Delisse
52 Martin Place
Sydney CBD
Situated in the bustling food court of 52 Martin Place is marketplace-inspired café Delisse which serves an array of fresh, authentic French style breakfast and lunch menu items. The windows are lined with the most vibrant range of baguettes, croissants, sandwiches, salads, pastries and mini desserts.
During our mid-week breakfast catch up, we met owner Mathieu who shared with us the story of how Delisse came to be. He explained that he is a French native who fell in love with Australia during a visit in his uni days. Years after graduating and while working a corporate job, he met and fell in love with a lovely Kiwi lady who he followed half way across the world to settle with in Australia. After arriving in 2012, he took a chance and opened the first of his four Delisse cafes in Martin Place in 2013. And as they say, the rest is history…
Mathieu welcomed us in the best way possible on a cold winter morning – with coffee and a delicious warm breakfast!
We were treated to both savoury and sweet items which included a mozzarella croissant, a Croque Monsieur, and a cheeky custard and raisin scroll.
The mozzarella croissant was buttery and flaky, and was filled with a generous helping of mozzarella cheese, sliced tomatoes and basil pesto. It was just lightly toasted which meant the outside was crisp and warm while the fillings stayed vibrant and cool. The pesto had a tangy kick of garlic to it which may not have been great for anybody we spoke to that day but was definitely a winner for us! The croissant was both filling yet refreshing.
We also shared a Croque Monsieur which is a toasted sandwich of ham and cheese on sourdough topped with a creamy cheese sauce and grilled. This sandwich alone was just about a breakfast big enough for two! What more could you want on a Winter’s morning than a melty, buttery, cheesy sandwich with the perfect amount of freshly sliced ham?!
We finished off with a sticky custard and raisin scroll which tasted straight out of a Paris patisserie. It wasn’t overly sweet and the pastry was extremely light.
Mathieu explained that he currently brings his pastries and baguettes in from France to provide an authentic experience for his patrons while he works on producing them himself here in Australia. He talked us through the differences in the wheat grown here in Australia and over in France, and the effect it has on the breads and pastries.
Mathieu has also introduced Raclette to the Delisse menu for the winter. Raclette is a Swiss style cheese, typically melted under a grill and traditionally served over potatoes. Delisse is offering this deliciously melted cheese on their sandwiches and rolls over the cooler months. Their Raclette cheese is made from Australian products by a Swiss native located in Tasmania – fresh and local! Definitely a must try for our next visit.
Delisse is a causal and inviting environment for both sit down meals and breakfast or lunch on the run. Mathieu described the café as the ideal combination of French cuisine and warm Australia hospitality which was evident during our visit.
The Viscountesses dined as guests of Delisse. A big thank you to Mathieu, Roshani, Simon and Christine who took such great care of us!