Top 5 brunches in Melbourne

According to Wikipedia, brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch, typically after a morning event or before an afternoon one. It is also my favourite time of day for a good feed. ;) Melbourne has some fabulous all day breakkie joints - there's nothing quite like sleeping in on a Sunday and then cruising off to enjoy a lazy Sunday fry-up with eggs, eggs, & more eggs!

TOP 5 BRUNCHES IN MELBOURNE

1. Mart 130
Old tram station opp Gunn Island Hotel
107A Canterbury Rd Middle Park (03) 9690 8831

Did you know that Mart is Tram spelt backwards? And how apt a name as Mart 130 is located at an old tram station master's office on tram stop 130. It's all about the spectacular breakkie they serve here, as a long line forms on weekends particularly from 11am onwards. However, there is an excellent waiting system at this quaint little joint. Head into the cafe, leave your name & number of people with the wait staff and sit outside alongside the tram line as your order of coffee is served. In no time, you will be comfortably seated within the enclosed deck overlooking the Albert Park tennis courts tucking into some darn good breakkie.

Using only free range eggs, the rustic home-style fry up include ham hocked home cooked bake beans, slivers of chorizo sausages, crispy bacon strips, & perfectly poached eggs on thick sour dough organic toast. Try their signature crunchy oven-roasted corn fritters made with fresh corn & served with tomatoes, bacon & a coriander garnish. Afterwards, don't fret as the tram is just a hop & skip away.

2. Auction Rooms
103-107 Errol St North Melbourne (03) 9326 7749

Previously the WB Ellis Auction House, this beautifully presented cafe offers a simple yet interesting menu that's bound to surprise you with the options available. Work your way through names of dishes like "Opening Bid", "Counter Bid", "No big deal", "Silent bid", "Real deal" & the like. Featuring free range "green" eggs, have it any way you like, steamed, baked, fried, scrambled or poached. If you're feeling adenturous, you might like to try the hazelnut crumbed lamb brains on bacon & spinach with onion jam. The decor is stylish with high ceilings, classy long wooden dining tables, hanging lamps and a very rustic torn-paint-on-brick look. I had the "Shady deal" - spicy chorizo with thinly sliced hash brown, morrocan-spiced carrots, baked eggs with lemon & parsley on a soft wrap. The Morrocan spice provided an excellent surprise ZING! The flavoursome fresh baked eggs were packed with flavour. I'm SOLD!
Tip: Come with a small group of 2 -4 people or you might expect a long wait particularly during rush hour 11am-12pm.

3. Replete Providore
302 Barkers Road Hawthorn 03 9818 4448

We were meant to check out Porgie & Mrs Jones but due to Mother's Day bookings, we had to leave Porgie's and thank God for that as we concurred that comparatively, Replete was heaps better, largely due to the shameless lack of service at Porgie's. Replete's breakfast menu is simple but moorish. For instance, at $17.80, the Replete breakfast consists of perfectly poached eggs, spanish sausage, Istra bacon, hash brown, roasted tomato & field mushroom with toasted sourdough bread. Or you can order the classic egg benedict or florentine and add extras such as field Mushrooms, spinach, hash brown, roasted tomato, avocado, hollandaise at $3.80 ea or house baked beans, spanish sausage, Istra bacon, fruit Compote, marinated fetta, King Island Yoghurt at $4.80 ea or Smoked Salmon at $5.00. WOW. Replete is indeed a treat for the breakfast junkie.

4. Cafe Sweethearts
263 Coventry St South Melbourne (03) 9690 6752

Tucked away in a corner in South Melbourne (near the South Melbourne Markets) is the lovely Cafe Sweethearts. No doubt you will find crowds gathering every weekend at this charming joint. The pancakes are to die for and guess what? You can find both sweet AND savoury choices. A fried egg & grilled bacon on pancakes? Yes, they are gorgeous and served in speedy fashion as well. The eggs bene, is a crowd favourite served in perfectly prepared hollandaise, ham & topped with chives.

5. Gingerlee
117 Lygon St Brunswick East (03) 9380 4430

This Middle-Eastern inspired cosy cafe serves breakfast from 7am - 3pm. Be greeted by slightly grunghy but friendly wait staff, as you gleam past the array of sweets through to the open kitchen before getting seated onto dark wooden chairs & round tables. The intimate setting & reasonably priced quality food make for a good brunch venue. Tagine-style beans on toast were a draw at $10.50, what about the Shakshouka - baked eggs with Israeli tomato casserole at $11? If you're very hungry, go for the Gingerlee BIG breakfast at $18. All eggs are served with sourdough toast. Specials are updated daily on the board. The home made condiments - tomato jam, plum jam, quince jam & apple chutney are a must try. Tapas range from $5 - $9. Portions are good and not overly massive. My friend had the lunch menu spagetti puttenesca served with green olives, shaved parmesan in a good sized bowl for $14.50. Delish!