Friends of Mine
| Where | 506 Swan St Richmond—View map |
Contact | 03 9428 7516 hello@friendsofmine.com.au |
Website | www.friendsofmine.com.au |
Open | Breakfast Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm |
Payment | Cash |
Diet | Vegan, Soy, Gluten free |
Seating | Inside and outside |
Kids | Welcome |
Pets | Welcome |
Superb little corner cafe in Richmond's back end
Ellie Parker 12 February 2011
Bravo Mr Jones, you've done it again. You've waltzed into a derelict hole at the back end of a blah suburb and created some magic. Braver men would have tried and failed. But you sir, have yourself a winner.
This isn't a tale about bravery or holes. It's about a cute little corner café in Richmond, decorated with oh so pretty canary yellow awnings. It's about the availability of Champagne Henriot NV by the glass. But most of all, it's about the all day, every day, utterly scrumptious breakfast menu.
For those of you who are familiar with Jason Jones' prior convictions (Porgie & Mr Jones and Snow Pony) you'll be completely across his penchant for hangover cures (Berocca - original, $3.00) and his love for combining Green eggs with Holy Goat cheese. Friends of Mine continues along this very theme of utilising top notch ingredients to give breakfast folk their breakfast yolk: Tom Cooper's smoked salmon, Casa Iberico chorizo, Jane's gluten free bread, Noisette baked goodies.
‘Pick. Me. Up. Please' is a neat little Noisette brioche roll of bacon, tomato chutney, scrambles and Maffra cheddar. It is joyous, combining my favourite ingredients in one mouthful (to be honest, I find it it rather tiny, so I've decided you are allowed to order it as a breakfast entrée). A wonderful way to take the edge off.
As for the big boys, well there's the famous ‘Jack + Jill' consisting of poached eggs, slow roast tomato, avocado and thyme buttered mushies. There's a version of eggs benedict which cleverly turns to a smoked ham hock terrine, instead of the usual ham. And then there's the sublime smashed avocado with mushies, marinated fetta, torn basil on wholegrain- always has been a stunner of a dish and continues to do so.
Reclaimed industrial furni is elevated with divine, thoughtful trimming such as the awesome Parisian lamps, OTT chandelier and daily bundles of fresh flowers. The space displays equal measures of glamour and rustic charm, affording the Channel 9 contingent a long sought-after casual meeting area. Yummy mummies park themselves and their bugaboos under the outside brollies, nattering away with the help of coffees, cakes and bubbles. Bright and breezy for all concerned, really.
Friends of Mine is a triumph of talent. Jones and his team give good breakfast. No doubt about it.