Review Merekat Cafe - Bondi

This cafe has recently been renovated so we decided to give it a try. The cappuccino were pretty good but the breakfast it wasn’t. We had to wait almost 2 minutes for an fried egg avocado toast and a fried egg bacon toast, and we were the only one inside! Finally we got the food but it was disappointing: the bacon was over cooked and too dry, the eggs were ok but the bread was cold and chewy. The staff is nice but the kitchen really needs to improve cooking time and quality!

As other reviewers and as a local I was excited to try a new cafe on the area. Arrived and sat there, no one really brought anything so I got up and got the menus. Then ordered and when the food finally came (considering we were the only tables it took a while), I had to ask for cutlery, then for salt and pepper (they brought 2 salts and no pepper), then for sugar for my coffee... and no sign of water. The food was ok and the coffee quite good, but if you charge the same as other better cafes in the street you have to offer a better service I think. Still has potential and the place is really nice and cool, but will probably stick to my other faves in the road

I got excited when a new, and by all appearances pretty cool looking cafe opened locally. I thought it odd that the owner didn’t change the sign, or even the name from the previous shoe shop that occupied the premises (Mere became Merekat) but I still thought I have a funky healthy new cafe nearby with a sunny courtyard out back. The sunny courtyard is where I perched myself awaiting someone to bring me water and a menu. When no one did, I went up to the counter and got my own menu. It was a simple menu with miss-spelled words advertising it’s healthy food focus. After some time a waitress who was bringing breakfast out to someone else told me that I needed to order at the counter. I hadn’t seen a sign or advice on the menu that it wasn’t table service but I didn’t mind. As I got up from my seat I realized my arse was completely wet. The cushion had absorbed rain from the day before and whilst the surface appeared dry, the foam inside wasn’t. I went to the counter, ordered and told them that the seats outside with cushions are wet. The lady at the counter apologized but I noticed didn’t do anything to rectify the issue for future customers. I switched seats and waited. No one brought me water but close to the end of my meal i was asked if I wanted some. The salt on the table was in an open small bowl without a spoon, so I’m guessing at least 20 people have had their fingers in there (hygiene issue?) The $15 bruschetta I ordered consisted of two pieces of stale bread on top of each other with avocado, what appeared to be alfa alfa, cherry tomatoes and a very minimal sprinkling of feta. I’m not sure what the second piece of bread was for because it had nothing on it. At that price I would expect something more. I was in and out really. The place has so much potential, it is in a great spot and there aren’t enough good cafes in this area of Bondi. So disappointing to see that so soon after opening these guys have completely missed the mark.

When I was born, I had glass bones and paper skin. Every day I broke my legs and every night I broke my arms. It was very expensive to fix me whenever I injured myself. But one day, I discovered the Mere Cafe. It was along Bondi Rd in Bondi, NSW where I was driving when my ribcage shattered and pieced my heart and lungs. I had just got into my car and put the seatbelt on but the pressure was too great. The staff were very helpful and fixed my broken fidget spinner. They gave me a 2-stroke engine so to show my appreciation, I dabbed while spinning a spinner on each finger. Because of this, my ribcage was fixed and my lungs started to breathe again. My heart, unfortunately, didn't start beating and this is still an ongoing problem.

These guys really respect my favourite beans from none other than Single Origin Roasters. Love hanging out in the sunshine that drenches the court yard while knocking back a Pork Banh Mi and a few caffeinated beverages. Ended up lashing out on a pair of boots too. James has a keen eye for design and the quality of his gear is second to none!

Hopeless staff. Went there a few times and they can let u wait for ages, mess up your order and deliver things in the wrong order, after long time waiting. No apologies offered, no discount, no nothing... It's like they are making you a favour in serving u... Honestly, not going back there

This hidden gem is truly magical. Super friendly staff, delicious coffee and I can't wait to go back and try to Bahn Mi.

Guys at Mere are super friendly and have great coffee! Definitely worth checking out 👍

beautiful cafes with delicious food and great coffee anyone passing by Bondi road should go check it out .������� — drinking hot coffee at Meidy’s Cafe.

Best coffee on bondi rd, so friendly too

Amazing!!

