March 10, 2011: Small-Scale Block Iv

over pretty hard - it's belike my favourite of the Lygon St Brunswick East brekkie strip - but they've had a small-scale carte du jour shake-up since nosotros terminal visited.

Most intriguingly, they've added an explicitly vegan option, in addition to it's non avo on toast! Cindy went amongst it - a vegan tortilla amongst refried beans, avocado in addition to salsa ($13.90).

The beans within this tortilla sandwich weren't peculiarly refried, to a greater extent than similar baked beans. But they were hearty in addition to delicious, in addition to the fresh avocado, love apple tree in addition to coriander on peak was a overnice accompaniment. I didn't larn a gustation of this inwards the end, which is an indication of Cindy's satisfaction levels.

I went for a uncomplicated serve of baked beans on Turkish breadstuff amongst Meredith fetta ($11.50).

The portioning of this dish was a fleck weird - 4 massive pieces of Turkish breadstuff amongst only a small-scale bowl of beans in addition to fetta to spread across them. With a low-cal demeanour upon you lot tin brand the beans last, but I'd accept been happy to accept i fewer pieces of toast I squall upward (I know nobody was making me consume it all, but in i lawsuit it's there..). Still, the beans (which looked suspiciously similar to Cindy's 'refried' ones) were excellent, in addition to nicely get-go past times the sharpness of the fetta. I was amount until a really belatedly lunch.

Small Block's a pretty consistent performer - the staff are casual in addition to friendly, the nutrient is e'er excellent, in addition to the atmosphere is e'er pleasant (even moreso on a schoolhouse 24-hour interval without the mad weekend crowds).

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You tin read almost previous visits to Small Block here, here in addition to here.

Small Block keeps getting skillful write-ups: Eat in addition to Be Merry accept both given it the thumbs upward since nosotros terminal visited although slicing almonds in addition to zesting lemons was less impressed.

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Small Block
130 Lygon St, Brunswick East
9381 2244
fully licensed

veg brekkies $5 - $16.50

Accessibility: Entry, seating in addition to service are really accessible.

April 18, 2011: The Victoria Hotel

Another fortnight, some other pub-club. This fourth dimension nosotros headed to the rejigged Victoria Hotel to sample the nutrient from their newly opened kitchen. The pub itself hasn't changed every bit good much - there's notwithstanding a ping-pong tabular array inward the forepart room, notwithstanding an strange assortment of article of furniture inward the beer garden, in addition to notwithstanding a tranquillity laid-back vibe. The bill of fare is pretty affordable in addition to well-stocked amongst vegie options: a risotto, some pastas, a burger in addition to a curry summation a few starters.

I've function yesteryear pretty predictable in addition to decided I'd sample yet some other vegie burger ($12).

This was a fairly mediocre burger - a potato-y veg patty, some lettuce, onion in addition to love apple tree on a lightly toasted white bun. The flavours were pretty limited; nosotros were forced to accomplish for the love apple tree sauce to boot things upwards a notch. The chips were proficient at least.

Cindy went healthier - daal amongst roti, rice in addition to raita ($12).

Cindy was hoping for a soupier daal, rather than this chunky version but this was notwithstanding pretty acceptable,  he raita in addition to roti inward item added something to a fairly straightforward curry.

Our meals, similar those of our companions, were adequate without existence amazing. The Vic is inexpensive - nosotros haven't had many $12 meals on our pub-club wanderings - in addition to y'all basically larn what y'all pay for. Still, the pub itself has upsides: ping-pong, Gentle Ben on the stereo, in addition to an fantabulous Mon nighttime vibe.

The Victoria Hotel
380 Victoria Street, Brunswick
9388 0830
veg snacks $6-$9, mains $12-$16

Accessibility: There are small-scale unmarried steps scattered from entry through to the beer garden. There's lots of infinite simply about the tables.  All ordering in addition to payment occurs at a high bar.

May 22, 2011: Sporting Lodge Hotel

Update 31/12/2014: The Sporting Club has renamed itself The Charles Weston Hotel. Very footling seems to cause got changed otherwise.

Carla's vegan drinks. It's a chip TARDIS-like, amongst much to a greater extent than infinite within than you lot hold off - at that spot are close iv unlike rooms in addition to a decent-sized outdoor area, which way it's pretty tardily to honour infinite for a large group.

The 5 of us ended upwardly claiming a room all to ourselves in addition to having our ain someone dinner party. The card is to a greater extent than Castilian or Mexican eating theatre than local pub, amongst a broad alternative of tapas in addition to a make of Hispanic-inspired mains. Cindy mixed in addition to matched ii tapas dishes: champis (marinated mushrooms stuffed amongst goats cheese in addition to dill, $8) in addition to bravas (classic double-fried white patato chunks amongst spicy sauce, $7).

The mushrooms were a uncomplicated dish done rattling good - an first-class combo of tender mushies in addition to salty cheese. The spuds were also pretty impressive, but Cindy had buyer's remorse past times the terminate - a bowl of these is ameliorate shared than taken on solo.

