On a fresh but sunny spring day, what is better than to catch a train to somewhere new? Not quite a midnight train going anywhere, but more a midday train going to Essendon Station.
A slow meander down Buckley Street is then met with a warm and welcoming restaurant, North & Eight. The soft and modern typeface of the name automatically encourages people of all ages to enter the establishment. This was extremely evident by the hustle and bustle of the place. Every table outside was filled with nattering people, the smell of incredible food, and waiters keeping drinks flowing. There is a strong European feel thanks to the alfresco seating coupled with the encouragement to sit alongside other diners on long wooden benches.
Once seated you are presented with a bountiful menu, hosting a wide variety of all day breakfast and brunch items, including smashed avocado on toast, a host of interesting and unique burgers and their famous Oreo Pancakes. It is extremely inclusive, catering for gluten free and vegan diets. I began my meal with a latte, presented in a simple yet classy cup. Living up to expectations, the fresh coffee beans mixed with two spoons of sugar made an idyllically bitter yet sweet taste. Nothing like a good coffee to get your day going! When the time came to order food, the choice was an excruciatingly hard one with so many stunning foods on offer, however, my final decision landed on the Gluten Free Wild Rice Salad with Chimichurri Chicken.
The chicken was extremely flavoursome, complimented by the mix of green leaves, avocado and rices. It felt hearty and wholesome with a combination of beans, nuts, and fruits, but light enough to be a breakfast item. The portion was a little too filling for me, however for most, it’d be the perfect portion size to feed them up for a big day ahead. Luckily, they offer a takeaway service for any leftovers, and so I have taken advantage and got the remainder in a pot for a snack tonight. As an after-meal thought, I decided on an iced mocha. Creamy, strong and chocolaty, this was a brilliant decision. Milky coffee poured over ice with small bites of chocolate as you sip, even if you are not in the mood for food, North & Eight is a definite place for a drink.
My partner got the Vietnamese Chicken Salad. He obviously enjoyed it as I hardly got a taster before the whole thing got engulfed. Though he did manage to come up for breath between bites to tell me how it was. If you choose this dish then you will be met with an array of citrus flavours from the zesty lemon and lime juices. This is balanced with the nutty addition of peanuts, then giving way to the fresh carrot and cabbage nest. The chicken was tender thanks to it being poached as opposed to roasted or fried, with the meal made even more rustic by the authentic homemade prawn crackers surrounding the plate.
Other items that caught my attention while sat in North & Eight, were Turmeric Tea, Chai Latte and the renowned Oreo Pancakes. I asked customers around me who had tried them how they were, and the responses were that of high recommendations. The Turmeric tea is spicy but satisfying; the Chai Latte is sweet and warming, and the Oreo Pancakes were a smile inducing addition to the menu. They are something I will be returning to try!
The food was an amazing highlight, however, if you go to North & Eight, you will feel so comfortable to just sit and take in the environment around you. It is full of delights to peruse at from the temptingly tasty cakes, buns and pastries on display, to the hanging baskets with ivy cascading down from shelves.
If you have a spare window this weekend, go down and be welcomed by the Manager who’s only goal is for you to leave full of amazing food, a huge smile on your face, and a hunger to go back for more.
For more info, head to www.northandeight.com.au.