I rate this place, the staff are some of the most friendliest people I have come across. Their food selection caters for all and I really wanna try more. I live the outside area at the back and dogs are allowed there!!! The smoothies are always a go to aswell

As you can see dirty clothes and a milk bottle sitting on the bench. The restaurant was filthy and smelt bad. The toasted sandwich was not toasted. It was stale. Never again.

Three of us went for lunch, two of us ordered poke bowls and the other - a beef burger. Ten minutes later the waiter appeared to tell us that they had run out of beef, so we asked for a chicken burger instead. Another 10 minutes passed, the waiter came back again to inform us that they had run out of cucumbers for our poke bowls, so we asked for tomatoes. After about 35 minutes our food finally arrived: two tiny cereal sized bowls with a handful of soba noodles, three pieces of smoked!!! salmon and some pickles. So essentially we paid $36 for two small bowls of smoked salmon salad and $17 for a meagre piece of chicken on a small white bun and a bit of lettuce. I understand that the premise of running a food business is to sell good food for which customers are happy to pay which is unfortunately not the case here. Sorry Katipo, but I have added your name to my "never come back" list.

Katipo is a cafe located in Bondi that does great brunch dishes in a lovely open ambiance. It is located between junction and the beach, meaning its the perfect place to stop by for brunch before continuing to the beach. We came here one weekend, eager to try out their dishes. We started with some lattes, we got the butterfly pea and taro latte which were both light and creamy. We then ordered their French toast with fresh fruit, maple syrup and cream. I loved the texture of the brioche and the light cream was perfectly accompanied by the fresh fruit and sweet syrup.

What a beautiful way to start the day! @katipobondi <br/>I live for breakfast. I can eat any time of the day! This place meets and exceeds all my expectations when it comes to what a great breakfast should be. <br/>It almost weekend, I highly highly recommend this place to spend your weekend mornings before heading to the beach with a fantastic vibe extremely good breakfast and lovely hot drinks. <br/>Here's definitely a place to visit for a good breakfast or lunch. Really enjoyed the food and the location is good. Enjoy the weekend.<br/>___<br/>Follow me in Instagram.com/igeorgesflavours

This place has the feel of a local hangout / brunch spot. Their coffee is one of the better ones I’ve had, and their shakshouka is definitely worth a try if you are craving it, though it was a little too strong in flavour in my opinion. The staff was nice and the overall ambiance was very chill and also family friendly.

🌊💙 BEAUTIFUL COURTYARD GARDEN & CHILL VIBES 💙🌊<br/>.<br/>.<br/>🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆: just a bus ride from the junction, these kids near Bondi Beach were the perfect cafe to go to after hitting some waves! The interior decor is so funky inside meanwhile the outdoor courtyard garden has fresh flowers and nice seating! The staff were friendly and accommodating 👏<br/>.<br/>.<br/>🥐 the big benny: first time having eggs and smoked salmon in a crossaint, and the combination worked so well! That hollandaise was spot-on!<br/>.<br/>🧀 halloumi stack: generous serving of 4 pieces of halloumi, and the bread was very wholesome<br/>.<br/>🥑 avocado smashed: I can never get enough of crispy bacon and it was a match made in heaven with the avo on toast<br/>.<br/>🍓 açai bowl: lots of fresh fruit and the granola was quite yummy<br/>.<br/>🍞 French toast: not too sweet and was complimented with nice luscious fruit and maple syrup<br/>.<br/>🍵 green tea, taro + sweet potato lattes<br/>.<br/>📍 ⓚⓐⓣⓘⓟⓞ ⓑⓞⓝⓓⓘ<br/>.<br/>.<br/>Thank you @katipobondi for the beautiful food and so glad to finally meet @thebrunchbeast who kindly extended the invite! 💕

Early breakfast in their backyard! saw this place on zomato bcs they open really early than the other shops. I go inside n there is a sign for backyard.

If you want a typical Bondi cafe then this is the place. Relaxed atmosphere with a very funky look to it. The food was absolutely delicious 😋 good value for money. I highly recommend the smashed avocado 🥑 it was full of flavour and definitely one of the best I have had. Great spot for a Sunday breakfast 😀

Slow service (like you don't exist), miserable attitudes, the food was poor quality; the asparagus was under cooked, the toast was still bread (with an element of cardboard to it) and the tomato was clearly off (gag). The coffee was okay. Good to strong chance I'll never visit here ever again. Hopefully your experience will be better than mine. Bon appetite.

