Maybe it was a bit early to be indulging in another breakfast out on Rathdowne St, but this Friday morning was the last meal that Michael and I would be sharing for a bit. It was also Michael's last chance to enjoy a good meal for almost 2 days, and to enjoy a good meal from a menu he could read for almost 2 weeks. In a couple of hours, he'd be beginning his journey to Budapest for a most-expenses-paid conference and a few extra days of exploration (lucky kid). As well as rating a couple of recent comments on our blog, the Rathdowne St Food Store has long been praised by the punters and it was about time we gave it a go. On a weekday morning there was no trouble getting a table inside.The menu is substantial, with an array of egg-based dishes including build-your-own; porridge, muesli and fruit for the virtuous; toast, muffins and pastries for the modest of appetite; and hotcakes for the incorrigible sweeth tooth. Michael picked out one of his all-time favourites, eggs florentine ($13.50). He actually didn't pass much comment on them but did finish before I was a quarter of the way through my meal, then swiped some of my toast to mop up the traces of hollandaise from his plate. Guess they were OK, then. (Michael, feel free to post comment on them instead!)
What with my egg aversion, I decided to build my own hearty and savoury breakfast, requesting mushrooms on toast with avocado and hash browns (~$15). By the time it reached the table my avocado had morphed into spinach, but I took it as a sign that hash browns were treat enough for me this morning. This plate was even heartier than I anticipated - in particular the toast was super thick cut and lightly grainy. Awesome. The mushrooms and spinach were barely seasoned, depending entirely on their own vege merits. They certainly measured up. But I was most impressed by the hashbrowns: compact; steaming, soft but textured centres spiked with black pepper; crunchy but not greasy crusts. Avo-what? I didn't miss it - even with unsolicited assistance from Michael, I only made it through three quarters of what I was served.Brekky at the Rathdowne St Food Store is a tad pricier than what I'm accustomed to, but I think we got pretty good value for our money. If I wasn't inclined to return for the breakfasts, I'd still come crawling back to try a pear and chocolate muffin, or to find out if any of those pies in the display case are vego.
Address: 617 Rathdowne St, Carlton North
Ph: 9347 4064
Price: veg breakfasts $5-20
Cindy, you've professed to being a sweet rather than savoury breakfast person (I prefer sweet too – love good porridge) so I've got to recommend Small Block - 130 Lygon Street Brunswick East. They have fantastic pancakes with poached seasonal fruit, are well known 'summer breakfast' and they also do a fantastic coffee. The service is friendly and the cafe has a nice ambience about it. I had the summer breakfast is toast (their own bread), poached eggs, Persian fetta, avocado, spinach, and beetroot relish. My friend had the pancakes and fell in love. Keen to see what you guys think.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, it sounds impressive! If I'm not mistaken, Michael has mentioned this place once or twice before (but never been). Perhaps we can pull our bikes out and try it when he gets back. :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad you have found that Rathdowne Street is not all bad :-) Your breakfast sounded excellent - I too like a savoury breakfast with no eggs but if you go back I would recommend the pancakes with berries. Budapest will have to come up with something special to beat the Rathdowne St Food Store
ReplyDeleteMy eggs were tremendous - perfectly poached with a tasty hollandaise sauce. Great. Budapest doesn't provide too many vego delights to compare with Melbourne, but I've discovered one particular place that does a wonderful potato pancakes with paprikash mushrooms. I've eaten there 3 times already.
ReplyDeleteGlad the Food Store was a good experience for you guys!
ReplyDeletecindy i can relate to the egg aversion. i love having breakfast but find many things on menus are egg based and therefore limit my choices. can't explain though why i don't have a problem with eggs incorporated in other foods (crepes, pancakes, mayo, cakes, etc.) its the runny albumin-ey texture and smell that puts me off. but your egg-less option of toast, veggies & hash browns looked fabulous!
ReplyDeleteMel and Johanna, we certainly did enjoy our experience! Since we eat out so often, I am trying to resist the temptation of pancakes, but I will no doubt give in one day. :-)
ReplyDeleteInteresting that all these non-egg-fans are coming out!
And Serenity Later, I giggled at your naming of the SoBLAT. :-D
Yum! The hashbrowns look so cute and tasty! Also tell Michael to check out Vegetarium when he is in Budapest...definitely the finest (and one of the cheapest!) vegetarian restaurants I had the pleasure to dine in in Europe!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Buttons, I've forwarded your comment to Michael and he'll no doubt see it within a day. He seems to have eaten almost every dinner so far at the same vego restaurant near his hotel - it could even be the one you're referring to!
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is - I've had four dinners there so far and will probably venture back at least once more before I leave. If anyone has recommendations for Vienna I'd be happy to hear them.
ReplyDeleteCindy, I am definitely an egg person but the hotcakes/pancakes at Rathdowne St Food Store are to die for. Big and fluffy, they are best eaten smothered in maple syrup and are a great start to the day.
ReplyDeleteWho'd've thought I'd need all this convincing to try some hotcakes?! I surrender! :-)
ReplyDelete