Crabapple Kitchen

(6/8/12)

Crabapple Kitchen has only been open a few weeks, but what a welcome addition to Glenferrie Road

Hawthorn. From the bright multi striped awning at the front to the mix of more edgy design at the front of the cafe to comfy at the rear, you immediately feel welcome. Very friendly service from all floor staff, possibly better than average was the comment from one of the brunchers!

The demographics of the customers at crabapple was possibly  a little older than the usual gen Y invasion of new cafes, not to say that they wouldn't be seen there, if they get a taste of the food you wont keep them away, however the  choice of music played might not be to their taste, some wasn't even mine, but its not offensive just a little old school :-)

Coffee & freshly squeezed Apple juice ordered, we perused the menu which contains quite a varied selection. From Seeded or sourdough toast w either Crabapple jelly, honey or good old Vegemite $5.5, Creamy porridge with banana & cinnamon, golden raisins & a drizzle of honey $7.5 to Baked Beans - haricot beans braised in tomato with garlic & herbs, gratinated Taleggio & bruschetta for mopping $16.5 add poached egg $3 ; Sort-boiled eggs with soldiers made with the flavours of Croque Monsieur $12.5 & they come in funky little egg cups!

 

'Big Breaky' - 2 free-range eggs on seeded sourdough w bacon, roasted tomatoes & mushrooms

$17.5

Mmm first son wavers between the Avocado on olive toast with Meredith dairy soft feta, lemon verbena salt, chilli & mint! (being such an avocado lover) but decides it possibly wont be substantial enough for brunch today. So choice made 'Big Breaky' it is :-) & it definitely filled the brief. Everything on the plate was cooked perfectly & all totally demolished.

Buttermilk pancakes w pears, pecan crumble, creme fraiche & pure Canadian maple syrup

$14.5

Yes I know what you are thinking, pancakes!!!!!!!!!, healthy choice??????  Hey I did spend hour & quarter at the gym before going to brunch, so I felt I could deviate today :-) Im so glad I did, they were the most delicious buttermilk pancakes, with slices of sweet pear through out. The pecan crumble just added an extra level to the experience, if pushed I could have eaten more of them!  So the verdict - taste was absolute magic, but don't know if you agree, I felt maybe the addition of little colour or even additional sliced pear on the side would have completed the dish!  Plating looks quite bland, but most certainly doesn't taste that way.

'Steak & Eggs' - Hopkins River scotch fillet with eggs and tomato relish 

$17 + mushrooms $3

My personal trainer bruncher went the whole hog on brunch & chose the protein - steak :-) with a side

of mushrooms.  He also received fries, cant  remember ordering them, fairly sure they were a side also, but he devoured the lot! Unfortunately my description of the dish is possibly not 100% accurate as my photo of menu chopped the description of the above dish off. Suffice to say he did enjoy it but said that the steak was just ok, bit like he would cook on bbq himself.

Dishes cleared by ever attentive floor staff, but arggggg no mention of .. ..... another coffee ?  

Oh no :-(  just about to call it a day & pay, situation redeemed  a return to the table with the said question! Yes thanks, another coffee & green tea (T2).  

As we are leaving people are starting to arrive for lunch & its getting very busy, throw a few prams into the mix & the entrance starts to become a little congested. Only one negative (if you could call it that) is the register is right near the front door, which causes a bit of chaos with people paying & people entering/waiting for tables. Maybe a better position would have been at the other end of the bar? Other than that Crabapple Kitchen, you are on a winner, with such an esteemed owner chef how could you not be.  We will be back :-)  (actually I have had lunch here second week they were open & I have to say food 100% service 100%) A must try!!