Review Dare Cafe - Maroubra

Had a lovely experience at Dare cafe! Absolutely loved the banana pancakes that weren't too sweet and we'll balanced with the saltiness from the bacon combined with maple syrup. The big breakfast is a must, just great wholesome bread and food, the mushrooms were so juicy. Good coffee and a great option in this area for breakfast, coffee break and lunch 🙌

D.A.R.E. Cafe – Delicious And Responsible Eating. Which is true in this case. Their menu speaks healthy delicious options. This cafe is filled with knick knacks, writings scribbled on the walls, makes a very interesting visit. It looks like all the locals drop by for breakfast, perfect place for brunch. Right on the main road, we got parking easily on the adjacent street. Fresh juice available along with great coffee. We had Avo Smash – plated beautifully. Avocado, grilled haloumi, 2 poached eggs, mixed greens, zaatar & Pomegranate glaze Reuben – on cottage grain, slow cooked beef, house made pickle relish, Swiss cheese, home made red and white sauerkraut & pickled cucumber – this was a large sandwich, we had to share it Banana Pancakes – grilled bacon, maple syrup – perfect combination of the salty bacon and sweet maple They sell pastries and sweets at the counter as well. Worth a visit if you’re in the area!

Great Cafe that focuses on healthy and clean food using only natural and fresh ingredients. For a start, the coffee was amazing (from Campos). Every single dish was plated beautifully and with attention to detail. The French toast and the avocado smush were delightful but my favourites had to be the acai bowl and the gluten-free frittata. Delish! They also have healthy raw balls and peanut butter bars that were made out of healthy ingredients, without added sugar or salt. Tasted wonderful! The hot chocolate also didn’t disappoint. Made from real melted chocolate, it was yum without going overly sweet. Overall, I had an awesome dining experience at this Cafe.

DARE is an acronym for delicious and responsible eating and the name behind the café on the strip of shops in Maroubra Junction. As the name suggests, the café produces delicious food, all made in house and they focus on using fresh ingredients from sustainable and ethical suppliers. You’ll be impressed as you walk in seeing all the fresh fruits, home-made granola, and freshly baked goods. When we were there, they’d pulled some freshly baked mango bread (like banana bread, but using ingredients they had) and it smelt amazing. We tried the coconut dairy and gluten free cake made with almond meal which was so delicious and I’d go back for this time and time again. The brownies were also amazing. The décor is rustic and decorated with eclectic items, mostly of the homewares/kitchen theme. The walls are painted with inspirational quotes which we quite liked. The staff are delightful and so engaged when talking with us. We like that they think out of the box with their recipes, using what they have and even some crazy opening times of 6:03-3:06 and closing at 2:58. Gotta make things interesting huh! We shared two dishes; a home baked and roasted granola, served with yoghurt, honey, milk and fresh seasonal fruit. Today the fruits were orange, strawberries, watermelon, dragonfruit, banana and mango. We also had the vegetarian shakshuka, served with spinach, eggs and a few slices of bread. Both were presented really nicely. The coffee, using campos beans is great and they do some impressive latte art. We enjoyed our visit to DARE and love that it fulfills our perspectives on eating.

