Review Shift Eatery - Sydney

The mushroom toastie was truly excellent. Great flavours and presentation. The range of vegan cakes, sweets and deli goods is also great. As someone who wakes up super early I just wished they opened earlier for breakfast!

Had the Reuben and cheese toasting here. The Sangas were abit of a disappointment - I was hoping they would have a little more flavour. The cheese toasting wasn't melty and the Reuben was a little dry. Overall, staff were friendly, ambience was nice but food wasn't worth the cost. There are better vegan options out there.

Very nice cafe with a chill playlist. Vegan food; i had the beetroot latte and “salmon” bagel. Was worried I wouldn’t feel full since it was tomatoes replacing the salmon but the serving size was really good! Loved the toasted crunch on the bagel and the cream cheese. All my friends really enjoyed their toasties as well. The smoothies look so good.

We had Thai beef salad and meat ball sub at Shift Eatery. We also had Green machine which I really liked. My bf had Banana salted Caramel. Highly recommend this vegan cafe.

The service was really friendly and the food and coffee were also good. However $18 for the meatball sub was expensive comparative to other places around. It was more of a six inch sub with 4 meatballs. Nothing on the side as well. I liked my visit but had to spend $16 more for another take away sandwich. Overall it was a good experience in this nice cute cafe.

this is a really solid choice for vegans and the cashew cream cheese is one of the best i've had. i do wish they were a lil more generous with filling here as bagel takes up most of this cross-section 🥯 i also was hoping it to be served in their iconic reusable milk cartons but this just came in a paper bag 😅 i also got the 'my shroom toastie' 🍄 loaded with roasted mushrooms, basil pesto, cheddar, creamy herb sauce & toasted on some sweet sweet sourdough 🍞 delish! check out my food instagram @erinxeats for more!

Very cute little vegan cafe with nice staff. I got the salmon bagel and it was delicious. My only suggestion would be the option to add more veggies on the side. That would be great!

I have been wanting to try shift eatery for ages. Their menu offers many exciting options for vegetarians/vegans, however the execution was lazy, at least for the bagel sandwiches we ordered. The bagels themselves were perfect, but I think that’s because they use Brooklyn Boy Bagels (the best around Sydney). The filling was not as impressive. We got both options (the lox and bacon egg) and weren’t happy with either. The lox just tasted like a tomato bagel. I’m shocked by how little they did to achieve any sort of similar consistency. It didn’t taste bad, but they should just market it as a bagel with tomato. The bacon egg was better, but the egg tasted like scrambled tofu. I think my biggest issue was the marketing of the items to mimic meat dishes, yet tasting nothing like it. Obviously, we eat here to avoid eating meat, but that doesn’t mean you can sell a bagel as “vegan lox” and have it be indistinguishable from tomato. Just advertise a tofu bagel and tomato bagel if that’s what you’re giving us. I’m so sad to be let this down. Maybe I’ve overhyped it in my head for too long. I think I’ll come back and try one of the sandwiches just to make sure I’m not missing anything.

Almost just like a Reuben Sandwich. Love that they've created delicious options for plant based eating.

Love the sandwiches here especially the reuben and cheese. Bagel was soft and vegan cream cheese was surprisingly good, great coffee and friendly staff

My vegan grandma and I, tried the Pad Thai and Seoul bowl. Unfortunately, we were both quite disappointed. Coming from an asian background we were quite used to a particular taste when it comes to Pad Thai. Instead it was cold and nothing close to the the well loved original dish. As for the seoul bowl, it was nothing special that we would come back for. Both was served with cold tofu, that was damn hard to eat. I think this place would be nice if you're not used to Asian flavours.<br/>ShiftShift Eatery please warm up your tofu, maybe make them crispy too!!

I'm not vegan, but I really enjoyed this place! They don't serve dairy milk (obviously because they're vegan, so it really prompted me to try something different. The blue butterfly pea lattes were gorgeous and my "ham and cheese" toastie was great! This place really opened up my mind about what vegan food can be.

