East-side brunch series: Coffeehead & Goldilocks
Part 1 of east-side brunch series…
With the summer months on our doorstep, it is time to bring on the lazy weekend brunches and enjoy the weather! This month I will bring to you a mini-hunt of Melbourne’s east-side for the most worthy brunch delectables.
Some of the delectables to expect in coming posts include sipping an exceptional coffee at Coffeehead (Camberwell), indulging in a French breakfast at La Flaneur (Hawthorn), be stolen by the creative punchy bites at Breakfast thieves (Fitzroy), or taking a break from gluten and allergies at Red Robyn (Camberwell).
Side tracking a little, I realise that many of those I will review in this series are relatively new to the block. It goes to show the café scene continues to grow rapidly, almost too quick to keep up with. This really makes one speculate on how sustainable such exponential growth would be, each vying for the same mouths to fill their chairs. Sure, the fierce competition means for great variety and options, but there is only so much each person can eat (this admittedly coming from someone with a bottomless pit) and no doubt there will be an inevitable Darwinian culling process, where we will lose some of our favourite dining venues. But we are the café capital are we not?
[Coffeehead]
Where: 8-10 Railway Parade, Camberwell
Contact: 03 9831 1400
When: breakfast / lunch 7 days.
Of the bagillion new places (including Sharing House and Akachochin; Henry and the Fox) opened by Paul Mathis in the past year here in Melbourne, this is one I truly love. It is named Coffeehead (rightly so), with an extensive selection of beans / brands, and excellent brewing. I’ve read that Mathis intends to eventually stock a crazy “…100 brands of coffee, coffee-making equipment, and to showcase every conceivable method of coffee brewing…” [Weekly Review] which is quite ambitious to say the least. We’ll see how that pans out.
The 1961 house blend is velvety smooth, fruity in nature, completed with notes of rum and raisin. It is a well-rounded blend you can enjoy again and again. I certainly have. The Gridlock blend (roaster: 65 Degrees) carried a heavier butterscotch and caramel sweetness, flanked with a blueberry fragrance. Coffee is undoubtedly a strong point here.
A lunchtime ragu with penne was a luscious winner of a pasta creation, sure to satisfy the tastebuds with moist flesh, al dente penne and a well caramelised stock based sauce.
A simple toast with poached eggs and avocado.
Poached eggs, Hollandaise, smoked salmon and corn fritters – had all the right flavours going for it. If not for the fritters being slightly on the drier side, it would have been a perfect brunch item.
Brioche French toast– sounded fabulous with the addition of nutella, peanut butter and fresh banana, but overall a little on the dry side, and lacked some acidity. There was however popping candy just to make the little kid inside full of joy.
Also tried was a serve of Bolognaise on toast – which was never meant to be.
Food: Yummy+0.5. The food is generally of high standards, but can at times be haphazardly hit-or-miss.
Coffee: almost Yummy+2. Best coffee of the East-side brunch series. Diverse beans and choice roasts, impeccable brew.
A quick mention of Goldilocks.
I had fairly high expectation coming to the sister cafe of Coffeehead: Goldilocks, another of Paul Mathis’ ventures in Melbourne this year. It is by no means a tragic failure, but I was regrettably far less impressed. The brunch-fare was less inspiring and tended to err on the heavier side. And coffee was not nearly as strong a focal point despite also using Coffeehead coffee. With the same owner behind the scenes, I sure hope the cracks will be ironed out soon.
[Goldilocks]
Where: 169 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East
Contact: 03 9831 1799
When: breakfast / lunch 7 days.
Food: Yummy
Coffee: Yummy
Related brunch posts:
Almost Always Ravenous 
Yaay Coffeehead! I personally love the place, great chilled out vibe. Never gone in for a more lunchy dish, the ragu looks divine!
Still haven’t made my way to Goldilocks after continuous mixed reviews…may just have to stick with the tried and tested…
They aren’t far from each other. So if I had the choice I would definitely go Coffeehead
Great photos!!!!
Thanks!
I was in Camberwell yesterday to sort out some stuff at Vicroads and I ended up going to some random dumpling restaurant for lunch. Kicking myself now as I didn’t THINK to go to Coffeehead – that would have been a better option! Ahh maybe next time…
Random dumpling place could’ve been alright if you were lucky =p.
I never knew there were so many good cafes in Camberwell until recently when I went to Coffee Head and Goldilocks and there’s another one that I like around the corner called Prospect Espresso 🙂
I think I like Coffee Head a little more than Goldilocks, cuz last time I went my soft boiled egg was a little over cooked >_<
AMAZING photos! I think I need a better camera 😛
think carefully before you go ahead and get a BIG SLR… cost heaps, photos will be worse than a point and shoot, before they get much much better, but with investment of time + money – – it will be worth it =)
Oh dear! Goldilocks is my favourite brunch place in all of Melbourne – after 6 visits it’s never been less than brilliant. How disappointing for you
It does sound like I need to go to Coffeehead though. On it.
yes disappointing indeed. though reviews have been rather mixed. What items did you have when you went to goldilocks? favourites?
Coffeehead definitely a go!
I get the sous vide eggs benedict every time (but have been known to pick at friends’ orders of the panko crusted eggs in particular).
Great review – Coffeehead is one of my favourite coffee places in Melbourne – love that I have the choice of 5 different beans every single morning. Well done to them for winning Best New Coffee Roaster 2012 recently – deserved.