Brunswick Voice

Feature / Food & Drink

40 Brunswick dishes to tantalise your tastebuds

Sydney Road food venues nominate their customer favourites

Brunswick favourites (clockwise from top left) Chicken and Advocado Toastie from Three Hands Cafe; Crumbed Chicken Bagel from Bagels & Co; Buffalo Chicken Momo Dumplings from Momo Central; Cheese Pie from A1 Bakery; Knafeh Cheese from Balha’s Pastry; and Green Chilli Scrambled from Lobbs Café. Photos: supplied

Brunswick Voice


IF you were to sum up Brunswick in a single food dish, what would it be?

An A1 Bakery cheese pie, a perennial crowd favourite? The legendary Henry’s Beans at A Minor Place (is that still on the menu?)? A chicken parma from any one of the area’s pubs (we’d plump for The Retreat)? Or for something more upmarket, the slow roasted lamb shoulder at Rumi?

Given the plethora of food outlets and diversity of cuisines available in such a small part of Melbourne, this is a debate that could go on until … well … past dinner time.

Brunswick is an indisputed culinary melting pot for locals and visitors alike, drawing on the legacy of the area’s migrant past, which has brought us cuisines from southern Europe, the Middle East, and, more recently, the Sub-Continent and Africa.

What is your favourite Brunswick dish?

Now it’s over to you. Tell us about your favourite dish, where you get it and why you can’t get enough of it.


As a new business in Brunswick which is firmly entrenched in the dining industry, hospitality equipment supplier and financier Flexikitch (which opened its Tinning Street premises on October 21) interviewed 40 Sydney Road venue owners and managers to discover their most popular menu item – the one dish their customers keep coming back for.

Some of the answers are predictable, others may surprise. Bear in mind, this is just a snapshot of Brunswick’s dining scene, and does not include the restaurant strip on Lygon Street in Brunswick East or cafes, bars and restaurants hidden down back streets.


Most popular dishes: Cafes

Bagels & Co
627 Sydney Road

Crumbed Chicken Bagel

Generously coated house crumbed chicken, lettuce, tomato, red onion and house made mayo – owner Tom tell us their simple classic schnitzel bagel is a lunchtime hit.

Crumbed Chicken Bagel from Bagels & Co. Photo: supplied by Flexikitch


Green Refectory
115 Sydney Road

Vanilla Slice

Locally renowned for delicious homemade cakes, Green Refectory and owner Sandy cater perfectly to the sweet tooths among us. Sandy’s spin on this classic Australian dessert is not to be missed.


Lobbs Café
589-591 Sydney Road

Green Chilli Scrambled

Alex, Lobbs Cafe venue manager tells us the Green Chilli Scrambled is not for those with a low tolerance for spice!

Green Chilli Scrambled from Lobbs Café. Photo: supplied by Flexikitch


Northern Perk Cafe
710 Sydney Road

Breakfast Tower

A monster brekky share platter with multiple hash browns, eggs, more breakfast staples and layers of pancakes with ice cream on top … something for everyone both sweet and savoury.


O’KAHVE (OK POP UP)
633 Sydney Road

Turkish Lentil Soup + Izmir Kumru (Turkish Toastie)

Honor, owner of this trendy pop-up says in chilly Melbourne, you can’t go past her warming Turkish burnt lentil soup accompanied by a salami, cheese and mayo Kumru Toastie.


Ratio Cocoa Roasters
186 Sydney Road

House Blend Dark Chocolate 63%

A local chocolate emporium, Ratio Cocoa Roasters creates the perfect blend of bitter and sweet. Chocolatier Liam says his customers can’t get enough of the 63% house blend.


Savour Café and Juice Bar
41 Sydney Road

Pakistani Falooda

The authentic Pakistani flavour of sweet dessert Falooda is beautifully blended at Savour café by Owner Sayada and her dedicated team.


Small Axe Deli
1/625 Sydney Road

House Made Lasagna

Small Axe Deli’s Lasagna is uniquely authentic because according to owner Kirsten, it is made in small batches by hand with locally sourced free range meat. Deliciously Italiano.


