Tin Pot Cafe

My good friend Megan suggested we go to Tin Pot in Fitzroy. Apparently Marieke Hardy raved on about it in her book, and as she is the epitome of Melbourne hipster cool or whatever, we had to try it.






















I've got to give it to Marieke, she knows her cafes. Tin Pot pushed all my breakfast buttons. It's a big open space, bright and airy, heaps of fantastic retro furnishings. The tables were tiled, there was a Swiss-esque mural on the wall, all the water bottles were fabulous 70s relics and the lights were straight out my Aunt and Uncle's awesome 70s house with it's orange shag carpet and built in bar with saloon doors (before they renovated it... killjoys)

The coffee was good but what trumped that was the quick service - our coffee orders were taken quick smart and our coffee came to us not long after that. The wait staff were overly chilled, but not unfriendly. I could have done with them being perhaps a bit more upbeat but they could not be faulted them on the efficiency.


For my order there was no question as to what I would be getting. The had a bagel burger on their menu. Those are two of my favourite food things ever. BAGEL + BURGER = HEAVEN. It even looks like a proper burger with all that juicy goodness falling out of it. It came with bacon which I substituted for an egg (with no extra cost to the $10.90 price tag, thanks Tin Pot). It ruled. Everyone go out and get a bagel burger or you're not making the most of your privileged western lives




Emma got the stewed fruit and yogurt, with soy milk instead of cow's milk (8.90). Note the lovely rhubarb (or "The Devil's celery" as Maddy coined it)


Megan and Steph both got the Potato Rosti (14.90) although Steph substituted mushrooms instead of egg, and they were also very happy - apparently delicious, and cooked perfectly.



Maddy got the scram proscuitto (14.50), and after a little mishap where they brought the incorrect order (which she was going to quite happily eat being so laid back, awesome and the like), the attentive waitress came back to bring us more water, took one look at her dish and said "That's not right" and whisked it away to bring back the correct food. She didn't even say a word! And when she did get her correct meal she was thrilled - direct quote "It was pretty amazing!". Tin Pot you made everyone flip over your breakfast expertise. And you clearly only admit adorable quiet children in too



All up, Tin Pot is a winner. Get yourself down to 248 St Georges Road Fitzroy North ASAP to get in on it

Dr. Jekyll

Disclaimer: I went here in November, half wrote this review and never posted it. So clearly:

a) I am slack and

b) This establishment may have changed or whatever since

Dr Jekyll is quite obviously named after the fictional Dr Henry Jekyll, Robert Louis Stevenson’s fictional character, who is torn between the pressure to be a fine upstanding citizen worthy of his social position and his sinister urges that lurk beneath the surface. But instead of seeing a shrink he makes up a potion and, on occasion, becomes a murderous monster. We can’t be too cross with him though, why without Dr Jekyll, there would be no Harvey Dent, no Bruce Banner. But is the eatery quite so influential?

It’s unclear if it is intentional, but the interior cleverly reflects the character: Bright walls, lots of natural light, a lovely breezy courtyard and an open kitchen where you can see everything cooked before your eyes. Not to mention a massive Jekyll themed mural adorning the walls in the front indoor section. But delve deep into the back room that leads to the facilities and you’ll find the walls are black and sinister (that said the facilities are modern, clean and in no way dingy!)

Light and non-murderous interior

I went with a group of four and was a tiny bit late to meet my friends. So they got in first, advised a table of four was required and had to wait about 15 minutes on a lovely Sunday morning. But it was excellent timing on my part, because the table was ready just as I arrived (thanks girls). It seems to be quite popular, so do expect a wait on the weekends.

Good coffee, not mind blowing. I love those black cups even though they’re everywhere now.

The menu is a little hit and miss it would seem. I had the lovely Veggie Jekyll breakie, which consisted of poached eggs on sourdough, spinach, fetta, asparagus and cherry tomatoes. I have a general aversion to asparagus due to being forced to eat it in my childhood (tough life) but I have discovered as an adult if it’s done nicely then it ain’t that bad. And this was done nicely. I was pretty happy with my breakfast even though it wasn’t particularly huge for the $17.50 price tag

Veggie breakie

Jess got the natural fruit and nut muesli with vanilla yogurt and apple (10.50) and she wasn’t impressed at all. Apparently it was bland, hardly and fruit and nuts and she’s had better muesli out of a packet. The presentation with all that finely cut apple is just lovely but they also gave her world’s smallest jug of milk and quite the decent sized bowl, so she had to ask for more milk before she even began

Rubbish muesli. Check out that bowl to jug ratio

Kirsty got the scrambled eggs. Apparently they were lovely but after all the work they did on the bland muesli aesthetics, you think they could have made this look a bit more exciting? Anyway, the main point is that it tasted good. And I believe that a wise prophet once said “and two outta three ain’t bad”. For the more observant among you, I had mentioned we had a party of 4, but poor Shak’s tummy was upset so she just sipped on a tea, very ladylike.

Scrambled eggs that taste good but look meh

I’d probably go back, but definitely get a hot breakfast and stay away from that museli. The atmosphere was good and we stayed around for ages chatting after we’d eaten, and there was no pressure to leave. The courtyard is lovely and it’s cute puppy central around there, so there was an adorable French bulldog for me to swoon over as well. So all in all, pretty good experience for me.