Ask any resident where to go for breakfast and they’ll say Henri Marc. The industrial style café found near Penrith’s Memory Park War Memorial is so popular they’ve expanded into the vacant garage shop next door (they’ve kept the steel roller door) and onto counter benches out front.
It’s run by Sophia and Aaron Bernecki, Penrith locals who made good in the big city only to return once they realised they could recreate the same great cafés they knew and loved in suburbs like Surry Hills, but a lot closer to home.
They do a killer brunch menu including a dish of roast beets, fresh fig, dukkha and cottage cheese on sourdough for $16. It’s decorated like a painting with delicate shavings of spiced lime pickle on a bubblegum pink plate.
Their menu changes continually, bar a few faves like caramel on toast for six bucks. The thick caramel sauce covers every inch of the sourdough bread, topped with a sprinkle of salt. It’s too sweet for one person to conquer but it’s a perfect share plate for those who like a little sugar to complement a salty breakfast. Wash it all down with a coffee made with Reuben Hills espresso, or a cold pressed fruit juice.
