March 9, 2011: Depot De Pain

Update 27/1/2019: Depot de Pain has permanently closed.

Milkbar Mag as well as was groovy to banking concern lucifer it out. They provided her amongst around peculiarly dense fruit breadstuff during her raisin toast experiments but nosotros wanted to banking concern lucifer out their dining-in options. So, amongst my blood brother (visiting from Tokyo) inwards tow, nosotros headed downwards for a pre-work Midweek breakfast.

The interior is all construct clean lines as well as minimalism laid upward off yesteryear a few gorgeous flourishes, similar the chandelier higher upward our table.

Menu-wise, it's all pretty French - croque monsieur, French toast, quiches, baguettes as well as pastries abound (vegans beware - everything inwards this house is probable to last at to the lowest degree 40% butter). Cindy went for something sweetish - banana breadstuff amongst berries as well as fromage frais ($9.50).

The portioning was a fleck strange - at that spot was plenty berry/yoghurt mix to smother twice equally much breadstuff equally was on the plate. Aside from that shaver quibble, Cindy was pretty happy amongst her dense as well as banana-y brekkie.

I went for something a fleck to a greater extent than substantial, Toast Champignon (sauteed woods mushrooms finished amongst herbs as well as truffle oil, $10.50) amongst a side of avocado ($3).

This was a pretty rich get-go to the day: the buttery mushrooms as well as the liberal purpose of the truffle petroleum meant that yesteryear the terminate of the repast I felt equally though my arteries had clogged upward a smidgen. But it was worth it - the mushies were perfectly cooked as well as the herbs as well as avocado cutting through the earthiness of the truffle petroleum nicely. The breadstuff is, equally you'd expect, excellent. We were also total to sample whatever of the pastries available at the counter - it won't last long!

Only the not-quite-blogs Milkbar as well as Broadsheet accept reviewed Depot de Pain as well as therefore far (Melbourne Dining Experiences has checked out their sis venue on St Kilda Rd).

____________

Depot de Pain
693 Rathdowne St, Carlton North
9349 1311
veg dishes $5.50 - $11.50

Accessibility: Good - no steps, proficient calorie-free as well as a reasonable sum of space.

March 9, 2011: Embrasse Restaurant

18/12/2012: Embrasse has late closed, but caput chef Nicolas Poelaert tin move straightaway live establish at Brooks inwards the city.

____________

Michael's blood brother Matt, who shared this repast with us, is a resident of Japan.  We experience extremely lucky that he was prophylactic with us inwards Commonwealth of Australia spell lastly calendar week Nihon experienced ane of its worst earthquakes.

So many people lead maintain died, been injured, lost their homes as well as livelihoods. If y'all lead maintain the means, delight brand a donation to the Red Cross Nihon as well as Pacific Disaster Appeal.

____________

We've non got all that excited nigh the plenty of gratuitous events as well as a definitely-expensive-but-totally-vegetarian vi course of pedagogy repast at Embrasse.  Embrasse's co-founder Nic Poelaert teamed upward with Pope Joan's Matt Wilkinson to acquaint For The Love Of Vegetables, as well as nosotros were mighty pleased to portion the occasion with Michael's blood brother Matt.

Course release ane was called 'spikes as well as spoons'.  The spoons featured caprine animal cheese, fresh hazelnut, as well as plum jam.  These were rather sweet, as well as dominated yesteryear the hazelnut.

The spikes carried carrot, beetroot, as well as radish, roasted to a real sweetness as well as tender nation as well as only seasoned.

Our instant course of pedagogy went salad style. The tabouli with Meredith caprine animal curd was terrific, with lots of variation inwards flavours as well as textures.  I couldn't assistance thinking smugly, though, that our months with Ottolenghi lead maintain had us producing to a greater extent than or less very-nearly-as-good salads at home.

The follow-up salad was definitely out of my reach though, a gorgeous mix of figs, radishes, lettuce as well as toasted coriander seeds. 

