Little Ox
| Where | 452 New St, Brighton, 3186—View map |
Contact | 03 9596 6577 |
Website | — |
Open | Breakfast Monday to Sunday 6:30 am to 5:00 pm |
Payment | EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard, Diners, AMEX, Cash |
Diet | Soy, Gluten free |
Seating | Inside and outside |
Kids | Welcome |
Pets | Welcome |
Brighton just got a whole lot brighter with this little beast
Ellie Parker 02 February 2010
Best coffee on the Southside. Amazing food. Adorable fit-out. This little ox is pulling some serious breakfast on its yoke.
The staff are a bunch of young blokes who wear team ‘Little Ox' t-shirts and remember your coffee order after only one visit. To be honest, the term "young blokes" isn't really doing them justice. Luke Holt, Thomas McIntosh and Benjamin Avramides have been around the block several times over and collectively have a wealth of experience working locally and abroad. McIntosh and Avramides are also the bright young things behind the Tommy Collins Events group and Little Ox was in fact born out of a desire for an events space.
The Ox screams new blood- it is bursting with creativity, passion and excitement. Case in point is their partnership with Red Star Coffee. Much like themselves, Red Star is a young company, eager to make its mark with fair trade, sustainable coffee. According to Holt, there was a natural synergy between the two companies. And that synergy is certainly showing in every latte glass. Ladies and gentlemen, this is some smokin' hot caffeine-in-a-cup.
In terms of space, the narrow corridor is refreshing with its whitewashed walls, flower displays and stacks of cookbooks. The simple pine tables and chairs allow for the occasional and deliberate touches of eccentric whimsy. It's a lovely space to sit and read the morning's paper in the sun or catch up with your daughter before you take her off to school.
But here's the bit you all really need to know: "Salmon tar tare with poached egg, potato rosti and beetroot relish" is vying for one of the best breakfast dishes in 2010. I kid you not. I was blown away when it arrived. After all, I really just wanted brekkie and all of a sudden I was presented with an achingly handsome, thoughtful plate of breakfast fodder that actually made every other breakfast highlight disappear from my mind. I almost put down my fork and ran into the kitchen to smack a big one on chef Simon Winfield's cheek. He had just rocked my breakfast world. I plan for him to rock it many more times over.
A rosti is something you rarely cook at home and Little Ox proves why. Sometimes you go out to breakfast because the professionals do it better. Rosti is case in point. This is one damn fine interpretation of a spud. A chunky, round pillow of flavour and texture, perfectly moist inside, perfectly salty and crisp on the outside. Thick enough to catch runny yolk, the rosti also performs the perfect balancing act with the subtle yet salty salmon tar tare and the sweet, sour beet relish. Every forkful really should have a bit of everything crammed on it, if only to give Winfield some credit. It is fabulous.
The buttermilk pancakes aren't ordinary either. They're picked up and given a run for their money with an orange caramel sauce and berry compote. They could probably do with a dollop of creamy yoghurt, but they are certainly above average in the pancake stakes. I'm also going to have to go back for the raspberry and cinnamon porridge with brown sugar and natural yoghurt, which everybody else seemed to be hoeing into.
Did I mention the coffee is the best? If you're skeptical about a Brighton joint serving jaw-dropping coffee, drop by the little take-away window on the side and grab one along with a freshly baked muffin. You'll then have to shove that skepticism down the back of the couch.
Quick sticks. Go.