Everyone has a story.
We have one too.
We believe that the finer things in life are those moments we too often take for granted, and that we want to celebrate every moment, whether it is a sunset or a smile.
Our vibe
The cause we champion:
for those finer moments…
In the beginning…
Hillside Pantry was inspired by Sharni and Denham De Silva's love affair with both food and the community.
They wanted to open a café that not only served great coffee and soul-nourishing food, but also offered a sanctuary to those who wanted to pause and celebrate those finer moments in life. Those micro moments that we all too often take for granted.
They strongly believed that there was something to celebrate in a cup of coffee, a meal, a dessert, a warm smile, and a hospitable experience.
They wanted to open a café that not only served great coffee and soul-nourishing food, but also offered a sanctuary to those who wanted to pause and celebrate those finer moments in life. Those micro moments that we all too often take for granted.
They strongly believed that there was something to celebrate in a cup of coffee, a meal, a dessert, a warm smile, and a hospitable experience.
Lo and behold something magical happened!
One beautiful summer morning, many many moons ago…
The clouds parted, the skies opened, the sun shone through, and KA-BOOM an idea blossomed;
Hillside Pantry was in full bloom.
The clouds parted, the skies opened, the sun shone through, and KA-BOOM an idea blossomed;
Hillside Pantry was in full bloom.
Today…
We’re proud to be a big part of the daily celebration of those finer moments in the lives of every person who visit our café, Hillside Pantry.
There is nothing we love more than talking food over a cup of coffee with patrons, family, and friends. No moment is too small to celebrate with a perfect cup of coffee!
We exist to get people to that moment of celebration, that moment when they feel they’re at peace. Hillside Pantry is your home away from home and you’re guaranteed to feel it the moment you step into our café.
So, we hope that you will join us for a fresh cup of coffee, a warm meal, or a sweet dessert to celebrate those finer moments in life.
There is nothing we love more than talking food over a cup of coffee with patrons, family, and friends. No moment is too small to celebrate with a perfect cup of coffee!
We exist to get people to that moment of celebration, that moment when they feel they’re at peace. Hillside Pantry is your home away from home and you’re guaranteed to feel it the moment you step into our café.
So, we hope that you will join us for a fresh cup of coffee, a warm meal, or a sweet dessert to celebrate those finer moments in life.
Meet Sharni De Silva
Co-Owner / Store Manager
The bouquet that keeps it all together
Rockstars of Hillside Pantry
The rest of the tribe…
That’s how the Hillside Pantry tribe has been described. We happen to agree, and we hope you will too, when you visit us and get to know them.
Call us foodie nerds, coffee pros, service rockstars, hospitality ninjas, and all the above, because together, we are here to celebrate those finer moments.
So, swing by our café any day of the week and surround yourself with these all-around great personalities with a passion for creating those magical moments.
Call us foodie nerds, coffee pros, service rockstars, hospitality ninjas, and all the above, because together, we are here to celebrate those finer moments.
So, swing by our café any day of the week and surround yourself with these all-around great personalities with a passion for creating those magical moments.
Courteous. Observant. Attentive. Accommodating. Patient.
Meet Denham De Silva
Co-Owner / Chef
SHARNI DE SILVA
With a lifetime career encompassing hotel, restaurant, and cafe experience, waiting staff turned duty manager, turned functions manager, turned on-premises manager, turned café start-up guru, Sharni knows only too well the ups and downs of running a successful café.
Her ability to work well with others, paired with her infectious smile and outstanding managerial skills, quickly propelled her career, and she soon found herself working for some of Australia’s leading hospitality venues, both here in Melbourne and interstate.
During her tenure, Sharni has held numerous hospitality positions, from waiting staff to functions manager and everything in between, working for some big-name hotels, restaurants, and cafe chains.
After nearly three decades in hospitality, Sharni decided it was time to create her own space to invite others to celebrate her passion for all things food. The idea for Hillside Pantry was born, and with the love and support of the Endeavour Hills community, she opened the doors in September 2019.