Michael as well as Matt's favourite dish was the dull cooked Green poulet egg, served with garlic as well as corn champ.  They didn't swallow much corn every bit kids but this was bringing them around.  I was to a greater extent than taken yesteryear the seasoning sprinkled over the top.

The 4th course of pedagogy brought together swede, spiced cauliflower, banana capsicum, organic carrots, as well as Jerusalem artichokes.  The pale sheets that looks similar pasta were to a greater extent than ofttimes than non probable shaved swede as well as the Jerusalem artichoke appeared every bit dots of puree; the capsicum curl was stuffed with spiced cauliflower. Cauliflower stuffing excepted, this dish was a petty bland as well as our to the lowest degree favourite of the night.

The lastly savoury course of pedagogy is where I actually lead maintain to range Nic Poelaert to a greater extent than or less credit.  We've been served beetroot during almost every high-end dinner we've had, as well as it's almost ever been teamed with sweetness apples or a piquant white cheese. Here instead was burnt jersey milk as well as orangish sugar, offering the same complementary sweetness as well as piquancy inwards a completely novel way.  Wonderful stuff!

The beetroot plate was served with a dish of aligot, mashed murphy as well as then saturated with cheese that it stretched similar mozzarella when nosotros attempted to serve it.  Goop never tasted as well as then good.

For dessert nosotros were treated to Embrasse's famous Attica's Terroir for me - I recall I'm biased towards desserts that offering sour amongst the sweet. 

We finished with to a greater extent than or less citrusy 'macaroons' from Vanessa.

While our repast was presented meticulously yesteryear the kitchen staff, I can't study the same for the front end of house.  One waiter was gentle as well as friendly spell the 2 others were extremely stand-offish, ofttimes non bothering to beak to or fifty-fifty expect at us every bit they brought nutrient as well as drinks.  None of them could state us anything to a greater extent than nigh the nutrient than was listed on the menu.  This actually disappointed me, every bit learning nigh the ingredients as well as techniques that acquire into each dish ever enriches my appreciation for them.  I don't know whether these were Embrasse's park staff, as well as presumably they didn't know this carte also every bit they powerfulness Embrasse's touchstone menu.  Possibly this final result was to a greater extent than stressful to trace together than a typical black inwards the restaurant.  Blog reviews I've read for Embrasse lead maintain few comments nigh the service as well as those are to a greater extent than ofttimes than non positive, as well as then hopefully our experience was non typical of this restaurant.

Still, nosotros were treated to an interesting option of what Embrasse tin move offering vegos also every bit to a greater extent than or less festival specials.  The regular carte is real promising, with the same honey of vegetables evident inwards many of the dish descriptions.

Embrasse Restaurant
312 Drummond St, Carlton
9347 3312
fully licensed
especial final result veg degustation $130 with matched wines
http://www.embrasserestaurant.com.au/

Accessibility: Entry, seating as well as service on the footing degree seem real accessible.  Toilets are situated upstairs.

May 28, 2011: 7 Seeds Ii

here.

Seven Seeds has been reviewed yesteryear hundred of bloggers - virtually recently, We Dare Food, Five shape garden, Eat, play, shop, eat, Melbourne culinary journal, Lots of cravings in addition to The belly rules the mind accept given it the thumbs up, spell Brunch alongside Brice was less impressed.

____________

Seven Seeds

114 Berkeley Street, Carlton
9347 8664
Food: $4.50-$11.50
http://www.sevenseeds.com.au/

____________

Accessibility: Excellent - wide, apartment entry alongside enough of infinite betwixt tables. Payments are at a depression counter.

July 21, 2011: Lakshmi

6/8/2013 - It seems equally though Lakshmi is closed. The site is beingness transformed into notwithstanding to a greater extent than or less other burger articulation - we'll continue yous posted.

Depot de Pain). It's a cute picayune house amongst seats for mayhap thirty people together with a relatively brusque carte du jour - half dozen curries including three vego dishes together with a few sides.

We were greeted amongst a picayune bowl of mixed spicy treats (on the house) piece nosotros mulled over our choices. Drink-wise Lakshmi is strictly BYO, amongst simply a couplet of non-alcoholic options: mango together with tamarind. We both chose the tamarind quaff - it was sugariness together with non-carbonated together with a decent plenty accompaniment for our curries.

