Vex

February 25, 2025

   

A friend kindly gifted us a voucher to eat at Vex, and we booked a summery Tuesday night table after work. We trusted their recommendation of restaurant, and we transferred that trust onto Vex and requested the chef's vegetarian choice ('Vex menu', $90 pp). Looking across the a la carte options we were optimistic that we'd be treated to some lovely, seasonal vegetables and something fun for dessert. There were no explicit dietary markings, but a high likelihood that the staff would well know what's what and adapt as needed.

   

We started strong with some unique beverages - a rhubarb and vermouth spritz ($19) for Michael and a TINA can of oolong, pear and calamansi ($15) for me. The TINA was subtle and complex, a welcome adult option for a non-drinker to enjoy with a special meal.

   

Two starters swiftly followed: a creamy, cheesy panisse each, and a rye crisp with fennel puree, pickled green beans and a sprinkle of mountain pepper.

   

Poached daikon was surprisingly soft and mild, topped with slivers of green rhubarb and fennel.

   

The confit tomato with horseradish, nigella seeds and mint was my ideal late summer side dish, and also included some sneaky nectarine wedges.

   

I would've liked to soak up the tomato juices with bread, but the stockbrot was more self-contained. A little awkward to handle but worth the effort, we unwound the warm, seeded bread from its skewer, divvied it up, and slathered it with roasted yeast butter.

   

The centrepiece of the meal was a plate of melt-in-the-mouth glazed eggplant with lentils, bullhorn peppers and black walnuts. Eggplant and lentils can often come off a little austere but they were sillky, luxurious and savoury here.

   

Sharing the spotlight were tender confit potatoes with oregano and linseed, and grilled carrots with blood plums, sunflower seeds and basil. I loved the seamless inclusion of stonefruits in savoury dishes.

   

The best part might have been discovering that Vex values dessert as much as I do - we tasted two! First, we received a full portion of spagat krapfen each - a crisp fried pastry with rhubarb, thick cream and fig leaf. This alone would have been a very satisfying end to the meal.

   

Second, we split a neat little cacao cream with a crumbly chocolate heart and sour cherry crown - one of my favourite dessert flavour combinations.

   

Our evening at Vex was a special one at an entirely unspecial time. Their vegetarian options were abundant with fresh produce and a bit light on the usual sources of protein, but we were sated nonetheless. Hopefully we can come up with a special excuse to visit again!

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You can also read praise for Vex on Whatever Floats Your Bloat.

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Vex

66-68 High St, Northcote

9191 7720

food, drinks, desserts & last drinks

https://www.vexdining.com/

Accessibility: There's a step up at the door and a small lip on the transition to the courtyard. Furniture is medium-spaced, regular height with backed chairs and a few benches out back. There's a clear walkway through the space. We ordered at our table and paid at high counter. We didn't visit the toilets.

Brother Bon VI

October 29, 2024 

   

While True North is conveniently placed along my public transport route from work to home, Brother Bon is my stalwart for the cycling route. There's a lot to love on the standard menu, but the specials are often extensive and always worth consideration. Most recently I took a chance on the creamy udon carbonara ($28) and absolutely loved it! 

The name alone gives away that we're not going for authenticity here, and given that Brother Bon is all-vegan this dish is going to satisfy neither the add-cream nor the egg-only carbonara camps. Soft udon noodles are a great comfort food, enhanced here by a thick, creamy sauce dotted with mock-bacon, garlic mushrooms, green onions and parsley. I carefully rationed out the grilled mock-chicken served on top, relishing its layered texture, and happily crunched on the novel garnishing mushroom chips. This dish served the joy I'd derive from carbonara, even if it lacked many (any?) of the traditional ingredients.

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You can read about one, two, three, four, five of our previous visits to Brother Bon.     

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Brother Bon 

377-379 High St, Northcote 

9077 1335 

https://www.brotherbon.com.au/ 

Accessibility: The entry is flat and tables are moderately spaced. Most tables are low and paired with backed chairs; there are also high benches along the front window with backless stools. I ordered at my table and paid at a low-ish counter. Toilets are individual non-gendered cubicles with a shared sink space. A cubicle I have used included menstrual product disposal, and another one was marked for both wheelchair access and a baby change station.