This dish proves that vegan food can be tasty as! This epic bowl of goodness was both tasty and satisfying! A beautiful little cafe/deli selling vegan deli items and these delicious menu items 😋👌<br/><br/>The cafe section is a little small, so if you’re visiting for lunch big groups may be difficult and individuals might need to get a little close to each other on the bench!<br/><br/>Pictured is the Seoul Bowl (brown rice, roasted zucchini, roasted carrot, roasted cabbage, mushrooms, tofu, wilted spinach, gochujang sauce & vegan egg)

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would! It is my favourite Sydney cafe. I just wish it was bigger but even despite the crowds, service is always amazing. I don’t think I have a favourite sandwich. When I’m feeling something light I go for the shroom toastie but if I’m super hungry then the Steve (Reuben) or the current buffalo sub are the soooo good!!!

I’ve had a few sangas in my time, but this was my first visit to Shift Eatery, and I now understand the hype!<br/><br/>Hands down the best vegan sandwich I’ve ever had! So much flavour and fillings... and the perfect amount without filling over indulged.<br/><br/>

Busiest shop on the street on the coldest day!!Buffalo Sub was so delicious and it's a must-try! I will also suggest trying coffee with Macadamia milk! Everything is vegan and tasty for meat lovers too. Try and you will not regret:)

Great selection of vegan food, with a variety of plant based alternatives. Good place to eat if in the area but I wont be rushing back as nothing was THAT special and all a little overpriced. I ordered the granola which was handmade and very tasty (in the end), but the friendly waitress forgot that I requested no banana and when she brought it over asked me to pick it off  myself and give it to a friend which I found unprofessional and put me off my meal a little.

Delicious food, faboulous drinks. Everything is vegan here, most can be Gluten Free. Been here a few times, never disappoint. Staff were friendly, service was quick.<br/>For the food, Tried the reuben steve sandwich, best bacon and egg bagel, my shroom toastie. My fave is the bacon and egg, and myshroom toastie.<br/>for the drink, MUST try their unforgettable masala chai and hot cacao! It is really really amazing! It will definitely make your day! <br/>For the sweets, lemon tart was quite good , not the donuts (taste a lot of sugar and cheap taste). I reckon the sweet treats are not theirs.<br/>I read the big bad bowl and waffle are also a favourite, will come back to try for more in their menu. THUMBS UP!

Overall great experience but wouldn’t come back. Probably because my expectations of the place were way higher than what they actually deliver 😌 Their dishes are not exceptionally mind-blowing, try them if you haven’t had anything like this before though.

Cute place with a nice atmosphere. Friendly staff and lots of nice options available. The Mushroom toastie is life and the stand out menu item for me.

Quite a small space and kinda dark if you sit inside. Would recommend sitting outside but they're usually no seats. Prices are quite reasonable for a vegan place. Service was good and food came out quickly.<br/><br/>Ordered an almond flat white. It was mediocre, but they had many different alternative milk options which is nice. Wish I'd gotten it with soy milk though.<br/>Also ordered the Say Cheeeesie Toastie and the Big Bad Bowl. The toastie was delightful and was quite filling by itself so it was kind of hard to finish the Big Bad Bowl haha.<br/>The Big Bad Bowl was also very delicious, especially the beans, tumeric hummus, and the sweet potato. They all paired nicely with the rice too.<br/><br/>Overall, a great decently priced vegan place if you're in the area.

busy busy small restaurant. <br/>i ordered the miso/ginger tofu salad (with brown rice mixed in), the ‘join the club’ sandwich, the ‘reuben’s vegan brother, steve’ sandwich and the banana salted caramel shake. <br/>the salad itself was ok, but the star of the meal was definitely the reuben sandwich. <br/>the banana smoothie tasted like... banana.<br/>all in all, for a tiny, busy restaurant, the service was not bad and the servers were very friendly. the food was slightly overpriced but delicious. they also have fridges stocking take-home vegan pizzas, cheeses etc.

Great vegan sandwiches here, good vegan is not just eating vegetables and this place certainly knows how to make plant-based meals feel like any other sort of meal... a great little cafe with quite a selection of choices... great for lunch

Vegans, shift eatery is your dream come true. I will be forever thankful to the owners of shift for opening such a wonderful cafe that shows, just because you are vegan it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on delicious food. Whether you’re after a healthy salad, delicious, decadent waffles (which I highly recommend adding peanut butter to), of jam packed toasties, shift eatery has got you covered. A cute little cafe, located conveniently near central station, Shift eatery will always have you leaving with a smile on your face.

Beautiful and filling food. I don't have much experience with vegan food, but I found the Brekkie Bun with Jackfruit, Vegan egg and salad was phenomenal, and a very good alternative to meat-based meals. Very unique taste and a perfect start to the day. The latte with almond milk was equally exceptional. I even had enough to take with me for lunch later. Will be visiting again next time I'm in Sydney.