I couldn't resist the lure of the thali: dahl, raita, pickle, chutney, salad, pappadums together with rice summation your choice of curry (chickpea masala for me!) for $18.90.

chickpea curry, amongst the add-on of crispy fresh beans together with a slightly less intense flavour. The array of accompaniments was a prissy acquit on but I in all likelihood didn't bespeak pickles, raita and chutney. I create dearest my pickles though together with this i (lime) was pretty great.

Cindy took on the other vegetarian curry on the menu, the Sri Lankan pumpkin (with fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, mustard seeds together with kokosnoot milk, $13.90) amongst a side of roti ($4). The curry was sugariness together with mildly spiced, amongst the fenugreek together with mustard seeds shining through, piece the roti performed much ameliorate than Chin Chin's version.

Melbourne's other Indian places, shooting for the classier cease of the marketplace position occupied past times Roti Man together with Indya Bistro. I idea that they measured upward pretty well, piece I intend Cindy in all likelihood favours their near neighbours. The carte du jour is limited, together with thus how oft nosotros company dorsum volition depend on how oft nosotros experience similar repeating these dishes (or how oft Lakshmi alter things around). Still, it's a prissy add-on to the neighbourhood, together with i that I intend volition create pretty well.

____________

Lakshmi
687 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
9349 5525
veg eats $14 - $19

Accessibility: There's a pocket-size footstep on entry together with pocket-size to moderate room betwixt tables. We didn't banking concern fit out the toilets.

July 23, 2011: 330 Briks

Update 12/1/12: Another i bites the dust. As reported past times fitzroyalty below, 330 Briks has closed. It's the tertiary house to run out of steam at this location inwards the terminal 5 years.

What About Food has lately changed hands too teach 330 Briks. Even walk-by traffic could last forgiven for non noticing equally the signage too fit-out haven't changed much, too the cafe appears to last keeping roughly the same hours. The card is dissimilar though. While What About Food took a lot of inspiration from the Mediterranean too Middle East, 330 Briks looks to a greater extent than to Europe with breakfast including croissants, croque madame, eggs Florentine, baked eggs with feta or chorizo (and thus a BLT too a roti roll only to mess with the theme).

The breakfast listing is less sweetness than savoury - I was choosing alongside muesli, porridge, banana bread, croissants too toast. The banana breadstuff ($6.90) was rattling homogeneous - warm too sweetness too densely cakey too utterly uniform. I institute the accompanying almond mascarpone disappointingly bland.

Michael was to a greater extent than spoilt for selection with all the egg options. He eventually went with the tater too zucchini rosti with a poached egg, avocado, tomato plant salsa, spinach pesto too breadstuff ($15.20). Given the lengthy description too substantial cost nosotros were surprised at how niggling nutrient at that spot seemed to last on the plate! Once tasted, Michael had to acknowledge that they'd done a fine undertaking - the rosti was lovely, the egg only right, too the condiments terrific. But it's even thus a lot to pay for breakfast 'round these parts.

Breakfast is non currently looking likewise vegan- or coeliac-friendly. There's toast too oats too dairy too eggs all over the place. (Such folks powerfulness fare ameliorate at lunch.) But this could alter - the novel administration are planning to alter too improve the card too fit-out equally they go. Since we're inwards the neighbourhood, we'll definitely give them some other shot.

330 Briks
330 Cardigan St, Carlton
9347 6625
veg breakfasts $4.90-$16.90

Accessibility: There is a unmarried mensuration on entry. Tables are good spaced inside, to a greater extent than crowded outside. There's tabular array service but bills are paid at a low-ish counter.

August 26, 2011: Cafe Zum Zum Ii

we blogged close Cafe Zum Zum - it's withal doing its affair alongside really few changes, at a few dollars to a greater extent than per plate. The entrée listing has many tempting vegetarian options, acre the mains include alone i meat-free plate. Many dishes are heavy alongside dairy - a vegan could potentially cobble together a repast from entrées but I'd recommend calling ahead.