Katipo is a hidden gem on Bondi Road. Funky little place with a cosy, vintage vibe. Great coffee and friendly staff! Perfect for a morning coffee run.

I fell in love with the funky eclectic atmosphere and funny staff and have become a regular since. Great coffee and food, and a relaxed atmosphere that's great to catch up with friends or do some work in. I've been to a couple live events here as well that have been a lot of fun. Nice "local" feel to it and a sense of community amongst the patrons, and isn't as pretentious as other venues in the area.

The last time I came here was years ago just for coffee so since I work nearby, I thought I would try this place for lunch with a colleague.<br/><br/>Whilst the smoked salmon and avocado wrap sounded and looked good, it was very disappointing as it was a big wrap with mostly spinach and a slither of smoked salmon and avocado. I can’t justify the $15 price tag but my colleague really enjoyed his sandwich which definitely looked better than mine. Still, I’ll give this another try as the staff was friendly and they have some tasty looking muffins and protein balls.

Absolutely LOVE visiting Katipo! I come here frequently with my Mum and we are currently working our way through the entire menu, however, we both cannot go past the SHAKSHOUKA (it is absolutely amazing!) We only stumbled across Katipo about 2/3 weeks ago but I cannot even tell you how many times we have visited since then- its nearly a daily trip for us. The staff are all so lovely and friendly and we really love the chilled atmosphere. Forget the other cafes in the area, Katipo is the best!!!

Really love this place. The staff are friendly, the food is hearty (try the shakshuka, it's a must!) and the coffees are really decent. Katipo is definitely my new favourite for the area.

Love this place, great atmosphere and amazing food. Love the decor. Very friendly staff. A cool cafe to relax with friends. Great coffee. Perfect.

Have come to this cafe for over a year and it always delivers a good experience.<br/><br/>Staff are very friendly with some solid banter and they're quick to get around to customers after you've sat down. There's a great vibe and I've often found myself asking for the names of the music they have playing. There's also a decent amount of seating available for a Bondi cafe, with a modest area at the front and an even bigger area round the back.<br/><br/>The food is generally really nice, and their Spicy Avocado Smash is delightful. Prices are fairly average for the area but they also have some more affordable meals that are still delicious and filling, like the Katipo Melt. Coffee is consistently solid and comes out quickly.<br/><br/>The only complaint is that the service can be a bit slow sometimes even when the place isn't too busy, so be prepared for a small wait. Luckily you have some good music to wait with!

Love this spot, I hang out here all the time, it has a great atmosphere and nice open windows with a really cool art gallery in the back and great coffee. Staff is awesome, always remembers our orders and the buckwheat pancakes are amazing (for all you GF people out there). Definitely recommend checking it out.

Identity crisis, this place seems like the school kids have taken over and tried to run a cafe.<br/><br/>Strange mixture of hipster, eclectic, vintage, reggae not sure what sort of vibe they are trying to put out to their customers other than we don't care we just want to have some fun ?<br/><br/>Really old foul smell coming from furniture and decor if you are sitting inside, makes eating really difficult as the smell emanates from the tables and chairs. Food was average.<br/><br/>Worst part about it was the weird staff, all dressed differently obviously told to keep with the vibe to dress casually and however they wanted, so one was wearing gym clothes one was wearing surf style and one was some sort of strange mix up between hippy and bob Marley wannabe.<br/><br/>Staff make loud remarks about their night life, social life, comments about customers etc. Stretching and doing strange dances, yawning loudly.<br/><br/>Place may be better off in Newtown it may last a few more months there.<br/><br/>Coffee was good, barista was only one focused on his job and doing a really good job keeping up with customer's ordering coffees etc.

Great spot and really good food. Reasonable prices for breakfast and lunch we had a burger and breakfast YUM. The only slightly negative thing I'd say is the lady with the shorter hair was a little stroppy, maybe a bad morning!

