The major selling point for the Austi Beach cafe is location, location, location. One of Wollongong’s affluent northern suburbs, Austinmer, along with its neighbouring beachside suburbs, occupies a strip of coastline backed by the imposing Illawarra Escarpment. The cafe has views of Austinmer’s golden beach, and depending on the time of your visit, a spectacle of outdoor training groups. It’s early and the scones are not long out of the oven. Slightly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these scones deserve more than to be served with a couple of sachets of jam and a dish of super light cream whipped in a cream canister. The menu stipulates Chantilly cream is served with the scones. Either the menu hasn’t been updated or no one is aware of what Chantilly cream is – just lower your expectations.

Scones: 

Jam:

Cream: 

Tea: A basic selection of Twinings tea bags served in a small teapot.

Price: $$

Overall: Combine a beach visit with scones and tea.

Location: 104 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Austinmer NSW 2515 Ph: 02 4268 5680 austibeach.com.au

Reviewed in July, 2017