Brother Bon V

May 1 & 24, 2024

   

The quality of these photos is poor, but it's been over a year since I last mentioned how fond I am of Brother Bon and I think we all need the reminder. Brother Bon is very nearly on the path I cycle between home and my workplace, and a couple of times lately I've stopped in for a convenient and tasty dinner on my way home. The menu set-up is currently very elaborate - a double-sided placemat-sized sheet of the standard menu, a flip-book of drinks, a smaller dessert menu, and a page of specials. Just dozens of things to choose from, and all of them vegan!

The plate above is the broken rice ($27), one of those lovely sampler meals where you can create a new flavour combination with every mouthful. The mound of broken rice is topped with a fried mock-egg, there's some magnificent marinated and charred chicken, a varied vermicelli mix, a complex nuoc mam to spread all around, and a trail of refreshing tomato and cucumber slices.

   

A couple of weeks later I was seeking something relatively small, and was very satisfied by the dragon roll special ($21). So much is packed into these sushi pieces! Mock chicken and fresh vegetables are artfully rolled in nori and sushi rice, tiled with avocado, squirted with sriracha mayo, sprinkled with sesame seeds and fried shallots, then served alongside the usual soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi.

I hope my descriptions will appetise you more than my photos might put you off - Brother Bon has so many fun vegan dishes to offer! I also noticed on one of these visits that they offer the opportunity to buy someone in need a meal, with the docket pinned to a board that's visible from the door. I hope by now that someone else has enjoyed the second broken rice plate I bought as much as I enjoyed the first one.

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You can read about one, two, three and four of our previous visits to Brother Bon. Since that last post it's also received praise from That Vegan Dad.

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Brother Bon 

377-379 High St, Northcote 

9077 1335 

https://www.brotherbon.com.au/

Accessibility: The entry is flat and tables are moderately spaced. Most tables are low and paired with backed chairs; there are also high benches along the front window with backless stools. I ordered at my table and paid at a low-ish counter. Toilets are individual non-gendered cubicles with a shared sink space. A cubicle I have used included menstrual product disposal, and another one was marked for both wheelchair access and a baby change station.

Brother Bon IV

March 12, 2023

   

On the long weekend in March, Michael and I cycled around the northern suburbs running a few errands, timing it all to include dinner. Wazzup Falafel wasn't where we expected it to be, and The Moor's Head wasn't open either - there was nothing for it but to fall back on long-time fave Brother Bon.

With Wazzup's falafel wraps and FSP still fresh in our minds, we both gravitated to the 'burgers with chips' section of the menu. Michael was taken with the chicken souvlaki ($27), which is wrapped in a spring onion pancake! We both appreciated this flaky, savoury innovation. Chips were excellent and plentiful, which was just what Michael wanted after our previous dinner fails.

   

I dithered over three other mock-chicken options, and eventually took heed of the "chef's recommendation" emoji attached to the katsu chicken sando ($28.50). It is well earned! The chicken fillets aren't dense or chewy, and they have the crispiest crumb around. The chicken is packed up with a mild slaw into thick, soft and slightly sweet white bread. There are more of those excellent chips, served here with a fine vegan gravy.

Brother Bon have hit after hit across their extensive menu - we won't bore of it any time soon.

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You can read about one, two and three of our previous visits to Brother Bon.

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Brother Bon 

377-379 High St, Northcote 

9077 1335 

menu pages 1, 2 

https://www.brotherbon.com.au/ 

Accessibility: The entry is flat and tables are moderately spaced. We ordered at our table and paid at a low-ish counter. Toilets are individual non-gendered cubicles with a shared sink space. A cubicle I have used included menstrual product disposal, and another one was marked for both wheelchair access and a baby change station.

Brother Bon III

May 4, 2022

   

Last week I visited my workplace for the first time in 2022, and I proposed to Michael that we meet at Brother Bon for dinner on my way home. It was a cold, wet and dark evening so I immediately zoomed in to the Comfort Foods section of the menu and ordered a chicken and gravy roll ($26).