Lovely vibrant spot for breakfast. The menu is well priced and varied. Service was fast and friendly. The spicy smashed avocado was amazing. I would definitely recommend checking out this Bondi gem.

Lovely little cafe located on Bondi road. The menu is brunch style with lots of menu options for all tastes. Customer service is attentive and the food comes out quickly. I highly recommend the Spicy avocado smash with bacon and poached egg on sourdough toast and the Pukunui that has roasted tomatoes, roasted mushroom, potato rosti, bacon, lamb sausage.

I love my local cafe. Delicious cold drip on da rock, great campos coffee served on Bondi road, would be better if they have more single origin in store

Usually, when I have a bad experience at a restaurant/bar/hotel (of which I have few) I would just tell my friends about it (if the topic ever came up) and be done with it. I'm certainly not the type to write a review and definitely wouldn't usually post one online- my general opinion has been that this is usually reserved for people who have had bad days and need to vent some anger at a poor unsuspecting venue.<br/><br/>In this case, however, I actually felt it necessary to forewarn people of going to this cafe- due to the fact that the three times I have been there have all been miserable experiences. But let's focus on our most recent.<br/><br/>Two o'clock on a Sunday afternoon is by no means a busy time for katipo cafe- evident by the fact that their wait staff, two young women who look like the world is on their shoulders, were sat around for the majority of the time we were at the venue.<br/><br/>Having taken a seat outside and sat for ten minutes, we started to feel forgotten about, and my girlfriend got up and walked up to the counter to ask for two menus. "Someone will bring them out to you" was the rebuttal. Ok, we're easy, maybe they didn't see us outside, nothing to worry about and certainly nothing to write home about. <br/><br/>Soon after, one of the sullen, slow-moving waitresses sauntered outside to hand me a couple menus and some water, before trudging off again, in a heavy laborious manner. Hey, the world on your shoulders is no easy feat- least of all on a Sunday. But again, not a big deal- we aren't fussy and who says hospitality staff should be hospitable?!<br/><br/>So the food came out- being a late meal I'd eaten breakfast and opted for the bada$$ (not sure how touchy Google is) BLT and a side of fries. My girlfriend went for a pukunui, basically an English breakfast without the beans and a pretty terrible lamb sausage. <br/><br/>It's worth noting at this point that my BLT wasn't half bad- I mean, it was a BLT (the bad@$$ery was a fried egg stuck in it). My girlfriend's breakfast however, was too salty. Like... Too salty. Like, a virgin tequila slammer, hold the lime. Not being one to assume sides I even tried it myself, immediately following a mouthful of salted fries and I was overwhelmed by the salt. <br/><br/>At this point we put the meal to the side, minus a mouthful each, and split the BLT. Twice, our endearing little waitress heaved herself out of a barstool to drag her feet outside, casting a bored, disdainful eye over the tables, neglecting the two empty mugs, teapots, milk and plate of food that we had moved to the table next to us. Her colleague, came out at one point and I asked that she take away the plate but she was too distracted with our dog- hey she probably didn't hear and that's ok too. At least she smiled... <br/><br/>When I got up to pay, I mentioned to the tall brunette woman on the counter that my girlfriend hadn't eaten her food and it was too salty, that I had tried it and found the same. "Oh really? I'll let the chef know. That's $48." was the reply.<br/><br/>Now I'm completely ok with paying for the meal. I didn't want, need or hope that they would discount it. As far as I'm concerned, they've lost us as customers and thats good enough. It was the way that the woman so quickly said "I'll let the chef know" without skipping a beat. Like it wasn't the first time. Like she couldn't have cared less... It's not the way anyone likes to be treated and not the way people that work in customer facing roles should behave. I get it, the weather sucks today, it's a Sunday afternoon and you're in work. Just don't take it out on us!

Staff have no idea what customer service is. Waited for 10 minutes at the table before I went inside to ask for menus. One waitress was sidetracked by my dog and didn't even respond to me asking her to take my full breakfast plate away because it was way way too salty. I ate hot chips and then back to my breakfast and it was still then too salty. Was then charged for the full meal. We drank our tea before eating and our empty tea cups weren't taken away the whole time despite waitresses/waiters coming outside many times - where's the customer service? They weren't even busy. Staff were standing around. Don't plan on going back again.

