Feeling gilty at Gilt

Yeh, yeh, for you spelling freaks, I deliberately mis-spelled 'guilt' to match todays review - OK?

So - brekkyed at Gilt, Sandy Bay. My brekky at Gilt was as close as I could get to food cooked the way I would have made it myself. It was bloody beautiful. Everything was exactly as I would have made it, and as I love it - Eggs Benedict: muffin buttered, crispy bacon, sauce perfect, egg done just as I prefer it. In the company of great friends, on a lovely Saturday morning, bitching and laughing about life - could there be anything better in life?

I think not. Scotts service was flawless. His personality exactly the right level of friendliness and efficiency without being intrusive, or making us feel like customers (hence a means to an end).

The prices were on a par with any normal cafe - the Eggs Benedict was priced at $13, but I chose to have one not the two that usually comprises the serving, and didn't check how much Scott charged me, but whatever it was, it was worth it. Nothing annoys me more than when you get charged way over and above what you know other places would charge for the same or similar food, and you didn't enjoy it anyway!

They weren't flat out, which is the way I like it. I prefer to be one of only a few tables when I'm out. For a few reasons, but mostly because I think you get a much better idea of what the place is 'about' when there are only a few tables to be serviced.

I love Gilt and am lucky it's close to where I live. I certainly recommend it to anyone who's not a wanker (ie someone who needs to be seen in THE place, wherever the hell that might be at any given point in time!) and who wants to eat cafe food lovingly prepared and served beautifully. I felt gilty enjoying life so much, but not so gilty that I won't go there again!

Ritas Cafe Star rating: *****