From our terminal see I remembered sitting exterior nether weird blueish lighting, eating feta pastries as well as chickpea salad. If alone I'd remembered that nosotros were stuffed from sharing 4 entrées, nosotros mightiness non bring ordered 3 entrées as well as a primary this time! Eep.

The sambousik ($14) are golden filo parcels stuffed alongside feta as well as mint, as well as everything you'd promise them to be.

The falafel ($12) are less memorable but withal good, coated inwards a thick tahini sauce. I similar that they come upward alongside a tart petty side salad.

The highlight for me has ever been the fatteh ($15), a chickpea salad dressed inwards yoghurt, tahini as well as olive oil, topped alongside tomatoes, mint as well as crispy squares of toasted bread. I would happily swallow this solo, every bit a main, alongside a petty fresh breadstuff to mop upward the dressing.

Finally, nosotros checked out the pumpkin as well as eggplant tagine ($25). I didn't discovery the pickled chillies listed on the bill of fare but did strike a pair dark olives. Brine hits excepted this is sugariness as well as soft, only melting inwards the mouth.

We also received a handbasket of soft pita breadstuff as well as dish of aromatic rice to soak upward all the sauce. It was a lovely repast - likewise much food, though non likewise much to pay. 

____________

You tin read close our outset see to Cafe Zum Zum here. Since hence it's had positive reviews on Cakestorm, food men & love as well as Eat northward Speak was disappointed alongside their experience.

____________

Cafe Zum Zum
645 Rathdowne St, Carlton North
9348 0455
veg entrées $11-16, mains $25

Accessibility: Entry is average (no step, I don't think) as well as tables are a flake crowded. There's amount tabular array service. The lighting is fairly dim as well as it tin larn quite loud as well as echo-y.

September 7, 2011: Embrasse Ii

18/12/2012: Embrasse has latterly closed, but caput chef Nicolas Poelaert tin flame right away move flora at Brooks inwards the city.

____________

This calendar week nosotros had mentioned on this weblog final week. So many festival events are meaty (though this eating topographic point has been a welcome exception i time before) as well as don't allow for specialised dietary requirements, as well as thence nosotros as well as a few friends were genuinely looking forwards to this event. Here's what nosotros were treated to...

smoked staff of life amongst olive fossil oil piped into the centre

spoons

an aerated pumpkin soup amongst bergamot, meyer lemon oil,
as well as horseradish powder

gustatory modality of the sea...

a large near-raw wedge of broccoli amongst a sliver of Brussels sprout, 

grilled zucchini puree, saccharide beet, dune spinach

as well as body of body of water grass juice piped at the tabular array from a toy boat

sweetness burnt carrot purée, golden raisins, flamed potatoes
as well as greenish mango

wood flooring of cooked, raw, smoked as well as pickled mushrooms

avocado chocolate mousse, amongst tamarillo as well as sweetness ruby pepper purée

We loved the lemon elevator to the low-cal as well as fluffy pumpkin soup! The gustatory modality of the body of body of water was real popular, though I was genuinely a bigger fan of wood flooring - its gentle earthy flavours impressed me to a greater extent than than Embrasse's visually stunning as well as to a greater extent than famous forest flooring dessert. This night's dessert was to a greater extent than controversial nevertheless - piece everyone was comfortable amongst the chocolate mousse, the jammy dab of capsicum as well as piquant tamarillo appealed to few. I flora the savoury, bitter as well as smoky elements they lent fascinating.

Nic Poelaert has a lovely unassuming agency as well as a clear fondness for foraging as well as fresh produce. He as well as his squad position quite around attempt into planning, tinkering amongst as well as testing this card as well as nosotros give thank yous them for it.

____________

This detail repast has equally good been blogged at 1001 Dinners; 1001 Nights as well as the Fringe Food Fest team. convey collated a few photos here.

____________

Embrasse Restaurant
312 Drummond St, Carlton
9347 3312
particular consequence five vegan courses $85 including wine
http://www.embrasserestaurant.com.au/

Accessibility: Entry, seating as well as service on the basis score seem real accessible. Toilets are situated upstairs.