I opted for the vegetarian enchiladas (soft tortillas filled amongst a spicy edible bean veg mix, onions, tomatoes amongst guacamole in addition to coriander, $15).

The tortillas were toasted simply to the indicate of crispiness in addition to stuffed amongst a decent filling made upwardly predominantly of beans in addition to potatoes. With a skillful smear of guacamole in addition to sour cream, these hitting the spot nicely. I'd cause got liked a spicy salsa to accompany them every bit well, but the filling had plenty season to ensure that the chilli boot wasn't missed every bit good much.

The Sporting Club is a squeamish local pub - you lot likely wouldn't cross town for the food, but it's done pretty well, isn't every bit good expensive in addition to is served upwardly inwards a pub amongst a nice, relaxed atmosphere. There's an opened upwardly fire, friendly (if slightly difficult to catch) staff, in addition to plenty of infinite to spread out.

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Only Fitzroyalty seems to cause got blogged close the nutrient at the Sporting Club, although he visited on their exceptional paella night.

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Sporting Club Hotel
27 Weston Street, Brunswick
9380 8777
veg starters $5-$9, veg mains $15-$16
http://www.sportingclub.net.au

Accessibility: The Sporting Club has a apartment standard-width entry in addition to plenty of infinite inside. Ordering in addition to payment takes house at the bar. The toilets were tardily to teach to, but were simply ordinary sized cubicles for men in addition to women.

June 19, 2011: Mister Prissy Guy Cupcakes

lunch nosotros headed dorsum downfield* to the Noise Bar, which is correct on the bike path. By hateful solar daytime it's immediately abode to Mister Nice Guy Cupcakes, who've been making a cite for themselves inward the yesteryear twelvemonth selling vegan confections at places similar the Empire Cafe, Las Vegan. In setting upward their ain infinite Lucas as well as Deb convey also expanded their card to savoury Tex Mex inward the evening.

Daylight doesn't demo upward every bit much gig-venue grunge every bit I feared. Nevertheless, the house has a punky rockabilly vibe as well as the music's all the same turned upward to 11 mid-afternoon.

Michael as well as I ordered a cupcake each ($4 apiece) as well as were real pleased amongst the goods! Most notably, the icing-to-cake ratio is much lower than seems mutual these days, making for a less sickly sweetness experience. We heartily approve. Michael's Lemon Booberry cake was abundant amongst berries as well as had a piddling tartness to the icing. My Peanut Butter Cup was lovely as well as moist; non likewise rich. Now that my baseline season gets the tick I'll convey to live on to a greater extent than adventurous inward futurity - I tin laissez passer on the axe barely imagine what joys the rosewater pistachio as well as French toast varieties mightiness hold!

*not genuinely a direction.

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You tin laissez passer on the axe also read well-nigh Mister Nice Guy's sweetness treats on vegan well-nigh town as well as Ruby's Vegan Blog, as well as then encounter their Tex Mex offerings on Words @ Random.

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Edit 14/08/2011: Mister Nice Guy Cupcakes are no longer trading at this shopfront. They're all the same taking custom orders as well as their delicious desserts are still on sale at a hit of cafes, stores as well as cinemas. We surely haven't heard the terminal of them yet! 

Edit 06/10/2011: Now Mister Nice Guy Cupcakes are running their ain stall at the Prahran Markets! We necessitate to larn downwardly there, endeavour some novel flavours as well as study dorsum properly.

Mister Nice Guy Cupcakes
291 Albert St, Brunswick (entrance via bike path)
0405 001 442
large cupcakes $4
http://www.misterniceguy.com.au/

Accessibility: This venue has a apartment broad entrance as well as enough of infinite unopen to the tables as well as chairs within (which include couches as well as java tables, every bit good every bit casual dining sets). Orders are received as well as paid for at a high counter.

June 20, 2011: Retreat Hotel

There's surprisingly petty buzz almost the Retreat inward the blogosphere, an former positive review from Veggie Friendly together with a to a greater extent than recent offering from Bar Amigo.

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Retreat Hotel
280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick (cnr Glenlyon)
9380 4090
Mexican meals $12-$16

Accessibility: There's a modest measuring on entry, but otherwise this is relatively accessible - there's infinite betwixt tables, decent lighting together with accessible toilets.

September 3, 2011: L'atelier De Monsieur Truffe

07/03/2013: The administration squad hither has changed together with the cafe is instantly known every bit East Elevation.

Prahan market means dorsum inwards 2006. We were thrilled when he opened a store due north of the river together with cause got been raving almost it ever since. So The Mercy Seat to exercise anything to a greater extent than than catch a hot chocolate together with some takeaway treats. This fourth dimension roughly nosotros made certain nosotros had room yesteryear making a see to L'atelier de Monsieur Truffe (literally 'the workshop of Mr Nose' according to google translate) our outset outing of the day.