(3.5 stars) D.A.R.E. – or Delicious and Responsible Eating - is a quirky and idiosyncratic place that is really reflective of the owner, Ms. Lee Freeman, and her concerns. Her Maroubra café is a continuation from a business she began in The Rocks. In its former location, D.A.R.E. was a long-term, established small business of eighteen years, with a strong local following of people who worked in the area. Unfortunately the revolving door bureaucrats at the landlord - Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) – proved too hard to deal with, and refused to renew Freeman's lease. As Freeman explains it, her neighbour, the Swagman’s Post Courtyard Café (another long-term business in The Rocks that was run by two Armenian brothers) was lost in the same way. Losing the best kebab, and the best under ten-buck lunch in The Rocks, has of course been Maroubra’s gain. The second generation D.A.R.E. is haphazardly decorated with a homely amount of clutter. There are quotes scribbled on the walls; an old-fashioned black telephone mounted on the wall; plants growing in cups; old photos in mismatched frames; and a lounge room type set-up in the rear. You can peruse the menu scrawled chalkboard-style on the walls, or in printed form. Campos coffee is a good place to begin, as they manage to extract robust flavour and balanced bitterness from the beans across both a Latte ($4) and a Flat White ($4). From a little green-tiled juice station half way down the café emerges a steady flow of freshly squeezed juices. It lures me into a frothy, kale-topped Morning Boost ($8.50) that makes a healthy collection of carrot, celery, ginger, beetroot and apple into a likeable drink. “I’m a gluten free vegan,” Freeman explains, by way of introducing her menu, “so I like to keep it as clean and as natural as possible.” This notion is applied as far as possible on the generously proportioned Big Brekkie ($21.90), with organic bacon proving too pricy to be viable at the price point. You will find organic, lean beef sausages, free-range eggs whatever way you please (we chose scrambled), an oven roasted tomato, sliced mushrooms and crisp sweet potato chips made without using a deep fryer. While my dining companion was slightly disappointed Freeman’s no “preservatives and sweeteners” stance meant chilli sauce was out, he did get a tiny pot of chilli flakes. The Avocado Smash ($14.90) here is nicely presented and filling, whether you opt to add Bacon ($5) or Smoked Salon ($5), or just consume it plain. The toast is smeared with a generous amount of smashed avocado and grilled haloumi under a pair of poached eggs. The dish is seasoned with za’atar, drizzled with pomegranate molasses, garnished with strawberries and surrounded by scattered edible flowers and mixed leaves. In the glass front counter you’ll find an array of bought-in croissants and house-made treats. Grazing across a selection of Banana and Mango Bread ($5); a sugar and dairy-free Big Slice ($5) made from muesli, peanut butter and dates; and a Raw Cube ($4) that didn't quite grab me, nothing is overly sweet. And for a final feel-good moment at this locally-focused café, as we leave Freeman is busy collecting up every bit of plastic to put it in a bag to take to Coles for their plastic recycling program. It’s nice to see someone doing what they can to make their business contribute to people and the planet in a more positive way.

Loved the cafe as soon as I stepped into it. There was lots of produce scatter on the tables and eclectic items and once shown to my table towards the back of the cafe it felt like dining in a good friend’s home and you felt immediately welcomed. The menu here is geared towards made from scratch items. It was about healthy eating however you can indulge in the dishes and know that it was made the right way. We had a selection of dishes to share including the Avocado Smush which was a slice of toast spread with avocado and topped with bacon and perfectly poached eggs (one of the best I’ve had) as well as rocket and balsamic glaze. It was a dish you can definitely keep coming back for! The Chicken Burger sounded very healthy but it definitely packs a punch in flavour. Healthy doesn’t have to be boring and this burger proves it! Grilled chicken breast with Swiss cheese, tomato relish, lettuce, and carrots make for a great combo. The chicken was juicy. Served with a side of sweet potato chippies and a carrot, beetroot, and apple salad. This would be indulgence of a burger but on a healthy scale. The Banana Pancakes were gluten free but I couldn’t tell as they were so delicious. Stuffed full of banana, it was served with seasonal fruit, vanilla bean yoghurt & Canadian maple syrup. Perfect for the sweet tooth, you could the whole dish and not feel bad about it! Their coffee is Campos coffee. Mocha and Hot Chocolate were wonderful. They also do lots of treats in the cabinet and they are all house made. Full of the good stuff like home made peanut butter, cacao, dates, and coconut. You can definitely treat yourself and still feel good about it without all the processed stuff!

