping, full of customers!<br/><br/>We started with a few fun drinks. We had bloody marys and froggicinos, what's a froggicino? It's the cutest little milk beverage. Suitable for children who don't  want to miss out a cappuccino like mum or dad have. With a cute chocolate smile and marshmallow goggley eyes, this tiny frothed milk treat contains no coffee. Perfect for the young ones. <br/><br/>The Bloody Mary was so spicy! An absolute kick to the senses, I would recommend a Virgin Mary as a great morning beverage to really wake you up for a non-alcoholic breakfast beverage.<br/>It worked a charm!<br/><br/>The Spaghetti Con Gamberi was the star of the day, this spag alone is worth the 1.2hr trek to balmain. Generous amount of sauteed garlic prawns, succulent by the way, and the sauce... if you have to pick ANYTHING from contessa this is it. Diet later. <br/><br/>The smoked salmon omlette was yummy, but not as yummy as the spag. Came with 2 slices of sourdough, which i couldnt finish. In all seriousness after i had a bite of the spag i was ready to trade my dish for sams spag. <br/><br/>Nutella french toast was satisfying and rich. Its actually not that bad for your waist line considering the amount of nuts used for topping!

Busy Coffee shop. Located on Darling St, this place is always busy with either people getting takeaway coffee or sitting down to eat. It’s quite a small cafe but very open, tables spill into outside.

What a bloody beauty - sitting on Balmain Rd is @contessabalmain - home of the 'Deluxe Cheeseburger' 💪<br/><br/>100% house made beef pattie, hickory smoked bacon, caramelized onion, american cheese, american mustard, house made tomato relish, on toasted brioche w/ beer battered fries and an old school pickle 🍔 🍟<br/><br/>Tasty! I think the brioche made it a little too rich with the sweet tomato relish - but that crispy bacon was 👌 definitely a top Cafe burger. Thanks to the Connie, the Contessa kitchen team and Claire for inviting me 📜👏<br/><br/>The nutella French toast with crispy oats, pepitas and coconut was delicious! The frogacino is also a great take off of the kids babycino.

Love this amazing cafe in Balmain. As I walked in I felt the warmth. The staff were unbelievable and made us feel welcomed. The coffee was on point and on a hot day I highly recommend the affogato. The food is beautifully presented with lots of flavour. If u would like to treat yourself have the Nutella French toast, it was absolutely mouth watering and well worth breaking a diet for. Fabulous experience!!!

Love coming here on a Sunday for brunch. Awesome, American style menu with an Italian twist. Generous servings, yummy coffee. Wait staff are friendly and tentative.

Contessa Balmain is an experience that you have to be a part of along Darling Street. This place is a mix of New York and Italian - a place to sit back and soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the flavour packed meals, sip on a brunch cocktail and/or enjoy a brilliantly brewed coffee. <br/><br/><br/>This is a brunch spot for us, mainly because when we head there we are stuck trying to the choose between the breakfast and lunch meals. These meals would fill a retired prop from the old Balmain Tigers to those who just want something light before shooting on down for a swim at the Dawn Fraser pools. We had the corn cakes and the chicken burger. The corn cakes are generous in size and cooked to perfection with a soft inside and crunch on the outside. The Burger here was amazing - not too heavy with chicken and balanced well with the light and fluffy bun and avocado. The coffee here is beyond good, although if you are coming for a brunch spot then treat yourself to Contessa’s brunch cocktail menu. We went the Bloody Mary - done very traditionally, because you can’t argue with a classic. If this isn’t for you they also have beer and cider. <br/><br/><br/>When it comes time to pay, because let’s be honest this review has sold it to you, don’t go past the choc chip cookies at the counter. Enjoy yourself and enjoy your meal at this place.

My partner and I found this cafe to be rather disappointing. The food was average and very overpriced. Two breakfasts and two coffees came to $46 but both of our meals appeared lacklustre, basic and as though they could have been cooked by us at home for a quarter of the price. Contessa had come highly recommended to us but sadly we are unlikely to return.