From the street, all yous run across of this identify is a vivid crimson door ready inwards a concrete together with wood façade. Behind the door is an amazing airy infinite - a quondam bedding mill has move a high-ceilinged, beautifully lit cafe together with chocolate factory. The chocolate-making mechanism is even so lying dormant, but it even so provides a real impressive backdrop to the cafe area. There's a pair of biggish communal tables, a bench alongside bar stools together with a some other handful of smaller ii together with 4-seater tables. At the dorsum is a picayune chocolate store, alongside a few shelves of Msr Truffe's wonderful chocolate products on offer. Given the amount of room they had to move alongside together with the inevitable enthusiasm alongside which this identify volition endure greeted, they've kept things reasonably spread out. It makes for a spacious, opened upwards vibe that I enjoyed immensely.

The breakfast bill of fare is plainly French-inspired - there's literally nada suitable for vegans hither (which is a shame given the let out of vegans inwards dear alongside Truffe's nighttime chocolate) together with meat pops upwards inwards most of the savoury dishes. There's a mushroom brochette that didn't audio that exciting to me but looked amazing on its means to some other tabular array together with and so the dish that I ordered: beetroot together with cauliflower salad, wood fruit vinaigrette, home-made fig staff of life together with a 65/65 (i.e. trendily slow-cooked) egg ($14).

This scores points for project design - in that place was a ribbon of sugariness jellyish materials which may good cause got been the fruit of the wood vinaigrette, thinly sliced beetroot discs, a few infant beets, some luscious leaves together with chunky cauliflower pieces - non your typical breakfast ingredients. The egg was every bit soft together with runny every bit it was supposed to endure together with its saltiness combined good alongside the sweetness of the residual of the dish. The downside for me was practical: the egg turned into a runny mush every bit shortly every bit yous touched it together with in that place was nada yous could role to mop it up. The fig staff of life was narrow together with biscotti-ish inwards texture together with non upwards to the task. Still, I enjoyed the mix of flavours together with was impressed to instruct something a flake adventurous for brekkie.

The sugariness side of the bill of fare is plainly going to endure a chocolatier's potent point, so Cindy stuck alongside her instincts together with ordered the French toast (with sous-vide infant apple, Mandarin puree, muesli foam together with gingerbread crumbs, $14).

The description all sounded a flake wanky but every bit shortly every bit I saw this I knew I'd made a fault non ordering it. The 'foam' was a to a greater extent than saucy together with substantial than yous commonly instruct when a fancy chef is serving it upwards together with had a sugariness flavor at to the lowest degree reminiscent of actual muesli. The Mandarin smear was an intense outburst of marmalade flavor together with the gingerbread crumbs were spicy complements to the apple. The toast was a flake drier than typical French toast but alongside all the condiments available this wasn't actually a problem. Cindy saved me a seize alongside teeth together with it was similar a heavenly apple tree crumble - I'll endure ordering this side yesteryear side fourth dimension nosotros visit.

I stuck alongside java ($3.90 including a 50c soy surcharge) to accompany my breakfast but there's a broad attain of drinks to pick out from (including 4 kinds of hot chocolate from 66% cocoa upwards to 85%). Cindy perused their impressive array of teas, setting on a chai ($4) ,which came inwards this cute pot/cup combo alongside a weird cow-shaped milk jug on the side (I'm non certain what yous instruct if yous guild soy milk!).

The service when nosotros were in that place early on was super friendly together with efficient (although when nosotros outset dropped yesteryear during rush lx minutes things were a picayune to a greater extent than flustered), the java was proficient together with the nutrient was remarkably good priced given the fancy approach. We couldn't walk out without adding a pair of blocks of nighttime chocolate to our nib (plus a hurting au chocolat for me!). That's the master copy downside to L'atelier exercise Monsieur Truffe - no affair how affordable the meals are, I don't intend we'll always endure able to move in that place without splurging loads of coin on takeaway treats. Still, when there's a giant chocolate rooster side yesteryear side to the till, yous pay the nib alongside a grin on your face.

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There are enough of other positive reviews of Monsieur Truffe's novel venue. See: Bean in that place together with read that, Words together with Flavours, Eat Play Shop together with Mel: Hot or Not.

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L'atelier de Monsieur Truffe
351 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
9380 4915
veg brekkies $6-16
http://monsieurtruffe.wordpress.com/

Accessibility: Excellent. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ramp on entry, swell light, lots of infinite together with a dedicated disabled toilet. Ordering happens at the tabular array together with payment at a reasonably depression counter.

Tom Phat Ii

October 1, 2011

Saturday brought chores, mishaps together with drizzle but it all led to a spontaneous together with real pleasant tiffin at Tom Phat. They were likely 80% full, amongst plenty of atmosphere but no problems plumbing fixtures inward groups of 1-4. Another smashing argue to see inward the early on afternoon is that the breakfast, tiffin together with snacky options are all available for ordering. Vegetarian together with gluten-free items are marked throughout, together with there's a respectable proportion of them. (I believe vegans unremarkably larn skillful advice from the staff, too, together with to a greater extent than or less card adaptations are available - come across the review links below.)