Want to treat yourself to a healthy, delicious and nourishing brunch or lunch? Look no further, you can find it here! I love going out to eat out for breakfast and brunch but sometimes find it hard to find a place that makes delicious and healthy food. Dare cafe offers both delicious and healthy food, I’m so glad that I discovered this gem! I love the philosophy of the cafe, Dare stands for: Delicious and Responsible Eating! The owner ensures that there is limited food wastage especially with the fresh produce. Banana pancakes with fresh fruit and yoghurt. Who knew gluten free could taste so good! These banana pancakes were generously infused with real banana in the batter itself, made using gluten free flour and served with fresh berries, maple syrup and vanilla yogurt (they ate almost even vegan if you don’t have the yoghurt). This was my favourite dish here at new favourite cafe in Maroubra. The pink pitaya açai bowl is smoothly blended and filled and topped with so much fresh fruit goodness, I didn’t know where to start! I enjoyed the crunchy coconut, nuts and museli as well. This bowl of rainbow goodness is another dish I would order again! The ‘eggs benny’ again is another great dish here, you can really tell that they use quality ingredients. The bacon was lean, eggs were perfectly poached with an oozy runny yolk and I adored the addition of the fresh asparagus stems on top. This classic breakfast brunch dish is a winner here as well. For drinks, we ordered a couple of the specials. Coconut, mixed berries, banana and chia iced crush was not too sweet, and very refreshing. Yoghurt, coconut, cacao, banana and chia smoothie was creamy, with a hint of chocolate sweetness. This is the perfect cafe for a healthy breakfast/brunch, lunch or any light snack in between (they do a selection of very tempting protein balls and cakes) and conveniently located in the heart of Maroubra on Anzac Parade. Note: I dined as a guest of the venue. All opinions expressed are my own.

It’s 5 stars for the food and coffee, but the service is just awkward at times; After having a great flat white and omelette I then proceeded to stand at the counter for 5 minutes waiting to order a second coffee (because it was so good). Despite catching the eye of two staff members (including the barista) no one thought it was worth actually asking for my order. I ended up walking out cause I had to leave for work. It’s a shame because with great service I’d definitely come back but being ignored isn’t exactly endearing.

You got to try this place.I had the Shakshuka which is a dish I like from the Middle East.I was shocked at how good it was,even better than in Tel Aviv.Even the tea was great and the staff very friendly.

Our favourite place to eat hands down....delicious food, fabulous service, always friendly and welcoming, our happy place!

I came in for lunch today not expecting much, but it was sensational. One of the best Cafe lunches I have had in a long time! Both meals were top notch. Keep up the good work!!!

Been working in maroubra for a few days. Been coming here everyday for breakfast and lunch. Absolutely love it. So friendly and the food, coffee, shakes everything amazing. ��

Best coffee around! But its the staff make this place so good. Glenda is always welcoming and smiling and Benzo has never made anything but great coffee! I recommend Dare for delicious campos coffee to all coffee lovers!

We had a fantastic lunch at this spot. Highly recommend!

Low key, but very pleasant and comfortable. Thoughtful service and a menu different enough to feature Shakshuka, my favourite breakfast!

Awesome food with great friendly staff. Thank you for stocking Rooibos tea for me!

Fabulous and guilt-free food plus wonderful staff!

This cafe has absolutely amazing food and great service! :) :)

Amazing service!!! Beautiful food, great location..

Fantastic service & great food. Loved it!

Perfect breakfast and very friendly staff :). Plus cozy couch :)<br/><br/>Shakshuka is something you would want to come back again and again. Delish.<br/><br/>My wife had smashed avo and she loved it too.<br/>

Want to treat yourself to a healthy, delicious and nourishing brunch or lunch? Look no further, you can find it here! I love going out to eat out for breakfast and brunch but sometimes find it hard to find a place that makes delicious and healthy food. Dare cafe offers both delicious and healthy food, I’m so glad that I discovered this gem! <br/><br/>I love the philosophy of the cafe, Dare stands for: Delicious and Responsible Eating! The owner ensures that there is limited food wastage especially with the fresh produce. <br/><br/>Banana pancakes with fresh fruit and yoghurt. Who knew gluten free could taste so good! These banana pancakes were generously infused with real banana in the batter itself, made using gluten free flour and served with fresh berries, maple syrup and vanilla yogurt (they ate almost even vegan if you don’t have the yoghurt). <br/><br/>This was my favourite dish here at new favourite cafe in Maroubra. <br/><br/>The pink pitaya açai bowl is smoothly blended and filled and topped with so much fresh fruit goodness, I didn’t know where to start! I enjoyed the crunchy coconut, nuts and museli as well. This bowl of rainbow goodness is another dish I would order again! <br/><br/>The ‘eggs benny’ again is another great dish here, you can really tell that they use quality ingredients. The bacon was lean, eggs were perfectly poached with an oozy runny yolk and I adored the addition of the fresh asparagus stems on top. This classic breakfast brunch dish is a winner here as well. <br/><br/>For drinks, we ordered a couple of the specials. <br/>Coconut, mixed berries, banana and chia iced crush was not too sweet, and very refreshing. <br/>Yoghurt, coconut, cacao, banana and chia smoothie was creamy, with a hint of chocolate sweetness. <br/><br/>This is the perfect cafe for a healthy breakfast/brunch, lunch or any light snack in between (they do a selection of very tempting protein balls and cakes) and conveniently located in the heart of Maroubra on Anzac Parade. <br/><br/>Note: I dined as a guest of the venue. All opinions expressed are my own. <br/><br/>

