Good Coffee

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Wide Open Road – Brunswick – Sunday 22 March 2015 – Lunch

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Things change very quickly in the Melbourne cafe scene. Thanks to The Fair in Richmond continuing to remind me of Wide Open Road through its use of its on site roasted Bathysphere coffee, it was when, not if, we would be back again.

What I didn’t realise is that after the first few months of operation in Brunswick, Wide Open Road had doubled in size. Several years later it is a very good looking cafe on the inside. In particular an eye-catching dark wood covers much of the roof, and has different feeling spaces through use of levels. This all supports an attractive front for the roasting equipment further out the back.

Fish finger sandwich

Fish finger sandwich

We have entered at the crossover between breakfast and lunch which is a good time as the crowds subside a touch. After a short wait we are seated and opt for the lunchier side of the menu. While we wait to order I try the Bathysphere coffee which I rate highly, and is well made here.

Catherine’s fish finger sandwich is in a brioche bun with smashed peas, seaweed tartare and pickled cucumber. The white fish is cooked nicely in a tasty crumb and the accompaniments are a good match. My slow roasted lamb with fattoush salad is well presented, but quite different to what I expected. The crispy brioche used as one of the central ingredients in the fattoush is terrific, and the other ingredients such as cherry tomatoes and radish is fresh, injecting great flavour. While the lamb is perfectly cooked, it lacks some of its punch by being spread through the salad and being dulled a touch by the vinegar in the dressing.

Slow roasted lamb with fattoush salad

Slow roasted lamb with fattoush salad

While there is a very brief drinks list, it is good to be able to have an entry level red wine with the lamb. With a single origin available from Kenya, it is a must to finish with espresso. Something that I really like that is increasing as a trend is being provided with details about the coffee you are drinking. It might seem obnoxious depending on the way it is done, but to me it is a quick way to educate myself about an area that is difficult to keep up with.

The depth of the cafe scene in Melbourne is astonishing. The imagination and diversity seem to multiply each year. It certainly is far more evident when you have several years between visits to one of the trend setters.

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Wide Open Road on Urbanspoon

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Lumberjack – Richmond – Numerous Occasions – Lunch

IMG_3495The daily rotation of places for lunch is largely unscripted and hectic. Venues almost choose themselves based the past experiences of those around for lunch on any particular day. With tens of appropriate options in Richmond near work it is a difficult task to get a frequent gig.

Lumberjack has moved its way into a regular spot over the past six months. There is not one particular reason for its featuring more and more regularly but it goes to show that it is possible to break through!

What I like about Lumberjack is the lack of fuss, or more fairly, the perceived lack of fuss. There are basically no descriptions in the busy lunch display, so naturally our first contact with staff is immediate to get the rundown of what is in the cabinet. The usual offerings include frittatas, tarts, patties, focaccias (chicken snitzel, chicken and avocado to name a couple), wraps (chicken and corn being one I’ve tried), slow cooked (or quickly cooked but marinated) meats, and some great salad options. That is in addition to the regular menu.

While the friendly staff might seem laid back, there is rarely a wait on food (as should be the case), the coffee is well made and quickly delivered, and generally the space both inside, out front, and out back is comfortable. The only exception is some of the random slight bottomed chairs that would be an interesting task for some good eaters.

To the food. Personally, I think it is important to ask questions to understand exactly what you are getting because it changes regularly and is not obvious for some dishes. If you order well, I think most of the time you will get food that is flavoursome and different to many other options in Richmond, in good quantities, at very reasonable prices. I’ve found the focaccias and wraps to be particularly good. If you go larger, for an example, my chicken (pictured) covered in shallots and a spice rub, with one of the better salads I’ve had around Richmond featuring grilled zucchini and radicchio, was both delicious and less than $15. On the other side of the scale, some of my colleagues patties have been a bit plain, so they’ve chosen differently the next time around.

Lumberjack has made a good impression over a length of time, but is equally worthwhile for the odd visit here and there for those outside the area.

Lumberjack on Urbanspoon