07 May 2010

Sweet Infinity: New shop replaces The Olive, Strand Arcade, Sydney (7 May 2010)

Shop 18, Strand Arcade
193-195 Pitt Street Mall, Sydney NSW 2000


Sweet location

Having only opened about 2 weeks ago this second store of Sweet Infinity is already becoming very popular. Sadly though it's replaced the equally popular The Olive Italian Food Bar which made excellent sandwiches — if anyone finds out where they have gone please let me know as I loved their fried zucchini! Sweet Infinity's original bakery shop at 53 Riley Street Woolloomooloo is still there but I'm glad there's now one closer in the city to pick up some afternoon sugar treats. A poster inside notifies customers they'll be closed from 15 June till 6 July for renovations so watch out for a brand new look — there's some proposed interior designs on the store wall to check out.

If you're in need of a decent sugar hit then grab yourself a smooth tasting Brownie ($4) which has great depth in chocolate flavour. The larger sized Lemon Meringue Tart ($7) and Fruit Tart ($7) have beautifully thin pastry which goes well with the toppings. I couldn't resist trying the figs in the fruit tart which looked so good. The lemon meringue had a nice crunchy shell. It looks like Central Baking Depot and Bacco Pasticceria have some new competition in town but the more choices the better I say.

Other visits to Sweet Infinity:
19 May 2010 - Rump Steak Pie
7 May 2010 - Fruit Tart, Lemon Meringue, Brownie

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Centrally located in the city, Quality cakes and pastries
CONS: Possibly will get crowded when busy. Will be closed for renovations. Premium pricing for some items.
MUST TRY: Brownie

Fruit Tart $7

Lemon Meringue Tart $7

Brownie $4
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Window display

Takeaway box — logo not quite stamped properly

Shop front — The Strand Arcade, Ground Floor

Original shop bakery — 53 Riley Street Woolloomooloo


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21 comments:

Phuoc'n Delicious said...

YAY! Another patisserie that we can all get to easily. I've heard good things about Sweet Infinity. Thanks for the heads up. That fig tart looks AMAZING! YUM!

YaYa said...

That fig tart looks fabulous but so pricey! Yep, gunno have to make a visit, hehe!

Anonymous said...

Hmm, very much on the exxy side. Not loving that. Thankfully there are so many other fab cake shops around. Gobsmack'd

Kristy Sayer-Jones @ Southern In Law said...

Ooh yum, that brownie looks delicious!
I might have to check out Sweet Infinity next time I go to Woolloomooloo or Pitt Street :)

Valen said...

Great blog! Awesome sweets here, I want some!

john@heneedsfood said...

I've tried the lemon meringue tart from the Wooolloomooloo shop and found it a bit underwhelming for the price. That brownie looks good though

Bean Sprout's Cafe said...

wow wow.. thanks for letting me know. Even I pass by strand arcade everyday but not really go inside. I feel great that Sweet Infinity moved into the city cuz another shop is not so convenient to go. But sadly that I havent tried the Olive sandwich yet ..

Maria said...

I walked past the other day and I could've easily spent an hour behind the glass just admiring everything!

Simon Leong said...

hi phuoc, they seem to have some signature desserts they always have and i believe they do a good duck pie which Good Living once mentioned but i've yet to try.

hi yaya, it is a bit on the pricey side but i guess it's quality not quantity for this place. let me know what you try if you go.

hi gobsmack'd, do you have any other recommendations in the city for cheap yet good cakes?

hi kristy, the brownie went down well with the work colleagues. i cut it up into 8 pieces. it's quite substantial in size but i'm sure i could have polished it off by myself. although i probably would have regretted it because it is quite rich. i like the Strand shop better — it's a more vibrant store.

hi valen, thanks for dropping by. i hope you get to try some of their tarts soon. be sure to let me know if you have any recommendations worth trying.

hi john, it does seem to be a bit of an expensive lemon meringue. i think there were 2 sizes. there were no more mini/small ones which i think are about $4.50 and the larger one is $7 i believe. i'm still a keen fan of the Bacco in Chifley lemon meringue which is really nice as well although doesn't have that crunchy shell of the meringue.

hi bean sprout's cafe, lots of good things to be found inside The Strand. i prefer walking through it than around it to check out the nice shops. hopefully the Olive will pop up again somewhere. Sydney will sadly miss them if they don't.

hi maria, hehe, so many choices, so little time and money :-) i think i might try the financier cake next time. seems to be one of their signature desserts in the window.

Myriam @ Detours said...

Hi Simon,

Wow, great news, I didn't know about this!! I've been meaning to go to Sweet Infinity for a long time (discovered them via the Foodie's Guide) but never got around to it. Now that they're closer to the CBD, I'll definitely check them out. besides, I'm often taking clients to The Strand Arcade for shopping, so that's a perfect place to recharge the batteries and indulge in one of those delicious lemon-meringue tarts!

mirvettium said...

I was devastated when I saw Olive disappeared! Haven't checked out the pastries at Infinity yet...

Anonymous said...

Only Bourke St Bakery in its various guises ..
Gobsmack'd

Sarah D said...

i have to say their lemon meringue tart is absolutly mouth wateringly amazing .... I DIE

Simon Leong said...

hi myriam, it's so much more convenient getting to them now that they're in the city. a great place to pick up a sugar fix although i don't think they have any seating so keep this in mind.

hi mirvettium, hopefully the Olive will pop back up somewhere else in the city. they will sadly be missed until then.

hi gobsmack'd, i wish Bourke St Bakery was closer but their sister store Central Baking Depot seems to provide some goodies although i think the surry hills place seems to offer more.

hi sarah, from memory it wasn't too sweet and sickly like some cheaper ones i've tried which was good. a nice crunchy meringue shell goes along way :-)

joey@forkingaroundsydney said...

Look at that lemon meringue tart. Phwoar!

Simon Leong said...

hi joey, they had a raspberry tart as well which i'd been keen to try next time :-)

Anonymous said...

Could someone please find out what happened to The Olive? I heard the owner decided to retire, however the shop might live on elsewhere in another guise. That place was an institution, with 10metre long queues every day for the last 20 years. A shop should not be allowed to just shhut down like that, with no warning.

Simon Leong said...

hi Anonymous, it's such a shame it's gone. hopefully they will pop up somewhere else but until then we wait in hope. if you find out please let me know so we can spread the word to The Olive fans :-)

Belinda said...

Have you found out yet if Olive is anywhere else in the city.....?

Simon Leong said...

hi belinda, unfortunately still no sign of it. i think they might have retired perhaps :-(

Anonymous said...

Uuuuber sweet! We share the same summer season and it feels like an authentic Florida dining! I am in Sydney and this place never forgets to knock my head and show me flicks of hometown dining. Florida! I just missed you!

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