I enjoyed my breakfast at Fundamental, but I can't agree with some of the previous reviewers who said it's the best breakkie in Balmain.
Let's start with the positives. I ordered the big breakfast, which includes 2 eggs, toast, heaps of bacon, a sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes and a regular coffee or orange juice all for $17. (Side note, for 50c i upgraded to a large coffee which is definitely worthwhile). My wife had the veggie breakfast which also includes coffee or juice, and has a veggie party and spinach instead of the sausage and bacon.
The service can't be faulted. Friendly and efficient. The coffee is really good, and the food is mostly good too. We both ordered our eggs poached and they we're cooked perfectly. It's a pet hate of mine when cafés over cook poached eggs.
The main negative was that the food came out too quick. Disconcertingly quick, actually. There was no way the food could have been cooked to order, so the bacon and sausages are obviously batch-cooked like at a hotel buffet. This isn't necessarily terrible, but of course I would prefer my food cooked fresh, especially when I'm having a leisurely weekend breakkie and have time to wait.
The sausage was a little gristly and I had to spit out one oversized ball of fat. Also the toast came pre-buttered which was slightly annoying as I usually don't put butter on mine, but these are really only minor complaints.
Overall I left Fundamental satisfied. There are one or 2 things that could be improved, but at least they have the fundamentals right. read more