Charlotte’s family just keeps expanding. It has sisters in Pennant Hills, Manly, and Birchgrove, a younger sibling in Mosman, and a half sister in Boronia Park. Now there’s a new addition to the ever-growing family.
Charlotte’s Little Sister, Australian Technology Park (ATP) has been a long time coming for founder Jason Ghebar. He has grown the Charlotte brand from a humble local café to a well-known and loved brand with six smaller Charlottes throughout Sydney.
“Charlotte’s Little Sister ATP will be the first bit of community this area has seen, dedicated to superior service, great food, and exceptional coffee. The support and response we have received since conception [in April] is overwhelming, and we hope to create a social hub for those working and hanging out in the area,” Jason says. “We understand that a break is necessary during a busy working day, and there is no better way to catch up with friends or colleagues than over good food and coffee.”
No expense was spared on the fit-out of the 160-seat café and bar. Designed from Guru Projects and styled by India Harris, the venue features a custom-made mosaic tile flooring from Italy, brass paneling, and raw timber throughout.
Customers can sample a range of Campos coffees including its award-winning flagship blend, the Superior Blend. This coffee embraces a toffee base with slight fruity highlights, a rich body, and a sweet butterscotch finish. Rotating single origins and Cup of Excellence coffees are also served on the café’s unique custom-made La Marzocco Linea machine. This one-off café jewel features handmade steamer arms, metal badges, cronos touchpads, and personalised logo hand-painted by Brisbane artists Frank & Mimi.
Campos Coffee won this machine at a charity auction in 2015 to raise funds for Fareshare and Café Smart.
Director of Campos Coffee Rafael Bartowski has been witness to the growth of the brand over the past couple of years as a valued supplier to all Charlotte’s cafés.
“Soon to be a heaving inner west destination for all those in the area, Jason and his team has managed to combine great coffee and great food into a great space, living and breathing cafés where quality and consistency speaks for itself.”
The menu designed by chefs Rob Clarson and Jimmy Mathers has been designed to showcase hero rotisserie meats, cooked slow and served fast with a signature range of sauces, accompanied by freshly made salads and organic bread. Fruit salad with palaeo crunch and coconut yogurt is also on the menu, as is the café’s “ultimate BBQ bacon and egg roll”.
There is also the signature “Charlotte’s favourites” on the menu, paying homage to its routes and Mama Helen’s influence, such as the house-made falafel roll, Za’atar lamb shoulder roll, and spiced cauliflower and eggplant salad.
Charlotte’s Little Sister ATP won’t stay little for long, with plans to introduce a full catering service, event space and the introduction of the bar menu, but that’s just part of growing up.