Lovely little cafe which is usually quite busy on weekends, make sure you check out some of their breakfast items. I love the avocado and parmesan melt dish with the poached eggs, it almost certainly can't be healthy but it definitely is one very delicious dish.

Sadly crap. Hi was in this sad place of affairs recently.<br/>It has become terrible it seems that the staff have no idea what going on, long waits for mediocre food.<br/>Went a few times when the original owner had it and I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere i found mergez sausages which i haven't had since living in London. But now no more.<br/>Though they serve campos coffee i have found that unless you have it at the campos store in Newtown is not worth drinking, may be if they extract it through a naked 21g head it would do the risretto justice.<br/>Sadly this place needs a major overhaul a name change, and the current owners to pull their fingers out and bring it back to its former self...

Arrogant + crap service - pulling the plug after 12 years. I'm a 12 year local and customer. <br/>A shame that it's now managed by someone who considers customers a pain to have to serve. <br/>Latest eg - off-peak (12pm Monday), 2 customers (already served) , 15 min wait for Vegemite toast... handed over with the most 'I actually don't give one' look and tone as I waited for the obligatory 'sorry about the wait'. It looked painful for him to even say the words. Never going back, never taking groups there again and will advise others to do the same. <br/>A shame - good coffee - but as good elsewhere on Bondi Road without the arrogance.

“I found the community spirit in Bondi to be absolutely rocking,” says an impassioned Ben Soutter. “Here on Bondi Road you’ve got soul, and integrity and community; at B.J. Westfield, you just don’t.” Ben owns Katipo Coffee House Deluxe on Bondi Road, where I’ve just arrived for a chat about Bondi’s organic food. We’re joined at the table by a couple of his neighbours - Sam Diasinos from Sam The Butcher , and Daniel McKeon, The Tin Pin Baker . The link between the three men becomes clear when you look at the café’s menu. They all have a investment in Katipo’s steak sanger, which sees Ben stick a slab of Sam’s grass fed rump between two slices of Daniel’s loaf. Lower on the menu there are other examples, like Sam the Butcher ’s organic (and gluten free) Merguez sausages partnered with Ben’s Kickarse Shakshuka . Which, in case you were wondering, is a tempting breakfast involving eggs baked in smoky eggplant and tomato, served with yo

Couldn't get any worse.. Went out for breakfast with a friend and nearly walked out before our breakfast had come to the table.<br/>Also there was a table behind us that sat down for their breakfast, about ten minutes after we did and got their breakfast before us, and ate it and had left before we got ours.

Food that is nothing special for the price, and a very surly waitstaff.

“Worst Meal Ever. Three of us had a meal here recently and it was the worst food and service I've encountered.<br/><br/>My wife ordered a Caesar Salad and it was inedible. It's ingredients were an old Iceberg lettuce<br/>cut into four quarters, some dried chicken and bacon on top with a small amount of dressing.<br/><br/>The waitress with little comprehension of the English language asked, " is everything OK " and when I said no it wasn't. I said meal was a disgrace and with that, she said OK and walked off.<br/><br/>I then spoke to the manager and his reply was there was nothing wrong with the meal and that the ingredients were fresh. As you can see from the photo, the lettuce is that old, it's gone yellow.<br/><br/>When I paid for the meal there was no avenue open for a refund for the salad and had to pay.<br/><br/>see attached photo and it doesn't even resemble a Ceasar Salad.<br/>Avoid at all cost,

Was good before new owners took over. As a local I was going here regularly when Ben owned Katipo but since the new owners took over (maybe a year ago) it's seriously gone done hill. The first thing they did was change the coffee - why would you do that? The service attitude is unfriendly and the food is very ordinary. I tried to offer some friendly feedback one day, but it was definitely not welcome or wanted. You're on your own guys and this regular won't be back.

What a great place. Excellent atmosphere, relaxed. Great coffee, great food! I was very stupid and left my debit card at home, so couldn't pay for the whole meal!!! I gave them all I had in cash and they let me off the rest (although not sure what other choice there was!). I'm definitely going back because its a great place and I now need to pay them back. 5 stars!