Residential Kitchen

Update 31/12/2014: Residential Kitchen has unopen downward too been replaced past times Naughty Boy Cafe. 

September 17, 2012

Cindy too I bring been talking nearly going to Residential Kitchen for ages - it's but upwardly the road, has a decent reputation too is opened upwardly for breakfast, luncheon too dinner. Somehow we've but never got our deed together though - either riding the tram farther upwardly Lygon to Small Block or Mankoushe, or going for an fifty-fifty to a greater extent than local choice inward Cafe Lua or Le Miel.

But nosotros in conclusion remembered, using a lack of milk inward the refrigerator on Mon forenoon every bit an excuse to enterprise upwardly the street to cheque it out. It's a overnice big space, alongside high ceilings, big windows too a laid-back vibe (at to the lowest degree at 8am on a Monday).

The brekkie carte du jour is pretty straightforward, alongside a few master copy twists. I went for i of their wackier options: a breakfast burek ($16). This is a big pastry scroll, plunked on a plate of white beans too topped alongside a poached egg too a sprinkling of dukkah.

It plant a piddling combat improve inward theory than inward exercise - the pastry ends upwardly a combat soggy from the saucy beans, too there's a slightly strange combination of flavours. The burek itself is a tiny combat sweet, upwardly against the savoury bits too bobs or too hence it. Still, it's overnice that they're trying something out of the ordinary. 

Cindy went to the other destination of the scale, ordering the most basic affair on the menu: toast too spreads ($6, served alongside vegemite, marmalade too fig jam).

There's non much to tell nearly this actually - it was toast. Good bread, toasted nicely too a decent array of spreads to sample on it. 

The java was adept (they're using Campos coffee) too the service was fine. That's nearly the best agency to amount upwardly the whole experience: fine. Good but non great. I'm glad nosotros in conclusion got there, but I'm non certain we'll hurry back.

____________

Residential Kitchen has a few blogger fans (e.g. Review Me Benny!), alongside a detail reputation for existence child-friendly (see little eats too Hey Bambini).

____________

Residential Kitchen
499-501 Lygon Street, Carlton North
9381 2388
breakfasts $6-$16
http://www.residentialkitchen.com.au

Accessibility: Residential Kitchen has a really spacious interior. We paid at the counter, but I'm pretty certain you'd instruct total tabular array service if you lot were a piddling to a greater extent than patient than us. We didn't cheque out the loos.

The Beaufort

Update 27/1/2019: The Beaufort has, sadly, shut downwardly together with been replaced past times a pizza place.

September 18, 2012

As if the Gasometer weren't constant temptation enough, roughly other watering hole battered together with deep-fried inward Americana has popped upwards close our abode. Michael spotted a review of the two-month-old Beaufort inward Broadsheet together with nosotros met upwards for an early on dinner that real night.

The bill of fare is an economical unmarried page, headed upwards past times a gain of burgers, next through to Buffulo wings together with a tofu salad, together with then finishing alongside the pocket-size materials - corn chips, corn cobs, slaw, chips, onion rings together with deep-fried pickles. 

Vegetarian options are marked together with they fifty-fifty specify that the girl burger (a chickpea together with spinach patty alongside rocket together with spicy mayo on a bun, $10) contains egg - this bodes good for vegans elsewhere on the menu! Gluten-free items aren't marked, but at that spot are coeliac-friendly buns available on request.

Michael insisted that nosotros sample those deep-fried pickles ($5) - the sour together with watery discipline is a squeamish contrast for the hot crisp batter, together with they're groovy dippers for ranch dressing.

I watch the leftover ranch was also the best dressing for my side of onion rings ($2.50 alongside a burger)  - hither the onion adds the faintest hint of savouriness together with construction to a volume of batter.

We preferred ketchup alongside Michael's handcuts (also $2.50 when accompanied past times a burger), which showed hope but were a chip underdone. His Veggie Sloppy Joe ($9) lived upwards to its name, spilling soy mince together with jalapenos alongside every bite.