Sorrento Cafe
801 Sydney Road

Smashed Avo

Sorrento Café’s smashed avo is infused with lemon and mint, Spanish onion and the classic accompaniment of eggs and sourdough.


Three Hands Café
446 Sydney Road

Gourmet Toasties

Owner Vince loved telling us about his gourmet toasties, a huge range of 5+ flavours to choose from, Salami, to Triple Cheese, Pulled Beef and of course classic Reuben.

Chicken and Advocado Toastie from Three Hands Cafe. Photo: supplied by Flexikitch


Most popular dishes: bakeries

A1 Bakery
643-645 Sydney Road

Cheese Pie

A1 Bakery is well known and loved in Brunswick. But did you know their most popular dish? Manager Eden tells us the Cheese Pie is the hottest item on the menu of this iconic Lebanese bakery.

The iconic Cheese Pie from A1 Bakery. Photo: supplied by Flexikitch


Alasya Bakery
555 Sydney Road

Doner Kebab

Alasya Bakery creates hand-made Turkish breads and wraps, which, according to their team makes their unique Doner Kebab as popular as can be.


Balha’s Pastry
761-763 Sydney Road

Knafeh Cheese

Baked layers of semolina, sweet cheese, syrup and pistachio – enhanced with clotted cream makes this classic Lebanese sweet a best-seller.


Choukette
318 Sydney Road

French Croissants

Sometimes you can’t go past a classic. Anika, manager of Choukette tells us their Plain French Croissant leaves customers dreaming of the City of Love.


Pantheon Continental Cakes
483 Sydney Road

Galaktoboureko

Pantheon’s take on this classic Greek dessert is a huge hit according to manager Michael. The syrup-soaked filo pastry in particular is a customer favourite.


Tabet’s Bakery
607 Sydney Road

Halloumi Cheese Pie

The first Lebanese bakery in Melbourne, Tabet’s is famous for their Halloumi Cheese Pie – a dish owner Charbel tells us customers flock back for daily.

Tabets Bakery’s Halloumi Cheese Pie. Photo: supplied by Flexikitch


Wild-Life Superette
365 Sydney Road

Portuguese Tarts

Huw from Wild-Life Superette reckons his customers say that the popular traditional Portuguese Tarts are the tastiest in the area – high praise!


Most popular dishes: takeaway

Billy Van Creamy
146 Sydney Road

Honeycomb Ice Cream

Billy Van Creamy’s Honeycomb Ice Cream regularly sells out according to the team. With honeycomb chunks made in-house from organic raw honey that create a delicious gooey swirl, and creamy fior di latte ice cream – it’s not hard to see why.


Kevabs
89 Sydney Road

Vegan Lamb Steak

Australia’s first all vegan kebab shop, Kevabs Vegan Lamb Steak Kebab is a massive hit with the locals, according to owner Angie.

Kevabs’ Vegan Lamb Steak. Photo: supplied by Flexikitch


King Tut
647 Sydney Road

Koshary

Ahmed, owner of Egyptian eatery King Tut tells us his vegan-friendly Koshary dish with rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas and 3 different sauces is a huge seller.


Souvlaki Story
452 Sydney Road

Lamb Souvlaki

Their timeless Hellenic lamb souvlaki is the unbeatable best seller according to owner Teresa, who claims Souvlaki Story as the #1 takeaway in town.


Pokero Roll and Bowl
90-106 Sydney Road

Grilled Poke Bowl

With various fast bites across the wide-ranging Japanese cuisine, Pokero Roll and Bowl’s #1 for lunch is the Grilled Poke Bowl, according to owner Bing.


Semosh Mum’s Kitchen
451 Sydney Road

Mousaaka

Semosh Mum’s Kitchen makes a beautifully authentic mediterranean Moussaka which owner Gabby tells us is their most popular dish – just like mum makes.


Dock’s Fish and Chips
669 Sydney Road

Burger (Lot) with Brisket Patty

Owner Con tells us his Burger with the Lot is a unique take on the Fish and Chip shop classic – with a melt in your mouth beef brisket patty, it is a hit with locals.