We each picked something off the refreshingly lengthy non-alcoholic drinks card - a Vietnamese H2O ice java for Michael ($4), together with for me a drinking glass of raw ginger together with lime muddled together with stirred amongst fresh watermelon together with apple tree juice ($7). The java was rigid together with sweet, the double shot going downward far likewise easily. Michael ended upward ordering a second! My juice had a prissy 'lil seize amongst teeth to it, though I didn't actually fancy biting into the ginger chunks that institute their means through my straw.

Michael's nasi goreng ($12.90) presented a lot to a greater extent than viscous sweetness, soy-style. He enjoyed this immensely, though he would've preferred to a greater extent than tofu, tempeh together with chilli.

my own), or the roti pancake special? The roti pancake amongst icecream together with mango together with kokosnoot jam ($11) won out. Though the waiter warned me that this was a dessert rather than breakfast-sized serving, I'd beg to differ. This roti pancake is hefty! Stuffed amongst mango slices together with jam, therefore coated inward a crisp nighttime shell of sugar, I couldn't imagine eating fifty-fifty one-half of this after a main. It was a repast inward itself, together with i I enjoyed.

Unfortunately the service wasn't quite therefore sweetness equally the food. The staff ranged from helpful to just-barely-friendly-enough, though all were competent. Everything took a fighting likewise long to arrive. Still, our Sabbatum afternoon was for lazing together with they ready that mensuration only fine.

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You tin read almost our get-go see to Tom Phat here. It's i of the rare restaurants that seems to larn blogged to a greater extent than often over time! Vegos first: Green Gourmet Giraffe enjoyed her visit, reviews are by together with large positive at Vegan About Town, together with tumultuous and frequently documented on easy as vegan pie.

Similarly, the broader weblog reply has ranged from positive (let's larn fatty together, omnomnomnom & to a greater extent than ....., EAT AND BE MERRY, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE(T), EatThis, Seismic Change, tori eats, melbourne gastronome, I'm therefore hungree, angelkhong, Melbourne Culinary Journal, crushed guava) together with negative (BOX CHALLENGE, 730 Days of My Life). While I'm non going to line out my fourth dimension serial stats, I gauge that the most recent reviews accept tended towards the ambivalent... mayhap expectations were high after a huge run of raves inward 2010? melbourne cafes photograph blog accept refrained from nutrient commentary together with focused on the décor.

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Tom Phat
184 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
9381 2374
veg nutrient $5-14
http://www.tomphat.com.au/

Accessibility: Tom Phat has a small-scale ramp on entry. Tables are aligned through the length of the edifice amongst a corridor through that starts off broad but gets a footling to a greater extent than crowded towards the end. There is a disability-marked lavatory out back. We ordered at our tabular array together with paid subsequently at the low-ish counter.

New Twenty-Four Hours Rising

October 8, 2011

We've been important to cheque out New Day Rising for ages - for sure since Lisa named the coconut, lettuce, tomato plant (CLT) bagel equally 1 of her favourite dishes of 2010. There's no detail argue that we've taken then long to larn there, although given how pocket-size NDR is, I've been a combat wary well-nigh turning upwards in addition to having to facial expression for 1 of the v or vi tables. We in conclusion took a adventure on a fairly drizzly Sabbatum morning, turning upwards at around 9am to honour the tiny room fairly empty. It's a cosy piddling place, perhaps the smallest cafe we've been to, alongside no existent separation betwixt the tables in addition to the 'kitchen'.

New Day Rising has a fairly extensive vegetarian breakfast menu, alongside coeliacs in addition to vegans good catered for. Cindy was tempted past times the grilled cheese in addition to pickle bagel, but inward the halt had to sample the CLT (smoked coconut, rocket, tomato plant in addition to avocado bagel, $10).

The fundamental to this is the smoked kokosnoot - crispy piddling shavings soaked inward a delicious marinade based on pecan liquid smoke. Cindy was rattling impressed - we're going to figure out how to brand this at domicile inward the non besides distant future.

I was sorely tempted past times the haloumi bagel ($11), but ended upwards settling for New Day Rising's homemade baked beans (cannellini beans alongside tomato, garlic in addition to fennel seeds, served alongside avocado, Western Farsi feta in addition to sourdough, $13).

This was an incredibly generous repast - 3 pieces of toast, a massive pile of beans in addition to a proficient chunk of first-class avocado. The beans had a sweetness to them, along alongside a fairly rigid fennel aftertaste. The saltiness of the feta went actually good alongside the beans - I'd induce got enjoyed some other big dollop of it, but that's but my greediness kicking in.

We were pretty happy alongside our sense - nifty well-priced food, friendly service in addition to finecoffee, all inward a teeny tiny package. Definitely worth checking out on your means to or from CERES.

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New Day Rising has been enjoyed past times Melbourne's veg-bloggers In the Mood for Noodles in addition to Dear Melbourne, Grounded Pleasures, Bean There, Read That in addition to Brunch alongside Brice.

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New Day Rising
221d Blyth Street, Brunswick East
veg brekkies $5-13

Accessibility: H5N1 pocket-size footstep upwards on entry into a fairly crowded interior. We couldn't figure out where they were hiding the bathroom.