Consistently unhelpful and unfriendly service by the Owner!. I am a local and I have been reluctantly been to Katipo a few times because it is convenient. Reluctantly, because I have consistently experienced unfriendly service and average quality food, although each time I was hoping for a better experience. Last weekend, the owner was unhelpful and unfriendly when I was asking about a particular item on the menu. I (again reluctantly) stayed because I was with a group. I was shocked to be overcharged on what I eventually ordered.<br/>With such attitude, there are far better quality cafes in Bondi, with awesome vibes and friendly service, and a desire to give the customer a good experience. The owner's attitude is clearly "like it or leave it". My attitude now about Katipo is "I don't need this" and I hope you don't too.

Seriously average. Long wait. Poor food. Over cooked bacon with cold bins on bacon egg sandwich. The pukunui for $20 was very bad value and far too small. The potato tomato was not crispy.

Came here with some expectation with more than 90%, but it was a bit disappointing. The food and coffee were alright, not impressive enough and the staff werent too friendly. Could have a better choice within that price range

This place rocks. But I don't want to give it a fabulous review otherwise more people will start eating here and I'll never be able to get a table :-)<br/><br/>It's awesome, go check it out.

At 94%, these guys must be doing something right. Sadly, I didn't experience it. We had a good seat at the window to watching Bondi walk by, but we waited a little while to order and a little longer to eat. I'm sounding like such a drainer as it wasn't outrageous, but then the croissant and omelette were average. It all seemed a little disorganised too, as we went to the counter to pay and waited probably 5min before anyone realised... Too much competition out there, sorry guys I won't be back.

The coffee was weak. I ordered the Katipo breakfast and everything was a bit ordinary except for the little spicy sausages, but unfortunately they were burnt on one side. Also, it seemed that the toast with scrambled eggs had been sitting under the warming lights for a little too long as the bread was no longer crispy and what's were warm (not hot). <br/>Great set up inside with the artwork.

Favourite coffee spot :). Since we live just round the corner Katipo is our go to place for weekend coffee and paper reading.. The coffee is usually pretty good and they have a good food menu - The badass BLT is always a winner although I do think there are better places for brunch - but Katipo is by far the best in the area and you will still find me there pretty much every weekend... The staff are always really friendly and efficient and it is nice to see the same people working every weekend - it's a good sign I think :)

Not happy to have purchased the voucher. Livingsocial voucher for dinner with tapas and sangria..found out they are not open for dinner when i called to make a booking, and when i went to have lunch instead of dinner i found out that they dont have tapas and most of the other meals on the menu, and that they ran out of meat and fish and many other ingredients. so i had to eat a bagel and i had to wait more than 30 minutes for it.<br/>i was a regular local customer and i really liked the place but unfortunately dont want to go there anymore. i hate getting ripped and no apologies.

Love it. This is a really great place with well priced and very tasty food, good service and a relaxing and friendly atmosphere. I would highly recommend it for any time of the day

Good service, but not so good dinner.. We went for a casual dinner during the week and we were nicely greeted and serviced. However food didn't impress!<br/>We ordered a tasting plate with the chefs selection which we thought was overpriced for some breads, dips, and a chicken wing to share. I probably wouldn't come back for dinner, but I would be back for a drink as it's a nice place with good people after all.

Tastiest brekkie I've had in the area. Relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and great coffee. They keep it well priced to boot.... Will be back soon.

Grunge lounge at rear. Whether you sit at the front or are lucky to find space to lounge on Nana's old art deco lounge suites at the rear, you will enjoy Katipo. I enjoy their feed of eggs with spinach on sourdough. I also like the well positioned kitchen allowing me to spot a functional team happily making breakfast and meals throughout the day. Coffee is pretty good here too. Menu changes fairly often. I have returned time and time again as the place is business and Mum and kid friendly. Come here to work on your own on your iPad or iMac - loads of that - or just to chill.

Coffee as good as ever. Eclectic menu. Good service, friendly staff. Funky music and decor featuring local artists

Awesome place, friendly service and yummy tapas

These guys are good, though slow service on weekends and can't order some dishes after 11am (even if it's 11.05am!). The atmosphere is hippy and the chicken burgers or BLTs are tasty.