Green Park Dining

December 5, 2015

Green Park took over the old St Ali space just off the bike path about a year ago, and we've been a bit slow to check it out properly (although we did swing by for a special dessert degustation late last year). I scoped the brekkie menu in its early days and didn't see much exciting for vegos, so we've been focussing our attentions elsewhere. I stopped off to grab a drink one afternoon recently and spotted an array of veggie (and vegan!) dishes on the menu, which necessitated a speedy return.

We turned up nice and early on a Saturday morning - between the playground, bike path and lovely outdoor tables, Green Park gets rammed on a sunny weekend. Even at 8a.m. things were pretty hectic, with kids roaming about and lots of people loading up on coffee. The menu is well stocked with vego options these days, and we were particularly impressed that they've got sweet and savoury vegan dishes.

I tried out the scrambled tofu (with broccolini, kale, onions, vadouvan and toast, $14).

Is this the best scrambled tofu in Melbourne? It's competitive anyway - better than Little River and Healthy Planet, which are the other two I've tried recently. The vadouvan spice mix gives everything a warm, smoky undertone, while the fresh greens and soft onions keep the textures nice and varied. I'd serve it with two slices of toast if I was in charge, but that's a pretty minor quibble about an excellent brekkie.

Cindy tried vegan sweet option - coconut milk pannacotta with watermelon, strawberry, mango, basil and poppy ($12).

It's a beautifully presented dish, with teeny basil leaves, little dots of mango and delicate sprinkles of poppy seeds making it look like abstract art. Luckily, it's tasty as well - the smooth coconut pannacotta covered a layer of vanilla and the fruit was nice and fresh. It's not a lot of food - Cindy was satisfied enough at the time, but you'll need to schedule in some morning tea to get you through until lunch time.

Breakfast at Green Park is a lovely experience - it's such a beautiful space that it would be worth a visit even if the food was mediocre. Luckily, it's not, and the coffee and service hit high standards as well. We'll be back.

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There are positive reviews of Green Park on The World Loves Melbourne, I'm So Hungree, JP & Melbs, Melbourne Din(n)ing Blog, Seeking Victory, Adventures in Winterland and TOT: HOT OR NOT, while Melbourne Food Blogger, Skinny Glutton and The Food Society were less impressed. There's a whole series of sponsored posts around as well, for what that's worth: In Love With Brunch, Eat Australia, Poppet's Window, Gourmet Chick, Gastrology, forksake, confessions of a little piggy and Gastronomical Ramblings.

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Green Park Dining
815 Nicholson St, Carlton North (behind the bike shop, along the bike path a bit)
9380 5499
menu, drinks
facebook page

Accessibility: There's a flat entry and a reasonably spacious interior. Toilets are non-gendered and super accessible. We ordered at the table and paid at a lowish counter.