DARE- Disappointing and Really Expensive. I went there because I'd heard good things about the place. On arrival the cafe empty. I should have taken this as a sign and continued walking. Instead I went in, asked for a recommendation. A fancy take on avo on toast. A big price for a small and bland portion. I was hoping to grab a cake from their display but no one around to serve me so I left. I'm normally a risk taker but you couldn't dare me to go there again.

Delicious and Responsible Eating - I DARE you! 😝<br/><br/>If you’re not afraid of all things good, and perhaps some a little cheeky 🙊#maplesyrup Featuring the Avo Smash, Shakshuka Vegetarian and French Toast 🍴<br/><br/>Smashed avocado is a personal fav - loved the pomegranate seeds - added an extra kick in flavour 👌🏼 Seeing as I’m a savoury enthusiast, I don’t condone the excess maple on the French toast 🍞 - but it makes for one hell of a pour shot... And I guess that’s what plus ones are for! 😅 Although I’m guilty of stealing some maple drizzled bacon 🥓. Loved the tomato blend in the shakshuka, but will definitely add some meat next time 👍🏼<br/><br/><br/>#sydneyfoodshare #sydneyfood #sydneyfoodblog #sydneybrunch #lickyourphone #igerssydney #eeeeeats #foodphotography<br/>

Great little cafe in the heart of Maroubra! All your favourites to satisfy your brunch cravings. Try their in house muffins and slices. Exceptional. Can’t go wrong with brunch here

DARE is an acronym for delicious and responsible eating and the name behind the café on the strip of shops in Maroubra Junction. As the name suggests, the café produces delicious food, all made in house and they focus on using fresh ingredients from sustainable and ethical suppliers. You’ll be impressed as you walk in seeing all the fresh fruits, home-made granola, and freshly baked goods.

Do you dare eat delicious and responsible food? That's the motto of Dare Cafe in Maroubra. Matt and I head here to Dare Cafe for some brunch on this particular Sunday afternoon. Dare Cafe is a cosy cafe and if you happen to talk to the owner, she will tell you the philosophy of Dare Cafe. Dare Cafe has an emphasis on fresh seasonal produce, healthy flavours from nature (no artificial flavours), minimal wastage and recycling where possible. It's about creating a delicious menu without compromising on health or impact to the environment.

(3.5 stars)<br/> D.A.R.E. – or Delicious and Responsible Eating - is a quirky and idiosyncratic place that is really reflective of the owner, Ms. Lee Freeman, and her concerns. Her Maroubra café is a continuation from a business she began in The Rocks. In its former location, D.A.R.E. was a long-term, established small business of eighteen years, with a strong local following of people who worked in the area. Unfortunately the revolving door bureaucrats at the landlord - Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) – proved too hard to deal with, and refused to renew Freeman's lease. As Freeman explains it, her neighbour, the Swagman’s Post Courtyard Café (another long-term business in The Rocks that was run by two Armenian brothers) was lost in the same way. Losing the best kebab, and the best under ten-buck lunch in The Rocks, has of course been Maroubra’s gain. The second generation D.A.R.E. is haphazardly decorated with a homely amount of clutter. There are quotes scribbled on the walls; an old-fashioned black telephone mounted on the wall; plants growing in cups; old photos in mismatched frames; and a lounge room type set-up in the rear. You can peruse the menu scrawled...

DARE Café sounds like an influential name in itself - and once you learn that it stands for Delicious and Responsible Eating, the respect grows even more. The small café, situated in the heart of Maroubra sells homemade and sustainable food. Their décor is unique, with favourite quotes written, and iconic paintings adorning, the walls.

