No. 19
214 Union Road, Ascot Vale
03 9372 8777
Breakfast, Cafe, Coffee, Coffee and Tea
$$
Food
- Hibiscus and Beetroot Latte
- No. 19 Benedict
The Good
Nothing.
The Mediocre
The Hibiscus and Beetroot Latte is beautifully presented with a thick layer of pink froth adorning the top of a stylish hug-mug. Unfortunately it was overly sour and the sourness remained even with several spoonfuls of sugar.
The No. 19 Benedict featured a very generous helping of pulled pork. The pulled pork was exceptionally tender and delicious due somewhat to its fattiness. The two poached eggs were very small and whose yolk was not as runny as we had hoped. The flavours of the few slices of “cider compressed apples” were lost beneath the liberal serving of bearnaise sauce. The biggest disappointment however was the sourdough bread. A thick layer of molten butter sat unabsorbed on top of both slices. A gush of buttery grease oozed with each bite, making this penguin sick after only one of the two slices. The components of this dish were independently well executed although the ratios were severely disproportionate. We would have preferred less or even no butter given the visible grease of the pulled pork, and more apple slices or other greens to balance the nutritional content.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
The beautifully presented dishes and the flashy interior make No. 19 a place to be seen. This is especially reinforced by the 20-somethings on nearby tables snapping away on Instagram.
Ultimately, the food quality here was subpar and there are better choices in the vicinity that won’t send you off with a cardiac arrest.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
The pulled pork itself was tasty even if the rest of the dish wasn’t.
Sure I’d be back… if I don’t vomit in the next 30 minutes.