This meal didn't quite match the Big/Red Rooster chicken rolls of my youth but still earned top marks in that comfort category. A soft round bun was unexpectedly sliced vertically, stuffed with coleslaw, fried chicken chunks and avocado. A passing staff member offered to fetch me a knife, but I couldn't see how that would help! I ate it awkwardly but happily with my hands. The small side salad was lovely, the chips were ultra-chunky, and the gravy was served on the side.

Brother Bon has such an extensive and appealing menu that'll it'll probably be a while before I circle back around to this dish. I'm glad I found the right occasion to try it.

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You can read about some of our previous Brother Bon meals here and here.

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Brother Bon 

377-379 High St, Northcote 

9077 1335 

menu page 1, 2 

https://www.brotherbon.com.au/ 

Accessibility: The entry is flat and tables are moderately spaced. We ordered at our table and paid at a low-ish counter. Toilets are individual non-gendered cubicles with a shared sink space. The cubicle I used included menstrual product disposal, and another one was marked for both wheelchair access and a baby change station. 

Pandy Bakeshop

17/06/2023: Pandy is now closed.

February 26, 2022

   

Michael was travelling through Northcote on Sunday morning and he stopped in at Pandy Bakeshop to see what treats they had on offer. Pandy is an all-vegan, gluten-free-friendly bakery that's been operating within Baketico for just under a year and this was our first taste of it. There are typically five different individually-portioned kinds of sweet plus a few cakes sold by the slice.

Incredibly, Michael delivered three treats home by bike with no more damage than a single jam smear. This came from what appears to be a signature Pandy dish, the gluten-free fairy bread lamington. This pink cube was neat, light and very sweet - the equal of any gluteny, eggy analogue. The raspberry blondie had the texture of a dense, moist cake and its streak of raspberry jam reminded me happily of the jam tarts and buns I ate in suburban and country bakeries as a kid. The Biscoff and white chocolate cookie was huge, soft and dense like the blondie, with a subtle gingerbread vibe.

I was deeply impressed by the execution of all these goods and I'll be making any excuse to stop by again and try more from Pandy.

   

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Pandy has also be blogged by Cruella DeVegan.

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Pandy Bakeshop

62 High St, Northcote

0478 226 463

https://www.pandybakeshop.com/

Brother Bon II

December 15, 2021

   

Throughout 2020 and 2021 we've been enjoying meals from Brother Bon in our home. They're one of the few restaurants that co-ordinated their own deliveries, and we could always plan out a delicious set of vegan dishes that would extend beyond dinner to a leftover lunch or two. Dark, locked-down nights with boxed foods don't make for the best photographs, so I didn't blog these meals.

The photos within this post aren't my best, either, but I just can't hold off any longer because Brother Bon now serves my favourite ever fish'n'chips!    

   

I ordered this once or twice as a delivery, and I just knew its texture would be even better when I had the opportunity to eat it straight from kitchen to table in the restaurant ($24.90). The vegan fish substitute is banana blossom, which is lighter and flakier than most of the gluten-based mock fishes I've known. The Brother Bon chefs apply a spice rub to the banana blossom before battering and frying it to a dark golden crisp.

   

Both the battered mock-fish and the accompanying chips have unusually good seasonings. I also appreciate that this meal comes with some side salad, mushy peas, tartare sauce and a wedge of lemon to break up the deep-fry-fest. I shared some of my fish around the table and boxed up half of the chips to take home.

   

While I was revelling in an all-time favourite meal, Michael had a very enjoyable Char Kway Teow ($22.50), choosing mock-chicken from the six (!) protein options on offer.

The Brother Bon team have made gradual improvements to their restaurant setting over the years - what once felt a bit like a food court is now more subtly lit and relaxed. The service is excellent, and the menu only seems to get better too. I'm hoping we have many more opportunities to eat in at Brother Bon in 2022.

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You can read about my first visit to Brother Bon here.

