Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Smith & Daughters IV

Edit 02/01/2022: S+D has had a revamp and is now located at 107 Cambridge St, Collingwood.

July 20, 2014


We'd brunched our way across North America and fallen in love with a few great places (hi Champs!), so on our return we decided to see how Smith & Daughters measured up to what the US has to offer. We turned up at 10 as they opened and had no problem snaring a table - the downside of our early arrival was that it left me unable to justify breakfast cocktails once again. One day I'll get my weekend started with a gangster horchata... one day.

I'd heard great things about the egg-free omelettes on the brunch menu and so got onto the baked Spanish omelette (potato, chorizo, mushrooms and sweet peppers topped with saffron sofrito and served with toasted bread, $16)


This was outstanding - some egginess in the mix (black salt presumably) and a cheesy flavour, little chewy chorizo pieces and a rich sauce across the top. It's a little on the small side, but it's a really high quality breakfast. The burrito that Smith and Daughters serve up is good, but this? This is really excellent.


Cindy could not be swayed from the Spanish French toast (is that a contradiction?). It's based on Shannon's grandfather's recipe apparently, with the bread dipped in a spiced wine syrup, coated with batter and served with a cluster of golden poached quince wedges ($16). Though the bread looked a crusty, this was soft and cakey all the way through.

As always we got great, great service at Smith & Daughters. It's got to the point where they're so nice to us that I'm not sure these write-ups can be considered even vaguely objective anymore. On this visit, Mo dropped off a bowl of the horchata rice pudding for our table to share - since Cindy last ordered it it's become more sprawling and fluffy, the charred pineapple is finely cubed for easier distribution and there's a little shredded mint. Brekkie is a great time to visit Smith & Daughters - there's not as much pressure on your table and you can lounge around a bit over a coffee as you enjoy a really top notch meal.
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You can read about our last brunch at S & D here, and our dinner experiences here and here. Since we last wrote about Smith and Daughters it's been enjoyed by Cate's Cakes, Klaus & Fritz, It's an expensive but delicious habit, melbourne with the rocket, A Melbournite and I Spy Plum Pie
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Smith & Daughters
175 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
9939 3293
brunch and booze menu, juices, smoothies and coffees
http://www.smithanddaughters.com/ (although the facebook page is really a bit more useful)

Accessibility: The entry is flat and narrow and the tables are pretty crowded. The interior was a bit quieter and brighter during the daytime. Toilets were located up several steps, were gendered and of standard dimension. There's full table service.

10 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, you're onto your fourth round and I haven't yet visited once! I keep dropping hints to my boyfriend that I would like to go there, but he is obviously not detecting the urgency with which I say that. Both the omelette and the french toast look delicious! I have walked past a few times in the morning and it seems like it may be easier to walk in and grab a table at that time. I might have to do some strategic planning to make sure a visit happens.

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    1. Hi littleveganbear - this is technically the fourth time we've blogged S&D, not even the fourth time we've been there! Sounds like it's time to quit with the hinting and just all-out drag your boyfriend in for weekend brunch. ;-)

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  2. Oh I am with Caeli in not managing to visit once despite good intentions - but it is good to hear it measures up well against all your international feasting - and as well as good food it sounds like it has the added bonus of being made to feel at home with people who know you - which is something you just don't get overseas :-)

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    1. Johanna, you are absolutely right - there's something special about a local venue that recognises your face.

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    2. yay finally got there this morning - I can see why you rave about the service - they are lovely - hope to get back there and try more of the food sometime (will be on the blog sometimes too)

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    3. That's great, Johanna! I'll look forward to your post.

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  3. I soooo wanna go to Smith & Daughters! I'll have to drag The Angmoh down, but maybe not tell him that it's vegan, hehehe.

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    1. Heya thehangrybitch - do what you gotta do. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to start at cocktail hour either. ;-)

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  4. Thanks for the mention! Will have to try the omelette at my next visit :-)

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