Three Blue Ducks, Bronte

Take an old chicken shop in a beachside Sydney suburb. Gut, renovate and decorate in warm dark tones with a funky graffiti wall. Add an open kitchen where you can watch the all-male action, a welcoming ambience and you have Three Blue Ducks.

Located along the MacPherson Street strip of shops, this café which only opened on September 9 2010 is already drawing a solid local clientele. And it is easy to see why.

Long communal table

Octopus graffiti wall

The clipboard menu which changes often informs you that all pastries and baked goods are made on the premises, the coffee comes from Single Origin Coffee Roasters, the grass-fed Angus beef comes from Tasmania and Baker Friday supplies their breads and croissants.

We arrive for lunch on a weekday and secure the only vacant table for two. The ambience is buzzy and the frenetic pace reflects the enthusiasm of owners Mark Labrooy ex-Tetsuya’s and Cafe Morso, Sam Reid-Boquist and Chris Sorrell, namely the Three Blue Ducks.

The chorizo fettucine with basil and cherry tomatoes is a spicy and smoky dish. The chorizo serving is generous and the fragrant basil adds balance to the flavours.

The Chinese five spice pork belly with bok choy is perfectly cooked, with a melt-in- mouth texture and a crispy crackling. The cubes of watermelon add an interesting flavour to the reduction.

It’s too difficult to say no to the double chocolate and orange tart. The crust is crumbly, the chocolate is divine and well complemented with a serving of vanilla bean ice cream.

The service here is welcoming and swift. The energy behind Three Blue Ducks is infectious. The guys are friendly and unpretentious. They make you feel as if you’re a regular. And you soon will be.

Three Blue Ducks
143 Macpherson Street
Bronte NSW
Sydney
www.threeblueducks.com