Now in her role as co-founder/store manager/barista/cashier/café hand/dishwasher and dragon slayer (what a job!), Sharni is focused on building a beautiful café experience that offers a perfect sanctuary for not only her loyal customers but also the people she works with and the community she lives and serves.
Sharni likes to put it this way: "We make more than great coffee and delicious food; we make great friends, shared moments, and loving memories." That is the Hillside Pantry way. And we live it every day!
Her ability to work well with others, paired with her infectious smile and outstanding managerial skills, quickly propelled her career, and she soon found herself working for some of Australia’s leading hospitality venues, both here in Melbourne and interstate.
During her tenure, Sharni has held numerous hospitality positions, from waiting staff to functions manager and everything in between, working for some big-name hotels, restaurants, and cafe chains.
After nearly three decades in hospitality, Sharni decided it was time to create her own space to invite others to celebrate her passion for all things food. The idea for Hillside Pantry was born, and with the love and support of the Endeavour Hills community, she opened the doors in September 2019.
Now in her role as co-founder/store manager/barista/cashier/café hand/dishwasher and dragon slayer (what a job!), Sharni is focused on building a beautiful café experience that offers a perfect sanctuary for not only her loyal customers but also the people she works with and the community she lives and serves.
Sharni likes to put it this way: "We make more than great coffee and delicious food; we make great friends, shared moments, and loving memories." That is the Hillside Pantry way. And we live it every day!
You may have seen her at the register. Sometimes at the coffee machine, and at times even in the kitchen. When she’s not busy with café chores, she’s busy talking to her beloved customers.
More Scoop?
A foodie at heart and a compulsive caffeine addict, Denham’s famous saying is, "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." Given his first chef knife (yes, a chef knife) at the age of fourteen, Denham seemed destined to become a chef.
More Scoop?
DENHAM DE SILVA
Denham has always been curious about different tastes, textures, flavours, and the origins of popular food dishes, and most importantly, how to fuse them all into a culinary masterpiece that can be enjoyed by all.
He focuses on fusion cuisine that incorporates a palette of unique flavours into any genre of cuisine and gastronomical creativity, including modern Australian, Asian, Mediterranean, Continental European, and Sri Lankan specialties.
His uniquely modern approach to food can be seen in every menu he creates, complemented by an unparalleled attention to detail and dedication to gracious service.
Prior to becoming co-founder of Hillside Pantry, Denham honed his business, hospitality, and restaurant skills while working side-by-side with some of the best chefs in Australia, from this kitchen to that kitchen, across various hospitality venues as a chef for over 20 years. He strives to be versatile in a cafe environment in which the style of cuisine keeps changing almost every month. When not in the kitchen, drawing from his experience, Denham always found the time to help the café staff with their operational chores.
Denham is extremely excited to help his wife Sharni in his current role as chef and grow the Hillside Pantry Cafe in Endeavour Hills and beyond.
He focuses on fusion cuisine that incorporates a palette of unique flavours into any genre of cuisine and gastronomical creativity, including modern Australian, Asian, Mediterranean, Continental European, and Sri Lankan specialties.
His uniquely modern approach to food can be seen in every menu he creates, complemented by an unparalleled attention to detail and dedication to gracious service.
Prior to becoming co-founder of Hillside Pantry, Denham honed his business, hospitality, and restaurant skills while working side-by-side with some of the best chefs in Australia, from this kitchen to that kitchen, across various hospitality venues as a chef for over 20 years. He strives to be versatile in a cafe environment in which the style of cuisine keeps changing almost every month. When not in the kitchen, drawing from his experience, Denham always found the time to help the café staff with their operational chores.
Denham is extremely excited to help his wife Sharni in his current role as chef and grow the Hillside Pantry Cafe in Endeavour Hills and beyond.