D.A.R.E. Cafe – Delicious And Responsible Eating. Which is true in this case. Their menu speaks healthy delicious options. This cafe is filled with knick knacks, writings scribbled on the walls, makes a very interesting visit. It looks like all the locals drop by for breakfast, perfect place for brunch. Right on the main road, we got parking easily on the adjacent street.

Absolutely loved this place!<br/>The service was exceptional and so was the service.<br/>The staff are super friendly and attentive.<br/>The food was also really good and made fresh.<br/>The best thing is that the baked goods are all made in house and are allergy conscious which is great.<br/>Definitely one to visit and would recommend it to family and friends.

Fresh, seasonal, natural food, including a killer acai bowl with ALL the toppings. Delicious & Responsible Eating, i.e. DARE Cafe in Maroubra is a local eatery serving up good, humble dishes with friendly service to match. Whether your #wholesome brunch consists of smashed avo or banana pancakes, just be sure to leave room for a certain “unsharable” brownie.

3 stars, based only on the Eggs Benny, which were disappointing. Rather than a hollandaise sauce, the chef went healthy and opted for a mustard mayonnaise.  The mayo was straight out the fridge and really didn't go well with the eggs. I was told that if I'd asked they'd have made a Hollandaise sauce  - well that's useful to know, but before eating, not after. No mention on the menu. You can't change one of the main ingredients of a classic recipe without warning! The eggs were perfect, but the ham though plentiful was probably straight from the supermarket. Overall disappointing, though the cafe is pleasant and the owner(?) delightful.

A name can say a lot about a venue, and DARE Delicious And Responsible Eating, definitely describes it well. It might not be the flashiest of cafes, but it’s one you will easily grow to love, from the homey vibes of the interior to the warm service and nutritious menu options. I mean, just look at the attention to detail in their glass of water- does your local cafe that has water that looks so pretty it could pass for an expensive cocktail?

Loved the cafe as soon as I stepped into it. There was lots of produce scatter on the tables and eclectic items and once shown to my table towards the back of the cafe it felt like dining in a good friend’s home and you felt immediately welcomed. <br/><br/>The menu here is geared towards made from scratch items. It was about healthy eating however you can indulge in the dishes and know that it was made the right way. <br/><br/>We had a selection of dishes to share including the Avocado Smush which was a slice of toast spread with avocado and topped with bacon and perfectly poached eggs (one of the best I’ve had) as well as rocket and balsamic glaze. It was a dish you can definitely keep coming back for! The Chicken Burger sounded very healthy but it definitely packs a punch in flavour. Healthy doesn’t have to be boring and this burger proves it! Grilled chicken breast with Swiss cheese, tomato relish, lettuce, and carrots make for a great combo. The chicken was juicy. Served with a side of sweet potato chippies and a carrot, beetroot, and apple salad. This would be indulgence of a burger but on a healthy scale. The Banana Pancakes were gluten free but I couldn’t tell as they were so delicious. Stuffed full of banana, it was served with seasonal fruit, vanilla bean yoghurt & Canadian maple syrup. Perfect for the sweet tooth, you could the whole dish and not feel bad about it! <br/><br/>Their coffee is Campos coffee. Mocha and Hot Chocolate were wonderful. <br/><br/>They also do lots of treats in the cabinet and they are all house made. Full of the good stuff like home made peanut butter, cacao, dates, and coconut. You can definitely treat yourself and still feel good about it without all the processed stuff!<br/><br/>Thank you to Lee and her team for hosting us and letting us experience her passion for her food.

Great Cafe that focuses on healthy and clean food using only natural and fresh ingredients.<br/>For a start, the coffee was amazing (from Campos).<br/>Every single dish was plated beautifully and with attention to detail.<br/>The French toast and the avocado smush were delightful but my favourites had to be the acai bowl and the gluten-free frittata. Delish!<br/>They also have healthy raw balls and peanut butter bars that were made out of healthy ingredients, without added sugar or salt. Tasted wonderful!<br/>The hot chocolate also didn’t disappoint. Made from real melted chocolate, it was yum without going overly sweet. Overall, I had an awesome dining experience at this Cafe.