Mars Hill Cafe

Sydney's cafe culture has spruced up in recent years but Mars Hill Cafe remains a defiantly grungy outpost. For the past decade, its Christian owners, Kevin and Lisa Crouse, have recruited professionals and volunteers to run it as a social enterprise. Kevin, originally from Seattle, also hosts open-faith services here.

The cafe's art gallery, writers' nights and live music boost Parramatta's creative scene, while the jumbled two-storey layout attracts younger crowds. Students especially are drawn to free Wi-Fi and caffeinated concoctions such as So-Crates (six espresso shots, $6.60).

Our group sticks to lattes ($2.50-$5) and cappuccinos ($3-$5.50) made from the cafe's Jumping Llama blend. The taste is rich and rounded, with thick caramel crema.

The menu is a puzzling combination of basic Mexican and Italian fare. Our chicken quesadillas ($13.90) and toasted tortilla pocket melts ($13.90) are tasty but look a bit untidy. The sauce on the jacket potatoes ($13.90) could be thicker, too.

Service is friendly but hardly snappy. For loyal locals the scruffy vibe seems to work.