C1 Cafe & Brasserie, Chatswood Chase, Chatswood

C1 Cafe & Brasserie, Chatswood Chase, Chatswood
Saturday 17 June, 2006

The slogan attached to Chatswood Chase is 'Beautiful on every level'. Today it felt like Christmas Eve - it took 30 minutes to enter and find a carpark, one lift (of the two operating) was broken so there were people, trolley's and prams backed up on the ramps, escalators etc - it was chaos. 'Beautiful' doesn't come close to describing my thoughts about Chatswood Chase.....

However, you can find some sanctuary away from the crowds. I was meeting a friend for a late lunch/ coffee at C1 Cafe & Brasserie. It's located on the Ground floor just opposite the Country Road homewares store and near Mecca Cosmetica (a place every woman must visit).

C1 is a large, open space in the middle of the shops with entrances on both ends. Upon arrival we were told we could sit anyway but when we walked over to sit at a table we were asked to choose a table in another section - well, that's not sitting anywhere is it??? I ordered a coffee to start and was delivered a flat white with full cream milk (I had asked for Skim).

We decided to order a mix of garlic bread & bruschetta to share - this took sometime to reach the table but when it did both serves were massive. I couldn't taste the garlic on the garlic bread and the bread wasn't toasted enough - the bottom was semi-warm. The bruschetta was OK - there large chunks of tomato scattered across the bread but it was too oily.

The service was random - some staff were courteous but one of our waiters was very nervous and dropped the cutlery as he set the table. He apologised and informed us he was having a bad day.

There was an impressive display of cakes and C1 offer a great deal of coffee & cake for $5 after 2pm most days. If I ever returned it would be to take up this offer.

C1 Cafe & Brasserie - Shop C1, Chatswood Chase, 91 Archer Street, Chatswood - (02) 9410 0700

http://www.chatswoodchaseshopping.com.au