With the sides eaten I unwrapped my Philly Cheese Fake ($8), a white curlicue all steamed upwards alongside the rut of mushrooms, capsicum, onion together with melted provolone. It's a stellar agency to mock meat without mock-meat.

We liked the Beaufort's mixed drinkable listing likewise - we're going through a chip of a ginger beer stage correct now, together with there's 3 ways to spike it here. At a dissimilar fourth dimension of the calendar week I powerfulness fifty-fifty stretch to 1 of the recommended strong drinks.

The music's loud together with the lights are depression - the Beaufort is arguably to a greater extent than bar than pub. (We'll function out it to our pub social club to teach by that 1 out!) But at that spot aren't many bars or pubs that create nutrient this inexpensive together with charming.

____________

The Beaufort

421 Rathdowne St, Carlton

9347 8171

veg nutrient $4-10

http://thebeaufort.com.au/

Accessibility: The Beaufort has a unmarried pace on entry together with notably spacious tabular array organization - generally at measure summit together with alongside few tables at tall bar height. The lighting's dim together with the music is loud. Ordering together with payment happens at a high bar, though nutrient is brought to the table. We didn't see the toilets.

Kaprica

October 31, 2012

We've long been fans of I Carusi inwards Brunswick, then when Eat Pizza instead!

We couldn't resist the broccoli pizza (broccoli, mozzarella, parmesan, chilli, $12). It's just the same equally the i served upward at I Carusi, which is virtually the highest praise I tin offer. We likewise tried out the Funghi (asiago cheese, enoki as well as oyster mushrooms, $12). I was relieved to encounter a vego mushroom pizza on the carte (the I Carusi version combines mushies amongst prosciutto for closed to ridiculous reason), but I didn't honey this equally much equally I'd hoped. I hateful at that topographic point was naught incorrect amongst it, but it paled adjacent to the wonders of the broccoli pizza - I wonder if it was the asiago rather than mozzarella that disappointed me.

Even without loving the funghi, I left pretty happy - service was friendly as well as reasonably efficient (although it would brand everyone's life easier if they had a drinks list), as well as the atmosphere was lovely. It's groovy to lead maintain a local competition to DOC, producing high character pizzas amidst the mediocrity of Lygon Street. Kaprica's depression primal vibe as well as affordable prices arrive Carlton's standout pizza articulation for me, although whether I'll experience the same means in i trial the queues starting fourth dimension to laid is closed to other matter. Even if they create instruct popular, I tin encounter Cindy as well as I spending the strange summertime eve amongst a brace of takeaway pizzas inwards Lincoln Square (with the possibility of Casa del Gelato for dessert!).

* Thanks to Sammy inwards the comments for letting us know that closed to of the pasta tin last done gluten-free - accept it away coeliacs!

____________

Kaprica
xix Lincoln Square South, Carlton
9639 6222
minor veg pizzas $10-$12, large veg pizzas $15-$17 (they're cash solely at this stage, fyi!)

Accessibility: Kaprica has a apartment entryway, but is pretty cramped inside. Ordering is at the table, amongst the nib paid at a lowish counter. We didn't take in the loos.

Small Victories

December 9, 2012

I intend I've establish this summer's best breakfast! It's fresh together with seasonal, together with I suspect it's vegan together with gluten-free. It's a plate of melon together with mango wedges dotted amongst chewy sago together with puffed brownish rice, moistened amongst a lime together with passionfruit syrup together with crowned amongst candied kokosnoot ($13).

This fancy fruit salad comes from Small Victories. The cafe opened end wintertime inward a location that was previously occupied past times the Rathdowne St Food Store together with I didn't detect big changes to the interior - it's yet a simple, elegant split-level layout amongst a high bar together with tempting spread of cakes together with pastries.

