The Younger Brother
6 Railway Avenue, Ringwood
03 8822 3260
Breakfast, Cafe, Coffee, Coffee and Tea
$$
Food
- Menemen
- Buttermilk Pancakes
- Flat White
- Latte
- Ethiopian Gesha Espresso
The Good
We started off with a Flat White and a Latte. Within the cute bright orange cups, we found an exceptionally rich and creamy mixture of coffee and milk. While initially not overly bold, the coffee aroma permeates and exhibits itself as a very pleasant and desirable aftertaste that kicks in long after the first sip. A very enjoyable and smooth cup that goes down easily yet allows you to leisurely appreciate.
We were pleasantly surprised by the Menemen. A distinctly unique, this was no ordinary scrambled eggs. Served in a cute clay pot, this family recipe combines eggs with a mix of soft, fragrant capsicum with a variety of herbs and spices, as well as bits of tomatoes, onion and garlic. Packed full of flavour, the eggs were smooth yet crumbly but provided a very appetising and aromatic experience. This was well complemented by two sticks of toasted Turkish bread, which created an incredible crunch and the texture perfectly juxtaposed the soft and crumbly egg mixture. Served alongside were an abundance of crispy chat potatoes that were cooked to absolute perfection. First boiled then fried, the incredibly crispy and well-seasoned outer gave way to a pillowy soft inner that was earthy and had great potato aroma.
Another highlight was the Buttermilk Pancakes. Forming the basis of the dish, the singular pancake exhibited great height and was incredibly spongey and soft without being overly airy. Smothered with a generous coat of Nutella, this was perfectly juxtaposed by the tartness of the occasional berry that’s buried within the pancake itself. Balancing out the sweetness was an aromatic and flavourful coffee mascarpone, where a slight bitterness permeated throughout the dish and perfectly contrasted the sweetness of the fairyfloss and Nutella. A perfect and flawless pancake dish in my books.
We concluded our meal with a rather unassuming Espresso. While admittedly not a connoisseur, nor usually a fan of having singular shots of espressos, we were unanimously blown away by this coffee. Sourced from Veneziano, this single origin, Ethiopian Gesha was definitely one cut above. Incredibly aromatic, the initial, bold bitterness of the black coffee gave way to a very fruity and fragrant aftertaste. The strong flavours lingers in your palate long after, and provides an exceptionally pleasant and enjoyable scent throughout.
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
It was overall an utterly flawless and scrumptious meal. From the simple espresso to the interesting food that carries a slight Mediterranean twist, incredible care was taken to deliver simply the best in taste. This was undoubtedly the most well-executed and tasty brunch experience I’ve had yet.
In opening The Younger Brother, owner Akin aimed to educate Melbourne’s East side to develop a more cultured, refined and diverse coffee experience. However, he has achieved so much more, and I’d argue he has done what many city cafes have failed to, in delivering interesting, unique and quality food and drinks.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
With a very resounding yes, penguin will most definitely eat and drink again, and again, and again.
Penguineats would like to thank Akin for inviting us to The Younger Brother.