Wide Opened Upwards Road

October 17, 2012

Behind this rather unimpressive facade is Wide Open Road - awarded 'best novel cafe' yesteryear The Age inwards 2011 in addition to sibling to Brunswick favourite A Minor Place. I dropped inwards hither a few times when it starting fourth dimension opened - it was a tiny cafe amongst a unproblematic carte du jour that was basically a subset of A Minor Place. Since my final take in a lot has changed - they've renovated similar crazy, to a greater extent than than doubling the flooring infinite in addition to adding a proper kitchen. They've also added a bunch of vegan-friendly dishes to the menu, leading to a serial of recent visits from Melbourne's veg-blog mafia, inwards plough leading to our take in pre-work on a Wed morn (joined yesteryear Steph, who's making upwards for lost fourth dimension breakfast-wise afterward beingness inwards mainland People's Republic of China for much of the yesteryear year).

The novel interior is gorgeous amongst lots of space, big windows in addition to beautiful woods everywhere. They've actually done a wonderful chore amongst what used to last a pretty crowded picayune room. We settled into the dorsum corner in addition to knocked dorsum some delicious hot drinks (chai for Cindy, soy apartment white for me) spell perusing the menu.

The novel carte du jour has 3 vegan options (one for lunch, 2 for brekkie) in addition to loads of vegetarian dishes to need from. Steph went dorsum for the love apple tree in addition to smoked paprika beans, which I was sorely tempted by. But knowing that like Carla I'd inevitably compare them to the famous Henry's Beans, I decided to branch correct out in addition to tackle the scrambled tofu (with capsicum, boundary onion, zucchini, cavolo nero in addition to cumin amongst confit tomatoes, mushrooms in addition to avocado on whole grain toast, $16.50).

Here's me happily hoeing into it. It's a dry out tofu scramble, but non inwards a bad means - simply packed amongst goodies in addition to fried upwards beautifully. The cumin added a hint of spice in addition to amongst a squelch of lemon on overstep I was pretty damn impressed. The mushies in addition to avocado were peachy equally good (I'm certain the tomatoes were also but I'm simply non a fan). Scrambled tofu comes inwards then many varieties - liquidy in addition to Asian-inspired at Dench, immediately egg-replacement at Kopps in addition to weird glue at Grigons in addition to Orr to cite a few - these are inwards the overstep bracket, in addition to good worth a exceptional trip.

Cindy couldn't larn yesteryear the pancakes, covered inwards toppings aimed squarely at her interests (coconut, strawberries, lemon curd in addition to whipped mascarpone, $16.50).

These were then proficient that I didn't fifty-fifty larn a sense of savor - Cindy polished them off all yesteryear herself. From her study they were fantastic - fluffy pancakes in addition to wonderful toppings. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sweetness breakfast to tempt fifty-fifty the staunchest savoury-lover.

Wide Open Road is hitting it out of the common - it's a lovely space, amongst friendly in addition to efficient staff, peachy java in addition to a vivid in addition to well-executed menu. It's difficult to pinpoint anything they could last doing ameliorate (aside from keeping Henry's beans on the menu!). No dubiety the weekend brings amongst it queues in addition to a slightly to a greater extent than hectic experience, but on a lazy Wed morning, it can't last beaten.

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Veg bloggers accept been getting stuck into Wide Open Road - banking corporation check out vegan virtually town, Green Gourmet Giraffe, easy equally (vegan) pie in addition to Let's Get Fat Together, Stalker Zine, bean there, read that, dear melbourne, Food Amie, om nom nom.com in addition to lunchosaurus were non equally enthusiastic.

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Wide Open Road
274 Barkly Street, Brunswick
9387 6079
veg breakfasts $7-16.50
http://wideopenroad.com.au/

Accessibility: Tables exterior are on a sloping footpath in addition to at that topographic point are a distich of steps upwards on entry. There's a fair chip of infinite inside, although they contend to squelch enough of tables inwards there. There's total tabular array service. We didn't take in the toilets.

The Spotted Mallard

October 23, 2012

Michael got current of air of the newly opened Spotted Mallard on Mess+Noise in addition to straightaway scheduled it inwards for pub club. The carte du jour looked alright (solid vegetarian options, though zippo vegan or gluten-free was clearly marked) in addition to I suspect Michael wanted to compass the venue for trivia.

The interior is quite striking in addition to hints at the premises' previous lives every bit a French eatery and, earlier that, a Greek marriage ceremony venue. The stained skylights, antique chairs, wall mirrors in addition to lampshade clusters had a few of us questioning whether this actually counted every bit a pub. The musical note of the menu, the bar service in addition to the downstairs bandroom settled it for me. The original vegetarian offerings are a burger in addition to an eggplant parma, in addition to the meat-free snacks currently include marinated olives, spiced nuts, chips, hoummus in addition to fetta on Turkish breadstuff in addition to chickpea fritters.

I checked out those chickpea fritters ($12). They're eerily similar to the ones I enjoyed at Mamasita, though hither they're served alongside a superbly smoky chiptole mayo. The rocket, fennel in addition to pino nut salad rounded out this dish nicely, though I wishing it had been served on something to a greater extent than dish-like - apartment boards simply hateful spills for all but the around dextrous diner.

