The Vertue Of The Coffee Drink | Carlton

Carlton is quite the unexplored suburb when it comes to eating out but I have a feeling that is all about to change. In Melbourne, we are blessed with endless options when it comes to good breakfast and brunch spots but it is always a treat to go to a new place for the first time!

The team at The Vertue of The Coffee Drink kindly invited me in to try out the menu and after checking them out on social media, I accepted their kind offer. Don’t be put off walking down an alley that could surprise you, especially if you like good surprises! We arrived on a (late) Saturday afternoon, the kitchen closes at 3.30pm and were given a cosy table in the corner.

The venue itself is not overly big so be prepared to wait for a table. We were told that it used to be a stables so it has been totally transformed. One of the most noticeable things is the wall garden, how beautiful is it!

We were asked for a coffee order and I was keen to try the Filter Coffee, Daily Batch and Mr. B had the usual Long Black too.

After a browse of the menu, I had no idea what to order and decided to go with one of the most popular dishes Return Of The Mac ($23), I am quite picky when it comes to my croquettes and hoped this dish lived up to my expectations. Mr. B decided on the Big Boss ($24) with the vegetarian option to substitute the chorizo for tofu, right up his alley! We had to have a dessert too and looked forward to the Waffle On ($19).

Coffee arrived, I was quite the fan of the Daily Batch, I think I might order it a little more often. The Long Black was beautifully roasted and smooth!

When this gets laid on your table, what else can you say but….pass me the cutlery!

The big test on this plate were the croquettes..would they be creamy or would they be dry? They were delicious and so creamy, my favourite to date…big statement! I am a huge ham hock lover and this combined with perfectly poached eggs was a winner for me!

Mr. B’s Big Boss look equally as nice and such a big portion!

He took a second look at the eggs and the positioning of the pickled onions, so clever! I loved the tzatziki on this dish, I have never tried tzatziki with coconut..delish! The tofu was soft and fluffy, the tomato was sweet and really complimented the haloumi. He was so full after demolishing it.

Not only did we have a beautiful brunch, we had a dessert to share also.

I’ve always wanted to be that table who gets two dishes and shares a dessert. After what we had just eaten, we needed a few minutes to make room for these waffles and they were so tasty! The mascarpone rather than ice-cream meant the waffles were not soggy but I think ice-cream would be a great option too. The surprise on the dish was the popping candy in the chocolate soil. The fresh raspberries and the drizzle of raspberries was pretty good, they really complimented the chocolate soil and the popping candy.