Bendigo Street Milk Bar

(27/8/12)

Bendigo Street Milk Bar is really like going into your local Milkbar (for those who remember such shops! & finding nice big wooden tables to sit and have some breaky/brunch/lunch. Almost like sitting in a friends home :-) It was fairly quiet when we were there, but Im guessing around

lunch time, a lot of local workers (it is close to swan st richmond) descend on it, as they have a number of tasty looking takeaway options.

The menu is reasonably basic & not overly huge, you will find options like Porridge w coconut milk, caramelized pineapple & toasted coconut ($9.9) which would hit the spot on a cold Melbourne morning. Beans - smokey spicy braised mixed beans, poached free range eggs, fetta w a parsley pangratta? (not sure if this is meant to be pangrattato - breadcrumbs )? (13.9) to an Omelette - open chorizo, olive & potato omelette, herb salad, roast garlic & aioli (15.9)

A very friendly young girl, took our order for coffee & juice (Emma & Toms), and we proceeded

to peruse the menu. Choices made, it was a very short wait for our meals, the cutlery was already on the tables in the cute tea tins so there was no need for table setting.  Which is probably a blessing for the staff as they deal with a steady stream of takeaway customers between waiting tables.

Big Breakie - Bacon, slow roasted tomatoes, marinated field mushrooms,

spinach scrambled eggs & toasted sourdough

(17.9)

Corn Fritters - homemade w Avocado salsa, rocket & poached eggs

(16.9) + Extra Salmon ($5)

Mushrooms - lemon, garlic & herb marinated flat mushrooms, rocket

& creamy goats cheese, served on toasted ciabatta

 with poached eggs

(17.9)

Not a huge amount to say individually about the meals selected, they were all very tasty. The mushrooms received a particularly good wrap from the two brunch members that had them. The corn fritters were also another stand out, crispy/crunchy with great corn composition.

The Bendigo Street Milkbar is open 7 days a week, Mon - Fri 6-5 , Sat 6.30-5, Sun 7-5. Im guessing when the Channel 9 building, apartment renovations are complete this hidden little gem will go gangbusters!

South of Johnston

(20/8/12)

Coffee (3.5)

Only two to brunch today & venue was chosen after seeing an article in Melbourne Weekly (I think!)

   It sounded interesting, and if you check out their facebook page you will see the before photos & the present ....... Wow, great job guys. It was a little cool outside so we selected 

a table near the warm/inviting fire! The first person we encountered on entering was a little cool

just like the weather, but the next was much warmer :-) just like the fire !

Quite a varied menu from a croissant filled with gypsy ham & tasty cheese & tomato (7.5) nice & simple, French Toast made with organic brioche & topped with caramelized banana, chopped walnuts & jock's gingerbread ice cream or with grilled bacon & real maple syrup (15.9); to Corn Fritters with coriander, tomato relish, sour cream & grilled bacon or smoked salmon ($16.9), Omelette filled with roasted pumpkin, goat's cheese, baby spinach, pinenuts & sage on multigrain toast ($16.9) or Chorizo Eggs poached & served on a chorizo sausage, kalamata olive & napoli ragu with holiandaise, torn basil & sourdough toast ($16.9) Wow now that sounds interesting :-)

Fried Eggs served with kaiserfleisch, roasted mushrooms, roast tomato

& rosemary on sourdough toast

(16.9)

Choice for today by my very hungry bruncher was the fried eggs with kaiserfleisch (which is smoked pork belly), mushies, tomato on toast. He devilishly added another egg to the mix, now thats a meal & a half :-)  which he presided  to demolish. Only negative comment was the kaiserfleisch had a little too much fat on it! But otherwise was very tasty.

Salmon Eggs poached & served with smoked salmon, fresh spinach, creme fraiche, & 

a caper, dill & red onion salsa on sourdough toast.

(16.9)

My choice was a little more refined, & I went for some omega 3.  The eggs were on the 

firmer side of runny, which was okay, but runny possibly would have moistened the dish a little .

 The salsa tasted predominately of red onion, a little diced tomato could work & maybe a bit more dill & caper.

Its a great space & wasnt overflowing with customers but Im guessing once word

gets out this will no longer be the case!  They have a really lovely outside area which on a warm sunny day would be delightful, they have also catered for man's best friend with a kennel/water bowl .... cute!

So if you dont want to wait for a table down the road at Proud Mary, wander down to South of Johnston you will not be disappointed :-)