We had the opportunity to dine in for lunch at Contessa yesterday. We found the overall service to be attentive and inviting. The cafe space had a great vibe and lunchtime buzz, whilst amazing looking dishes continually zoomed past us from the kitchen with efficiency!<br/><br/>Our food was delicious… the fat fries are to die for. I found it difficult to choose from the menu as there were so many things I would have gladly tried, which means I need to go back on a regular basis! :-)<br/><br/>Standouts at our table were the cheeseburger and chicken burger, the awesome BLAT, as well as the generously sized "Contessa" chicken salad, all made with high quality ingredients and maximum flavour.<br/><br/>This is not just your "standard" Darling St cafe… Contessa is doing things differently, with a little more love than most. A true gem.

A busy cafe with friendly but at times pushy service. Not much to say on this one. We ordered omelette and a special mushroom salad. The Food was average; not Stand out in any way. We also ordered two flat whites and both of us had windy stomach pains afterwards. Giving them the benefit of the...

Nice cafe just up the road from the heart of Balmain. Good food, great coffee, but is a bit pricey in my opinion. But you pay for quality, and that's what you get at Contessa. Recommended the chicken tortilla <br/>at lunch.

Great atmosphere nice big breakfast can be slightly $$$$ to be a regular but great every now and again. The decor is fantastic and it's worth a visit just to see the coffee machine

Best cafe in Sydney! I've never been to a cafe more times than Bar Contessa and every time it's been a 10/10 experience. Amazing coffee, attentive staff, delicious food! Can't wait to check out the lunch menu. Will continue to go back and back.

Went in for brunch on a Sunday. Seated quickly. Friendly waiters/waitress. Took order promptly. Coffee was a little slow in coming. Actually the table next to us who ordered 5 minutes after us received their coffee 5 minutes before us. Good coffee. However the food made up for it. Had the brekkie burrito and it was scrumptious. Would come back again. And would recommend it to others.

Bar Contessa is actually one of the longest-standing eateries on Darling St (it was established in 1992). The current owner and head chef, Marco Adoncello, took over almost 10 years ago. Since then, this family owned and operated cafe has become renowned for its American-inspired fare infused with Adoncello’s Italian heritage. Recent renovations brought a New York-feel to the cafe, with a bold, sprawling street art mural, leather booths, bare bricks and swinging bulbs.

The menu is extensive at Bar Contessa. It covers all of your sweet and savoury favourites for breakfast. Our poached eggs from the Hawkesbury Valley on organic sourdough and farmhouse omelette (double smoked ham, field mushrooms, roma tomatoes, caramelised onion & cheddar) also served on organic sourdough, were absolutely delicious. I'm pretty sure everything served at Bar Contessa is absolutely delicious.

I think I have a new favourite brunch place! Walking along the quiet main road of Balmain I was drawn into Bar Contessa by its modern yet rustic style décor. At the first glance of the menu, I wanted to order everything, which is when I knew I would already love Bar Contessa.  I was drooling as the waiters were bringing out other diners' meals such as big juicy cheese burgers with thick cut chips, huge chicken tortillas and large bowls of creamy cauliflower soup and sourdough bread. The menu featured an all day breakfast menu (awesome!) and a variety of lunch menu items. The past few times I have ordered fritters at previous café I wasn't entirely impressed but for some strange reason I feel drawn to order them everytime. However, when the House Make Corn  Cakes ($18.50)  came out my eyes widened, the serving was massive. I couldn't wait to dig in! The corn fritters were topped with fresh guacamole, rocket, tomato salsa and generous serving of  chorizo sausage. Instead of the chorizo t

Pasta was uninspiring but apparently got better towards the bottom - perhaps once again suckered into the "special"... Made up for it with the Milk Shake which looked at least 500ml and burger good and recommended<br/>

Hangover heaven. The coffee will wake you right up and the all day breakfast menu is a godsend! Wish they open another restaurant in my suburb.

...we stumbled across this gem whilst looking for a lunch venue on a Sunday and to our delight it wasn’t packed out – yes to no long queues :)...Overall I really enjoyed my dining experience at Bar Contessa and would be back in a heartbeat. It’s affordable, tasty and no queues, what more could you look for in the perfect cafe? There’s also plenty of free parking if you venture off the main Darling St and the outdoor seating is perfect for some people watching.

It's a HUGE!!!! breakfast so make sure you're super hungry. I think this'll be a perfect hangover cure. I ordered the brioche French toast with caramelised bananas and crispy bacon, drizzled with maple syrup. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. What can I say, I can't resist bacon and maple syrup. The

Certainly a very popular place for locals that makes one of the cutest babyccinos ($2) I've seen around Sydney. French Toast Brioche with banana, strawberry and real maple syrup ($16.50) was very good too.