Michael ordered the Spotted Mallard Vurger ($19), which was a messy but tasty sense - the brioche bun was stacked alongside a grilled portabello mushroom, pickled onion, beetroot, goats cheese, tomato plant relish in addition to rocket. The thick Jenga-stacked chips were amend still, though the coleslaw didn't excite.

The Spotted Mallard has been opened upwards lilliputian to a greater extent than than a fortnight, hence it's hardly surprising that the dining expanse was relatively placidity on a Tuesday night.  Our grouping of to a greater extent than than a dozen pub clubbers had their pick of the tables in addition to in all likelihood constituted one-half of their evening's customers. However, inwards fifty-fifty this not-even-quarter-full circumstance, the kitchen couldn't expire along up. Some of our friends waited upwards to an hr in addition to xx minutes of their nutrient to move served. We wouldn't similar that at a busy restaurant, in addition to it's fifty-fifty to a greater extent than irritating to sense at a placidity one.

Once fed, everyone spoke good of the nutrient at the Spotted Mallard. It's a actually pleasant infinite in addition to the staff are friendly too. Let's promise they move out how to streamline upwards their kitchen operations.

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The Spotted Mallard
314 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
9380 8818
veg dishes $8-19
http://spottedmallard.com/

Accessibility: The Spotted Mallard's dining expanse is located upwards a broad flying of stairs, in addition to about tables are accessed via farther stairs; nosotros didn't encounter whatsoever alternative way of entry. Tables are good spaced. All nutrient in addition to drinks are ordered in addition to paid for at a high bar, hence nutrient is delivered to the table. We didn't catch the toilets.

Wide Opened Upward Route Ii

October 27, 2012

We enjoyed our recent watch to Wide Open Road together with hence much that nosotros were dorsum barely a calendar week later on for a i time to a greater extent than (this fourth dimension amongst the Moody Noodles). I was hungrier this fourth dimension unopen to (which is what happens when breakfast starts at 10 rather than 8:30) together with decided to social club the vegetarian version of the total English linguistic communication breakfast (confit tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, scrambled eggs together with spinach on sourdough, $20). I didn't genuinely banking concern check what nosotros paid for this, but the conduct swap of bacon for spinach seems similar a fleck of a poor i to me. Luckily though the spinach was delicious - lightly fried together with simply a footling fleck crispy, amongst some fantabulous seasoning (lemon juice + common salt maybe?). The residue was peachy every bit good - perfectly scrambled eggs, loads of peachy mushrooms together with a big pot of the fantabulous smoky beans. 

Cindy went the to a greater extent than virtuous route, ordering the bircher muesli amongst rhubarb, orangish together with pistachios ($13). This was every bit expert every bit it looks - I never social club muesli at cafes because it seems similar such an anti-climax, but this reminded me why it's sometimes a expert idea. Loads of pistachios, beautiful tangy rhubarb together with enough of fresh orangish pieces. It was heaps of nutrient likewise - I had to pitch inwards to assist Cindy finish.

Wide Open Road are genuinely banging out some consistently expert breakfasts (added bonus: K discovered that the scrambled tofu tin live on done gluten-free). We had friendly together with abrupt service i time to a greater extent than together with I genuinely honey the post-renovation space. It's a novel rival for my favourite breakfast house inwards town. 

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Read near our previous watch to Wide Open Road here.
 

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Wide Open Road
274 Barkly Street, Brunswick
9387 6079
veg breakfasts $7-16.50
http://wideopenroad.com.au/

Accessibility: Tables exterior are on a sloping footpath together with at that spot are a twosome of steps upwards on entry. There's a fair fleck of infinite inside, although they deal to squash enough of tables inwards there. There's total tabular array service. We didn't watch the toilets.

Hungry Birds

Update 31/12/204: Hungry Birds' lease expired inward Apr of this year together with the cafe unopen down. Little Nina's Cafe is forthwith trading at this location.

November 24, 2012

Michael has repeatedly together with confusingly referred to Hungry Birds every bit 'that NBN cafe'. Indeed it's Australia's outset cafe alongside gratuitous high-speed wi-fi. I fearfulness that their narrow tables together with fine nutrient volition endure the leave of absence of Brunswick's MacBook keyboards.

Narrow tables are in all probability a necessity when setting upwards store inward picayune to a greater extent than than a driveway. Hungry Birds' pocket-sized adjoining kitchen cooks upwards Mexico-inspired breakfasts together with lunches together with keeps muffins on the windowsill. There's lots of beans together with eggs together with toast (though coeliacs tin swap the latter for tortillas). Nothing appears straight-up vegan but nosotros consider a brace items, such every bit the pinto beans together with the dark edible bean ciabatta, mightiness endure exist adaptable on request.

It was hot together with nosotros needed beverages. Thankfully Hungry Birds gives them every bit much carte infinite every bit the food. Michael appreciated Pru's Deluxe ($5), 2 java shots frothed upwards alongside icecream together with milk.