This place is just as amazing as I’d imagined. A vegan’s dream! (Or non-vegan - it’s that good) <br/>We shared two salads - the tofu and the superfood. Dressing on the side because I’m fussy like that. I honestly could’ve drank the dressing straight - it was so delicious. As was the cashew cheese. <br/>My pick of the salads would be the superfood. The roasted sweet potato was 11/10! <br/>I also bought a couple of their vegan choc bars. The snickers (although full of sugar, yolo) was on par with the real one. YUM! <br/>I absolutely need to go back to try the other menu options. My friend told me that The purple rain smoothie is to die for... If only my stomach could fit more in! <br/>Final note - staff were lovely and helpful. Vibe was buzzy but not too busy/full on.<br/>Will def be back!

Absolutely love this place. The staff are friendly, the service is great and the food is amazing. Started off by getting their macadamia latte - perfect as I’m a voice student. Can’t have dairy. Went back a few weeks later with my brother and tried their Thai salad and green smoothie, while my brother had the grilled cheese sandwich and butterfly pea latte. We both loved it so much. Haven’t been back in so long, im craving a good Thai salad. Well done Shift, we wish you all the best in your business.

Judging by the long waiting list a couple hours after the normal lunch rush, I knew this place would be good. With a plant based menu, we got the Reuben, chia pancakes, and acai bowl. The portions of the pancakes were huge, and acai bowl on the smaller side. The highlight of the entire meal though- the lemon meringue tart. How is it vegan?! For sure a must try, it's amazing

Great staff, super welcoming, great service and amazing food, best Ruben sandwich I had (and I tried a lot of them ;p) even better than the smith and daughters one in Melbourne!!!the “beef” pho was also spot on. Great golden latte! I bough also some dessert take away who looks amazing! Even my partner who is a meat eater loved it!!! Thank you so much guys

love this place so much ill be coming here much more often! the ambience is so cute and chic and they also sell great quality vegan products/pantry goods. their menu is amazing and they have a range of drinks and sweet vegan treats as well. their customer service was great, and the food was ready instantly. plus, FOOD TASTES LIKE HEAVEN

By far the BEST experience I have had for vegan food in Sydney! Dined on the Chia Waffle for breakfast (added peanut butter - obviously), whilst my companion chose the Breaky Bun. For a longtime vegan from Melbourne who considers themselves a food critic when it comes to decent vegan food, both of us were blown away by the taste and quality of our dishes. Honestly so happy to have found Shift that I went back for takeaway sandwiches at lunch - which were also phenomenal! Along with the amazing customer service, provided by friendly smiling staff, you can tell everything is made with love and I would return here in a heartbeat. I’ll softly declare this the Smith and Deli of Sydney - a fierce competitor on the sandwich front, but also in its own field of delivering incredible plant-based dishes.

One of the best places to have vegan food ever! The menu has many different options of meals that are creative and tasty. The staff’s really friendly as well. I’ve been there many times and I recommend it to everyone, even who’s not vegan because the food’s great anyway :)

Shift Eatery is a smaller modern-styled deli, offering a 100% plant based menu, specialising in sandwiches, but also boasting other menu options. After seeing their Instagram account and the delicious looking toasted sandwiches, Shift was on top of my list of places I must visit on my recent Sydney trip. I had heard nothing but good things, which made me even more excited to dine here.

Staff were very happy /flexible to accomodate my dietary requirements (checked amount of protein powder, changing bread etc). Mushroom toastie with the vegan pesto and cashew cheese was SO GOOD. Generous servings, food came out pretty quickly, they let us split bills on a Saturday, cute vegan mini shop inside. Cant wait to come back again. Sorry no photos we just smashed it all

This place is the BOMB! A gorgeous little nook, catering to every Vegan sandwich need you could ever dream of. My Partner and I shared the No Way José and the Reuben, and they were absolutely delicious! There were also heaps of Vegan treats, and a range of Vegan groceries. Would definitely recommend a visit if your keen on scrumptious cruelty-free food!

If you check out the slightly tricky graphics of the signage for Shift Eatery you’ll note that the feel is contemporary, with a technological edge. This is not how, in the past, you’d try to sell people on vegetarian (or vegan) food. But it’s evident they’re trying to *shift* people’s ideas and consciousness away from old-fashioned restaurants with names like Green Goddess Harvest Bounty Cafe or We Don’t Kill Animals Lentil Shack to something else. Or perhaps they’re just fitting in with the Surry Hills hipster vibe.