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Brother Bon

377-379 High St, Northcote

9077 1335

menu page 1, 2

https://www.brotherbon.com.au/

Accessibility: The front door is very wide and slides, floors are flat and tables are moderately spaced. We ordered at our table and paid at a low-ish counter. We haven't visited the toilets, but I previously spotted a disability-labelled unisex toilet down a wide corridor at the back of the building.

113 Eatery

Update 04/01/2023: 113 Eatery is now permanently closed, but you can enjoy a similar menu at Shop 225.

November 21, 2021

   

We are very fond of the pizzas at Shop 225, so I took note when the team announced their new restaurant 113 Eatery opening in Northcote. We had time for an unhurried Sunday lunch there last weekend.

The menu is very similar to what we've come to expect from the older sibling - a dozen pizzas and a short pasta menu, with a couple of salads and a smattering of starters. It's omnivorous and exceptionally inclusive - everything bar two of the pastas has a vegan option and everything has a gluten-free option. We decided to try the vegan versions of everything we ordered to put them through their paces.

   

Arancini ($16, pictured top) were a fun way to start - they have strong, savoury mushroom and truffle flavours, including a large mushroom slice at their centre, and a garnishing dab of fondue. For his main meal Michael chose the Deliziosa pizza ($28, pictured above), another truffle-scented dish. 113 Eatery have gathered impressive vegan substitutes for fior de latte, nduja, and speck and teamed them with a thin, lightly charred base, thick porcini mushrooms and a scattering of ground pistachios - I really liked the variety and complementarity of flavours.

   

I tried their gnocchi al gorgonzola ($27), which is served in a light, silky beetroot sauce with walnuts. While I enjoyed its more subtle flavours, the vegan formulation lacked the pungency of gorgonzola and even the beetroot didn't have much of its characteristic earthiness.

   

The vegan desserts are a triumph. The tiramisu ($13) that we shared had an almondy gluten-free seams in place of the traditional ladyfingers, dense creamy layers that we think might be coconut-based, and enough coffee and cocoa to seal the deal (a classic version without substitutes is also available). Wonderful cannoli and sweet calzone are also on the menu.

   

113 Eatery retains everything we love about the Shop 225 menu. The setting feels a little fancier, with an elaborate bar rather than a hot pizza oven dominating the interior, and the staff are just as friendly. Located only a few doors down from the Westgarth Cinema and the Merri Creek Tavern, it's an excellent option for dinner before or after a show.

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113 Eatery has already received positive reviews on Melbourne Lifestyle and Gastrology.

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113 Eatery

113 High St, Northcote

9429 0457

meals, drinks, specials of the day & desserts, drinks of the day

https://www.113eatery.com.au/

Accessibility: The entry is flat and narrow, and tables are moderately spaced; chairs have backs and there is a small amount of padded bench seating. We ordered at our table and paid at a high bar. Access to the toilets is flat; they're gendered and narrow.

Brother Bon

February 26, 2020

Loving Hut Northcote has had a makeover, and now goes by Brother Bon. While the distinctive yellow signage has been replaced by a more relaxed teal, there's some continuity in the staff and the menu. I stopped in strategically for a workday lunch between city meetings and an afternoon back in my suburban office.

The all-vegan menu is thoroughly marked with information about what's free of garlic/onion, gluten, nuts, soy and chilli. The variety is overwhelming: there are dozens of dishes to choose from; some light and vege-filled, and others based on mock meat with a side of chips. There are traditional dishes from across Asia like dumplings, rice paper rolls, fried noodles and pho, as well as surprise combinations such as 'big mak' cheeseburger baos and a Southern fried chicken banh mi. These are interspersed with breakfast dishes, burgers and desserts. 

I was in the mood to start small, so I chose the crispy chicken bao ($15, pictured top) to eat on the spot. I took my time breaking apart the steamed bao and filling them with super-crispy, mayo-drizzled mock chicken and finely-shredded slaw; there was plenty of filling to go around. It was everything I was anticipating.

On my way out, I picked up a La Panella-style caramel slice ($5, pictured above) to enjoy at my desk for afternoon tea.

Now that we're all housebound, Brother Bon is offering takeaway and delivery services to a number of northside suburbs. The breakfasts will have to wait a long while, but we're excited to try more of their dinner menu later this week!