I went for the taller juicier Jamaica ($5), a sweetness together with slightly herbal hibiscus cordial garnished alongside mint, lime together with lots of ice.

Michael descended upon the pinto beans ($9.50) together with fried egg ($3) alongside hot sauce together with a hearty appetite. The tortilla strips together with rich crema were specially squeamish touches.

My Remolacha ($12.50) redefined the salad sandwich, teaming Aussie staples beetroot, lettuce together with love apple tree alongside avocado, horseradish together with thick slices of Gouda.

Hungry Birds is a cute, understated add-on to the inner N brunch scene. Their affection for wheel space, beans together with cool beverages has us feeling fond of them too.

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Hungry Birds has earned positive weblog posts on Art Box Diary, Little Bits..., MELBOURNE CAFES PHOTO BLOG.

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Hungry Birds
242 Victoria St, Brunswick
0401 540 872
veg meals $6-14.50
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Accessibility: This cafe is pretty much gear upwards inward a drive-way hence it's a reasonably smoothen together with broad entry. Tables toward the front end are highly accessible (but also highly exposed to the weather); silent tables are denser together with the walkway is to a greater extent than fraught towards the dorsum seats together with the kitchen. We ordered at the tabular array together with paid at a high counter towards the back. We didn't catch toilets, presumably they are located within the adjoining fine art gallery.

Mankoushe Cafe

December 2, 2012

Brunswick East's Bob Dylan-blasting Lebanese bakery, Mankoushe, has expanded to a courtyard out the dorsum as well as a to a greater extent than refined cafe adjacent door. It's possible to lodge their cheap-as-chips wood-fired delights from whatsoever advantage point, but the cafe has a whole lot to a greater extent than for your consideration.

Breakfast includes beans, Turkish bread, vegetables as well as eggs, spell tiffin introduces pickles, cheese, salads as well as vegetables stuffed alongside spices, grains as well as to a greater extent than vegetables. It's all immensely veg-friendly, alongside a few already-vegan options as well as an explicit invitation to "please allow us know if you lot are vegan or gluten complimentary or accept allergies". It seems that coeliacs mightiness fifty-fifty larn a await inward this time!

We settled inward for some serious grazing. The arnabite salata ($9) was a sprightly mix of fried cauliflower, parsley, hazelnuts as well as raisins served at room temperature, equal parts sweetness as well as savoury.

The ajje ($10.20) are tender zucchini fritters dressed upwards alongside to a greater extent than parsley, mint as well as onion than I'd live game to induce as well as they're amend for it.

You would never grab me tossing Bailiwick of Jersey caramels into a spinach salad, but the huge dates inward the sbanikh salata ($9) had a similar number as well as I loved it. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 liberal dose of salt, pepper as well as olive crude simply barely restrained the sweetness.

The repast was brought dorsum to globe alongside some hefty burgal pumpkin dumplings (kibe iras, $21) stuffed alongside spinach, chickpeas as well as pino nuts, served alongside a scoop of babaganoush as well as garlicky yoghurt silverbeet stems.

As nosotros leaned dorsum as well as meditated on our total as well as happy bellies, ane of the owners stopped at our tabular array to chat (he knows our weakness for their staff of life as well as our span of previous fawning weblog posts). He told us how they brand their ain pickles as well as modify the carte around fortnightly to adjust supplies. The cafe has latterly begun opening on Fri as well as Sabbatum nights for dinner, they accept a liquor license inward the industrial plant as well as plans to hit a commercial kitchen out back. (What they're doing without ane is pretty damn wonderful anyway!)

They kindly offered us 2 crumbly-buttery-nutty morsels from the sweets display on the household to complete our meal.

We're similar a shot champing to supply for breakfast. Though there's no French toast, pancakes or other sweets on the board, I'd live glad to commencement the 24-hour interval alongside a bowl of Mankoushe's beans as well as a sneaky sable.

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We've blogged virtually the Mankoushe Bakery here as well as here.

The Mankoushe Cafe's opening nighttime was blogged on Louf what you lot eat, as well as it's since received positive reviews on two Munch as well as Taste as well as Explore.

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Mankoushe Cafe

323 Lygon St, Brunswick East

9078 9223

veg starters $7-13.50, veg top dog $21

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Accessibility: There's a small-scale measurement upwards through a narrow-ish entry but everything's to a greater extent than generously spaced ane time you're in. We ordered at the tabular array as well as paid at a low-ish counter, as well as didn't see the toilets.

Los Hermanos Mexican Taqueria

December 4, 2012

Los Hermanos must produce got had the longest pre-opening hype build-up of whatever eating theatre inwards Melbourne - they featured inwards The Age a total 4 months earlier they genuinely opened. They were beset past times delays, amongst their opening twenty-four hours countdown extended a handful of times, to the betoken that I'd sort of given upward on them past times the fourth dimension they genuinely got going.

Thankfully Troy remembered them, together with suggested nosotros hitting them upward for dinner on our means to music trivia at The Spotted Mallard (where my ridiculous inability to recognise the opening riff from Hand inwards Glove toll us victory). Anyway, dorsum to Los Hermanos.

