A great local café should be somewhere that you will go even when you could simply cook yourself the same breakfast; it's the reason you'll traipse outta bed to get a well made coffee; and it's the sorta place where they magically remember your name (even if you don't remember telling them it). Birdwood is exactly that to Lane Cove locals – it's a small set-up, but they keep the menu simple; they're doing teriffic coffee with beans from Double Roasters; and Suran and his team will always greet you with a smile. Order a sanga with tangy house made kimchi, slices of sweet roasted pork and creamy mayo; or mushrooms on toast, replete with roasted mushrooms, button 'sroom puree and pickled enoki, which is the perfect combo of salty and earthy.