In Short: High St Depot sits at the foot of the mountains city of Penrith, and is worthy of diverting from the M4 for a couple hours to take in breakfast or lunch. With a variety of dishes from breakfast through to lunch, you will be spoilt for choice. For the lovers of a hearty meal, try Turkish eggs. Coffee is by Single O and is a superb with your meal.
High St Depot has led the transformation of the cafe scene in Penrith. Along with Henri Marc, they have set a high bar with regards to coffee and exciting food options that are on par or exceed what you grab in the city and inner west.
Personally, I have been to High St Depot for coffee en route to the International Regatta Centre, and their consistency with Single O coffee has been unwavering. This visit, we took time to sit, photo, and enjoy their breakfast menu.
High St Depot’s fit-out is restrained, yet classy. It’s comfortable with the opportunity to sit inside, dine in the arcade or take in the rays out the front.
The menu is a contemporary one. I went for a classic take on eggs Benedict with what High St refer to as Eggs Benjamin. A generous amount of smoked salmon is the headline act visually, yet it’s burnt butter hollandaise which steals the show. It’s rich and creamy with those toasty and nutty notes of the burnt butter. The eggs are exquisitely prepared, with a lava flow of yolk spreading on the sourdough. It’s about as good an eggs Benedict dish I have tasted, and every element is just perfect.
Continuing the theme of rich and hearty egg breakfast dishes is High St Depot’s version of Turkish Eggs. Flanked by 2 buttered bread soldiers, poached eggs sit atop a crumbed slice of eggplant, and the eggplant sits on a bed of yoghurt dressing, drizzled with burnt butter sauce and a side of red pepper relish. Slices of inviting chorizo complete a decadent breakfast offering. The creamy yoghurt was just the perfect item to cut through the richness of the pan fried chorizo and fried crumbed egg plant, while the red pepper relish adds a spicy notch to the dish. The burnt butter for me, binds all the individual ingredients together and it was a hearty, delicious breakfast that powered Mavis through the afternoon and well into the evening.
To wash down my delicious breakfast, I took in a Flat White. A Single O blend is a hint to the quality of the coffee. A sip reveals a well crafted coffee. Silky smooth, with subtle bite of berries and a chocolate finish. Milk work is sublime and the temperature is perfect allowing me to finish the cup in a few gulp-like sips.
Penrith cafes are fast becoming renowned for their teas. Check back on our Henri Marc post to see the tea we sampled there. We saw an Iced Lemon Tea flash by us, and had to order one up. What I got was a delicious glass of refreshing Lemon Ice Tea, perfectly sweetened, freshened up in presentation and flavours from the sprigs of mint and balls of sweet lychee. Even on a cool winter’s day, it was a delight. That initial burst of citrus sharpness is mellowed by the sweetness of whole lychees. It’s just a beautifully balanced tea with sweet and sharp notes and a refreshing finish. At the end of the sipping of the tea the enjoyment continued as we took turns fishing out the juicy and sweet lychees.
Little Sammi was drawn to a simpler serving of Sourdough with Scrambled Eggs and a side of sausage. The scrambled eggs were silky, with well defined layers and just cooked through. Sammi approved of the sausage, which was the first element on plate to be hastily consumed.
High St Depot exhibits that you do not need to plan a full day excursion into the city to enjoy quality breakfasts and lunches. Dishes with influences from the Mediterranean sit alongside traditional local favourites means there is variety to keep coming back. Coffee is excellent and service is awesome. Penrith has a star in High St Depot and it’s great to see another success story in Penrith.
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