Tucked away inwards the backstreets of Brunswick, it's a minor together with fashionable footling house - at that spot are seats for 25 or xxx people within together with a lovely courtyard out the back. The bill of fare is upward on the blackboard behind the beautiful wooden bar and, later on staking our claim on a tabular array out the back, nosotros wandered inwards to house our orders. The bill of fare doesn't produce got anything vegan past times default but they're happy to accommodate whatever of the vego dishes. I'd approximate a lot (or all) of the dishes were gluten-free every bit well, but nosotros didn't double check.

Cindy together with I gave the veg bill of fare a expert workout, ordering both veggie tacos ($6 each), both veggie sopes ($6.50 each) together with the gorditas ($6.50). The veggie tacos come upward inwards 2 flavours: de hongos (mushroom) together with de calabazitas (zucchini). Both are complemented amongst corn, cheese together with some coriander. The tortillas were first-class together with the fillings fine, but these weren't super exciting.

In contrast, the sopes were laissez passer on notch - they're cornflour-based tarts layered amongst a refried edible bean filling, salsa, cheese together with your alternative of mushroom or zucchini. Next fourth dimension I intend we'll simply double downwards on these guys.

The in conclusion dish was the gorditas (there were 2 of these, but sometimes eating takes precedence over photos). They're footling cornflour discs stuffed amongst beans together with cheese. They were uncomplicated together with delicious (especially ane time I'd got my hands on the hot sauce). 

Los Hermanos is a handy improver to Brunswick - it's fast, inexpensive together with vegan-friendly. The staff are lovely, the atmosphere pleasant together with the nutrient pretty expert - it's non Melbourne's close exciting Mexican place, but its refreshing lack of pretension together with the mightiness to instruct a tabular array without waiting 2 hours instruct inwards worth checking out.

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Something weird is going on - this house has been opened upward for a few weeks instantly together with no other bloggers produce got swung past times to review it (although Two Munch did try, solely to hold upward foiled past times Los Hermanos' ever-changing opening date).

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Los Hermanos Mexican Taqueria

339 Victoria St, Brunswick

9939 3661

veg dishes $6-6.50

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Accessibility: There's a ramped entry means to a reasonably spacious interior (although things instruct a fleck crowded simply about the bar every bit people queue to order). I can't recall if at that spot was a footstep out to the courtyard, but things are relatively apartment together with accessible ane time you're out there. We didn't see the toilets.

Wide Opened Upwards Route Iii

December 8, 2012

Cindy as well as I constitute ourselves inward Brunswick on the weekend i time again as well as looking for somewhere to escape the estrus as well as choose grip of to a greater extent than or less lunch. We lazily decided to only revisit Wide Open Road, partly because nosotros weren't looking for novel spider web log material. But, equally Carla noted, the bill of fare has been rejigged a fleck again, amongst a actually wonderful sounding smashed pea as well as tabouli dish, a triumphant provide for Henry's white beans as well as a novel vegan sandwich, then nosotros pulled the photographic tv set camera out again. Given the heat, I went for the refreshing-sounding sandwich: apple tree slaw amongst avocado, dill as well as beetroot enjoy ($12.50).

It was precisely what I wanted - fresh as well as light, but nevertheless packed amongst interesting flavours. The sweetness of the apple tree as well as beetroot meant that it alone only roughshod into the savoury category, as well as the crusty breadstuff as well as creamy avo made every mouthful a delight. The dill was alone faintly evident, which is in all probability the agency it should endure - it could easily overwhelm everything else. The basic salad on the side was a dainty but unnecessary touch.

Cindy went for something fifty-fifty fresher as well as cooler: a fruit salad of mango as well as watermelon, amongst vanilla labne, rosewater as well as lemon syrup. The temptation of the salt-roasted Irish Gaelic patato amongst grilled corn, chervil as well as citrus tahini dressing (vegan, $14.50) was pretty strong, but it only wasn't roast Irish Gaelic patato weather.

The fruit salad striking the spot nicely - cooling as well as tasty, amongst a decent chunk of labne as well as a sugariness as well as tangy dressing. It recharged her batteries plenty to larn dorsum on the wheel as well as ride habitation inward 35 marking estrus (with the northerly at our backs at least).

Wide Open Road is actually hitting its stride these days - I dear the spacious interior, the staff accept been consistently attentive as well as competent, the coffee's corking as well as the bill of fare is superb. Surely Brunswick's best veg-friendly cafe these days.

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Read most our previous visits to Wide Open Road here as well as here. In the final yoke of months, easy equally (vegan) pie as well as Dreaming Out Loud accept given W.OR. the thumbs up.

 

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Wide Open Road
274 Barkly Street, Brunswick
9387 6079
veg breakfasts $7-16.50
http://wideopenroad.com.au/

Accessibility: Tables exterior are on a sloping footpath as well as at that topographic point are a yoke of steps upward on entry. There's a fair fleck of infinite inside, although they grapple to squeeze plenty of tables inward there. There's total tabular array service. We didn't catch the toilets.