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Brother Bon
377-379 High St, Northcote
9077 1335
menu page 1, page 2
https://www.brotherbon.com.au/

Accessibility: The front door is very wide and slides, floors are flat and tables are moderately spaced. I ordered at the table and paid at a low-ish counter. We haven't visited the toilets, but I previously spotted a disability-labelled unisex toilet down a wide corridor at the back of the building.

Cuppa Turca

December 25, 2019

We had a misplaced hunch that Black Waffle would be open on Christmas day, and it was Cuppa Turca that instead sated our mid-afternoon hankering for icecream. This High St cafe serves a rare range of Turkish desserts, including dondurma/ice cream. (Here's a nice SBS Food article covering the cafe's inception.)

The texture of dondurma is more substantial and less frothy than the icecreams usually scooped in Australia, with a bit of chew and stretch about it. Cuppa Turca rotate their flavours and we've found that about a third of them tend to be vegan and coconut-based. They're not just falling back on the usual fruit flavours when they go dairy-free: the cup above boasts Turkish delight and dark chocolate ($6.80), and we saw black tahini among the options too.

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Cuppa Turca has also received positive coverage on TOT: HOT OR NOT.

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Cuppa Turca
244 High St, Northcote
9489 3114
facebook page

Accessibility: We think there's a gentle incline rather than a step on entry. We ordered and paid at a high counter. Interior furniture is reasonable crowded. We didn't visit the toilets.

Taxiboat

December 6, 2019

We've gone to a bunch of gigs at the Merri Creek Tavern this year; they don't run a kitchen so we've been testing out a few of the neighbouring restaurants for dinner. Taxiboat is our pick thus far. Its menu attributes various dishes to China, Mongolia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Korea; they're well-labelled for gluten-free, onion-free and garlic-free options. Most mains are available with tofu and faux-meat as well as the traditionally featured meats.

On this, our second visit, I was most impressed with the Mongolian faux-beef ($19.80, pictured above), which was thickly coated in a BBQ sauce both sweet and savoury, and served on a bed of fresh, lightly cooked broccoli, snow peas and capcisum.

At our table of four, we also shared the Pad Thai with tofu ($16.80, above left); not my favourite rendition of a dish I have a lot of affection for. The Kung Pao Chilli Tofu ($18, above right) was much livelier, with plentiful fresh and dried chilli and just enough sweetness in the sauce.

I think the most memorable dish on the menu is Roast Duck on Heaven ($19.80), which is available with excellent mock-duck pieces in a hoisin sauce, served in a spring roll-wrapper basket with a sprinkling of pine nuts.

The dessert menu also looks fun (pandan panna cotta, tropical coconut dazzler icecream), but it's a bit more restricted on the vegan options (typically one icecream flavour, vanilla on this visit). Nevermind! We're already well pleased to see high-quality mock meat teamed with colourful crunchy veges, all at a decade-old restaurant in Westgarth that the internet never made much fuss about.

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Taxiboat was blogged all the way back in 2010 by the Eat Our Way Up High St Project; they were underwhelmed. More recently, it's received positive attention on Green Gourmet Giraffe, Gastrology, and The Penguin Eats.

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Taxiboat
94 High St, Northcote
9482 7882
appetisers, mains, mains, noodles & roti, desserts & specials

Accessibility: There are two steps up on entry; low tables, benches and seats are densely arranged inside. We ordered at our table and paid at a high counter. We didn't visit the toilets.

Mesob

August 13, 2019

It's fantastic to see Ethiopean restaurants spreading more broadly across metropolitan Melbourne! Michael noticed that one such spot, Northcote's Mesob, is located along our bike commute. It's a comfortable, low-key place with a naturally inclusive and intentionally well-labeled menu: mains are centred around their wonderfully sour and spongey gluten-free injera, and almost half their main dishes are vegan.

Naturally, we went all-in with the Herbivore Combination Platter ($23 per person). We didn't take a whole lot of interest in the central salad when we could be scooping up shiro (thick, berbere-spiced chickpea flour), miser wot (red lentils),  gomen (collard greens), yatakilt alicha (tender sauteed cabbage, carrot and potato), duba wot (caramelised pumpkin stew), and kik alicha (turmeric-spiced yellow lentils). And scoop scoop scoop we did, until it was almost done - those injera are filling!

