with Ms Darlinghurst

Kitchen By Mike

[ 1 ] May 9, 2012 | Ms Darlinghurst

Ex-Rockpool chef Michael McEnearney has opened a sustainable new café in the heart of Roseberry called ‘Kitchen By Mike’. Residing inside an old factory the café is a cross between gourmet canteen and farmyard feast. The menu changes daily and is shared on their Facebook wall for all to drool. Mike describes his food as “home-style cooking” using fresh, seasonal produce to create simple but flavoursome dishes.

sweet corn, chilli salt and lime and grilled sardines with celery, raisins and dill

I had the pleasure of dining at Ichi et la, a pop-up kitchen Mike was running prior opening the café. Set in a gorgeous antique furniture warehouse it seems Mike is no stranger to working in unconventional spaces.

chicken, pomegranate and pine nut wrap

Kitchen By Mike shares their warehouse style space with Koskela, a designer furniture/ Australian craft dealer. After breaky or lunch I suggest you take a look around. Look, but don’t touch. Those pieces are exy.

Pumpkin, roast onion and persian feta tartine

The food on the other hand is fairly reasonable with a ‘pay for what you get’ type attitude. For instance sardines are priced individually as if at a canteen. They even have homemade lemonade with red and white paper straws for you to sip in the playground, I mean courtyard. Oh what a gorgeous courtyard it is! Cute Parisian style white tables and chairs are set in an arid dessert style garden and unique rock wall fence.

homemade lemonade

Currently Kitchen By Mike is only open for breakfast and lunch with the off private event at night. “Watch this space” says Mike. It’s just a matter of time before they’re open for dinner. I for one can’t wait to go back.