Fledgling Espresso
412 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
03 9349 1758
Cafe
$$
Food
- Smashed Avocado
- Granola Bowl
- Superfoods Green Goddess Salad
- Lemon Curd Pancakes
- Magic
- Latte
The Good
It was off to a brilliant beginning with the humble Smashed Avocado. Topped with a colourful assortment of heirloom tomatoes and accompanied by a perfectly poached egg, the smashed avo sitting underneath was fresh and plentiful. Lightly seasoned and served with crumbles of light yet flavoursome feta that offered up a delightful creaminess, we found textural diversity thanks to the toasted seeds and the slices of toasted sourdough. With a hint of refreshing lemon juices throughout, this was one memorable smashed avo.
The Granola Bowl was simply heavenly and definitely lived up to its gorgeous presentation. The super-crunchy granola was perfectly roasted and well accompanied by wholesome chunks of nuts and seeds scattered throughout. Sitting front and centre of the bowl was a generous helping of our favourite condiment, peanut butter, which was served alongside a yoghurt and Acai mixture that offered up a hint of refreshing sweetness and a rich, creamy sensation.
For those looking for a healthier option, the Superfoods Green Goddess Salad is a must-try. Served warm, the bed of fresh, crisp kale and quinoa mixture was lightly dressed with just a divine mustard honey sauce. This was perfectly balanced by still-crunchy chunks of sweet potatoes and wholesome slices of avocado scattered throughout. Opting to add in some protein, our salad arrived with just the most tender slices of poached chicken as well as a perfectly poached egg, and it all made for an incredibly satisfying and wholesome dish that’s bound to satisfy your tastebuds.
The Lemon Curd Pancakes here are bound to satisfying any sweet-tooth. Beautiful is an understatement when deceiving this edible work of art the sinfully sweet, slightly sour lemon curd was plentiful and provided a satisfying sugar hit, it’s sweetness was balanced out by the tartness of the berries oculus and fresh strawberries scattered throughout. The highlight was of course the pancakes themselves, which were aptly fluffy and soft, with a sponge-like feedback that delightfully soaked up the sweet components.
The coffees definitely deserve a special mention. Our Magic absolutely did not disappoint, bold and full-bodied, we found the clffee well balanced in flavour and creaminess. The froth was silky smooth and aptly fluffy, and with just an incredible aftertaste that lingers long in your mouth, this drink certainly went down a treat!
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
As a newly opened cafe, Fledgling Espresso definitely gives the more establish bunch joints in Melbourne a good run for their money.
It’s evident that owner Connor has a few tricks tucked away under his sleeve serving as manager of MOB (My Other Brother). His bold new venture into the Melbourne cafe scene is certainly nothing short of exceptional, and we definitely enjoyed every last bite that this cafe had to offer!
Would Penguin Eat Again?
You can count on us being back, again and again. I think we’ve just found our new favourite cafe!
Penguineats would like to thank owner Connor for inviting us to Fledgling Espresso.