Injera platters make for terrific winter comfort food, and they're so much fun to share. I've got a hunch that we'll be parking our bikes out front of Mesob on a regular basis.

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Mesob has already received positive review on veg blogs Green Gourmet Giraffe and Enlightened Decadence.

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Mesob
213 High St, Northcote
9489 6952
menu
https://www.mesob.com.au/

Accessibility: There's a small ramp on entry and moderately spaced tables and chairs throughout the restaurant. We ordered at our table and paid at a low counter. We didn't visit the toilets.

Northcote Fish & Chips

August 29, 2018

A few months back the veg*n telegraph pounced on the news that Northcote Fish & Chips were trialling a vegan menu, so when we were looking for a quick dinner in Northcote we headed straight there. The sign on the street promising vegan dim sims made it clear we were in the right place.

The vegan menu has mock prawns and scampi, a pumpkin burger, mushy peas, salad plus dim sims, fish, chips and potato cakes. We stuck with a a pretty classic fish and chip shop order - a couple of dim sims ($1 each from memory), a serve of the Vish ($8.5), a scoop of chips ($3.9) and a couple of potato cakes ($1.25 each). 

The dim sims were fine - I'm not hugely nostalgic for them, but they're nice fried little parcels of cabbage and other veggies, served with some soy sauce for dunking.

The fish was the star of the show - an oatmeal and soy fillet, wrapped in nori and beer-battered. It absolutely delivers the fried fishy goodness you've been missing. Throw in some excellent crispy potato cakes and good chips and you've got the perfect mock fish meal. The guy who runs the joint is super friendly and it's very well located - this place is destined to become a Melbourne vego staple.

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The only other post we can find about Northcote Fish and Chip is Messy Veggies announcing the vegan range back in July.

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Northcote Fish & Chips
341 High Street, Northcote
9482 9079
vegan menu
https://www.northcotefishandchips.com.au

Accessibility: There's a flat but narrow entryway and a few well spaced tables inside. You order and pay at a low counter. We didn't visit the toilets.

CassellBella's Bakery & Cafe

Edit 07/03/2020: CassellBella's is now closed.

December 14, 2017

CassellBella's Bakery & Cafe has been on our radar a while, and it took three visits to the neighbourhood before we managed to catch it open! This only reinforces the cheerful, casual and slightly haphazard vibe we picked up here. The tiled walls, lino and drinks fridge say 'takeaway shop', while the picnic tables & astroturf bring a bit of the outdoors inside. 

The menu is printed in an endearingly daggy suite of fonts, and liberally edited with texta. These probably mark the cafe's transition towards veganism - by my scan, just about everything is free of animal products with dairy options on a few of the beverages. Many, if not all, of the baked goods on display are vegan. Gluten-free folks probably won't find much to order here, and coeliacs might prefer to avoid a flour-focused bakery as a matter of safety!

For the gluten-eaters among us, there are a dozen wood-fired pizzas to choose from, breakfast fry-ups, toasted focaccias and pasties, which you can wash down with a juice, smoothie, milkshake or coffee. Mock meats, mock cheeses and coconut icecreams are in stock and featured in many dishes.

Seeking a tasty, simple dinner before a gig at the Northcote Social Club, Michael and I ordered just a single pizza to share (pictured top). The Mock Meat Lover ($19.90) fit our bill perfectly, layered with mock pepperoni, bacon and ham, charged with fresh garlic and oregano, topped with vegan mozzarella and a swirl of sweet barbecue sauce. The portioning is large; best for splitting, taking some home for later, or the most insatiable of appetites.

Looking through the rest of the menu, Michael's taking a raincheck on the Super Hot pizza, while I'm likely to splurge on a Classic or Mock Chicken Hawaiian pizza one day. We giggled over the the Thai Fish Supreme pizza, which has been texta-edited down to Napoli sauce, vegan mozzarella and Spanish onion.