This place is awesome. I've tried the club , pad thai, cheese toastie and the no whey jose. The cheese toastie is my favourite, it has this amazing cashew cheese on it, it's like a gourmet artisian toastie. The staff are always friendly and we don't wait to long for our food. Love you vegan cafe 💜💜💜 great food!!!

Small place with delicious food! I get so frustrated paying $18 for a shit spinach salad with little else. This place is the opposite. We got the Masala Bowl (yum!), the Miso salad (average) & the Reuben (he said he’d prefer a real Reuben, but this was actually pretty good). Lattes were on the weak side & I still can’t understand why milk + turmeric = $6, but anyway. Love how many milks hey have on offer & the extensive menu options & the deli! The cheesecake was yummy but a bit too heavy. Would definitely return if I can convince my carnivore husband.

A pint sized cafe, the layout of this place is a bit of a nightmare. Walking down a ramp you are greeted with fridges before squeezing yourself past packed tiny tables, standing awkwardly above people and said tables before waiting a while to place your order at the counter. Then you have to tip toe your way back around to find yourself a seat. <br/><br/>Originally wanted to try the Big Bad Bowl but it was sold out. So we went with the Reuben’s Brother, Steve. <br/>It was a very large sandwich. I think one serving could feed two people. However, it was a case of quantity over quality. The dish lacked any distinct flavour, the mustard was strangely quite runny and it could have done with more sauerkraut. <br/><br/>Coffee was very well done. My only highlight of this visit. <br/><br/>Service was in a bit of a disarray, although I can’t completely blame them due to poor cafe layout. Both table and cutlery were dirty.

Sleek, contemporary vegan cafe in Surry Hills dishing up delicious meals such as the Pad Thai Noodle Salad (rice noodles, smoked tofu, mixed fresh veggies, pineapple, snow peas, coriander, chilli flakes, spiced peanut dressing) and Big Bowl Salad (brown rice with quinoa, sweet potato, smokey beans, greens, slaw, cherry tomatoes, sauerkraut, turmeric hummus, lime and tahini dressing). Both were supremely flavoursome and substantial meals, that would satiate the biggest of appetites. <br/><br/>The eatery offers a handful of indoor and outdoor tables with a few counter seats; it's not a very big eatery at all and fills up quickly during the work week with inner city workers wanting a healthy lunch fix.

I had the no why josè toastie, it was delicious. Great mix of flavours. I had to take the other half away though for later. So yummy. Plus, the guys at Shift are really cool to talk to!

A little cafe that I will be back to over and over again!<br/><br/>They have plenty of creative vegan sandwiches, bowls, breakfast, and drinks!<br/><br/>I tried the vegan club sandwich, which was pretty good value considering it does keep you full, but I may opt for one with more veggies next time. The mushroom toastie sounds so good!!<br/><br/>The big bad bowl was delicious, but not big enough. 😔 It's not cheap either so was expecting it to be quite substantial. Nonetheless, very tasty and healthy.<br/><br/>They also have some adorable superfood lattes as well, and I had to give the unicorn latte a go. Pink pitaya! ❤

Literally eat here several times a week since they opened, and have tried most things on the menu, as well as the sweets. It.Is.Amazing. <br/><br/>I always go back for the Chickn Club Sandwich, or the jackfruit and vegan egg Brekky Role. <br/><br/>The staff are helpful and nice, and the coffee is delicious!

