The Yarra Hotel III

March 5, 2024

   

The Yarra Hotel had such a long hiatus after the pandemic commenced that in January 2022 I declared it closed in our archives. Happily they re-opened mid-2023, we eventually caught up on the news, and in March we arranged a visit with our book club. 

The Yarra has a pub menu with at least one vegan and one gluten-free option in each section (dessert excepted, unfortunately for the vegans): cauliflower bites and corn ribs are listed ahead of the chicken ribs, and with a smoky tofu sando, quinoa salad, eggplant parma and green Thai curry for mains most predilections are covered.

We both wanted to test out that smoky tofu sando ($24). It's served on Turkish bread (which I heartily approve of) with slaw, chipotle aioli, and caramelised onion. It was the sweet-savoury onion that dominated the flavour, and I liked that! Chips were plentiful and a worthy support.

While the Yarra Hotel is very roomy, with indoor seating, a huge covered area with a fireplace, and a smaller third area for smokers, it's also very loud... with music, even when it's not packed with patrons. We're not sure that it's the right spot for ongoing book club meet-ups but their decent veg burger is something we can all rely on.

   

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You can read about one, two of our previous visits to the Yarra Hotel.

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The Yarra Hotel

295 Johnston St, Abbotsford

9417 0005

menu 

https://www.theyarrahotel.com.au/

Accessibility: There's a small step on entry and another down to the beer garden. Tables are quite generously spaced. We ordered and paid at a high bar.

Small Axe Kitchen V

Edit 12/04/2026: Small Axe Kitchen closed in 2025.

March 2, 2024

   

We've been going to Small Axe semi-regularly since way back in 2016, when they burst onto the scene with their now-famous breakfast pasta. Until this visit though, we've been forced to settle for non-pasta brekkies, with their signature dish usually riddled with pork products. At some point in the last few years they've added a vego option, and I finally tried it on a lazy Saturday morning. 

The vegetarian version seems to be basically the regular version with the cured meat omitted: maccaruni, peas, mint, parsley, salted ricotta and slow-cooked egg ($27). It's a pretty lovely way to start the day, but it did kind of miss the richness and saltiness that the meat would have provided - I'm not sure what the best substitute would be, but there's definitely room to improve the meat-free version of this. 

Still: now the non-meat eaters can start their day with an eggy, cheesy pasta and it's hard to be anything but happy about that.    

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You can also read about one, two, three, four of our previous visits to Small Axe Kitchen. 

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Small Axe Kitchen

281 Brunswick St, Brunswick

9939 6061

brunch; classics, sides & specials 

https://www.smallaxekitchen.com/

Accessibility: There's a small step on entry. Tables are densely packed with a clear corridor through the middle. Tables outside have small backless stools, high benches in the front room have tall backless stools, and tables in the back room have ordinary backed chairs. We ordered at our table and paid at a low counter. We didn't visit the toilets.

Sani

February 25, 2024

   

Sani is located close to us and I've tended to ignore it. I always thought it looked like a big, fancy wine bar that wasn't really my style. But Michael came upon it while googling around for a local brunch option and we were up for giving it a go (... I hadn't even noticed that it was open in the mornings).

The menu is very vegetarian-friendly, with a few good well-marked vegan options (fancy avo toast, sago pudding, mushrooms on corn bread) and 'low gluten' options (they're not willing to promise a coeliac-clear experience).

Michael ordered Turkish eggs (again; $25); here they're poached, served on a bed of labneh and chilli butter, covered in za'atar and soft herbs, with a spinach and ricotta borek on the side instead of toast. It was novel and rich, and just the refuelling Michael needed after his run.

   

I went for the grilled haloumi ($24), which turned out to be another paired-plate situation. The three seared haloumi slices were judiciously topped with roasted pepper gremolata, carrot velouté, extra carrot slices and chive oil. On my second plate were two large and perfectly flaky empanadas stuffed with well-seasoned potatoes and cauliflower. Though I was thrilled with all of it, I sent a third of my meal in Michael's direction.

These were unexpected and fun brunch dishes - I wondered if these were actually designed as share plates for later in the day, but they worked regardless. I'm sure we'll be back when our appetites are up to the task!

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Sani

63 Lygon St, Brunswick East

9020 7952

food, drinks

https://www.sanimelbourne.com.au/

Accessibility: Sani has a shallow-ramped entry and clear walkway through the main areas. Furniture is medium-spaced regular-height tables with backed chairs and cushioned benches. We ordered at our table and paid at a low counter. We didn't visit the toilets.

Fenton II

February 18, 2024

   

We've been back to Fenton for brunch, and unsurprisingly for a produce-focussed cafe, the menu has changed. It remains short but appetising, with plenty of well-marked vegan and gluten-free options.

   

Michael ate the Turkish (soft-boiled) egg ($24), with charred greens, tomatoes, labneh, berbere garlic butter, toasted almonds, raisins, pickled chilli and sourdough toast. For all those ingredients, it was a bit smaller than Michael expected, although the toast, cheese and egg were enough to keep him full. Michael is a big fan of Fenton's pickled chilli and everything they put it on.

   

I had to try the French toast ($23), which was served as a single thick and not-too-eggy piece (very much my preference!). It was generously piled with a jammy fruit compote, a rapidly melting mountain of latte whip, almonds and coconut shards, and a brûléed banana half.  

This meal affirmed the positive impression Fenton has already made with us - we'll look forward the next iteration of their menu.

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You can read about my first visit to Fenton here.

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Fenton

158 Rathdowne St, Carlton

9328 3401

food, drinks

https://fenton-farmhouse.com/

Accessibility: Fenton has a flat entry and medium-to-densely packed tables and backed chairs, with a clear wide path to the counter. We ordered at our table and paid at a low counter. We didn't visit the toilets.

Veggie Chef

February 17, 2024 

   

We had a house party to attend in the south-eastern suburbs and took it as a chance to try a new restaurant for dinner on the way over. Veggie Chef popped up as a nearby option, and also came recommended by Will L on twitter. It's a small, casual, mostly vegan Malaysian Chinese restaurant with several dozen dishes to choose from, the majority of them featuring mock meat.

It was tough to choose across all the noodle soups, dons, fried noodles and bentos, plus two temptig nasi lemak specials. Michael settled on the sambal chicken don ($18), which had precisely the spice level he was after and a few good veges for balance.

   

I slowly worked my way through a lemon chicken bento ($22), which included a lovely miso soup, edamame, spring rolls, sushi rice balls, seaweed salad, a pickle-topped mound of steamed rice, some steamed broccoli florets and, of course, the feature dish! This was a wonderfully textured crisply battered mock chicken with a lemon wedge and sauce bowl considerately served on the side. My ideal feast!

The staff were lovely and our food arrived incredibly fast. We'll take any excuse to head back and try more of the Veggie Chef menu.

   

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Veggie Chef

53 Portman St, Oakleigh

0433 525 326

menu

https://lifeintouch.net/veggiechef

Accessibility: Veggie Chef has a flat entry. Furniture is densely packed and regular height, with sturdy backed chairs. We ordered at our table and paid at a high counter (visible in the last photo). We didn't visit the toilets.