[Melbourne] Friends of Mine

Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!

Friends of Mine

Add: 506 Swan St, Richmond, Melbourne, VIC 3121
Tel: (03) 9428 7516
Hours: 8am~4pm
Website: www.friendsofmine.com.au
Price: 15~30AUD/meal
Visited on: 2012-04

Friends of Mine is bright and sunny like Van Gogh’s sunflowers. Nothing describes this breakfast and lunch cafe better than what’s written on its own website (which, by the way, has the lovely Java Jive as its background music so don’t forget to turn on your speakers): A place to meet, ponder over a glass of wine, read a great book, get your daily fix of caffeine, laugh with friends, devour a perfect hangover breaky, celebrate with a bottle of bubbles, sing songs if you want…or a place to just kick back and just “be”.

The decor is lovely, a mix of raw bricks, concrete floor, chalkboards, and industrial lighting. I perched on a cheery yellow stool by a large window pane, feeling sunnier than ever.

The next door dining room is slightly more sombre with its dark carpet, large mirror, arm chairs, and wooden chandeliers. A selection of interesting artwork is on display for sale.

Breakfast is an all day everyday affair at Friends of Mine, and all dishes share a penchant for top quality ingredients: organic bread from Noisette, happy chickens from Gippsland, green eggs from Shelley + Allan Green, mushrooms from Richard, free range pigges from Echuca…But first, let’s start with a cup of latte (3.50AUD).

At the waitress’s recommendation, I tried the smashed avocado with thyme buttered mushrooms (17.90AUD, or 19.90AUD with poached egg). On two sturdy pieces of whole grain bread sat a heap of smashed avocado, gently spiced with a bit of zesty lemon juice. It was topped with juicy, fragrant thyme buttered mushrooms, then sprinkled with marinated feta and torn basil. What a lovely mess!

Here’s my friend’s bruschetta with grilled ciabatta, basil pesto, roasted tomato, and feta (13.90AUD). Can’t comment on this since I didn’t steal a bite this time.

And all is more pleasant with a glass of bubbly…morning drinking, why not :)

I had my eyes on Mr Jones’ golden folded eggs with fresh herbs and French goat’s capri on whole grain toast, but alas I did not have a chance to come back to Friends of Mine during my short stay in Melbourne. What else looked enticing from the menu? Toasted banana bread with maple syrup mascarpone, fresh banana, berry compote, and crushed pistachio…The “hung’over” with herb, cheese toast, poached googies, bacon, and smashed avocado…Autumn smoothie of local apple, pear, and almond…