Most popular dishes: restaurants and pubs

Adanali Turkish Restaurant
835 Sydney Road

Full Mixed Grill

The mixed grill is a Turkish staple and Adanali does traditional Turkish food like no other. Turan tells us that his regular customers can’t get enough.


Aghadeer Restaurant
874-876 Sydney Road

Marinated Lamb Kebab

Located in the heart of Brunswick, Aghadeer Restaurant serves a delicious, flavourful marinated lamb kebab straight from the spit. Ahmad tells us the boneless lamb is always tender, bringing customers back everytime.


Alasya Restaurant
555 Sydney Road

Mixed Grill Banquet

Famous for old school Turkish food, Helen the chef at Alasya tells us her lovingly crafted Mixed Grill Banquet is always flying out of the kitchen for groups of hungry locals.


Barkly’s Kitchen
63 Sydney Road

Creamy Kitchen Fettucine

Modern Italian with an authentic feel, Barkly’s serves a deliciously creamy marinated chicken fettucine which can also be served in their famous cheesy cob.


Desi Cuisine
850 Sydney Road

Goat Butt Karahi

Cooked in Desi Ghee, black pepper and special spices, this authentic Pakistani dish is loved by locals and visitors alike according to manager Abdul.


Green Field Restaurant
376-278 Sydney Road

Stir-fried Lemongrass Beef

Green Field Manager Tran tells us her fresh Vietnamese staple stir-fried lemongrass beef has all of the flavour and unpretentious quality of the street food found in Ho Chi Minh City.


Hunger Den
306 Sydney Road

Chicken Chutney Wrap

Lip-smacking street food is how Asad from Hunger Den describes his most popular dish – marinated overnight in tandoori species with puffy bread, it’s a hot-seller.


Lui Boss Brunswick
173 Sydney Road

Soy Garlic Korean Fried Chicken

Korean Fried Chicken just gets bigger and bigger in Australia, and Lui Boss authentic Soy Garlic Fried Chicken packs in all the delicious flavour and crunch to be expected, and more.


Mazi Brunswick
317 Sydney Road

Beef Moussaka

Brunswick’s Mazi mediterranean cuisine and bar offers classic Hellenic-style dishes, the most popular of which, David tells us is their scrumptious Beef Moussaka.


Mokum
359 Sydney Road

Bitterballen Dutch Croquettes

Mokum is a Dutch café and bar in the heart of Brunswick. Albert tells us his kitchen is constantly pumping out a traditional dutch entrée – Bitterballen croquettes.


Momo Central
600 Sydney Road

Buffalo Chicken Momo Dumplings

Subash from Momo Central tells us the restaurant’s namesake dish filled with a modern twist – Buffalo Chicken keeps customers walking in and out of Momo Central with a smile.

Mixed dumplings from Momo Central Brunswick. Photo: supplied by Flexikitch


Old Durbar
671 Sydney Road

Panfried Kothey Momo Dumplings

Serving authentic Nepalese cuisine, Old Durbar again specialises in Momo. Sabrina tells us the panfried kothey is incredibly popular with locals.


Savour Eats
43 Sydney Road

Chicken Pulao

Sayada, owner of Indian and Pakistani restaurant Savour Eats, raves about the popularity of their signature Chicken Pulao.


The Hall at Welcome to Brunswick
400 Sydney Road

Bottomless Dimmies and Dumplings Special

For the extra hungry amongst us – The Hall offers a bottomless feast of dim sum and dumplings every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Tuck in.


Duke of Edinburgh Hotel
430 Sydney Road

Parma & Pot Deal

Page and Amy from Brunswick’s Duke offer a parma and pot deal for those after a classic, delicious pub meal.


Cornish Arms
163A Sydney Road

Vegan Souvlaki

Catering to the local palate, Ben and Tom from the Cornish Arms offer both vegan and nonvegan options – but have found their Vegan Souvlaki to be super popular amongst locals.

Now it’s over to you: what’s your favourite Brunswick meal? Tell us here.

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