Such quirks only served to entertain rather than irritate us. CassellBella's is a cute spot and we like what we've tasted so far!

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This bakery has previously been reviewed on Veganopoulous.

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CassellBella's Bakery & Cafe
371A High St, Northcote
9486 3892
menu
facebook page

Accessibility: Cassellbella's has a flat entry and clear corridor through the centre, although the tables are somewhat densely arranged. We ordered at our table and paid at a high counter. The toilet is a unisex cubicle but not accessibly designed; there's uneven ground and several steps on the way there, the light switch was a mess and it's all pretty run-down.

Yuni's Kitchen

October 22, 2017

We had an afternoon gig in Northcote and took the opportunity to check out Yuni's Kitchen, an Indonesian cafe with a reputation for vegan-friendliness. It's a cosy little place tucked in behind a church on High Street with seats for about 20 or 30 people. We had no trouble claiming a table for four at 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon and between us we got stuck into most of the veggie dishes on offer.

We started off with two of the entrees - the tahu isi sayur (below left, $9) and the bakwan jagung (below right, $9). The tahu isi sayur are little pockets of semi-soft tofu stuffed with vegetables and deep-fried in batter. The bakwan jagung are little fritters of corn, coriander, carrot and spring onion. Both are vegan, delicious and come served with Yuni's incredible sambal, which you can buy and take home.

We scanned the mains for tempeh and, finding only one vego dish that included it, three of us ordered the same thing: the nasi campur sayur ($21). It's a combo of all kinds of deliciousness: yellow rice, veggie curry, fried tempeh, urap (steamed veggies with spiced grated coconut), pickles, emping (chips!), perkedel (fried potato fritter), peanuts and a chilli egg (subbed with eggplant for the vegan version). This was such a good lunch, with so many delightful flavours and textures to smother in sambal. It's a slightly expensive lunch, but it's well worth it. 

Cindy took one for the team and ordered a tempeh-free meal: the veggie nasi goreng ($15). It's a solid fried rice with vegetables mixed through, topped with a fried egg, a potato fritter, pickles and some emping. Cindy was a bit disappointed not to get any tofu or tempeh in the fried rice, but it was still a decent offering. She topped it off with a Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk ($5), which is about the only way she'll consume caffeine. 

We had a great time at Yuni's - the nasi campur sayur is an absolute winner and I can't imagine ever ordering anything else. Our only disappointment was the lack of tempeh options - they make their own, which means they have to ration it out a bit rather than putting it in all the stir-fries etc (although I don't know why the waste it in two meaty dishes!). The staff were helpful and there was a nice relaxed vibe - it's a great Northcote option when you're not in the mood for Tahina. 

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There's a reasonably positive review of Yuni's vego options on Green Gourmet Giraffe and a good write-up of their meatier offerings on Gastrology.

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Yuni's Kitchen
251 High Street, Northcote
0455 337 666
drinks, food
facebook page

Accessibility: The restaurant is behind a church and the ground's a bit uneven on the way in. The entry is flat and the inside is moderately spacious. We ordered at the table and paid at a low counter. We didn't visit the toilets. 

Black Waffle

August 12, 2017

Vegans-in-the-know N & I have introduced us to Black Waffle on High St. This cafe has a cabinet full of gelato, and a menu full of smoothies, bagels and (of course) waffles. There are vegan options tucked into every section, and every last waffle plate can be veganised!

After a meal at Loving Hut, we shared in Hazelnut Heaven ($15, pictured above). The two waffles were cute and modestly portioned, sandwiched with strawberries and vegan cream and sprinkled liberally with hazelnuts. The plate was rendered utterly immodest with a cup of molten 'nutella' and stout scoop of dark chocolate gelato.

This is a treat well worth saving room for... or even skipping dinner altogether!

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Black Waffle has already won fans on The Brunswick Brunchie (freebie), The Penguin Eats, he is hungry, and Curious Charlie.

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Black Waffle
262 High St, Northcote
9041 2029
drinks, food
facebook page

Accessibility: Our memory is of a flat entry, gentle ramp indoors and a clear corridor through the shop. We ordered and paid at a low counter.