The Reuben (5/5): BEST "corned beef" sanga I've had!!!! The russian dressing, vegan cheese and corned beef is just a match made in heaven. A perfect mix of tangy and savoury flavours (almost like a vegan version of a cheeseburger..but better!) in between perfectly toasted bread slices. Holy moly, I'm salivating thinking about it! <br/><br/>The Club (4/5): My boyfriend isn't vegan and doesn't particularly enjoy vegan food but when he dug into his club sandwich he said "If you didn't tell me this was vegan, I wouldn't have known any better" he was so impressed with the vegan mayo and "chicken" and completely demolished his sandwich. <br/><br/>The Breaky Burger (4/5): If you're extremely hungry - the breaky burger will do the trick! My friend loved her breaky burger and ordered it with a side of vegan bacon. The "egg" tasted like a delightful devilled egg and the pulled jackfruit was in a beautiful marinade mixed with amazing chipotle and greens. I had a bite of this and was in love!<br/><br/>The Blueberry Donut (5/5): Fluffy, moist, perfectly iced Blueberry donut - need I say more?<br/><br/>The Croissant (3.5/5): The croissant when pulled apart revealed a perfectly moist and delectable interior but it was missing some flakiness on the exterior. Still an enjoyable croissant but not the best I've had. <br/><br/>The Avo Toast (3/5): If I had to choose a menu item, it would be one of the sangas! The avo today was ok but it was missing a salty/savoury kick. The turmeric hummus was lovely and light, the avo was creamy but the spiced chickpeas could have been crispier and more seasoned - that would have made the dish! I did enjoy the Sprouts on top but all in all, an ok avo toast. Serving size is generous!

Amazing rendition for your classic Reuben sangas. We tried the shroom toastie breaky bun with the pulled pork and egg, and the texture and flavour brought was on point. Their deli also has a great selection of local Tassy, Byron and Sydney produce - you will find all sorts of plant-based cheeses, aiolis and cured 'meats' for your carnivorous palette! <br/>Will be back, this joint definitely filled a gap in the Vegan cafe scene here in Sydney.

Stopped by the other day for a macadamia milk piccolo and a salted caramel mini treat and I enjoyed them both. <br/><br/>Today I had a lunch date and sampled The Steve which is Shift Eatery’s vegan answer to a traditional Reuben sandwich and I tell you, it would fool even the most dedicated Reuben connoisseur. <br/><br/>I also had a Pitaya Unicorn Latte and it was pretty in looks and pretty delicious. <br/><br/>Definitely will be back to try other lunch options

What a great new cafe. Really welcoming staff and nice coffee. <br/>I had the no way Jose sandwich, which was absolutely delicious (and huge!).<br/>I'm not actually vegan but was surprised how much I enjoyed the meat substitutes!! <br/>Will be back to try the great looking cakes!

A nice cafe located on a quiet but also a little bit hard to find lane.I went there in Friday morning,a lot of customers there,so please go early if you want to have a table.The staff were friendly.And their coffee was good,with many choices of milk.Quite enjoy my flat white with soy milk. The cheesecake was smooth and delicate.But a little bit expensive I think.Wanna go again to try their meal,as they’re all vegan.

A new vegan eatery in Surry Hills specialising in on-trend cafe fare - think Reuben sandwiches etc but done with mock meat. The meals are big and filling, certainly not healthy, but satisfying in that guilty pleasure kind of way. I tried the Reuben, which came on rye bread with all the trimmings: a generous serve of faux meat, Russian dressing, sauerkraut, pickles, vegan cheese etc. I managed to finish it but it was a struggle!

I love this place. Admittedly, I love sandwiches and these are the biggest, most delicious sandwiches in Sydney! I highly recommend the No Whey Jose, which is a beautifully executed vegan version of a Cuban. Having said that, their mushroom toastie was just divine! In most cases, it takes me 2 meals to finish one sandwich which makes the food great value! Even my non vegan friends have enjoyed the food and we've all loved the coffee. Their batch brew is outstanding!!! Now I'm hungry and now I wanna go back. :D Just in case my review isn't clear, I highly recommend Shift Eatery.

Definitely wish I lived in Sydney because no doubt I'd be here often. Still dreaming of the Avo Smash (with chickpeas), the macadamia milk hot chocolate is lush, and two of the best coffees I've had in years. The cafe space is super adorable too. <br/>Thanks for a memorable experience. Loved it!

Divine new vegan cafe and deli in Surry Hills that has only been opened for a week. Super friendly staff and a very attractive fitout makes this cafe a place where you want to come and spend time and nourish your soul with the healthiest plant based nutrition. Delicious coffee with soy, macadamia or almond milk options. Chose the Reuben's brother, Steve sandwich (w beans "corned beef", sauerkraut, cheddar cheese and pickles) which was so tasty and flavours a lot like meat and the Avo Smash (w delicious hommus, an abundance of spiced chickpeas and sweet chipotle mayo). Grabbed some delicious nutie choc chip cookies to take away. Delightful!

Super delicious and love the little deli as well!<br/>The club sandwich was awesome, and I left super satisfied and with some goodies for later from the deli as well. The range of the menu is great, staff were super friendly and accommodating. Overall a great experience!