Bar Contessa is just a few shops down from Kazbah, so it's strange that despite having dined at Kazbah so many times, I've never really taken much notice of this cafe. But now with their new chic look, and having been teased with their brekky menu, I can't imagine ever walking past and not going in! <br/>

Lover of Contessa. Loving my lunch as always and Marco you are the sweetest and best of the the best italian stallion in Balmain and in Sydney "Bar Contessa". We love your happy nature and your menu is spectacular and the food is beyond expectations. Loving Bar Contessa

Brunch. Joined the family for a birthday celebration and called it brunch, I am glad I went as BC is beyond believe, good coffee -hot and strong and no froth on top, and my meal was tasty and a great experience, I chose to have the corn fritters with the addition of smoked salmon. No urgency by staff wishing us to vacate just nice courteous attention, you do need to book as it becomes very busy especially if there are a number in your group. Seating a little tight but still acceptable as there was room to move. I will return as to relive the experience of the fritters and the coffee.

What an absolute gem. With the postive reviews I couldn't resist. Came here with a group of 10 and they were happy to accomodate us. Staff were very polite and cheerful. Coffees smoothies and milk shakes to start and all were well received. With the steady flow of customers for take away coffees I suspect it's the locals favourite.<br/>For breakfast big appetites were waiting and the large sized food portions were gladly accepted.<br/>The front runners were the breaky burrito, corn cakes and beans and chorizo. The chorizo plentiful in most dishes and has an added nice touch of spice.<br/>With the abundant tantalising pastries and cakes staring at you from the counter it just would have been rude for me to leave without a lamington scroll.<br/>A well priced cafe with smiles all around.

Hell yeah!. Didn't know anything about this place as I was only passing through from brisbane, but gave it a try based on positive reviews and was worth it. Great service, great coffee and the ultimate bacon and egg roll was amazing. Would recommend this place to anyone.

Simon Food Favourites review. These guys make one of the cutest babyccinos in Sydney for $2. Also tried The Deluxe Cheeseburger which is one for those with a very hungry appetite.

Yum! I often take my staff here for Fri morn breakfast meetings. Staff are nice, food is tasty, eggs Benedict to die for! Always busy, no surprise though as it really is excellent.

My favourite sunday brunch. Service is always amazing. Generous portion of the dish and I always go back for their creamy mushroom risotto.

Great service, amazing food clearly made with passion

Outstanding food, coffee and service from Marco and the team. Came here for a lazy lunch with my family of four and no-one was disappointed. Our new favorite cafe!

The best Meat Ball Linguini in a long time. Went to Bar Contessa for an impromptu family dinner last Friday and was drawn by its ambience and rustic feel. The food was presented elegantly without losing the substance of a deliciously home cooked meal. Mine was the mouthwatering meatball linguini cooked to perfection and full of flavour, my husband ordered the Cheese burger with a New York twist, and my three year old savoured each bite of his Rissotto. The Elmo Baby Chino tickled my little one's taste buds with joy, and the Tiramisu and choclate cake sealed the nite for my husband and I with full satisfaction. It is currently BYO, so you can bring in your favourite wine to accompany their great menu. Will be going back again

The Lady is Looking Hot!. Bar Contessa is a long time favourite for a lazy brunch, quick coffee or late lunch on weekends when I find myself out on the Balmain peninsula. The food, coffee and service have always been top notch and again this was the case on my most recent visit. Clearly Marco and his team know that if it aint broken they don't need to fix anything, they do however just keeping getting better. The breakfast burrito is awesome!! The recent makeover exudes a sexy edginess that manages to be both at home in Balmain and very reminiscent of a Melbourne laneway bar/cafe. Its cool and comfortable without trying to be something its not. The whole package - food, service and design - comes together beautifully! Great job.

Awesome. For a small place it has real atmosphere and the food (and coffee) are fantastic. Recommend the risotto but it's all great. Friendly and fast.

Great food, good value. I had the risotto special with avo, prawns, sundried tomatoes in a creamy white wine sauce, which was extremely tasty; my companion had the Caesar salad special. Both were priced at $15. Service was prompt and the waitress was knowledgable and friendly. Will be returning there.