It has been a pizza place, an ice cream shop and has even just sat empty for an extended period of time. But now Number 303 Seaview Road at Henley Beach is occupied. And we like what we see (and taste)…
The perfectly placed building is on the corner of Seaview Road and North Street and it has finally been shown the love that it deserves. Boyfriend/Girlfriend team Rik Fisher and Alex Smith have come in and breathed life into the space, and Henley now has another great cafe option. Say hello to 303 By The Sea.
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When you walk into this place which, by the way, is totally adorable, you get a great homely vibe. It feels like a proper local cafe. The kind you might find along a coastal beachside town, where everyone knows your name and your order. It just seems like that kind of place. And the staff certainly help cement that feeling, because along with Rik and Alex, the 8 other staff members are all local to the area. We particularly loved how bright, open and breezy it was. It really captured that beach feeling without all the kitch beach props normally associated with seaside locations.
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Now this place takes its food and coffee very seriously. So much so that they serve it from 7.30am until 4pm everyday. Yes folks, that is seven days a week! Which is perfect for us because after tasting some of the dishes from the menu, we may just be there all day, everyday!
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The eggs Benedict was sensational
The eggs Benedict was sensational
The breakfast slaw was lovely and sweet, with oven toasted oats, chopped nuts and seeds, shredded apple, prunes and greek yoghurt with honey
The breakfast slaw was lovely and sweet, with oven toasted oats, chopped nuts and seeds, shredded apple, prunes and greek yoghurt with honey
A house specialty - the toasted dark rye and pumpkin bread, smashed avocado, danish feta, pumpkin hummus, crispy pancetta and dukka. We added poached eggs to the heavenly dish!
A house specialty – the toasted dark rye and pumpkin bread, smashed avocado, danish feta, pumpkin hummus, crispy pancetta and dukka. We added poached eggs to the heavenly dish!
The poached eggs were cooked to perfection
The poached eggs were cooked to perfection
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The watermelon strawberry mojito with the afore mentioned ingredients plus apple, sorbet and mint.
The watermelon strawberry mojito with the afore mentioned ingredients plus apple, sorbet and mint.
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Their natural homemade sodas are brilliant. This one was soda water with raspberry, strawberry and lime. Would also make a killer cocktail base... just add gin... just saying.
Their natural homemade sodas are brilliant. This one was soda water with raspberry, strawberry and lime. Would also make a killer cocktail base… just add gin… just saying.
The Green Juice - Its not a sweet juice, rather one for the health fanatics. Pear, cucumber, celery, kale and spinach.
The Green Juice – It’s not a sweet juice, rather one for the health fanatics. Pear, cucumber, celery, kale and spinach.
In a space that sat vacant for a long time, 303 by the Sea opened its doors to the flood of Henley locals, day in and day out. It didn’t stay a hidden gem for very long, rather it’s been pandemonium since the doors opened at the end of last year. Word has quickly spread and now customers are coming from all parts of Adelaide with high anticipation and expectations. Fitting to the beachside location, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped inside a beach house fixed with reclaimed timbers and upcycled furniture.
Owners Rik Fisher and Alex Smith put it all together with the help of friends and family. Whilst Rik takes care of front of house, Alex is busy in the kitchen cooking up quite possibly some of Adelaide’s most mouthwatering brunch options. The menu has been completely inspired by what Rik and Alex love to eat, it’s clear they’re brunch kind of people. French toast resembles an edible sculpture, smashed avocado that’s up to challenge the best in town and Spanish baked eggs that are purely sensory brilliance. There’s also an array of fresh juices – perfect for those hot days and warm nights.
There are many reasons why businesses fail, but over the years, the address of 303 Seaview Road, Henley Beach, has seen many of its occupants come and go. Location wise, it’s fantastic as it’s only metres away from the beach and depending on where you’re sitting, you can see the sea. It doesn’t have all the pedestrian traffic of Henley Square and it even has its own parking area outside.
The latest cafe to open up at this beachside address is 303 By The Sea. The first thing you notice when you walk into the place is the casual and relaxed beach vibe. There are plenty of tables and chairs that are well spaced apart from each other and the benched window seating is an effective use of space. With two frontages, there is plenty of natural light flowing in making this place light and airy.
303 By The Sea is open for breakfast and lunch everyday from 7:30am-4pm. The menu is short and simple and can be described as a twist on your standard breakfast staples. They also have a decent range of hot beverages, iced drinks, home made sodas, blends and juices.
For breakfast, I ordered the Toasted Dark Rye and Pumpkin Bread with smashed avocado, Danish feta, pumpkin hummus, crispy pancetta and dukkah. The dish came out after a 15 minute wait and was above average in presentation. For the $16.50 price tag, the amount you get is a little on the conservative side. The feta was smooth and creamy, and complemented by the crunchy texture of the dukkah. The pumpkin hummus was a nice addition to your smashed avocado dish, and the pancetta was perfectly crispy. The contrast in colour between the orange pumpkin and green avocado was also a nice touch. I think this dish may be improved by including a poached egg and perhaps putting more on the plate. The dish was fine but I don’t like leaving a place less than satisfied.