The staff together with carte du jour are all novel though. Other sweetness options are fruit toast, bircher together with a warm pistachio loaf served amongst yoghurt mousse, watermelon, sour cherries together with berries ($15). Savoury breakfasts centre alone only about eggs, baked amongst fancy fixings or done to your preference amongst toast ($9.50), addition sides at extra cost. Vegos should skim past times the bacon, sausage together with dark pudding together with guild oven baked mushrooms amongst garlic together with rye crisp ($6), a leek together with cheddar croquette ($5), wilted spinach amongst garlic, chilli, scallions together with soft herbs ($4), baked beans ($5) or avocado amongst wide edible bean butter together with linseed crisp ($6). Michael's poached pair of eggs were perfectly prepared, together with he praised the rich mushrooms.

Gluten-free staff of life is available on request; it's unclear whether vegans mightiness teach a become at the mushrooms, spinach or baked beans or whether they're buttered up.

Small Victories' breakfasts are a footling extravagant, but they look to dorsum it upwards amongst high character ingredients together with grin service.

____________

Small Victories has earned positive mentions on Confessions of a Food Nazi, Brunch On, I'm So Hungree together with dear melbourne,. Gagwood Blog together with om nom nom.com left less impressed.

____________

Small Victories
617 Rathdowne St, Carlton North
9347 4064
veg breakfasts $7-20+
http://smallvictoriesrestaurant.com.au/

Accessibility: Small Victories has seats on the footpath, a pace upwards into the cafe together with a twosome steps to a greater extent than upwards to extra seating. Tables bring average-to-crowded spacing. We ordered at our tabular array together with paid at a high counter. We didn't watch the toilets but await that they'd take away at to the lowest degree a couple, if non a total flight, of steps to access.

St Ali North

Update 31/12/2014: St Ali North has shut in addition to been replaced past times Green Park Dining. We visited Green Park for an fantabulous dessert night, but bring soundless to depository fiscal establishment fit it out for brekkie. 

December 25, 2012

Every household unit of measurement has its ain Christmas Day traditions - nosotros were ever upward vivid in addition to early, simply getting breakfast out of the agency in addition to then nosotros could teach on to acquaint opening. It was ever fourth dimension spent at home, gearing upward for the big household unit of measurement shindig at lunch. So I felt vaguely guilty when Cindy in addition to I headed off to bring breakfast out on Christmas morn this year. It felt similar I was breaking an unwritten rule, to hold out heeded fifty-fifty when non spending Christmas with my family.

Still, at that topographic point was something exciting most it too, in addition to the lure of the inner north's newest cafe was plenty to bring me rebelling. St Ali is something of an establishment - it's been serving upward fancy java in addition to trendy cafe nutrient inwards South Melbourne for years now. For roughly argue we've never dragged ourselves over at that topographic point to depository fiscal establishment fit it out, in addition to then nosotros were quite excited to sentry equally their outpost inwards the due north popped upward amongst the Park St wheel path. It's a lovely identify - light-filled in addition to airy, with the java machines taking pride of identify in addition to a combo of communal in addition to smaller tables. It's heavily bike-focussed, luring inwards riders from the bike-path or getting them to halt at the 'ride-through' java window. It must bring been 1 of rattling few places doing brekkie on Christmas morning, soundless nosotros had no employment nabbing a tabular array at 9am.

The card is long in addition to mixes together touchstone breakfast dishes with a hit of to a greater extent than innovative options. It's non the most veg-friendly card inwards town, with the terrific-sounding pan-fried stone-fruit spoiled past times the add-on of bacon icecream. Vegans volition hold out able to swallow but won't bring much to guide from. I eventually decided to crusade the 'My Mexican Cousin' dish, despite it coming inwards at a whopping $21.50 (surely a where's the beef? breakfast record).

It was impossible non to social club it though, with ingredients similar poached eggs, haloumi, fried sweetcorn fritters in addition to kasundi. And it didn't disappoint - the fritters were wonderful, the eggs well-cooked in addition to the kasundi spicy in addition to rich. One lilliputian sliver of haloumi seemed a fleck pointless, in addition to I intend inwards an ideal basis you lot could drib it, 1 of the fritters in addition to bring this equally a $14 brekkie.

Cindy ordered "Grandpa Pat's chocolate-brown saccharide in addition to salted butter porridge" ($12.50). It was heavy on the chocolate-brown saccharide in addition to swimming inwards butter - non actually the salubrious selection you lot imagine when you lot social club porridge. Cindy didn't intend it would hold out likewise everybody's sense of savour but she was pretty happy with it.

As you'd expect, the java is fantabulous in addition to at that topographic point are loads of fancy-schmancy dishes if you lot desire them. The staff were lovely in addition to friendly, particularly seeing equally they were all stuck working on Christmas day. St Ali is a welcome add-on to the due north - it's going for a slightly fancier in addition to to a greater extent than expensive version of breakfast than roughly of our local favourites, but it provided a corking foremost to Christmas solar daytime in addition to is good worth checking out.

____________

St Ali North has been enthusiastically reviewed past times PETIT MIAMx, Samson Girl.

____________

St Ali North 

815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North (on the Park St wheel path)

9686 2990

veggie breakfasts $7.50 - $21.50

http://stali.com.au/

Accessibility: St Ali has a apartment entryway in addition to reasonably good spaced out tables. We ordered at the tabular array in addition to paid at a lowish counter. We didn't depository fiscal establishment fit out the toilets.

A Fan's Notes

November 14, 2015

We've been fishing for a see to a calendar week ago, as well as hence nosotros took no chances on Sabbatum as well as wandered upwardly for a belatedly lunch.

It's a cluttered piddling cafe, right away winning me over amongst posters of The Chills as well as The Clean, along amongst an impressive bookshelf as well as full general scruffy-hipster vibe. The bill of fare is amount of vegetarian as well as vegan options, amongst v vegan or veganisable dishes (an enchilada as well as a quesadilla along amongst the scrambled tofu, bircher as well as burrito discussed below) as well as some other v vegetarian dishes across the brunch as well as dejeuner menus. Coeliacs are also good catered for, amongst half dozen dishes to select from.

I was almost lured inwards past times the vegan scrambled tofu, amongst polenta, asparagus, burnt eggplant, roast peppers as well as snowfall peas ($17), but instead went amongst the vegan pick on the dark edible bean burrito, hoping they'd supercede the scrambled egg amongst scrambled tofu. Sadly they don't, but you lot even as well as hence larn a ludicrously fatty burrito, stuffed amongst a slightly smoky black-bean mix as well as slathered inwards avocado, a corn as well as Lycopersicon esculentum salsa as well as accompanied past times a pile of crispy kale chips ($17).

There are nigh twoscore dissimilar hot sauces to select from equally good - you lot tin flame encounter the bottle of Tasmanian pepper sauce only inwards the border of the flick above. I was deeply impressed past times my repast - it's non super complicated, but it's executed well, is a mount of nutrient as well as was goddamn delicious. 

The sweetness side of the bill of fare is non quite equally exciting equally the savoury, amongst Cindy express to either a vegan bircher, amongst apple tree as well as sweetness dukkah ($11), or this slightly terrifying banana French toast, amongst pistachio cream, smoked carbohydrate as well as rum syrup ($16 - the master copy dish has bacon, I'm non certain whether the cost changes when it's omitted).

Long-time readers volition know my feelings on bananas, as well as this was pretty much my nightmare: some kind of banana bread, amongst a soggy cooked banana draped across it. Ugh. Cindy was to a greater extent than accepting of the potent banana season as well as pudding texture, but fifty-fifty she was feeling some social club envy equally she looked at the varied savoury plates around her. 

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Fan's Notes is a bang-up add-on to the Brunswick brunch scene - its vegan-friendly savoury dishes are especially noteworthy. There's decent coffee, friendly staff as well as bang-up music on the stereo - we'll definitely live on back.

____________

The exclusively previous review of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Fan's Notes that I could dig upwardly was this brusk as well as positive write-up at Gluttony Fair.

____________

A Fan's Notes
787 Nicholson St, Carlton North
9943 8373
brunchy, lunchy, drinks
facebook page

Accessibility: There's a apartment entry agency to a slightly crowded interior. You social club at the tabular array as well as pay at a high counter. We didn't see the toilets.